Which place is cheaper, Alberta or Montana?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Montana or Alberta?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Montana or Alberta, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Montana or Alberta?
Montana
Often called Big Sky Country for its vast blue skies, Montana is a state in the northwestern United States characterized by beautiful sweeping scenery from the Rocky Mountains in the west to the flatter prairie regions of the east. Some of the top attractions include Glacier National Park, Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Yellowstone, and of course the Rocky Mountains.
Alberta
If you ever wanted to visit a place where all the beauty of nature is centrally located, you will want to make a trip to Alberta, Canada. With part of the Canadian Rockies, the prairies and the wilderness of forests, Alberta has something for everyone. As the home to Canada's oil industry, this is also the richest province in the country.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America, The Best Walking Tours in United States of America, The Best 3-Day Tours from Vancouver, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Vancouver.
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Montana Prices
USA PricesAlberta Prices
Canada Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontana $153Alberta $129
The average daily cost (per person) in Montana is $153, while the average daily cost in Alberta is $129. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Montana and Alberta in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontana $49Alberta $65
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontana $98Alberta $130
Compare Hotels in Montana and Alberta
Looking for a hotel in Montana or Alberta? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montana $65Alberta $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alberta
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Alberta:
- Round trip transfer between Calgary Airport and Lake Louise: $130
- Round Trip transfer between Calgary Airport and Banff.: $95
- Private Transfer: Calgary Airport to Fairmont Banff Spring Hotel: $159
- Private Transfer: Calgary Airport to Downtown: $109
- Private Transfer: Calgary Airport YYC to Calgary by Luxury SUV: $135
- Private Transfer from Edmonton to Edmonton Airport (YEG): $119
- Private Transfer from Edmonton Airport (YEG) to Edmonton Hotels: $119
- Private Transfer from Calgary to Calgary Airport YYC in Business Car: $116
- Private Transfer from Calgary to Banff: $254
- Private Transfer from Calgary Airport YYC to Calgary in Business Car: $116
- Private Transfer from Calgary Airport (YYC) to Calgary Hotels: $97
- Private Transfer from Banff to Calgary or Calgary Airport: $88
Is it cheaper to fly into Montana or Alberta?
Prices for flights to both Alberta and Montana change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayMontana $49Alberta $46
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montana
For Montana, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Glacier National Park: Whitewater Rafting with Dinner: $123
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Alberta
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Alberta.
- Banff's Sips & Sweets Evening Food Tour: $84
- Taste of Banff Food Tour: $106
- Explore Canmore Food Tour and More: $109
- The Banff Food Tour and So Much More: $109
- Half-Day Jasper Culture Food Tour: $118
- Iconic Eats of Calgary Food Tour: $129
- Edmonton's #1 Food Bike Tour: The Best Local Food Tour on E-Bikes: $145
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montana $38Alberta $13
Tours and Activities in Alberta
Here are a few actual costs in Alberta for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Day Tour Drumheller Royal Tyrrell Museum from Calgary: $113
- 1 Day Tour Waterton Redrock Canyon and Cameron Falls: $130
- 1 Day Tour in Banff Lake Louise and Moraine Lake: $109
- 1-Hour Edmonton River Valley Segway Tour: $44
- 1.5 Hour Stand Up Paddle-board (SUP) Tour in Banff National Park: $91
- 12 Iconic Stops: Banff & Yoho Premium Small Group Guided Tour: $182
- 2 Hour Banff Horseback Riding Adventure: $159
- 4-Hour Lake Louise Tour from Banff and Canmore: $69
- 5 Lakes Tour Louise and Moraine Emerald Peyto Takakkaw Falls: $113
- 8 hrs Private SUV Banff Tour up to 7 passengers: $88
- A Spectacular Audio Tour : Calgary Adventure: $15
- Abraham Lake Ice Bubble Hunt Full Day Tour: $80
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontana $11Alberta $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Alberta
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Alberta:
- Park Distillery Tour with Craft Spirits Tasting: $11
- Park Distillery Tour with Whisky Tasting: $18
- Craft Your Own Gin at Burwood Distillery: $91
- Calgary Brewery Tour: $95
- Edmonton Brewery Tour (10 person minimum group): $102
- Calgary to Banff Brewery Tour and Lunch: $145
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montana and Alberta, we can see that Montana is more expensive. And not only is Alberta much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Alberta would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Alberta and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Montana would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Montana than you might in Alberta.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Montana Expensive? and Is Alberta Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, Montana or Alberta?
Alberta has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Montana. When comparing the sizes of Montana and Alberta, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.