A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Eugene vs. Banff for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Eugene or Banff?

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 Eugene and Banff. 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: Eugene or Banff?

Eugene

At the southern end of the Willamette Valley, Eugene is most recognized as the home of the University of Oregon. It's a smaller city with a liberal population that is generally concerned about environmental issues. A popular experience in Eugene is to go to the Saturday Market, which has been around since 1970 and is the oldest open air market in the United States.

Banff

Nestled in the pristine and gorgeous mountains of the Alberta Rockies is the popular town of Banff. This town sits right in Canada's Banff National Park and is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.

While the surrounding nature may give the impression of a quiet, little town, Banff is typically crowded with tourists. The beauty of this area is irresistible for travelers from all over the world. This may not be the place for solitude or even an authentic, country experience, you'll still find an unforgettable vacation.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Northern Lights Tours in Alaska, The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada, and The Best Camping Tours in Canada.


Which place is cheaper, Banff or Eugene?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Eugene Prices
    USA Prices
    Banff Prices
    Canada Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Eugene $190
    Banff $105

The average daily cost (per person) in Eugene is $190, while the average daily cost in Banff is $105. 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 Eugene and Banff in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Eugene $97
    Banff $38
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Eugene $194
    Banff $76
Compare Hotels in Eugene and Banff

Looking for a hotel in Eugene or Banff? 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.

Hotels in Eugene


Hotels in Banff


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: Eugene Hotel Prices and Banff Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Eugene $37
    Banff $5.18

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Banff

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Banff:

  • All-Inclusive Private Banff Tour with Hotel Transfer: $796
  • Banff Canmore to Calgary YYC Airport Transfer: $218
  • Banff to Calgary YYC Airport (Private Transfer with Tesla): $286
  • Calgary Airport to Banff - Private Transfer: $839
  • Canmore/Banff to Calgary Airport (YYC) Private Transfer: $172
  • Larch Valley/Moraine Lake Shuttle Transfer from Banff and Canmore: $118

Is it cheaper to fly into Eugene or Banff?

Prices for flights to both Banff and Eugene 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 day
    Eugene $71
    Banff $49
Typical Food Prices in Eugene

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Eugene:


  • Sam Bonds Food and Music (for 2)
    $16
  • Morning Glory Cafe Breakfast (for 2)
    $12

Typical Food Prices in Banff

Some typical examples of dining costs in Banff are as follows:


  • Tea House Lunch for Two
    $33
  • Hostel Breakfast
    $27
  • McDonalds
    $4.63

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Banff

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Banff.

  • Bites and Sites of Canmore Walking Food Tour: $78
  • Sips & Sweets - Canadian Evening Food Tour: $85
  • A Taste of Banff Food Tour: $106
  • Winter Tour with Dinner & Nightrise at Banff Gondola: $166

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Eugene -
    Banff $12

Typical Entertainment Prices in Banff

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Banff are as follows:


  • Hot Springs
    $5.31

Tours and Activities in Banff

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Banff are as follows:

  • Town of Banff Highlights 2 Hour Walking Tour | Gratuity-Based : $4.00
  • Tips-Based Walking Tour & Town Highlights: $4.02
  • Smartphone Audio Driving Tour between Banff and Calgary: $8.10
  • The Sights of a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $8.12
  • Tunnel Mountain Trail: a Smartphone Audio Nature Tour : $8.12
  • The Sights of Canmore: a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $8.14
  • Banff Cave & Hot Springs Audio Walking Tour (Not a Ticket): $9.99
  • Explore Banff National Park: Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $14
  • The Sacred Mountains Of Banff And Canmore Walking Tour: $28
  • Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary Walk Ticket in Canada: $29
  • Paranormal History Walking Ghost Tour: $29
  • From Calgary: Moraine, Lake Louise & Johnston Canyon- Shared Tour: $29

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Eugene -
    Banff $9.33

Sample the Local Flavors in Banff

Also in Banff, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Park Distillery Tour with Craft Spirits Tasting: $11
  • Park Distillery Tour with Whisky Tasting: $18


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Eugene and Banff, we can see that Eugene is more expensive. And not only is Banff much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Banff would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Banff 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 Eugene would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Eugene than you might in Banff.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Eugene Expensive? and Is Banff Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Eugene or Banff?

Eugene has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Banff. When comparing the sizes of Eugene and Banff, 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.