Which place is cheaper, Vancouver or Palm Springs?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Palm Springs or Vancouver?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Palm Springs and Vancouver can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Palm Springs or Vancouver?
Palm Springs
Palm Springs is a desert resort town located about two hours east of Los Angeles, most famously known as Hollywood's playground, where stars and starlets could escape for rest and relaxation but still be close enough to return for impromptu work.
It's no wonder that Palm Springs is increasingly popular as a weekend getaway for special occasions, and even for bachelor and bachelorette parties. Closer than the typical Las Vegas weekend for Southern California residents, Palm Springs provides a desert getaway with endless possibilities of activities, whether visitors want to gamble, shop, hike, or wander through an art gallery.
Climate in the high-desert is generally warm with highs in the 100s during the hot and dry summers, and lows in the mid 40s in the winter months, with sparse rainfall. However, if you're visiting during winter, be sure to pack versatile attire and layers as the days may be warm, but the nights in the low desert can get chilly enough to convince you to change into long pants.
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 2-Week Tours from San Francisco, The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles, 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 dayPalm Springs $206Vancouver $141
The average daily cost (per person) in Palm Springs is $206, 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 Palm Springs and Vancouver in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPalm Springs $120Vancouver $87
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPalm Springs $240Vancouver $174
Compare Hotels in Palm Springs and Vancouver
Looking for a hotel in Palm Springs 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: Palm Springs Hotel Prices and Vancouver Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Palm Springs $52Vancouver $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Palm Springs
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Palm Springs:
- Palm Springs Airport to Snow Summit - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $262
- Private Airport Transfer in Palm Springs: $195
- Palm Springs Airport to Desert Hot Springs Round-Trip Transfer: $175
- Palm Springs Airport (PSP) to LOS ANGELES - Arrival Private Transfer: $171
- Palm Springs Airport (PSP) to INDIAN WELLS - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $162
- Private Transfer from PSP to Palm Desert / Indian Wells: $135
- Palm Springs Airport PSP to Snow Summit-Arrival Private Transfer: $131
- Palm Springs Airport (PSP) to LA QUINTA/INDIO - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $129
- Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) to SANTA ANA - Arrival Private Transfer: $128
- Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) to ONTARIO - Arrival Private Transfer: $105
- Desert Hot Springs to Palm Springs Airport Departure Transfer: $87
- Palm Springs Airport (PSP) to Desert Hot Springs Private Transfer: $87
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:
- Private Departure Transfer to Vancouver Airport (YVR): $32
- Vancouver Airport-Cypress/Grouse Mountain Private Transfer: $38
- Vancouver Airport (YVR) to White Rock - Arrival Private Transfer: $46
- White Rock to Vancouver Airport (YVR) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- Canada Place Port to Vancouver Airport(YVR) - Departure Transfer : $55
- Vancouver Airport (YVR) to Canada Place Port - Arrival Transfer: $55
- City Highlights Tour with Hotel Transfers: $61
- Vancouver to Victoria: Ferry with Bus Transfer: $73
- Vancouver to Victoria, Coach Bus Transfer: $74
- Private Transfer from Canada Place Cruise Terminal to any Hotel: $74
- Vancouver Airport (YVR) to Whistler - Arrival Private Transfer: $76
- Vancouver to Victoria - Vancouver Hotel Pickup - Coach Bus Transfer: $83
Is it cheaper to fly into Palm Springs or Vancouver?
Prices for flights to both Vancouver and Palm Springs 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 dayPalm Springs $53Vancouver $31
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:
- A Wok Around Food Tour of the Granville Island Public Market: $84
- The Gastown Experience Walking Food Tour: $85
- Gastown Historic Walking Food Tour: $100
- Vancouver Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $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
- Bowen Island Dinner and Zodiac Boat Tour by Vancouver Water Adventures: $163
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Palm Springs $29Vancouver $36
Tours and Activities in Palm Springs
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Palm Springs are as follows:
- 10+ Self-Guided Driving Tours from Las Vegas: $50
- 100+ Self Guided Driving & Walking Tours by Action: $100
- Best of Palm Springs Small Group Tour w/ Aerial Tram: $166
- Covered Wagon Adventure & BBQ: $129
- Death Valley National Park Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour: $17
- Desert Healing Experience: $175
- Earthquake Canyon Express Downhill Bicycle Adventure: $139
- Food Adventure Game: $99
- Indian Canyons Walking Tour by Jeep from Palm Springs: $200
- Joshua Tree National Park Driving Tour : $235
- Joshua Tree National Park Offroad Tour: $235
- Joshua Tree National Park Scenic Tour: $149
Tours and Activities in Vancouver
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vancouver.
