Which place is cheaper, Calgary 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.
Jump to 
Should you visit Hot Springs or Calgary?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Hot Springs or Calgary? 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 Calgary?
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.
Calgary
Calgary is the largest city in Alberta and, located at the edge of the prairie and foothills, it is a gateway to the Rocky Mountains. If you're headed to Banff or Jasper, this is likely to be your first stop. It's also Canada's fourth largest city and worth a few days visit. Calgary's economy is diverse, but includes energy, financial services, film and television, transportation, technology, manufacturing, and much more.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Canada, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Canada.
-
Hot Springs Prices
USA PricesCalgary Prices
Canada Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHot Springs $220Calgary $177
The average daily cost (per person) in Hot Springs is $220, while the average daily cost in Calgary is $177. 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 Calgary in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHot Springs $100Calgary $73
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHot Springs $200Calgary $146
Compare Hotels in Hot Springs and Calgary
Looking for a hotel in Hot Springs or Calgary? 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 Calgary Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hot Springs $47Calgary $12
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 Calgary
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Calgary:
- Calgary Airport Transfer to/from Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise: $45
- Experience Private Airport Transfer in Calgary: $51
- From Bus Transfer to Banff: $60
- Banff Lake Louise or Canmore and Calgary Private Shuttle Transfer: $60
- Private Transfers during Calgary Stampede: $72
- Calgary Downtown Transfers: $86
- Prvt. Transfer YYC Airport to WinSport Olympic Park: $86
- 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
- Banff: Private Transfer to Calgary Airport or Calgary: $126
Is it cheaper to fly into Hot Springs or Calgary?
Prices for flights to both Calgary 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
-
Food Meals for one dayHot Springs $90Calgary $54
Typical Food Prices in Calgary
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Calgary:
-
Bread, Chips, Cheese$8.10
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Calgary
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Calgary.
- Sushi Cooking Class at a Local Distillery in Calgary: $62
- Pasta Cooking Class at a Local Distillery in Calgary: $62
- Light Brunch & Food Tour at Calgary Farmers' Market WEST: $80
- Iconic Eats of Calgary Food Tour: $127
- Iconic Eats of Calgary Food Tour: $129
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hot Springs $30Calgary $15
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 Calgary
Here are a few typical costs in Calgary for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
-
Stampede Admission (for 2)$22
Tours and Activities in Calgary
Here are a few actual costs in Calgary for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Tips-Based City Highlights Walking Tour | 3-Hour: $4.02
- Calgary City Highlights 3 Hour Walking Tour | Gratuity-Based : $5.00
- Sam Centre Calgary Stampede Museum Ticket: $7.18
- Calgary Self Guided Audio Experience: $9.00
- Discover Calgary with 3 Smartphone Audio Walking Tours: $15
- Calgary Downtown: 2-Hour Introductory Walking Tour: $21
- Calgary Flames Ice Hockey Game Ticket: $28
- Heritage Park Historical Village Admission Ticket: $29
- The Connaught Mural Tour of Calgary: $37
- Victoria Park Mural Tour of Calgary: $37
- Calgary Self Guided Walking Tour and Scavenger Hunt: $42
- Moraine Lake and Lake Louise Half Day Tour: $44
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayHot Springs $22Calgary $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Calgary
Also in Calgary, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Calgary Bar Crawl: Cruisin' Calgary: $12
- Brewery Tours at Award Winning Venues: $82
- Calgary Brewery Tour: $88
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hot Springs and Calgary, we can see that Hot Springs is more expensive. And not only is Calgary much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Calgary would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Calgary 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 Calgary.
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 Calgary Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hot Springs or Calgary?
Calgary has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Hot Springs. When comparing the sizes of Hot Springs and Calgary, 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.