Which place is cheaper, Alberta or Alaska?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Alaska or Alberta?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Alaska or Alberta? 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: Alaska or Alberta?
Alaska
Alaska joined the United States of America as the 49th state. The US purchased the area from the Russian Empire in 1867 for just 7.2 million dollars (about two cents an acre). It became an organized territory in 1912 and a state in 1959. It is separated from the rest of the country by Canada and, although it is the largest state, it is the least densely populated and for many years had the lowest population. It covers an area equal to California, Texas and Montana combined and lies on the Arctic Circle. Many people consider Alaska to be the United State's "final frontier" because of its vast wilderness. It is also where you will find the highest point in North America.
Alberta
If you ever wanted to visit a place where all the beauty of nature is centrally located, you will want to make a trip to Alberta, Canada. With part of the Canadian Rockies, the prairies and the wilderness of forests, Alberta has something for everyone. As the home to Canada's oil industry, this is also the richest province in the country.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America, The Best Historical Tours in United States of America, The Best 3-Day Tours from Vancouver, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Vancouver.
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Alaska Prices
USA PricesAlberta Prices
Canada Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAlaska $280Alberta $132
The average daily cost (per person) in Alaska is $280, while the average daily cost in Alberta is $132. 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 Alaska and Alberta in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAlaska $135Alberta $66
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAlaska $270Alberta $132
Compare Hotels in Alaska and Alberta
Looking for a hotel in Alaska or Alberta? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Alaska $51Alberta $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alaska
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Alaska:
- Anchorage to Seward- Pre-Cruise Curated Wildlife Tour +Transfer: $227
- Anchorage to Whittier Direct Transfer Tour: $75
- Private Arrival Transfer from Juneau Airport (JNU): $48
- Private Transfer Alaska Anchorage Airport ANC to Anchorage City: $180
- Private Transfer, Anchorage to Seward Cruise Ship Terminal: $299
- Private Transfer, Anchorage to Whittier Cruise Ship Terminal: $299
- Private Transfer, Seward Cruise ship to Anchorage : $299
- Private Transfer, Whittier Cruise ship to Anchorage: $299
- Seward to Anchorage Direct Transfer Tour: $79
- Seward to Anchorage Scenic Transfer Photo Tour: $295
- Seward to Anchorage transfer with National Park hike and AWCC: $249
- Seward to Anchorage- Post Cruise Curated Wildlife Tour +Transfer: $227
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alberta
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Alberta:
- Experience Private Airport Transfer in Calgary: $51
- Banff Lake Louise or Canmore and Calgary Private Shuttle Transfer: $60
- Calgary Airport (YYC) to Calgary hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer: $100
- Private Transfer: Calgary Airport to Downtown: $109
- Private Transfer within Calgary from Airport or Hotels: $110
- Departure Private Transfer: Calgary to Calgary Airport YYC in Business Car: $118
- Private Transfer from Edmonton Airport (YEG) to Edmonton Hotels: $121
- Edmonton to Edmonton Airport (YEG) - Departure Private Transfer: $121
- Edmonton Airport (YEG) to Edmonton - Arrival Private Transfer: $121
- Private Transfer from Edmonton to Edmonton Airport (YEG): $121
- Arrival Private Transfer: Calgary Airport YYC to Calgary in Luxury SUV: $141
- Departure Private Transfer: Calgary to Calgary Airport YYC in Luxury Van: $141
Is it cheaper to fly into Alaska or Alberta?
Prices for flights to both Alberta and Alaska 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 dayAlaska $94Alberta $47
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Alaska
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Alaska.
- Aurora Viewing and Dinner : $120
- Alaskan Salmon Cooking Class & Dining Experience: $179
- City of Anchorage SIGHTSEEING & FOOD Tour - Winter & Summer: $195
- "Aurora Ice" - Ice Fishing & Salmon Dinner Tour: $239
- Electric Moose Studios Aurora Adventure W/Portraits & Hot Pizza!!: $270
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Alberta
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Alberta.
- Pasta Cooking Class at a Local Distillery in Calgary: $62
- Sushi Cooking Class at a Local Distillery in Calgary: $62
- Morning Glory ~ Banff's 'Breakfast Bits' Food Tour: $66
- Sips & Sweets - Canadian Evening Food Tour: $69
- Bites and Sites of Canmore Walking Food Tour: $77
- Banff's Winter Wonderland Food Tour: $85
- A Taste of Banff Food Tour: $87
- Half-Day Jasper Culture Food Tour: $119
- Iconic Eats of Calgary Food Tour: $129
- Banff Food Tour: Eat the Castle: $151
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Alaska $65Alberta $13
Tours and Activities in Alaska
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Alaska are as follows:
- Skagway Downtown Walking Private Tour Experience: $9.75
- Discover Seward: Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
- Anchorage Trolley Tour: $25
- Gold Panning Adventure in Downtown Skagway Alaska: $30
- Kennecott Mill Town Tour: $36
- Seward Alaska Historical City Tour Adventure: $45
- Guided Walking Tour of Sitka | HISTORIC DOWNTOWN: $49
- Siberian Husky Kennel Tour in Fairbanks Alaska: $49
- Anchorage Trolley's Deluxe City Tour: $50
- Juneau City Tour: $52
- 1.5-Hour Beer and Puppies Guided Experience in Fairbanks: $58
- City Highlights Totem Parks and Sightseeing: $59
Tours and Activities in Alberta
Here are a few actual costs in Alberta for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Edmonton City Highlights 3 Hour Walking Tour | Gratuity-Based: $4.00
- Town of Banff Highlights 2 Hour Walking Tour | Gratuity-Based : $4.00
- Calgary City Highlights 3 Hour Walking Tour | Gratuity-Based : $5.00
- Smartphone Audio Driving Tour between Banff and Calgary: $8.05
- Tunnel Mountain Trail: a Smartphone Audio Nature Tour : $8.05
- The Sights of Banff: a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $8.05
- The Sights of Canmore: a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $8.07
- Calgary Self Guided Audio Experience: $9.00
- Edmonton Self Guided Audio Experience: $9.00
- Banff Cave & Hot Springs Audio Walking Tour (Not a Ticket): $9.99
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Edmonton by Crazy Dash: $10
- Jasper National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $13
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAlaska $20Alberta $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Alaska
Also in Alaska, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Haunted Pub Crawl : $75
- Walking Pub Crawl in Downtown Juneau: $115
- Craft Brews & Epic Views: Juneau's Brewery & Sightseeing Tour!: $159
- Half-Day Anchorage Craft Brewery Tour and Tastings: $179
Sample the Local Flavors in Alberta
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Alberta:
- Park Distillery Tour with Craft Spirits Tasting: $11
- Calgary Bar Crawl: Cruisin' Calgary: $12
- Calgary Brewery Tour: $88
- Edmonton Brewery Tour (10 person minimum group): $103
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Alaska and Alberta, we can see that Alaska is more expensive. And not only is Alberta much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Alberta would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Alberta 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 Alaska would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Alaska than you might in Alberta.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Alaska Expensive? and Is Alberta Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, Alaska or Alberta?
Alberta has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Alaska. When comparing the sizes of Alaska and Alberta, 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.
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.