Which place is cheaper, Edmonton or Vail?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Vail or Edmonton?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Vail or Edmonton? 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: Vail or Edmonton?
Vail
Vail is one of the premier ski resort areas in the United States. Located in central Colorado, Vail is not far from Denver and situated in the heart of the Rockies. Here you'll find a quaint mountain town designed around tourism, especially for the winter, although plenty of visitors come in the warmer months, too.
High-end hotels, condos, and other accommodation options are surrounded by shops and restaurants that are all somewhat expensive compared to other costs in the United States. Because of this, Vail is definitely not considered an "affordable" travel option for many. However, good deals can be found if you look around and do some research.
Edmonton
The capital of Alberta, Canada, Edmonton has a population of just over one million people in its metropolitan area. It is also North America's northernmost city of this large size. It's a beautiful place to visit because of the North Saskatchewan River Valley which has over one hundred kilometers of hiking trails, wildlife spotting, and overlooks. The valley has a string of parks which are wonderful to visit. In addition to the beautiful outdoor setting and activities, Edmonton also offers the largest shopping mall in North America, West Edmonton Mall. It's also a city with a lot of culture including a lively theater scene, many different festivals, and no shortage of sporting events that you could attend.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, The Best Contiki Tours to Canada, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Canada.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVail $291Edmonton $179
The average daily cost (per person) in Vail is $291, while the average daily cost in Edmonton is $179. 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 Vail and Edmonton in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVail $174Edmonton $101
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVail $348Edmonton $202
Compare Hotels in Vail and Edmonton
Looking for a hotel in Vail or Edmonton? 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: Vail Hotel Prices and Edmonton Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Vail $19Edmonton $79
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vail
Also for Vail, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Eagle County Airport(EGE) to Steamboat - Arrival Private Transfer: $76
- Eagle Airport (EGE) to Glenwood Springs Resorts Arrival Transfer: $76
- Eagle County Airport to Breckenridge Keystone: Arrival Transfer: $93
- Vail/Beaver Creek/Avon to Eagle County Airport-Departure Transfer: $114
- Eagle County Airport to Vail/Beaver Creek/Avon-Arrival Transfer: $115
- Eagle County Regional (EGE) to Steamboat Springs-Arrival Transfer: $120
- Eagle County Airport to Steamboat Springs-Round-Trip Transfer: $120
- Private Departure Transfer to Vail Airport EGE: $128
- Eagle Airport (EGE) to Glenwood Resorts Round-Trip Transfer: $153
- Eagle County Airport to Steamboat - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $153
- Private Arrival Transfer from Vail Airport EGE: $156
- Vail/Beaver Creek/Avon to Denver Airport DEN - Departure Transfer: $218
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Edmonton
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Edmonton:
- Private Departure Transfer from Hotels to Edmonton Airport: $43
- Edmonton to Edmonton Airport (YEG) - Departure Private Transfer: $43
Is it cheaper to fly into Vail or Edmonton?
Prices for flights to both Edmonton and Vail 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
-
Food Meals for one dayVail $74Edmonton $16
Typical Food Prices in Edmonton
Some typical examples of dining costs in Edmonton are as follows:
-
Snacks$7.26
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Vail $133Edmonton $91
Tours and Activities in Vail
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vail.
- Smartphone Driving Tour between Denver & Vail / Breckenridge: $7.99
- Save the Mountain Escape Room Adventure: $45
- Vail Segway Tour from Vail Village: $89
- Stand Up Paddle Board Colorado River Adventure: Guided Half Day : $98
- Inflatable Kayak Adventure Colorado River: Half Day Guided Tour : $109
- Bike Tour or Mountain Bike down Vail Mountain: $120
- Dillon Marina & Shopping Tour: $267
Tours and Activities in Edmonton
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Edmonton are as follows:
- Discover the Early History of Strathcona with Historic Walking Tour: $4.46
- Edmonton River Valley 60-Minute Segway Adventure: $45
- Edmonton River Valley 90-Minute Segway Adventure: $63
- Edmonton Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- 1-Hour Segway Adventure in Louise McKinney Park: $44
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Romantic Tour Around Edmonton For Couples: $224
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Edmonton by Crazy Dash: $10
- The Best of Edmonton Walking Tour: $224
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayVail $9.79Edmonton -
Sample the Local Flavors in Edmonton
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Edmonton:
- Edmonton Brewery Tour: $105
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vail and Edmonton, we can see that Vail is more expensive. And not only is Edmonton much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Edmonton would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Edmonton 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 Vail would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Vail than you might in Edmonton.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Vail Expensive? and Is Edmonton Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Vail or Edmonton?
Edmonton has a larger population, and is about 160 times larger than the population of Vail. When comparing the sizes of Vail and Edmonton, 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.