Which place is cheaper, Alberta or Idaho?
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 Idaho or Alberta?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Idaho or Alberta? 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: Idaho or Alberta?
Idaho
Perhaps best known for its "Famous Potatoes," Idaho's true nickname is "The Gem State" and is full of a kind of wild beauty that comes with snow-capped mountains, raging rivers, placid lakes, and dense forests. Agriculture mostly lies in the eastern part of the state, while the wilderness of northern and central Idaho consists of some of the state's greatest natural treasures, dotted with a few cities and college towns.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America, The Best 3-Day Tours from Vancouver, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Vancouver.
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Idaho Prices
USA PricesAlberta Prices
Canada Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIdaho $193Alberta $132
The average daily cost (per person) in Idaho is $193, while the average daily cost in Alberta is $132. 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 Idaho and Alberta in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIdaho $84Alberta $66
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIdaho $168Alberta $132
Compare Hotels in Idaho and Alberta
Looking for a hotel in Idaho or Alberta? 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.Idaho $45Alberta $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alberta
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Alberta:
- Experience Private Airport Transfer in Calgary: $51
- Banff Lake Louise or Canmore and Calgary Private Shuttle Transfer: $60
- 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
- Private Transfer from Edmonton Airport (YEG) to Edmonton Hotels: $121
- Edmonton to Edmonton Airport (YEG) - Departure Private Transfer: $121
- Edmonton Airport (YEG) to Edmonton - Arrival Private Transfer: $121
- Private Transfer from Edmonton to Edmonton Airport (YEG): $121
- Arrival Private Transfer: Calgary Airport YYC to Calgary in Luxury SUV: $141
- Departure Private Transfer: Calgary to Calgary Airport YYC in Luxury Van: $141
Is it cheaper to fly into Idaho or Alberta?
Prices for flights to both Alberta and Idaho 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 dayIdaho $74Alberta $47
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: $62
- Sushi Cooking Class at a Local Distillery in Calgary: $62
- 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
- Half-Day Jasper Culture Food Tour: $119
- Iconic Eats of Calgary Food Tour: $129
- Banff Food Tour: Eat the Castle: $151
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Idaho $35Alberta $13
Tours and Activities in Idaho
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Idaho are as follows:
- Buried & Blighted in Boise Ghost Tours: $26
- Los Angeles: 6-Day Southwest Guided Tour to Las Vegas: $1,536
Tours and Activities in Alberta
Here are a few actual costs in Alberta for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Edmonton City Highlights 3 Hour Walking Tour | Gratuity-Based: $4.00
- Town of Banff Highlights 2 Hour Walking Tour | Gratuity-Based : $4.00
- Calgary City Highlights 3 Hour Walking Tour | Gratuity-Based : $5.00
- Smartphone Audio Driving Tour between Banff and Calgary: $8.05
- Tunnel Mountain Trail: a Smartphone Audio Nature Tour : $8.05
- The Sights of Banff: a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $8.05
- The Sights of Canmore: a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $8.07
- Calgary Self Guided Audio Experience: $9.00
- 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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIdaho $40Alberta $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Alberta
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Alberta:
- Park Distillery Tour with Craft Spirits Tasting: $11
- Calgary Bar Crawl: Cruisin' Calgary: $12
- Calgary Brewery Tour: $88
- Edmonton Brewery Tour (10 person minimum group): $103
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Idaho and Alberta, we can see that Idaho 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 Idaho would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Idaho 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 Idaho Expensive? and Is Alberta Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, Idaho or Alberta?
Alberta has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Idaho. When comparing the sizes of Idaho and Alberta, 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.