Which place is cheaper, Vernon or Banff?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Banff or Vernon?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Banff or Vernon? 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: Banff or Vernon?
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.
Vernon
Vernon is located in British Columbia, Canada. It's in the Okanagan region of the Southern Interior and dates back to 1892. The city has a population of about 40,000 and the Greater Vernon area has a population of about 58,584. It's the largest city in the North Okanagan Regional District. In many ways Vernon feels like most other towns around North America, but if you find yourself here with some time to spare, you can find a handful of activities that will help you see it's unique personality and interesting qualities. The town is most popular for its lakes and beaches during the summer monts, and its skiing and hockey during the winter months.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada, The Best Camping Tours in Canada, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Canada, and The Best Northern Lights Tours in Canada.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBanff $85Vernon $31
The average daily cost (per person) in Banff is $85, while the average daily cost in Vernon is $31. 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 Banff and Vernon in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBanff $38Vernon $4.83
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBanff $76Vernon $9.66
Compare Hotels in Banff and Vernon
Looking for a hotel in Banff or Vernon? 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 and Vernon Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Banff $5.19Vernon -
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Banff
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Banff:
- From Banff/Canmore: Moraine Lake and Lake Louise Shared Transfer: $82
- Canmore/Banff to Calgary Airport (YYC) Private Transfer: $268
- Banff to Calgary YYC Airport (Private Transfer with Tesla): $274
- Calgary Airport to Banff - Private Transfer: $853
- Private Banff National Park Tour with Hotel Transfers: $876
Is it cheaper to fly into Banff or Vernon?
Prices for flights to both Vernon and Banff 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 dayBanff $29Vernon $25
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$4.64
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Banff
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Banff.
- Banff Food Tour: Eat the Castle: $154
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Banff $12Vernon -
Typical Entertainment Prices in Banff
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Banff are as follows:
-
Hot Springs$5.32
Tours and Activities in Banff
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Banff are as follows:
- Banff self-guided tour App with multi-language audio guide: $2.14
- Tunnel Mountain Trail: Nature Tour with Audio Guide: $5.83
- Calgary & Lake Louise: Smartphone Audio Driving Tour: $6.20
- The Sights of a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $6.20
- The Sights of Canmore: a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $6.70
- The Sights of a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $6.73
- Smartphone Audio Driving Tour between Banff and Calgary: $7.48
- Historic Cave & Basin Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $7.99
- Banff Cave and Hot Springs Self-Guided Walking Tour: $9.99
- Banff National Park: Self-Guided Scenic Driving Tour: $13
- Listen to a Tour Guide as You Drive & Walk with our Discover the Rockies Package: $15
- Banff National Park Self-Guided Driving Tour: $17
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayBanff $9.35Vernon $13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Banff and Vernon, we can see that Banff is more expensive. And not only is Vernon much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Vernon would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vernon 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 Banff would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Banff than you might in Vernon.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Banff Expensive? and Is Vernon Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Banff or Vernon?
Vernon has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Banff. When comparing the sizes of Banff and Vernon, 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.