Which place is cheaper, Banff or Santa Cruz?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Santa Cruz or Banff?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Santa Cruz or Banff? 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: Santa Cruz or Banff?
Santa Cruz
On the central coast of California in between Monterey Bay and San Jose lies Santa Cruz, California, a laid-back coastal college town with a reputation of locals open to liberal views and accepting of alternative lifestyles. Among its residents are University of California, Santa Cruz students, a large artist colony, and professional surfers.
Banff
Nestled in the pristine and gorgeous mountains of the Alberta Rockies is the popular town of Banff. This town sits right in Canada's Banff National Park and is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.
While the surrounding nature may give the impression of a quiet, little town, Banff is typically crowded with tourists. The beauty of this area is irresistible for travelers from all over the world. This may not be the place for solitude or even an authentic, country experience, you'll still find an unforgettable vacation.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada, and The Best Camping Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySanta Cruz $126Banff $84
The average daily cost (per person) in Santa Cruz is $126, while the average daily cost in Banff is $84. 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 Santa Cruz and Banff in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSanta Cruz $61Banff $38
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSanta Cruz $122Banff $76
Compare Hotels in Santa Cruz and Banff
Looking for a hotel in Santa Cruz or Banff? 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: Santa Cruz Hotel Prices and Banff Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santa Cruz $40Banff $5.18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Banff
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Banff:
- Private Transfer - Between YYC Calgary Airport and Banff: $234
- Private Airport Transfer to Banff: $289
- From Private One-Way Transfer to Calgary: $365
- From 1-Way Private Transfer to Calgary Airport (YYC): $511
- Private Banff National Park Tour with Hotel Transfers: $876
Is it cheaper to fly into Santa Cruz or Banff?
Prices for flights to both Banff and Santa Cruz 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 daySanta Cruz $41Banff $29
Typical Food Prices in Banff
Some typical examples of dining costs in Banff are as follows:
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Tea House Lunch for Two$33
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Hostel Breakfast$27
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McDonalds$4.63
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Banff
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Banff.
- Banff Food Tour: Eat the Castle: $153
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santa Cruz $18Banff $12
Tours and Activities in Santa Cruz
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santa Cruz are as follows:
- Santa Cruz Must Sees: A Self-Guided Driving Tour: $3.99
- Self Guided UC Santa Cruz Walking Tour: Unlock Secret Stories : $20
- Santa Cruz:City Scavenger Hunt Tour with Remote Guide: $25
- Capitola Private 2-Hour Walking Tour: $30
- Half Day Private Beach Tour in Santa Cruz: $35
- Santa Cruz Guided E-Bike Ride & Most Fun Ebike Tour: $120
- Santa Cruz Family Friendly Guided E-bike Tour: $120
- Santa Cruz 2Hour Guided E-bike Tour for Small Groups: $120
- Mermaid Experience & Photoshoot: $190
- Capitola Watercolor Journaling Experience: $297
Typical Entertainment Prices in Banff
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Banff are as follows:
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Hot Springs$5.31
Tours and Activities in Banff
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Banff are as follows:
- Banff self-guided tour App with multi-language audio guide: $2.14
- Tunnel Mountain Trail: Nature Tour with Audio Guide: $5.11
- Tunnel Mountain Trail: a Smartphone Audio Nature Tour : $5.19
- Calgary & Lake Louise: Smartphone Audio Driving Tour: $6.21
- The Sights of a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $6.21
- The Sights of Canmore: a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $6.31
- Smartphone Audio Driving Tour between Banff and Calgary: $6.31
- The Sights of a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $6.31
- Historic Cave & Basin Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $8.49
- Banff National Park: Self-Guided Scenic Driving Tour: $13
- Listen to a Tour Guide as You Drive & Walk with our Discover the Rockies Package: $15
- Banff National Park Self-Guided Driving Tour: $17
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySanta Cruz $8.57Banff $9.34
Sample the Local Flavors in Santa Cruz
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Santa Cruz:
- Sidecar Wine Tour with Guide and Wine Tasting: $199
- Private Brewery Tour: $500
- Private Custom Wine Tour with Hotel Pickup: $750
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santa Cruz and Banff, we can see that Santa Cruz is more expensive. And not only is Banff much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Banff would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Banff 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 Santa Cruz would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santa Cruz than you might in Banff.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santa Cruz Expensive? and Is Banff Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santa Cruz or Banff?
Santa Cruz has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Banff. When comparing the sizes of Santa Cruz and Banff, 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.
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.