- Vancouver self-guided tour App - multilingual AudioGuide: $4.28
- Self-Guided Smartphone Walking Tour of Gastown: $4.74
- Self-Guided Smartphone Walking Tour of Gastown: $4.82
- Discover Stanley Park with a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.11
- Fort Langley: a Film & Television Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.19
- Discover Stanley Park with a Smartphone Audio Tour: $5.19
- Cycling the Seawall: A Self-Guided Audio Tour Along the Stanley Park Seawall: $5.46
- Historic Walking Tours of Vancouver with Then & Now Images!: $6.68
- Walking Tour Along Stanley Park's Seawall: $6.68
- Vancouver Downtown: Espionage Adventure Outdoor Escape Game: $6.94
- Self-Guided Smartphone Tour of Stanley Park: $7.30
- Self-Guided Smartphone Walking Tours of Stanley Park: $7.42
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPalm Springs $13Vancouver $16
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
- 3.5-Hour Craft Brewery Tour: $84
- 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: $148
- Stawamus Chief Hike and Local Brewery Tasting: $164
- Fraser Valley & White Rock Premium Public Wine Tour: $166
- Stawamus Chief Hike & Local Brewery Tasting : $167
- Full-Day Private Fraser Valley Wine Tour from Vancouver: $189
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Palm Springs and Vancouver, we can see that Palm Springs 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 Palm Springs would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Palm Springs 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 Palm Springs Expensive? and Is Vancouver Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Palm Springs or Vancouver?
Vancouver has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Palm Springs. When comparing the sizes of Palm Springs 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 Palm Springs or Vancouver?
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 Palm Springs or Vancouver in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Palm Springs as well as Vancouver. Many visitors come to Palm Springs in the summer for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.
Palm Springs is a little warmer than Vancouver in the summer. The daily temperature in Palm Springs averages around 73°F (23°C) in July, and Vancouver fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
Palm Springs usually gets less rain in July than Vancouver. Palm Springs gets 0 inches (1 mm) of rain, while Vancouver receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPalm Springs 73°F (23°C)Vancouver 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Palm Springs or Vancouver in the Autumn?
Both Vancouver and Palm Springs are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Palm Springs for the hiking trails and the shopping scene during these months.
In the autumn, Palm Springs is much warmer than Vancouver. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Palm Springs in October average around 69°F (20°C), and Vancouver averages at about 11°C (51°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Vancouver. In October, Palm Springs usually receives less rain than Vancouver. Palm Springs gets 0.3 inches (7 mm) of rain, while Vancouver receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPalm Springs 69°F (20°C)Vancouver 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Palm Springs or Vancouver in the Winter?
Both Vancouver and Palm Springs during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Palm Springs because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
It's quite cold in Vancouver in the winter. In January, Palm Springs is generally much warmer than Vancouver. Daily temperatures in Palm Springs average around 57°F (14°C), and Vancouver fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).
Vancouver gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Palm Springs usually gets less rain in January than Vancouver. Palm Springs gets 2 inches (52 mm) of rain, while Vancouver receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPalm Springs 57°F (14°C)Vancouver 4°C (40°F)
Should I visit Palm Springs or Vancouver in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Palm Springs and Vancouver.
Palm Springs is much warmer than Vancouver in the spring. The daily temperature in Palm Springs averages around 62°F (17°C) in April, and Vancouver fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).
Vancouver receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Palm Springs usually receives less rain than Vancouver. Palm Springs gets 0.9 inches (24 mm) of rain, while Vancouver receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPalm Springs 62°F (17°C)Vancouver 9°C (49°F)
Typical Weather for Vancouver and Palm Springs
| Palm Springs | Vancouver | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 57°F (14°C) | 2 inches (52 mm) | 4°C (40°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Feb | 58°F (15°C) | 2.3 inches (58 mm) | 6°C (42°F) | 179 mm (7.1 in) |
| Mar | 59°F (15°C) | 2.2 inches (57 mm) | 7°C (45°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) |
| Apr | 62°F (17°C) | 0.9 inches (24 mm) | 9°C (49°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| May | 65°F (18°C) | 0.2 inches (6 mm) | 13°C (55°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jun | 69°F (20°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) | 16°C (60°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jul | 73°F (23°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) | 18°C (64°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Aug | 74°F (24°C) | 0.2 inches (4 mm) | 18°C (64°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 73°F (23°C) | 0.4 inches (9 mm) | 15°C (59°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Oct | 69°F (20°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) | 11°C (51°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Nov | 62°F (17°C) | 1.5 inches (39 mm) | 7°C (44°F) | 234 mm (9.2 in) |
| Dec | 57°F (14°C) | 1.7 inches (42 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.