Which place is cheaper, Jasper National Park or Ottawa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ottawa or Jasper National Park?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ottawa or Jasper National Park? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Ottawa or Jasper National Park?
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital city of Canada, located on the Ontario side of the Ottawa River. A city of many ethnic populations, Ottawa is uniquely bilingual with English as the first language of the population's majority and French as a close second. It is best known as the nation's capital, which is centered on Parliament Hill, an architectural landmark as well as the seat of government.
Jasper National Park
An UNESCO World Heritage Site, Jasper National Park, located in Canada's Alberta Province, is one of a few national and provincial parks that showcase the Canadian Rocky Mountains.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Canada, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Canada, The Best Adventure Tours to Canada, and The Best Eco Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayOttawa $122Jasper National Park $82
The average daily cost (per person) in Ottawa is $122, while the average daily cost in Jasper National Park is $82. 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 Ottawa and Jasper National Park in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personOttawa $18Jasper National Park $45
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomOttawa $36Jasper National Park $90
Compare Hotels in Ottawa and Jasper National Park
Looking for a hotel in Ottawa or Jasper National Park? 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: Ottawa Hotel Prices and Jasper National Park Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ottawa $7.21Jasper National Park $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ottawa
Also for Ottawa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Airport YOW Private Arrival/Departure Shuttle Transfer : $52
- Ottawa to Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier Airport (YOW) - Departure Private Transfer: $65
- Private Arrival Transfer from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Airport YOW: $40
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Jasper National Park
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Jasper National Park are as follows:
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Park Pass$14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jasper National Park
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Jasper National Park:
- Jasper Thermal to Edmonton Airport (YEG) Departure Transfer: $168
- Jasper Thermal Resorts to Calgary Airport YYC Departure Transfer: $168
Is it cheaper to fly into Ottawa or Jasper National Park?
Prices for flights to both Jasper National Park and Ottawa 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 dayOttawa $17Jasper National Park $23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ottawa
For Ottawa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Oh Canada Eh!? Dinner Musical : $71
- Taste of the ByWard Market Food Tour: $78
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jasper National Park
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Jasper National Park.
- Half-Day Jasper Culture Food Tour: $106
- Peak Nic - A hike and an outdoor cooking lesson: $119
- 4-Hours E-Bike Food Tour : $200
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ottawa $40Jasper National Park $7.75
Tours and Activities in Ottawa
For Ottawa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $1.18
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.39
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $6.39
- Ottawa Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.53
- Explore Canada Through Ottawa's Eyes with Walking Tours Through The City: $6.66
- Ottawa's Hidden History: A Self Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Ottawa Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Ottawa by Operation City Quest: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Ottawa by Crazy Dash: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Ottawa by Wacky Walks: $10
- Hidden Gems Guided Walking Tour: $21
- Haunted Night Walking Tour: $21
Tours and Activities in Jasper National Park
Here are a few actual costs in Jasper National Park for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1-Hour Guided Group Fat Bike Tour: $82
- 5.5-Hour Jasper Wildlife and Waterfalls Tour with Maligne Lake Cruise from Jasper: $130
- Canadian Rockies Tour by Chauffeured Sidecar from Jasper: $118
- Class 3 Sunwapta River Rafting Adventure in Jasper: $94
- Columbia Icefield Tour with Glacier Skywalk from Jasper: $221
- Explore Jasper Tour: $121
- Explore Jasper Tour with Maligne Lake Cruise: $177
- From Jasper: Jasper National Park Wildlife Discovery Tour: $53
- Icefields Parkway Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $17
- Jasper Evening Wildlife Tour: $63
- Jasper Ice Climbing Experience: $175
- Jasper National Park Tour: Maligne Valley, Medicine Lake and Spirit Island: $59
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayOttawa $18Jasper National Park $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Ottawa
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Ottawa:
- Epic Ottawa Bar Crawl: By Let’s Roam: $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ottawa and Jasper National Park, we can see that Ottawa is more expensive. And not only is Jasper National Park much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Jasper National Park would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Jasper National Park 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 Ottawa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ottawa than you might in Jasper National Park.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ottawa Expensive? and Is Jasper National Park Expensive?.
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.