Which place is cheaper, Vancouver or New York City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit New York City or Vancouver?
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 New York City and Vancouver. 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: New York City or Vancouver?
New York City
The most populated city in the United States, New York City, sits at the mouth of the Hudson River and encompasses both the island of Manhattan as well as the surrounding land on Long Island, most of which is known as Brooklyn. It's a cultural, culinary, theatrical, and art center that has much to offer domestic and international travelers alike. The city covers an area of 305 square miles and has a population of about 8.2 million people in the city proper with 18.7 million in the metropolitan area.
Vancouver
Vancouver is a beautiful and cosmopolitan city in Western Canada. It is also the largest city in British Columbia, and is dramatically positioned between the coast and mountains. It's a very international city, with a high level of energy and countless activites that you can enjoy while you're in town. In addition to offering all of the activities and entertainment of a modern city, it is also in jumping off distance to any number of outdoor activities.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, The Best 10-Day Tours from Vancouver, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNew York City $326Vancouver $141
The average daily cost (per person) in New York City is $326, while the average daily cost in Vancouver is $141. 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 New York City and Vancouver in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNew York City $175Vancouver $87
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNew York City $350Vancouver $174
Compare Hotels in New York City and Vancouver
Looking for a hotel in New York City or Vancouver? 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: New York City Hotel Prices and Vancouver Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.New York City $49Vancouver $12
Typical Local Transportation Prices in New York City
Some typical examples of transportation costs in New York City are as follows:
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Subway$4.50
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Taxi Ride$8.00
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Subway$2.50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in New York City
Also for New York City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer: between Manhattan and Philadelphia: $523
- La Guardia Airport Private Limousine Transfer: $489
- Skip-the-line Tickets to Bronx Zoo with Private Transfers: $410
- JFK Airport To Manhattan Luxury SUV Transfer: $370
- Empire State Building NYC Tour, Pre-booked Tickets, Transfer: $300
- Private New York City Airport Departure Transfer : $299
- Skip the line One World Observatory Private Tour with Transfers : $296
- Skip-the-line One World Observatory Tour with Transfers: $296
- Central Park Zoo Skip-the-line Tickets & Private Transfers: $291
- Central Park Zoo Skip the line Tickets and Private Transfers : $291
- Private arrival OR departure transfer in New York (hotel OR airport pick-up): $288
- New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to New York - Round-Trip Private Transfer : $280
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vancouver
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vancouver are as follows:
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SkyTrain from Airport$6.35
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Taxi from Airport to Downtown$21
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15 min Taxi Ride$8.71
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SkyTrain DayPass$6.53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vancouver
Also for Vancouver, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Yvr Airport to Whistler and Whistler to Yvr Airport transfers: $111
- White Rock to Vancouver Airport (YVR) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- Seaplane Transfer between Vancouver & Nanaimo: $206
- Private Transfer from YVR Airport To Whistler: $511
- City Highlights Tour with Hotel Transfers: $61
- Vancouver, BC: Scenic Seaplane Transfer to Seattle, WA: $283
- Vancouver to Victoria: Ferry with Bus Transfer: $73
- Vancouver to Victoria, Coach Bus Transfer: $74
- Vancouver to Victoria - Vancouver Hotel Pickup - Coach Bus Transfer: $83
- Vancouver to Victoria - Vancouver Cruise Terminal Pickup - Coach Bus Transfer: $87
- Vancouver to Victoria - Vancouver Airport (YVR) Pickup - Coach Bus Transfer: $87
- Vancouver to Canada Place Cruise Port Departure Private Transfer: $55
Is it cheaper to fly into New York City or Vancouver?
