A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Negril vs. Banff for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Negril or Banff?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Negril and Banff. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Negril or Banff?

Negril

Negril is a town in western Jamaica known for its miles of white sand beaches and cliffs. It is certainly one of the more laid back towns on the island yet still attracts a lot of tourists. The hotels are as close to the water as you can get, and the sand gets whiter and whiter the further away from populated areas you get. The water is unbelievably clear and warm in Negril!

Banff

Nestled in the pristine and gorgeous mountains of the Alberta Rockies is the popular town of Banff. This town sits right in Canada's Banff National Park and is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.

While the surrounding nature may give the impression of a quiet, little town, Banff is typically crowded with tourists. The beauty of this area is irresistible for travelers from all over the world. This may not be the place for solitude or even an authentic, country experience, you'll still find an unforgettable vacation.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada, and The Best Camping Tours in Canada.


Which place is cheaper, Banff or Negril?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Negril is $153, while the average daily cost in Banff is $102. 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 Negril and Banff in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Negril $103
    Banff $37
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Negril $206
    Banff $74
Compare Hotels in Negril and Banff

Looking for a hotel in Negril or Banff? 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.

Hotels in Negril


Hotels in Banff


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.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Negril Hotel Prices and Banff Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Negril $8.52
    Banff $5.03
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Negril

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Negril:


  • Taxi From Airport
    $13

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Negril

Also for Negril, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Grand Palladium Jamaica - Lady Hamilton Airport Transfer MBJ ***: $12
  • Montego Bay Airport Transfer to Negril Hotel: $25
  • Grand Palladium Private Transfers from MBJ Airport: $30
  • Montego Bay Jamaica Airport Private Transfer To Grand Palladium: $33
  • Montego Bay Jamaica Airport Transfer to Grand Palladium Hotel: $34
  • Private Transfer from MontegoBay Airport to Lucea/Grand Palladium: $35
  • Montego Bay Jamaica Airport Transfer to Falmouth, Grand Palladium: $35
  • Montego Bay Jamaica Airport Transfer to Grand Palladium Hotel: $35
  • Private Montego Bay Airport Transfer to Grand Palladium: $37
  • Montego Bay Jamaica Airport Transfer to Grand Palladium Hotel: $38
  • MBJ Airport Private Transfers to any Negril Hotels: $39
  • MBJ Private Airport transfer to or from Negril: $42

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Banff

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Banff:

  • Calgary Airport to Banff - Private Transfer: $823
  • All-Inclusive Private Banff Tour with Hotel Transfer: $338
  • Calgary to Banff, Canmore, Lake Louise, Luxury YYC Transfer: $288
  • Banff/Canmore to Calgary YYC Airport Private Transfer: $246
  • Private Airport Transfer YYC to Banff Canmore or Lake Louise: $180
  • Calgary to Lake Louise (Private Transfer): $161
  • Canmore/Banff to Calgary Airport (YYC) Private Transfer: $158
  • From Hassle-free Private Transfer to Calgary YYC Airport: $139

Is it cheaper to fly into Negril or Banff?

Prices for flights to both Banff and Negril 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Negril $38
    Banff $48

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Negril

For Negril, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Dinner in the Sky Jamaica Round Trip Taxi & Guide only: $42
  • The Jungle Nightclub Experience with Optional Dinner in Negril: $80
  • Local food tour and local fields: $164

Typical Food Prices in Banff

Some typical examples of dining costs in Banff are as follows:


  • Tea House Lunch for Two
    $32
  • Hostel Breakfast
    $26
  • McDonalds
    $4.50

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Banff

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Banff.

  • Banff's Winter Wonderland Food Tour: $105
  • Banff's Canadian Rocky Mountain Food Tour: $105

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Negril $26
    Banff $12
Typical Entertainment Prices in Negril

For Negril, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • 2 Hr Horseback Ride
    $43

Tours and Activities in Negril

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Negril.

  • ATV Adventure and Zipline with Rick's Cafe Sunset Tour in Negril: $42
  • Rick's Cafe Glass Bottom Sunset Cruise: $62
  • Negril Glass Bottom Boat Tour Snorkeling and Booby Cay: $65
  • Rockland's Bird Sanctuary Tour from Montego Bay/ Falmouth: $70
  • Seven Mile Beach and Rick's Cafe Sunset Tour in Negril Jamaica: $75
  • Private Negril Highlights Tour: $75
  • Martha Brae River Bamboo Rafting Tour: $75
  • Choose Your Adventure: ATV, Zipline, Horseback Ride & Rafting: $80
  • Negril Country Side Tour & Rick's Cafe: $82
  • Off-road ATV Adventure with Wall Climbing: $85
  • 3 Hour Day Party Pass for Tourists at Jamaica Countryside Estate: $85
  • Negril Catamaran Sunset Cruise with Snorkeling, Drinks & DJ: $89

Typical Entertainment Prices in Banff

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Banff are as follows:


  • Hot Springs
    $5.16

Tours and Activities in Banff

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Banff are as follows:

  • 1-Day Private Premium Banff Tour: Lakes, Falls and More: $211
  • 1.5 Hour Stand Up Paddle-board (SUP) Tour in Banff National Park: $90
  • 2 Days Banff and Jasper Tour : Lakes, Glaciers and Hot Springs: $216
  • 4 hour Moraine Lake Tour from Banff and Canmore: $98
  • 4WD Tour from Calgary to Bow Lake Banff: $180
  • 5 Lakes Tour- Lake Louise Moraine, Emerald , Peyto Bow Lake: $77
  • 7 Banff Iconic Stops Tour with Lake Minnewanka: $67
  • All Inclusive Private Moraine Lake Sunset Tour From Banff: $557
  • All-Inclusive Private Moraine Lake Sunrise Tour from Banff: $535
  • Banff & Canmore: Night Sky Tour: $668
  • Banff & Jasper National Parks Tour, Lakes ,Glacier Adventure: $69
  • Banff - Lake Louise Moraine Lake and Icefields Parkway Tour: $148

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Negril $9.89
    Banff $9.07

Sample the Local Flavors in Banff

Also in Banff, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Calgary to Banff Brewery Tour & Lunch: $140


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Negril and Banff, we can see that Negril is more expensive. And not only is Banff much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Negril is in Caribbean Islands and Banff is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Banff would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Banff 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 Negril would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Negril than you might in Banff.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Negril Expensive? and Is Banff Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Negril or Banff?

Banff has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Negril. When comparing the sizes of Negril and Banff, 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.