Which place is cheaper, Vancouver or Tucson?
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 Tucson or Vancouver?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Tucson and Vancouver can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Tucson or Vancouver?
Tucson
Tucson, Arizona, is a vibrant city nestled in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, renowned for its dramatic mountain landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and sunny, dry climate. As a gateway to the American Southwest, Tucson blends a laid-back atmosphere with strong Mexican and Native American influences, creating a unique desert city experience. Its historic neighborhoods feature colorful adobe architecture, lively murals, and a thriving arts scene. Nature lovers are drawn to Tucson for its easy access to saguaro-studded national parks, hiking trails, and breathtaking sunsets. With a strong university presence, the city pulses with youthful energy, affordable entertainment, and a dynamic culinary scene. Budget travelers will appreciate Tucson’s range of low-cost attractions and accessible public spaces, making it an excellent base for exploring both city sights and the nearby wilderness. Whether you’re interested in history, outdoor adventures, or simply soaking up desert vibes, Tucson offers something for every traveler.
Vancouver
Vancouver is a beautiful and cosmopolitan city in Western Canada. It is also the largest city in British Columbia, and is dramatically positioned between the coast and mountains. It's a very international city, with a high level of energy and countless activites that you can enjoy while you're in town. In addition to offering all of the activities and entertainment of a modern city, it is also in jumping off distance to any number of outdoor activities.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, The Best 10-Day Tours from Vancouver, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada.
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Tucson Prices
USA PricesVancouver Prices
Canada Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTucson $184Vancouver $165
The average daily cost (per person) in Tucson is $184, while the average daily cost in Vancouver is $165. 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 Tucson and Vancouver in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTucson $93Vancouver $87
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTucson $186Vancouver $174
Compare Hotels in Tucson and Vancouver
Looking for a hotel in Tucson or Vancouver? 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: Tucson Hotel Prices and Vancouver Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tucson $27Vancouver $15
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vancouver
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vancouver are as follows:
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SkyTrain from Airport$6.35
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Taxi from Airport to Downtown$21
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15 min Taxi Ride$8.71
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SkyTrain DayPass$6.53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vancouver
Also for Vancouver, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Yvr arrival private transfer to Vancouver hotels cruise ships : $156
- White Rock to Vancouver Airport (YVR) - Departure Private Transfer: $108
- Whistler: Vancouver YVR Airport to Whistler Private Transfer: $118
- YVR Airport Transfer to Squamish: $411
- YVR Airport Transfer to Fraser Valley: $618
- Transfer Downtown - Canada Place Cruise Terminal: $136
- Private Transfer to Whistler with Sightseeing: $538
- Private Transfer to Whistler: $462
- Private Transfer to Ferry Terminal: $172
- Private Transfer - Canada Place Cruise Terminal: $72
- Private Airport Transfer to/from YVR Airport: $45
- North Shore Mountains Snowshoeing with Transfer: $108
Is it cheaper to fly into Tucson or Vancouver?
Prices for flights to both Vancouver and Tucson 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 dayTucson $63Vancouver $54
Typical Food Prices in Vancouver
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Vancouver:
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All You Can Eat Sushi Lunch$8.79
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vancouver
For Vancouver, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Vancouver Delicious Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $75
- Mt Pleasant Food Tour from Vancouver: $82
- A Wok Around Food Tour of the Granville Island Public Market: $83
- Experience Gastown Vancouver's Elite Walking Food Tour: $96
- Food Tours Gastown & Downtown with 6+ tastings: $98
- Experience Gastown Vancouver's Elite Walking Food Tour: $99
- Vancouver Local Taste Trail Food Tour: $100
- Gastown Historic Walking Food Tour: $115
- Granville Island Market VIP Walking Food Tour : $115
- Hidden Vancouver Tour with Dinner: $118
- Private Granville Island Vancouver's Elite Walking Food Tour: $132
- Vancouver Chinatown Tour and Dumpling-Making Cooking Class : $135
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tucson $16Vancouver $36
Tours and Activities in Vancouver
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vancouver.
- 2 Hours Private Tour of City of Vancouver: $147
- Cruise Ship Terminal to Vancouver Airport Private Transport: $150
- Guided Bike /E-bike Tour in Whistler From Vancouver: $218
- Half-day Hike and Bike Tour in Vancouver: $129
- Spirit Of Vancouver Bike or Ebike Tour: $100
- Vancouver 1-Day city tour: $98
- Victoria 1-Day Tour From Vancouver: $190
- Whistler Discovery and Waterfalls Small Group Tour: : $196
- 1 day Whistler Tour from Vancouver Experience (chn&eng): $88
- 2 Hours Private Tour of Stanley Park Vancouver: $132
- 3 Days of Adventure in Vancouver – Activities-Only Tour: $1,650
- 3 Hours Private Tour of City of Vancouver: $221
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTucson $16Vancouver $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Vancouver
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Vancouver:
- Vancouver British Columbia Bar Crawl: $15
- Gastown Pub Crawl: $22
- Vancouver Craft Brewery Neighbourhood Walking Tour: $65
- 3.5-Hour Craft Brewery Tour: $86
- Vancouver Craft Brewery Tour: $89
- Vancouver Behind-the-Scenes Brewery Tour: $92
- North Vancouver Elite Walking Brewery Tour: $95
- Vancouver Wine Tour (Fraser Valley): $122
- From Fraser Valley Wine Tour with Local Tastings: $129
- From Half-Day Fraser Valley Wine Tour: $135
- Fraser Valley Wine Tour with Tastings: $161
- Stawamus Chief Hike and Local Brewery Tasting: $169
When comparing the travel costs between Tucson and Vancouver, we can see that Tucson 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. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tucson Expensive? and Is Vancouver Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tucson or Vancouver?
Vancouver has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Tucson. When comparing the sizes of Tucson and Vancouver, 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.