Prices for flights to both Vancouver and New York City 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 dayNew York City $50Vancouver $31
Typical Food Prices in New York City
For New York City, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Gelato$7.50
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Snacks for Two at Yankees Game$34
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Coffee$6.53
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Smoothie$6.95
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in New York City
For New York City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- New York, Queens Culinary Stroll : Food Tour on Foot: $26
- Lower East Side and Essex Market Multicultural Food Tour: $39
- Half-Day Private Pizza Crawl in Manhattan: $40
- New York City Pizza Crawl: Best of Manhattan route: $41
- Shared Food Tour Bohemian Greenwichvillage: $45
- Ultimate Greenwich Village NYC Food Tour: $63
- NYC: Greenwich Village Guided Food Tour: $63
- Pizza Walking Tour of Downtown Brooklyn: $65
- West Village Pizza Walk: $65
- East Village Pizza Walk: $65
- Downtown Brooklyn Pizza Walking Tour: $65
- East Village NYC Pizza Walking Tour: $65
Typical Food Prices in Vancouver
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Vancouver:
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All You Can Eat Sushi Lunch$8.80
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vancouver
For Vancouver, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Vancouver Delicious Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $78
- A Wok Around Food Tour of the Granville Island Public Market: $84
- The Gastown Experience Walking Food Tour: $85
- Experience Gastown Vancouver's Elite Walking Food Tour: $93
- Gastown Historic Walking Food Tour: $100
- North Vancouver Shipyards Food Tour: $108
- Vancouver Authentic Chinese Food Tour: $134
- VIP Granville Island Market Vancouver - Walking Food Tour: $138
- Authentic Asian Eats Walking Food Tour: $142
- 3-Hour Bowen Island Boat Cruise with Dinner: $153
- Vancouver Evening Dinner Cruise: $157
- Granville Island Uncorked Walking Food Tour: $161
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.New York City $180Vancouver $36
Typical Entertainment Prices in New York City
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for New York City's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Comedy Show Tickets$56
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City Map$8.00
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Broadway Musical$111
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Broadway Show Program$10
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Magazine$6.99
Tours and Activities in New York City
For New York City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2-Days Niagara Falls USA, Watkins Glen and Scenic Hotel Tour : $257
- 3 Hour Session at Williamsburg's Adventure Park Area 53: $42
- 9/11 Memorial Tour with Skip-the-Line Museum Ticket: $55
- BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir and Amish FarmNHouse Tour from NY: $137
- Downtown NYC Walking Tour & One World Observatory Standard Admission Ticket: $164
- New York City Ghost Tour of Greenwich Village: $36
- Official Central Park Pedicab Tours: $50
- THE VIP CARRIAGE RIDE with photo stops (50min) ~ Skip the line : $150
- & Juliet on Broadway Ticket : $110
- 1 Day Tour to Philadelphia and Hershey's Chocolate World: $179
- 1 HR - NYC Private Classic Car Experience - Downtown: $249
- 1 HR - NYC Private Classic Car Experience - Midtown: $75
Tours and Activities in Vancouver
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vancouver.
- Guided Bike /E-bike Tour in Whistler From Vancouver: $220
- Half-day Hike and Bike Tour in Vancouver: $131
- Private Vancouver Squamish EUC E-Scooter Bike Tour: $59
- Sunshine Coast Escape (Around Vancouver) Small Group Tour: $145
- Victoria 1-Day Tour From Vancouver: $178
- Whistler Discovery and Waterfalls Small Group Tour: : $198
- $99 Vancouver 2 Hours City Tour Private: $102
- 2-Hour Private Walking Tour - Vancouver's Highlights: $256
- 2-in-1 Vancouver city Tour: $234
- 3-Day Vancouver City Tour Package With Whistler & Victoria: $2,411
- 3hr Private Sightseeing Tour Vancouver (from Vancouver City): $456
- 3hr Private Sightseeing Tour-Vancouver City (fr YVR/Cruise): $583
For more ideas for your next trip, check out The Best Things to do in New York City with Kids, Things to Do in Central Park in NYC, and The Best Museums in New York City.
