Which place is cheaper, Vernon or Ottawa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ottawa or Vernon?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
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.
Where Should I go: Ottawa or Vernon?
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.
Vernon
Vernon is located in British Columbia, Canada. It's in the Okanagan region of the Southern Interior and dates back to 1892. The city has a population of about 40,000 and the Greater Vernon area has a population of about 58,584. It's the largest city in the North Okanagan Regional District. In many ways Vernon feels like most other towns around North America, but if you find yourself here with some time to spare, you can find a handful of activities that will help you see it's unique personality and interesting qualities. The town is most popular for its lakes and beaches during the summer monts, and its skiing and hockey during the winter months.
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 $122Vernon $31
The average daily cost (per person) in Ottawa is $122, while the average daily cost in Vernon is $31. 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.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personOttawa $18Vernon $4.82
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomOttawa $36Vernon $9.64
Compare Hotels in Ottawa and Vernon
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.
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 Vernon Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ottawa $7.21Vernon -
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ottawa
Also for Ottawa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Arrival Transfer from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Airport YOW: $40
- Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Airport YOW Private Arrival/Departure Shuttle Transfer : $52
- Ottawa to Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier Airport (YOW) - Departure Private Transfer: $65
Is it cheaper to fly into Ottawa or Vernon?
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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayOttawa $17Vernon $25
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 : $72
- Taste of the ByWard Market Food Tour: $79
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ottawa $40Vernon -
Tours and Activities in Ottawa
For Ottawa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.42
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $6.42
- Ottawa Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
- Explore Canada Through Ottawa's Eyes with Walking Tours Through The City: $6.72
- Ottawa's Hidden History: A Self Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- A Self Guided Audio Tour of Ottawa's Hidden History: $6.99
- Ottawa Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Ottawa by Wacky Walks: $10
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Ottawa by Operation City Quest: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Ottawa by Crazy Dash: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayOttawa $18Vernon $13
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 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?.
Which is Bigger, Ottawa or Vernon?
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.
When is the best time to visit Ottawa or Vernon?
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.
Should I visit Ottawa or Vernon in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Ottawa as well as Vernon.
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.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyOttawa 21°C (71°F)Vernon 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Ottawa or Vernon in the Autumn?
Both Vernon and Ottawa are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
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.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberOttawa 9°C (48°F)Vernon 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Ottawa or Vernon in the Winter?
Both Vernon and Ottawa during the winter are popular places to visit.
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.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryOttawa -10°C (14°F)Vernon -3°C (27°F)
Should I visit Ottawa or Vernon in the Spring?
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.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilOttawa 6°C (44°F)Vernon 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Vernon and Ottawa
| 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) |
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.