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

Should you visit Havana or Banff?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Havana and Banff can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Havana or Banff?

Havana

The city of Havana is at the top of most peoples' bucket list - mostly because of the allure of a forbidden land. Before the Communist revolution, Cuba was a popular tourist destination. Since it has reopened in the 1990s, it has drawn tourists from all over the world (except the US).

This capital city is a land trapped in the past. With 50 years of neglect, when you step off the plane, prepare to step back in time. A trip to Havana is meant for those with truly open minds - and when they arrive they'll be swept away.

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 Sightseeing Tours in Canada, and The Best Camping Tours in Canada.


Which place is cheaper, Banff or Havana?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Havana is $74, 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 Havana and Banff in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Havana $42
    Banff $38
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Havana $84
    Banff $76
Compare Hotels in Havana and Banff

Looking for a hotel in Havana 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 Havana


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: Banff Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Havana $19
    Banff $5.18
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Havana

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Havana:


  • Short Taxi Ride
    $0.68

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: $216
  • 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

Is it cheaper to fly into Havana or Banff?

Prices for flights to both Banff and Havana 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
    Havana $18
    Banff $49
Typical Food Prices in Havana

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


  • Pizza
    $0.03

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.

  • 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
  • Banff Food Tour: Eat the Castle: $151
  • Winter Tour with Dinner & Nightrise at Banff Gondola: $166

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Havana $11
    Banff $12

Tours and Activities in Havana

Here are a few actual costs in Havana for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Private: City Tour with Lunch, Rum, and Chocolate: $2,000

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
  • Tunnel Mountain Trail: a Smartphone Audio Nature Tour : $8.05
  • Smartphone Audio Driving Tour between Banff and Calgary: $8.05
  • The Sights of a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $8.05
  • The Sights of Canmore: a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $8.07
  • Banff Cave & Hot Springs Audio Walking Tour (Not a Ticket): $9.99
  • Explore Banff National Park: Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $14
  • Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary Walk Ticket in Canada: $29
  • Paranormal History Walking Ghost Tour: $29
  • Sightseeing Chairlift Ride High Above Banff: $34
  • Self-Guided Audio Tours for the Canadian Rockies: $34

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Havana $5.76
    Banff $9.33
Typical Alcohol Prices in Havana

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Havana:


  • Mojito
    $0.15

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


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Havana and Banff, we can see that Banff is more expensive. And not only is Havana much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Havana is in Caribbean Islands and Banff is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Havana would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Havana 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 Banff would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Banff than you might in Havana.

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


Which is Bigger, Havana or Banff?

Havana has a larger population, and is about 290 times larger than the population of Banff. When comparing the sizes of Havana 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.