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNew York City $29Vancouver $16
Sample the Local Flavors in New York City
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in New York City:
- NYC West Village Pub Crawl: $19
- NYC Pub Crawl and Rooftop Clubbing Experience: $29
- New York Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $34
- NYC: Brooklyn Nightlife Pub Crawl: $34
- New York Rooftop Pub Crawl: $39
- NYC: Manhattan's Only Whiskey Distillery Tour & Tasting: $42
- Greenwich Village Literary Pub Crawl: $49
- Broadway Prohibition Pub Crawl: $64
- Little Italy Prohibition Pub Crawl: $64
- East Village Gangster Ghost Pub Crawl: $64
- Lower East Side Prohibition Pub Crawl: $74
- Guided Brooklyn Craft Brewery Tour: $99
Sample the Local Flavors in Vancouver
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Vancouver:
- Vancouver - Granville Pub Crawl ROUTE B: $18
- Gastown Pub Crawl: $22
- Vancouver - Granville Pub Crawl: $26
- Gastown Pub Crawl: $26
- 3.5-Hour Craft Brewery Tour: $84
- Vancouver Craft Brewery Tour: $89
- Vancouver Behind-the-Scenes Brewery Tour: $93
- Fraser Valley Wine Tour: $134
- Fraser Valley Wine Tour with a light Lunch from Vancouver: $134
- Vancouver Wine Tour (Fraser Valley): $134
- From Half-Day Fraser Valley Wine Tour: $138
- Taste of the Valley Wine Tour: $149
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between New York City and Vancouver, we can see that New York City is more expensive. And not only is Vancouver much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Vancouver would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vancouver 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 New York City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in New York City than you might in Vancouver.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is New York City Expensive? and Is Vancouver Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, New York City or Vancouver?
New York City has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Vancouver. When comparing the sizes of New York City and Vancouver, 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.
When is the best time to visit New York City or Vancouver?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit New York City or Vancouver in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both New York City and Vancouver. The summer months attract visitors to New York City because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
New York City is a little warmer than Vancouver in the summer. The daily temperature in New York City averages around 77°F (25°C) in July, and Vancouver fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
New York City gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, New York City usually receives more rain than Vancouver. New York City gets 4.5 inches (114 mm) of rain, while Vancouver receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyNew York City 77°F (25°C)Vancouver 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit New York City or Vancouver in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to New York City as well as Vancouver. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to New York City this time of year.
In the autumn, New York City is a little warmer than Vancouver. Typically, the autumn temperatures in New York City in October average around 57°F (14°C), and Vancouver averages at about 11°C (51°F).
It's quite rainy in Vancouver. New York City usually gets less rain in October than Vancouver. New York City gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Vancouver receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberNew York City 57°F (14°C)Vancouver 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit New York City or Vancouver in the Winter?
Both Vancouver and New York City are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to New York City for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
Vancouver can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in New York City. In January, New York City is generally much colder than Vancouver. Daily temperatures in New York City average around 31°F (-1°C), and Vancouver fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Vancouver. In January, New York City usually receives less rain than Vancouver. New York City gets 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain, while Vancouver receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryNew York City 31°F (-1°C)Vancouver 4°C (40°F)
Should I visit New York City or Vancouver in the Spring?
Both Vancouver and New York City during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to New York City in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
New York City is a little warmer than Vancouver in the spring. The daily temperature in New York City averages around 52°F (11°C) in April, and Vancouver fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).
Vancouver gets a good bit of rain this time of year. New York City usually gets less rain in April than Vancouver. New York City gets 3.8 inches (98 mm) of rain, while Vancouver receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilNew York City 52°F (11°C)Vancouver 9°C (49°F)
Typical Weather for Vancouver and New York City
| New York City | Vancouver | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 31°F (-1°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) | 4°C (40°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Feb | 33°F (1°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) | 6°C (42°F) | 179 mm (7.1 in) |
| Mar | 42°F (6°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) | 7°C (45°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) |
| Apr | 52°F (11°C) | 3.8 inches (98 mm) | 9°C (49°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| May | 63°F (17°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) | 13°C (55°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jun | 72°F (22°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 16°C (60°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jul | 77°F (25°C) | 4.5 inches (114 mm) | 18°C (64°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Aug | 76°F (24°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) | 18°C (64°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 68°F (20°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 15°C (59°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Oct | 57°F (14°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) | 11°C (51°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Nov | 47°F (8°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) | 7°C (44°F) | 234 mm (9.2 in) |
| Dec | 36°F (2°C) | 3.4 inches (88 mm) | 4°C (40°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) |
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.