Which place is cheaper, Whistler or Yellowstone National Park?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Yellowstone National Park or Whistler?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Yellowstone National Park or Whistler? 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: Yellowstone National Park or Whistler?
Yellowstone National Park
The world's first national park, Yellowstone National Park was established in 1872. The area is famous for its many geysers, hot springs, and thermal areas. It also has a wide diversity of wildlife and stunning beauty, making it one of the most impressive places you can visit in the United States. The national park takes up an area of about 3,472 square miles and is mostly located within the state of Wyoming. It also touches the states of Idaho and Montana.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City, The Best Contiki Tours to Canada, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Canada.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayYellowstone National Park $147Whistler $125
The average daily cost (per person) in Yellowstone National Park is $147, 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 Yellowstone National Park and Whistler in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personYellowstone National Park $74Whistler $65
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomYellowstone National Park $148Whistler $130
Compare Hotels in Yellowstone National Park and Whistler
Looking for a hotel in Yellowstone National Park 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: Yellowstone National Park Hotel Prices and Whistler Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Yellowstone National Park $37Whistler $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Whistler
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Whistler:
- Private Transfer from Whistler to Downtown Vancouver: $570
- Private Transfer from Whistler to Richmond BC: $633
- Vancouver: Seaplane Transfer between Vancouver & Whistler: $161
Is it cheaper to fly into Yellowstone National Park or Whistler?
Prices for flights to both Whistler and Yellowstone National Park 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 dayYellowstone National Park $46Whistler $30
Typical Food Prices in Whistler
Some typical examples of dining costs in Whistler are as follows:
-
Coffee at Starbucks$12
-
Tim Hortons Breakfast$12
-
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: $144
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Yellowstone National Park $34Whistler $78
Tours and Activities in Yellowstone National Park
Here are a few actual costs in Yellowstone National Park for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Yellowstone's Upper Geyser Basin: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Self-Guided Grand Teton National Park Driving Tour: $8.99
- Grand Prismatic Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $9.99
- Yellowstone Old Faithful Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $9.99
- West Thumb Geysers Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $9.99
- Yellowstone National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $17
- Early Morning Guided Kayak Tour: $125
- Lake Yellowstone Half Day Kayak Tours Past Geothermal Features : $135
- Small-Group Sunset Kayaking Tour on Lake Yellowstone : $150
- Yellowstone Lake & Hot Springs / 3 Hour Morning or Twilight Tour : $150
- 6-Mile Geyser Hiking Tour in Yellowstone with Lunch: $182
- Lamar Valley Safari Hiking Tour with Lunch: $182
Typical Entertainment Prices in Whistler
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Whistler are as follows:
-
Driving Range$15
Tours and Activities in Whistler
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Whistler are as follows:
- Sea to Sky Highway: a Smartphone Audio Driving Tour: $6.31
- Audain Art Museum Admission Ticket: $16
- One Hour Axe Throwing Guided Experience in Whistler: $33
- Vallea Lumina Multimedia Experience: $35
- The Great Whistler Walking Tour: Discover Whistler's Sights, History & Culture!: $49
- Whistler Sightseeing Tour: Discover all of Whistler Year-Round!: $78
- Guided Lunch Tour in Whistler: $88
- Rock Climbing Beginner Experience: $94
- Whistler Valley Tour by Seaplane: 20-Minute Flight: $102
- Sky-Walk Mountain Climbing Tour: $102
- Whistler Glacier Discovery Tour: $103
- Guided eBike Adventure: $106
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayYellowstone National Park $19Whistler $8.72
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 Yellowstone National Park and Whistler, we can see that Yellowstone National Park 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 Yellowstone National Park would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Yellowstone National Park 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 Yellowstone National Park Expensive? and Is Whistler Expensive?.
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.