Which place is cheaper, Victoria or Vancouver?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Vancouver and Victoria. 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.
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.
The capital city of British Columbia, Canada, Victoria is positioned near the southern edge of Vancouver Island. It's a wonderfully pleasant city and has been nicknamed the Garden City because of its vast green space and public gardens. There is a population of just over 80,000 in the city proper and almost 350,000 in the greater metropolitan area. Dating back to 1843, it's also one of the oldest cities in the Pacific Northwest. As such, it has many historic buildings and beautiful architecture. It also has the second oldest Chinatown in North America, following San Francisco's.
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.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Vancouver is $141, while the average daily cost in Victoria is $182. 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 Victoria in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Vancouver or Victoria? 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.
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vancouver are as follows:
Also for Vancouver, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Also for Victoria, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Victoria 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.
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Vancouver:
For Vancouver, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
For Victoria, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vancouver.
For Victoria, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Vancouver:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Victoria:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vancouver and Victoria, we can see that Victoria 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 Victoria would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Victoria 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 Vancouver Expensive? and Is Victoria Expensive?.
Vancouver has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Victoria. When comparing the sizes of Vancouver and Victoria, 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.
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.
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Vancouver and Victoria.
In July, Vancouver is generally a little warmer than Victoria. Daily temperatures in Vancouver average around 18°C (64°F), and Victoria fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
In July, Vancouver usually receives more rain than Victoria. Vancouver gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Victoria receives 13 mm (0.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
The autumn brings many poeple to Vancouver as well as Victoria.
Vancouver is around the same temperature as Victoria in the autumn. The daily temperature in Vancouver averages around 11°C (51°F) in October, and Victoria fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).
Vancouver receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Vancouver usually gets more rain in October than Victoria. Vancouver gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Victoria receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Victoria and Vancouver are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities.
Victoria can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Vancouver. In the winter, Vancouver is cooler than Victoria. Typically, the winter temperatures in Vancouver in January average around 4°C (40°F), and Victoria averages at about 5°C (41°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Victoria. It's quite rainy in Vancouver. In January, Vancouver usually receives more rain than Victoria. Vancouver gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Victoria receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Both Victoria and Vancouver during the spring are popular places to visit.
In April, Vancouver is generally around the same temperature as Victoria. Daily temperatures in Vancouver average around 9°C (49°F), and Victoria fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Vancouver. Vancouver usually gets more rain in April than Victoria. Vancouver gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Victoria receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
Vancouver | Victoria | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 4°C (40°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
Feb | 6°C (42°F) | 179 mm (7.1 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
Mar | 7°C (45°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 67 mm (2.7 in) |
Apr | 9°C (49°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
May | 13°C (55°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
Jun | 16°C (60°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
Jul | 18°C (64°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) |
Aug | 18°C (64°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 19 mm (0.8 in) |
Sep | 15°C (59°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
Oct | 11°C (51°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
Nov | 7°C (44°F) | 234 mm (9.2 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
Dec | 4°C (40°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 153 mm (6 in) |