Which place is cheaper, Banff or Saint John?
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 Saint John or Banff?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Saint John and Banff. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Saint John or Banff?
Saint John
With the popularity of the Caribbean rising, many islands have become touristy and expensive – but not St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
At only nine miles long and five miles wide, St. John is the smallest of the Virgin Islands, and, many argue, the prettiest. It's the kind of place that has maintained it's cultural identity, but still welcomes visitors from all over the world. With a population of just 5,000, the residents of St. John know everyone and everything happening on the island.
This island is perfect for people who want an undisturbed island getaway at any price. Between resorts and campgrounds there is a spot for everyone on St. John.
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.
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Saint John Prices
USVI PricesBanff Prices
Canada Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaint John $233Banff $105
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint John is $233, 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 Saint John and Banff in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint John $106Banff $38
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint John $212Banff $76
Compare Hotels in Saint John and Banff
Looking for a hotel in Saint John 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: Banff Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saint John $49Banff $5.18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Banff
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Banff:
- All-Inclusive Private Banff Tour with Hotel Transfer: $796
- 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 Saint John or Banff?
Prices for flights to both Banff and Saint John 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 daySaint John $97Banff $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.
- Sips & Sweets - Canadian Evening Food Tour: $85
- A Taste of Banff Food Tour: $106
- Winter Tour with Dinner & Nightrise at Banff Gondola: $166
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Saint John $23Banff $12
Tours and Activities in Saint John
Here are a few actual costs in Saint John for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- St. John: A Private Island Adventure Tour & Trunk Bay Beach: $627
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
- The Sights of Canmore: a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $8.07
- Smartphone Audio Driving Tour between Banff and Calgary: $8.10
- The Sights of a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $8.12
- Tunnel Mountain Trail: a Smartphone Audio Nature Tour : $8.12
- 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
- Half Day Shared Adventure to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake : $30
- Sightseeing Chairlift Ride High Above Banff: $34
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySaint John $44Banff $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
- Park Distillery Tour with Whisky Tasting: $18
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint John and Banff, we can see that Saint John is more expensive. And not only is Banff much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saint John 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 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 Saint John would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint John 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 Saint John Expensive? and Is Banff Expensive?.
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.