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

Should you visit Mandeville or Banff?

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

Should I visit Mandeville 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: Mandeville or Banff?

Mandeville

Mandeville is a small, quiet town in the mountains of Jamaica with a population of about 50,000. The town is situated on a plateau west of Kingston. It is the largest town in the parish of Manchester and the fifth largest urban center in the country.

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 Mandeville?

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 Mandeville is $95, 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 Mandeville and Banff in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Mandeville $37
    Banff $38
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Mandeville $74
    Banff $76
Compare Hotels in Mandeville and Banff

Looking for a hotel in Mandeville 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 Mandeville


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.
    Mandeville $30
    Banff $5.18

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Banff

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Banff:

  • Canmore/Banff to Calgary Airport (YYC) Private Transfer: $172
  • Calgary Airport to Banff - Private Transfer: $839
  • Banff to Calgary YYC Airport (Private Transfer with Tesla): $286
  • Banff Canmore to Calgary YYC Airport Transfer: $216
  • All-Inclusive Private Banff Tour with Hotel Transfer: $796

Is it cheaper to fly into Mandeville or Banff?

Prices for flights to both Banff and Mandeville 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
    Mandeville $41
    Banff $49

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.
    Mandeville $8.01
    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:

  • Banff and Yoho Lakes with Takakkaw Falls Group Tour: $147
  • 2 Day Banff Lake Louise Johnston Canyon Gondola Cave Basin tour: $139
  • 2 Hour Banff Horseback Riding Adventure: $157
  • 2-Day Private Tour: Banff Lake Louise Columbia Icefield Tour: $1,218
  • 25-Minute Helicopter Adventure in Three Sisters Canmore: $248
  • 4-Hour Lake Louise Tour from Banff and Canmore: $99
  • Athabasca Falls/Abraham,Sunwapta Falls,Icefield & Peyto Lake Tour: $117
  • Banff - Lake Louise Moraine Lake and Icefields Parkway Tour: $151
  • Banff 2-day: Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Johnston Canyon tour: $78
  • Banff : Day Tour : Lake Louise, Moraine Lake and Peyto Lake: $215
  • Banff : Lake Louise, Moraine, Emerald & Johnston Canyon tour: $51
  • Banff Cave & Hot Springs Audio Walking Tour (Not a Ticket): $9.99

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Mandeville $6.27
    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


When comparing the travel costs between Mandeville and Banff, we can see that Banff is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Mandeville is in Caribbean Islands and Banff is in North America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

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


Which is Bigger, Mandeville or Banff?

Mandeville has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Banff. When comparing the sizes of Mandeville 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.