Which place is cheaper, Whistler or Victoria?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Victoria or Whistler?
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 Victoria and Whistler. 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: Victoria or Whistler?
Victoria
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.
Whistler
Located in the province of British Columbia in Canada, Whistler is most famous as the largest ski area in North America. It is also only a short distance from the city of Vancouver, and offers countless opportunities for snow boarding and other winter sports. The town has a permanent population of almost 10,000 and there is a larger seasonal population of workers that come from all over the world. Whistler is a major travel destination with more than two million people visiting the town yearly. As such, there are countless amenities available to visitors. Hotels can vary dramatically in price and quality. There are some budget options, including a couple of hostels in the area, but most people do not visit Whistler as a budget travel destination. It's usually an expensive vacation, but few would argue that it isn't worth the cost.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Canada, The Best Eco Tours in Canada, The Best Train & Rail Tours in Canada, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVictoria $182Whistler $125
The average daily cost (per person) in Victoria is $182, while the average daily cost in Whistler is $125. 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 Victoria and Whistler in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVictoria $113Whistler $65
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVictoria $226Whistler $130
Compare Hotels in Victoria and Whistler
Looking for a hotel in Victoria or Whistler? 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: Victoria Hotel Prices and Whistler Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Victoria $37Whistler $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Victoria
Also for Victoria, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Victoria to Vancouver Ferry with Bus Transfer: $72
- Victoria to Vancouver - Coach Bus Transfer: $74
- Victoria to Vancouver - Vancouver Hotel Drop Off - Coach Bus Transfer: $83
- Victoria to Vancouver - Vancouver Airport (YVR) Drop Off - Coach Bus Transfer: $88
- Vancouver: Seaplane Transfer between Vancouver & Victoria: $205
- Seaplane Transfer between Victoria and Whistler: $217
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Whistler
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Whistler:
- Vancouver: Seaplane Transfer between Vancouver & Whistler: $160
- Private Transfer from Whistler to Richmond BC: $630
- Private Transfer from Whistler to Downtown Vancouver: $567
Is it cheaper to fly into Victoria or Whistler?
Prices for flights to both Whistler and Victoria 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 dayVictoria $27Whistler $30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Victoria
For Victoria, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Chocolate Lovers Food Tour: $44
- Chinatown and Old Town Food Tour with Tastings: $58
- Hip & Hidden Chinatown + Old Town Food Tour Victoria: $60
- Victoria Delicious Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $73
- Sip, Savor, Stroll Evening Food Tour: $145
Typical Food Prices in Whistler
Some typical examples of dining costs in Whistler are as follows:
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Coffee at Starbucks$12
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Tim Hortons Breakfast$12
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Coffee at Timmy's$3.63
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Whistler
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Whistler.
- Finer Things: 4-Course Dinner Tour in Whistler: $130
- Finer Things Dinner Tour in Whistler: $145
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Victoria $45Whistler $78
Tours and Activities in Victoria
For Victoria, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Victoria self-guided tour App - multilingual AudioGuide: $4.27
- Victoria Harbor: Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.08
- 2.5-hour Tips-Based City Walking Tour: $6.54
- Victoria, BC: Murder Mystery Detective Experience: $11
- Scavenger Hunt and City Highlights Walking Tour: $13
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
- Experience Victoria by Foot Walking Tour: $15
- Butterfly Gardens Admission Ticket: $15
- Ghostly Walking Tour in Victoria: $16
- Cultural & Historical Victoria Walking Tour: $16
- Malahat SkyWalk General Admission Tickets: $29
- Experience Victoria City Tour: $36
Typical Entertainment Prices in Whistler
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Whistler are as follows:
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Driving Range$15
Tours and Activities in Whistler
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Whistler are as follows:
- 2 Hour Late Afternoon Winter Zipline Adventure: $112
- Audain Art Museum Admission Ticket: $16
- Call of the Wild ATV Tour: $156
- Callaghan Cruiser Snowmobile Tour : $211
- Fishing Adventure in Whistler: $141
- Full Day Fly Fishing Tour: $250
- Full Day Spin Fishing Tour: $250
- Glacier Sightseeing Experience by Seaplane from Whistler: $179
- Guided Lunch Tour in Whistler: $89
- Half Day Fly Fishing Tour: $195
- Half Day Spin Fishing Tour: $195
- Ice Fishing Adventure in Whistler: $141
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVictoria $16Whistler $8.72
Sample the Local Flavors in Victoria
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Victoria:
- Guided Pub Crawl with Ferry Rides and Appetizers: $47
- 3-Hour Street Art & Craft Beer Tour of Victoria, Brewery Tour & Tasting included: $102
- Victoria Wine Tour with Wine Tastings and Charcuterie: $134
- Cowichan Valley Premium Wine Tour: $436
Sample the Local Flavors in Whistler
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Whistler:
- Whistler Distillery Tour & Tasting Experience: $66
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Victoria and Whistler, we can see that Victoria is more expensive. And not only is Whistler much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Whistler would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Whistler 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 Whistler.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Victoria Expensive? and Is Whistler Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Victoria or Whistler?
Victoria has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Whistler. When comparing the sizes of Victoria and Whistler, 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 Victoria or Whistler?
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 Victoria or Whistler in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Victoria as well as Whistler.
In the summer, Victoria is cooler than Whistler. Typically, the summer temperatures in Victoria in July average around 16°C (60°F), and Whistler averages at about 18°C (64°F).
Victoria usually gets less rain in July than Whistler. Victoria gets 13 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Whistler receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyVictoria 16°C (60°F)Whistler 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Victoria or Whistler in the Autumn?
Both Whistler and Victoria are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
In October, Victoria is generally around the same temperature as Whistler. Daily temperatures in Victoria average around 11°C (52°F), and Whistler fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Whistler. In October, Victoria usually receives less rain than Whistler. Victoria gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Whistler receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberVictoria 11°C (52°F)Whistler 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Victoria or Whistler in the Winter?
Both Whistler and Victoria during the winter are popular places to visit.
It's quite cold in Whistler in the winter. The weather in Victoria can be very cold. Victoria is a little warmer than Whistler in the winter. The daily temperature in Victoria averages around 5°C (41°F) in January, and Whistler fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).
Whistler gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Victoria. Victoria usually gets less rain in January than Whistler. Victoria gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Whistler receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryVictoria 5°C (41°F)Whistler 4°C (40°F)
Should I visit Victoria or Whistler in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Victoria and Whistler.
In the spring, Victoria is around the same temperature as Whistler. Typically, the spring temperatures in Victoria in April average around 10°C (49°F), and Whistler averages at about 9°C (49°F).
Whistler receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Victoria usually receives less rain than Whistler. Victoria gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Whistler receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilVictoria 10°C (49°F)Whistler 9°C (49°F)
Typical Weather for Whistler and Victoria
| Victoria | Whistler | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 5°C (41°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Feb | 7°C (44°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 179 mm (7.1 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (46°F) | 67 mm (2.7 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) |
| Apr | 10°C (49°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| May | 12°C (54°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jun | 14°C (58°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jul | 16°C (60°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (61°F) | 19 mm (0.8 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 15°C (58°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (52°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Nov | 8°C (46°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 234 mm (9.2 in) |
| Dec | 5°C (42°F) | 153 mm (6 in) | 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.