Which place is cheaper, Vernon or Ottawa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Should I visit Ottawa or Vernon? 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.
Ottawa is a welcoming, cultural, and friendly city. Other popular activities here include museums, food, and shopping. See Ottawa travel costs.
Vernon is a quiet, peaceful, and relaxing town. It's also popular because of the hiking, shopping, and museums. See Vernon travel costs.
Travelers will usually find more to do in Vernon. Although Ottawa and Vernon are popular destinations, Vernon has more sights and attractions for tourists. Vernon is very popular for its hiking, while Ottawa attracts visitors for its museums and attractions. Vernon is more touristy than Ottawa and is popular for its surrounding valley with lakes and hiking trails. It is also well known for Davison Orchards Country Village. Ottawa is famous for its history, politics, and green space.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Vernon and Ottawa. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Ottawa is a well-known place for its sights and museums. Also, Vernon is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its museums and history.
With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Ottawa can be an interesting and educational experience. As the country's capital, there are a large number of museums to explore. There are summer national museums in town which include the National Gallery of Canada, the Museum of History, the Science and Technology Museum, the Aviation and Space Museum, the Agriculture and Food Museum, the Museum of Nature, and the War Museum.
Vernon is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are local galleries and museums that offer information on the region's history and culture. You can visit the Canadian Wildlife Museum, the Caetani Center, the Museum and Archives of Vernon, the Paddlewheel Park Stationhouse Museum, and the Vernon Public Art Gallery.
Foodies will find both Ottawa and Vernon both to be nice destinations.
Ottawa is becoming an appealing option for foodies. The culinary scene highlights many Canadian classics like poutine and maple donuts (and, of course, the classic Tim Horton's), but you'll also find plenty of international options like shawarma.
Vernon offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. The region is known for its vineyards and wineries and many of the local restaurants have been around for generations. The food is often locally produced and prepared with traditional recipes.
The reasonable nightlife scene is relatively similar in Ottawa and Vernon.
Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Ottawa. It's not the first place that comes to mind when you think about partying, but there are live music venues and a some great bars around town.
Vernon is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. The town gets very quiet in the evenings, so you won't find much of a nightlife scene.
Vernon is a very popular place for its hiking trails. However, Ottawa is not a hiking destination.
Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Vernon. The surrounding valley has more than 300 kilometers of hiking trails. They run along pristine lakes, pass by granite rock formations, and take you to impressive viewpoints.
Ottawa is not a hiking destination.
Shoppers can find a variety of nice stores in both Ottawa and Vernon.
Ottawa has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. You'll find large malls, outlets, and shopping streets that are fun to browse. Some of the favorite shopping areas include ByWard Market, Sparks Street, and CF Rideau Centre.
Vernon is a great destination for shopping. There are a number of boutique shops that are fun to explore in the downtown area.
Kids will enjoy a visit to either Ottawa or Vernon.
Ottawa is a family-friendly city. As the country's capital, you'll find a number of museums that will keep a kid's attention. In particular, check out the aviation, science, and nature museums. If you have a car, you can head out to Calypso Water Park, which is fun as well.
You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Vernon. There are biking and hiking trails as well as other outdoor activities. You can also visit the Allan Brooks Nature Center or the Rock Garden Climbing Center.
With fun activities for couples, both Ottawa and Vernon make for a nice place to visit.
Ottawa is a good city for couples to visit. The city is filled with parks and green spaces where you can enjoy flowers or peaceful walks. Commissioners Park is particularly nice and known for its tulips during the spring season. Dow's Lake is a nice place for ice skating in the winter or kayaking in the summer. The city also offers a number of romantic restaurants and charming hotels.
Vernon is a nice destination for couples. It offers a peaceful getaway for couples. You can visit the Okanagan wineries or enjoy one of the many hiking trails. There are also nice restaurants to try.
Ottawa is a nice place to visit for backpackers. However, Vernon is not a good town for backpackers and budget travelers.
It's common for backpackers to visit Ottawa. Although the city is often overlooked by tourists, there are a surprising number of hostels around town.
