Which place is cheaper, Virginia or Alberta?
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 Alberta or Virginia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Alberta or Virginia? 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: Alberta or Virginia?
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.
Virginia
One of the original thirteen British colonies, Virginia is a place of rich history and varied environments. You might explore the historic settlement of Colonial Williamsburg, dive into the current culture of its major cities, or get lost in nature along the coast or in the scenic landscape of the Appalachian Mountains. There's a little something for everyone.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Vancouver, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Vancouver, The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America.
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Alberta Prices
Canada PricesVirginia Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAlberta $132Virginia $185
The average daily cost (per person) in Alberta is $132, while the average daily cost in Virginia is $185. 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 Alberta and Virginia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAlberta $66Virginia $80
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAlberta $132Virginia $160
Compare Hotels in Alberta and Virginia
Looking for a hotel in Alberta or Virginia? 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.Alberta $19Virginia $49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alberta
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Alberta:
- Experience Private Airport Transfer in Calgary: $52
- Banff Lake Louise or Canmore and Calgary Private Shuttle Transfer: $61
- Calgary Airport to Banff and Beyond Transfer Service: $65
- Calgary Airport (YYC) to Calgary hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer: $101
- Private Transfer: Calgary Airport to Downtown: $110
- Private Transfer within Calgary from Airport or Hotels: $111
- Departure Private Transfer: Calgary to Calgary Airport YYC in Business Car: $119
- Edmonton to Edmonton Airport (YEG) - Departure Private Transfer: $120
- Edmonton Airport (YEG) to Edmonton - Arrival Private Transfer: $120
- Private Transfer from Edmonton Airport (YEG) to Edmonton Hotels: $120
- Private Transfer from Edmonton to Edmonton Airport (YEG): $120
- Arrival Private Transfer: Calgary Airport YYC to Calgary in Luxury SUV: $141
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Virginia
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Virginia:
- Airport Transfer to or from Mclean, VA and Dulles Airport: $225
- Airport Transfer to or from Mclean, VA and Reagan Airport(DCA): $215
- Bamville Transportation (Private & Airport Transfers): $275
- Private Arrival Transfer from Charlotteville Airport (CHO): $50
- Private Departure Transfer to Charlottesville Airport (CHO): $50
- Private Transfer To or From Reston and Dulles International Airport: $205
- Private transfer to or from Reston and Ronald Reagan National Airport: $230
- Richmond Airport (RIC) to Richmond city - Arrival Private Transfer: $175
- Richmond City to Richmond Airport (RIC) - Departure Private Transfer: $175
Is it cheaper to fly into Alberta or Virginia?
Prices for flights to both Virginia and Alberta 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 dayAlberta $47Virginia $60
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: $63
- Sushi Cooking Class at a Local Distillery in Calgary: $63
- Sips & Sweets - Canadian Evening Food Tour: $85
- A Taste of Banff Food Tour: $106
- Half-Day Jasper Culture Food Tour: $119
- Iconic Eats of Calgary Food Tour: $130
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Virginia
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Virginia.
- The Dairy Market Food Tour: $75
- The Carytown Food Tour with Discover Richmond Tours: $90
- Church Hill Food Tour with Discover Richmond Tours: $90
- Arts District Food Tour in Richmond with Discover Richmond: $90
- Delicious Pizza & Ice Cream Tour of Richmond: $94
- City Cruises Norfolk: Buffet Dinner Cruise : $103
- Roanoke Ebike Food Tour: $150
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Alberta $13Virginia $24
Tours and Activities in Alberta
Here are a few actual costs in Alberta for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Town of Banff Highlights 2 Hour Walking Tour | Gratuity-Based : $4.00
- Edmonton City Highlights 3 Hour Walking Tour | Gratuity-Based: $4.00
- Calgary City Highlights 3 Hour Walking Tour | Gratuity-Based : $5.00
- Downtown Calgary a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $6.63
- The Sights of Canmore: a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $8.07
- Smartphone Audio Driving Tour between Banff and Calgary: $8.10
- The Sights of Banff: a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $8.12
- Tunnel Mountain Trail: a Smartphone Audio Nature Tour : $8.12
- 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
Tours and Activities in Virginia
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Virginia are as follows:
- Williamsburg Colonial Adventure: Exploration Game and Tour: $5.00
- Charlottesville Historic Downtown APP/GPS Smartphone Walking Tour: $7.75
- Williamsburg's Famous Ghosts Self Guided Audio Walking Tour : $9.75
- Historical Fredericksburg SmartPhone App Self Guided Walking Tour: $9.75
- Colonial Contradictions Self Guided Walking Tour of Williamsburg: $9.99
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Virginia Beach by Wacky Walks: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Richmond by Wacky Walks: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Richmond by 3Quest Challenge: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Richmond by Crazy Dash: $10
- Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia Self-Guided Audio Tour: $13
- Colonial Williamsburg Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $13
- Charlottesville Scavenger Hunt Experience: $15
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAlberta $11Virginia $19
Sample the Local Flavors in Alberta
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Alberta:
- Park Distillery Tour with Craft Spirits Tasting: $11
- Park Distillery Tour with Whisky Tasting: $18
- Calgary Brewery Tour: $88
- Edmonton Brewery Tour (10 person minimum group): $103
Sample the Local Flavors in Virginia
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Virginia:
- Richmond Virginia Bar Crawl: $15
- Norfolk Bar Crawl: $15
- Williamsburg Ghosts and Brews Haunted Pub Crawls: $29
- Richmond Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl : $37
- The Murder Tour and Pub Crawl: $48
- Family Wine Tour: $85
- Richmond Craft Brewery Crawl By Junket: $86
- Brewery Tour of Richmond, VA: $90
- Private Wine Tours (Minimum 3 & Maximum 6 ) Pickup Maximum 30 Mi : $95
- 5 Hour Historic Thomas Jefferson Wine Tour: $248
- Private Charlottesville Area Wine Tour: $248
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Alberta and Virginia, we can see that Virginia 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 Virginia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Virginia 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 Alberta Expensive? and Is Virginia Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, Alberta or Virginia?
Virginia has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Alberta. When comparing the sizes of Alberta and Virginia, 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.