Which place is cheaper, Halifax or Whistler?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Whistler or Halifax?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Whistler or Halifax, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Whistler or Halifax?
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.
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 Contiki Tours to Canada, The Best G Adventures Tours to Canada, The Best 3-Day Tours from Vancouver, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Vancouver.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayWhistler $125Halifax $114
The average daily cost (per person) in Whistler is $125, while the average daily cost in Halifax is $114. 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 Whistler and Halifax in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personWhistler $65Halifax $65
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomWhistler $130Halifax $130
Compare Hotels in Whistler and Halifax
Looking for a hotel in Whistler 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: Whistler Hotel Prices and Halifax Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Whistler $20Halifax $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Whistler
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Whistler:
- Vancouver: Seaplane Transfer between Vancouver & Whistler: $161
- Private Transfer from Whistler to Richmond BC: $633
- Private Transfer from Whistler to Downtown Vancouver: $570
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Halifax
Also for Halifax, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Halifax Stanfield Airport (YHZ) to Halifax Port-Arrival Transfer: $34
- Halifax Stanfield Airport(YHZ) to Halifax Port - Arrival Transfer: $34
- Private Transfer from Halifax Stanfield Airport to Halifax: $36
- Transfer to/from Stanfield International Airport: $44
- Halifax Airport (YHZ) to Halifax Cruise Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $68
- From Peggy’s Cove Small-Group Tour with Transfers: $80
- Private Arrival Transfer from Halifax Stanfield Airport YHZ: $85
- Halifax Cruise Port: Private Transfer to Halifax hotels: $133
- Halifax Stanfield Airport (YHZ): Transfer to Halifax Port: $209
Is it cheaper to fly into Whistler or Halifax?
Prices for flights to both Halifax and Whistler 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 dayWhistler $30Halifax $31
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: $131
- Finer Things Dinner Tour in Whistler: $145
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: $160
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Whistler $78Halifax $28
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
Tours and Activities in Halifax
For Halifax, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Discover the Halifax Explosion Audio Walking Tour: $5.11
- Churches, Gardens, & Graveyards Smartphone Tour: $5.11
- Halifax Boardwalk and Seaport: Smartphone Audio Tour: $5.11
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Exlore Halifax with 3 Unique Smartphone Audio Walking Tours: $13
- Halifax self-guided walking tour and scavenger hunt: $38
- From City and Peggy's Cove Sunset Guided Tour: $65
- City Segway Tour: $67
- Small-Group Tour with Citadel and Peggy's Cove: $94
- Small Group Walking Tour with Citadel & Museum: $102
- From Small Group Lunenberg Express Tour: $120
- Guided Harbourfront Food Walking Tour: $120
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayWhistler $8.72Halifax $15
Sample the Local Flavors in Whistler
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Whistler:
- Whistler Distillery Tour & Tasting Experience: $66
When comparing the travel costs between Whistler and Halifax, we can see that Whistler is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Whistler Expensive? and Is Halifax Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Whistler or Halifax?
Halifax has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Whistler. When comparing the sizes of Whistler 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 Whistler or Halifax?
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 Whistler or Halifax in the Summer?
Both Halifax and Whistler during the summer are popular places to visit.
Whistler is around the same temperature as Halifax in the summer. The daily temperature in Whistler averages around 18°C (64°F) in July, and Halifax fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
In Halifax, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Whistler. In the summer, Whistler often gets more sunshine than Halifax. Whistler gets 296 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Halifax receives 230 hours of full sun.
Whistler usually gets less rain in July than Halifax. Whistler gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Halifax receives 99 mm (3.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyWhistler 18°C (64°F)Halifax 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Whistler or Halifax in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Whistler and Halifax.
In the autumn, Whistler is around the same temperature as Halifax. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Whistler in October average around 11°C (51°F), and Halifax averages at about 10°C (49°F).
Whistler usually receives less sunshine than Halifax during autumn. Whistler gets 124 hours of sunny skies, while Halifax receives 148 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Halifax receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Whistler gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Whistler usually receives more rain than Halifax. Whistler gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Halifax receives 121 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberWhistler 11°C (51°F)Halifax 10°C (49°F)
Should I visit Whistler or Halifax in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Whistler as well as Halifax.
Halifax can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Whistler. In January, Whistler is generally much warmer than Halifax. Daily temperatures in Whistler average around 4°C (40°F), and Halifax fluctuates around -4°C (24°F).
In the winter, Whistler often gets less sunshine than Halifax. Whistler gets 55 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Halifax receives 111 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Halifax. Whistler receives a lot of rain in the winter. Whistler usually gets more rain in January than Halifax. Whistler gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Halifax receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryWhistler 4°C (40°F)Halifax -4°C (24°F)
Should I visit Whistler or Halifax in the Spring?
Both Halifax and Whistler are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
Halifax can be very cold during spring. Whistler is much warmer than Halifax in the spring. The daily temperature in Whistler averages around 9°C (49°F) in April, and Halifax fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).
Whistler usually receives more sunshine than Halifax during spring. Whistler gets 172 hours of sunny skies, while Halifax receives 148 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Halifax. It's quite rainy in Whistler. In April, Whistler usually receives around the same amount of rain as Halifax. Whistler gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Halifax receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilWhistler 9°C (49°F)Halifax 4°C (39°F)
Typical Weather for Halifax and Whistler
| Whistler | 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.