Vernon is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There is a hostel in town, but this isn't a popular destination for backpackers.
Ottawa is a nice place to visit for students. However, Vernon is not popular with students.
Ottawa is a good city to visit for students. It appeals to international and Canadian students alike. It's known for its livability and diverse cultural scene.
Vernon is not popular with students.
Ottawa is a nice place to visit for its public transit. However, Vernon is not a good town for times when you don't have a car.
Ottawa has a few public transit options. There is both a public bus and light rail system.
Public transit is mostly limited in Vernon. There is a bus system, but it's better not to rely on it.
Ottawa is a nice place to visit for its ease of walking around. However, Vernon is not a good town for its walkability.
Ottawa is a somewhat walkable city. Many of the urban neighborhoods are very walkable.
Vernon is generally not a very walkable city. You'll really want to have a car to make the most of your time here.
For even more information, also check out Is Ottawa Worth Visiting? and Is Vernon Worth Visiting?.
Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Ottawa and Vernon. In our opinion, Ottawa has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Ottawa than Vernon. In general, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Ottawa, and 1-3 days is enough time in Vernon.
Families should spend more time in Ottawa than Vernon. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Ottawa, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Ottawa than Vernon. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Ottawa that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Ottawa than Vernon if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Ottawa.
Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the destination of Ottawa. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.
Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the destination of Vernon. Hikers are also drawn to this area. One day is often enough time to do most activities.
Ottawa is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.
Vernon is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Ottawa. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Vernon. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the welcoming destination of Ottawa. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.
Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the peaceful destination of Vernon. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.
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.
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 Ottawa is $127, while the average daily cost in Vernon is $46. 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 Vernon in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Ottawa or Vernon? 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.
Also for Ottawa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Vernon 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.
For Ottawa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
For Ottawa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Ottawa:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ottawa and Vernon, we can see that Ottawa is more expensive. And not only is Vernon much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Vernon would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vernon 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 Vernon.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ottawa Expensive? and Is Vernon Expensive?.
Ottawa has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Vernon. When comparing the sizes of Ottawa and Vernon, 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.
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
The summer brings many poeple to Ottawa as well as Vernon. Many travelers come to Ottawa for the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, many visitors come to Vernon in the summer for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.
Ottawa is around the same temperature as Vernon in the summer. The daily temperature in Ottawa averages around 21°C (71°F) in July, and Vernon fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
Ottawa usually gets more rain in July than Vernon. Ottawa gets 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Vernon receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Vernon and Ottawa are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Ottawa in the autumn for the shopping scene. Also, most visitors come to Vernon for the hiking trails and the shopping scene during these months.
In the autumn, Ottawa is cooler than Vernon. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Ottawa in October average around 9°C (48°F), and Vernon averages at about 11°C (51°F).
In October, Ottawa usually receives more rain than Vernon. Ottawa gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Vernon receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Both Vernon and Ottawa during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Ottawa for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Vernon because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
The weather in Vernon can be very cold. Ottawa can be very cold during winter. In January, Ottawa is generally much colder than Vernon. Daily temperatures in Ottawa average around -10°C (14°F), and Vernon fluctuates around -3°C (27°F).
Ottawa usually gets more rain in January than Vernon. Ottawa gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Vernon receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain this time of the year.
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Ottawa and Vernon.
Ottawa is much colder than Vernon in the spring. The daily temperature in Ottawa averages around 6°C (44°F) in April, and Vernon fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
In April, Ottawa usually receives more rain than Vernon. Ottawa gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Vernon receives 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Ottawa | Vernon | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | -10°C (14°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | -3°C (27°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
Feb | -9°C (16°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
Mar | -2°C (28°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
Apr | 6°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
May | 13°C (56°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
Jun | 19°C (65°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
Jul | 21°C (71°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
Aug | 20°C (68°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
Sep | 15°C (59°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
Oct | 9°C (48°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
Nov | 2°C (36°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
Dec | -7°C (20°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | -1°C (30°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |