Which place is cheaper, Halifax or Vancouver?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Vancouver or Halifax?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Vancouver and Halifax. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Vancouver or Halifax?
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.
Halifax
The quaint and charming coastal town of Halifax, Nova Scotia has an interesting personality. While it caters to travelers from all over the world, it maintains the pace and lifestyle of a small town.
Steeped in maritime history, Halifax is the capital of Nova Scotia, and one of the world's greatest natural harbors. This busy seaport serves as the economic and cultural hub of Eastern Canada.
When planning your trip keep in mind that this city has a climate like other coastal cities. Summers are nice with the occasional humidity. Winters are mild, but still full of snow and wind. The best time of year to visit is most certainly the fall.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Vancouver, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Canada, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVancouver $142Halifax $115
The average daily cost (per person) in Vancouver is $142, while the average daily cost in Halifax is $115. 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 Vancouver and Halifax in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVancouver $87Halifax $66
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVancouver $174Halifax $132
Compare Hotels in Vancouver and Halifax
Looking for a hotel in Vancouver or Halifax? 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: Vancouver Hotel Prices and Halifax Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Vancouver $12Halifax $17
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vancouver
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vancouver are as follows:
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SkyTrain from Airport$6.41
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Taxi from Airport to Downtown$21
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15 min Taxi Ride$8.80
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SkyTrain DayPass$6.60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vancouver
Also for Vancouver, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- YVR Airport: Private Airport Transfer to/from Vancouver: $51
- White Rock to Vancouver Airport (YVR) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- YVR Airport Transfer to Squamish: $411
- YVR Airport Transfer to Fraser Valley: $618
- Transfer Downtown - Canada Place Cruise Terminal: $138
- Private Transfer to Whistler with Sightseeing: $546
- Private Transfer to Whistler: $468
- Private Transfer to Ferry Terminal: $175
- Private Transfer from YVR Airport To Whistler: $509
- Private Transfer - Canada Place Cruise Terminal: $73
- North Shore Mountains Snowshoeing with Transfer: $116
- City Highlights Tour with Hotel Transfers: $60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Halifax
Also for Halifax, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- YHZ airprot / Halifax to Sydney Private Transfer.: $618
- Halifax Stanfield Airport (YHZ): Transfer to Halifax Port: $212
- Halifax Cruise Port: Private Transfer to Halifax hotels: $135
- From Peggy’s Cove Small-Group Tour with Transfers: $79
- Halifax Airport (YHZ) to Halifax Cruise Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $69
- Transfer to/from Stanfield International Airport: $44
- Private Transfer from Halifax Stanfield Airport to Halifax: $36
- Halifax Stanfield Airport (YHZ) to Halifax Port-Arrival Transfer: $34
- Halifax Stanfield Airport(YHZ) to Halifax Port - Arrival Transfer: $34
Is it cheaper to fly into Vancouver or Halifax?
Prices for flights to both Halifax and Vancouver 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 dayVancouver $31Halifax $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$8.88
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vancouver
For Vancouver, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Vancouver Delicious Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $62
- A Wok Around Food Tour of the Granville Island Public Market: $83
- Vancouver Shipyards Food Tour: $85
- Experience Gastown Vancouver's Elite Walking Food Tour: $93
- Gastown Historic Walking Food Tour: $100
- Vancouver Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $100
- Private Historical Food Tour of Gastown : $107
- Granvile Island Vancouver's Elite Walking Food Tour: $112
- VIP Access Granville Island Market Walking Food Tour: $113
- Evening Cruise with Dinner Buffet: $123
- VIP Granville Island Market Vancouver - Walking Food Tour: $124
- Vancouver Authentic Chinese Food Tour: $133
Typical Food Prices in Halifax
For Halifax, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Bluenose II Restaurant$45
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Halifax
For Halifax, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Peggy's Cove Small Group Night Tour with Dinner: $159
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Vancouver $36Halifax $28
Tours and Activities in Vancouver
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vancouver.
- Guided Bike /E-bike Tour in Whistler From Vancouver: $219
- Half-day Hike and Bike Tour in Vancouver: $130
- Private tour by car from Vancouver to Squamish with E-Scooters: $96
- Tour in a Mountain canyon and Ocean view from the Rock: $111
- $99 Vancouver 2 Hours City Tour Private: $102
- 2 Days Leavenworth Christmastown Tour from Vancouver (Chn&Eng): $192
- 2-day Seattle Tour from Vancouver（Chinese&English）: $274
- 2-in-1 Vancouver city Tour: $233
- 3 Days Leavenworth & Portland X'mas Tour from Vancouver (Chn&Eng): $288
- 3-Day Vancouver City Tour Package With Whistler & Victoria: $2,400
- 3-Hour Private Walking Tour of Vancouver's Highlights: $300
- 3hr Private Sightseeing Tour Vancouver (from Vancouver City): $454
Tours and Activities in Halifax
For Halifax, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Exlore Halifax with 3 Unique Smartphone Audio Walking Tours: $13
- From City and Peggy's Cove Sunset Guided Tour: $65
- From Small Group Lunenberg Express Tour: $119
- Halifax Boardwalk and Seaport: Smartphone Audio Tour: $5.09
- Halifax City Sightseeing Tour: $87
- Halifax self-guided walking tour and scavenger hunt: $42
- Churches, Gardens, & Graveyards Smartphone Tour: $5.09
- City Segway Tour: $67
- Discover the Halifax Explosion Audio Walking Tour: $5.09
- Guided Harbourfront Food Walking Tour: $119
- Harbour Hopper City & Water Cruise in a Duck Boat: $57
- Peggy's Cove, Lunenburg, and Annapolis Valley Tour: $189
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVancouver $16Halifax $15
Sample the Local Flavors in Vancouver
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Vancouver:
- Vancouver Mansions Pub Crawl: $22
- Gastown Pub Crawl: $22
- Vancouver - Granville Pub Crawl: $25
- Gastown Pub Crawl: $26
- 3.5-Hour Craft Brewery Tour: $84
- Vancouver Craft Brewery Tour Led by a Local: $89
- Vancouver Behind-the-Scenes Brewery Tour: $93
- Fraser Valley Wine Tour: $133
- From Half-Day Fraser Valley Wine Tour: $137
- Fraser Valley & White Rock Premium Public Wine Tour: $166
- Stawamus Chief Hike and Local Brewery Tasting: $171
- Full-Day Private Fraser Valley Wine Tour from Vancouver: $191
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vancouver and Halifax, we can see that Vancouver is more expensive. And not only is Halifax much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Halifax would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Halifax 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 Vancouver would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Vancouver than you might in Halifax.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Vancouver Expensive? and Is Halifax Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Vancouver or Halifax?
Vancouver has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Halifax. When comparing the sizes of Vancouver and Halifax, 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 Vancouver or Halifax?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Vancouver or Halifax in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Vancouver and Halifax.
Vancouver is around the same temperature as Halifax in the summer. The daily temperature in Vancouver averages around 18°C (64°F) in July, and Halifax fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Halifax this time of the year. In Vancouver, it's very sunny this time of the year. Vancouver usually receives more sunshine than Halifax during summer. Vancouver gets 296 hours of sunny skies, while Halifax receives 230 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Vancouver usually receives less rain than Halifax. Vancouver gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Halifax receives 99 mm (3.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyVancouver 18°C (64°F)Halifax 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Vancouver or Halifax in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Vancouver as well as Halifax.
In the autumn, Vancouver is around the same temperature as Halifax. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Vancouver in October average around 11°C (51°F), and Halifax averages at about 10°C (49°F).
In the autumn, Vancouver often gets less sunshine than Halifax. Vancouver gets 124 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Halifax receives 148 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Halifax. Vancouver receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Vancouver usually gets more rain in October than Halifax. Vancouver gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Halifax receives 121 mm (4.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberVancouver 11°C (51°F)Halifax 10°C (49°F)
Should I visit Vancouver or Halifax in the Winter?
Both Halifax and Vancouver are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities.
It's quite cold in Halifax in the winter. The weather in Vancouver can be very cold. In January, Vancouver is generally much warmer than Halifax. Daily temperatures in Vancouver average around 4°C (40°F), and Halifax fluctuates around -4°C (24°F).
Vancouver usually receives less sunshine than Halifax during winter. Vancouver gets 55 hours of sunny skies, while Halifax receives 111 hours of full sun in the winter.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Halifax. It's quite rainy in Vancouver. In January, Vancouver usually receives more rain than Halifax. Vancouver gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Halifax receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryVancouver 4°C (40°F)Halifax -4°C (24°F)
Should I visit Vancouver or Halifax in the Spring?
Both Halifax and Vancouver during the spring are popular places to visit.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Halifax. Vancouver is much warmer than Halifax in the spring. The daily temperature in Vancouver averages around 9°C (49°F) in April, and Halifax fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).
In the spring, Vancouver often gets more sunshine than Halifax. Vancouver gets 172 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Halifax receives 148 hours of full sun.
Halifax gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Vancouver. Vancouver usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Halifax. Vancouver gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Halifax receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilVancouver 9°C (49°F)Halifax 4°C (39°F)
Typical Weather for Halifax and Vancouver
| Vancouver | Halifax | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 4°C (40°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | -4°C (24°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (42°F) | 179 mm (7.1 in) | -5°C (24°F) | 108 mm (4.2 in) |
| Mar | 7°C (45°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) | -1°C (31°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Apr | 9°C (49°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| May | 13°C (55°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Jun | 16°C (60°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Jul | 18°C (64°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Aug | 18°C (64°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Sep | 15°C (59°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (51°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 121 mm (4.7 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (44°F) | 234 mm (9.2 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (40°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) | -1°C (29°F) | 152 mm (6 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.