Which place is cheaper, Banff or Hot Springs?
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 Hot Springs or Banff?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Hot Springs or Banff? 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: Hot Springs or Banff?
Hot Springs
Hot Springs is a popular resort city in central Arkansas. It's location in the Ouachita Mountains make it a convenient base for exploring the area's natural hot springs, from which the city gets its name. The city is also home to Hot Springs National Park, which have long been believed to have healing properties. Today many spas have popped up around the hot springs.
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 3-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada, and The Best Camping Tours in Canada.
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Hot Springs Prices
USA PricesBanff Prices
Canada Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHot Springs $220Banff $105
The average daily cost (per person) in Hot Springs is $220, 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 Hot Springs and Banff in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHot Springs $100Banff $38
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHot Springs $200Banff $76
Compare Hotels in Hot Springs and Banff
Looking for a hotel in Hot Springs 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.
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: Hot Springs Hotel Prices and Banff Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hot Springs $47Banff $5.18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hot Springs
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hot Springs:
- Hot Springs to Little Rock Airport LIT Departure Private Transfer: $126
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Banff
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Banff:
- Canmore/Banff to Calgary Airport (YYC) Private Transfer: $172
- Banff Canmore to Calgary YYC Airport Transfer: $216
- Banff to Calgary YYC Airport (Private Transfer with Tesla): $286
- All-Inclusive Private Banff Tour with Hotel Transfer: $796
- Calgary Airport to Banff - Private Transfer: $839
Is it cheaper to fly into Hot Springs or Banff?
Prices for flights to both Banff and Hot Springs 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 dayHot Springs $90Banff $49
Typical Food Prices in Banff
Some typical examples of dining costs in Banff are as follows:
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Tea House Lunch for Two$33
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Hostel Breakfast$27
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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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hot Springs $30Banff $12
Tours and Activities in Hot Springs
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Hot Springs are as follows:
- Hot Springs NP Self Guided Driving and Walking Audio Tour: $17
- Small-Group Zipline Tour in Hot Springs: $67
Typical Entertainment Prices in Banff
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Banff are as follows:
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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
- From Calgary: Moraine, Lake Louise & Johnston Canyon- Shared Tour: $29
- Paranormal History Walking Ghost Tour: $29
- Sightseeing Chairlift Ride High Above Banff: $34
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHot Springs $22Banff $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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hot Springs and Banff, we can see that Hot Springs 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 Hot Springs would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hot Springs 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 Hot Springs Expensive? and Is Banff Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hot Springs or Banff?
Hot Springs has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Banff. When comparing the sizes of Hot Springs 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.
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.