If you've already built a Canada itinerary and are raring to jet off on vacation, chances are you've already started thinking about costs, too. As it happens, while Canada may not always be the cheapest place to tour around, there are more than a few ways to make your money stretch that little bit further.
So, how much does a trip to Canada cost on average? That all depends on what you want to get out of it!
In this guide, we explore the average Canada travel cost for tourists at the time of writing, and share some ways you can make your vacation budget take you from east to west and everywhere in between.
Canada travel cost overview
It's fair to say that there is a lot to see and do out here — just take a look at our guide to what Canada is known for and you'll see what I mean — so, having a pretty robust budget is a must. That's especially true if you want to see as much of the country as possible, given the fact it's one of the largest nations on Earth!
Those of us at SIMOVO who have visited Canada before (and regularly) got together to come up with some average figures on what you can expect from key areas of your travel budget. We also researched a variety of different rates and opinions external to the crew to try and give a balanced view of pricing at the time of writing.
The rates we discuss below are averaged as of summer 2026 and are subject to change. The areas you visit and the things you do in Canada will always affect the costs you end up paying — so, you might want to take some of the tips offered in this guide and build them around your existing itinerary.
We also wanted to demonstrate that it's possible to visit and enjoy Canada on a tighter budget than you might think. It's all about compromising on a few luxuries here and there, and being open-minded on the things you'd like to see and do!
Average cost of a trip to Canada
To come up with a reasonable, average cost of a trip to Canada, we accounted for accommodation, food and drink, transport, and attractions. Here is a quick overview of what to expect across each category before we break them down in detail.
| Category | Budget | Mid-range | Splurge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (per night) | From $30 (dorm) | $100–$150 | $250+ |
| Food (per day) | $15–$20 (vendors) | $30–$50 | $60–$70+ |
| Transport (per day) | $5 (bus/subway) | $20–$30 | $50+ (car hire) |
| Attractions (per day) | Free–$35 | $35–$60 | $70+ |
Accommodation prices in Canada
Depending on which cities you stay in and how much luxury you demand, you can expect to pay anywhere from $30 to $250 a night. That's accounting for dorm beds at the cheapest and mid-range hotels at the most expensive. Some of the classiest and most convenient hotels in cities like Montreal and Toronto may expect you to pay this upper rate and more.
Just keep in mind that summer will always see accommodation prices spike, especially close to big cities or major attractions. Our recommendation would be to concentrate on smaller areas, book far in advance, and choose Airbnb or dorm spaces if you aren't worried about getting a fancy suite.
Food costs in Canada
If you're sensible and choose food trucks or vendors, you may be able to spend as little as $15–$20 a day eating out in Canada's cities. That said, if you are self-catering and don't mind topping up at grocery stores, you may even end up paying less.
The fancier restaurants and specialists in, say, seafood, may command as much as $60–$70 per person, per meal. You can scale this back a little, even in the big cities, to around $30–$50 per person if you don't add alcohol to the bill.
[warning]Canadian restaurants generally expect a tip of up to 20% before tax. This is a cultural norm, not optional — factor it into your food budget for every sit-down meal, and set extra cash aside if you'd like to tip your servers generously.[/warning]We'd recommend taking a good look at local TripAdvisor recommendations before you travel, and mixing things up a little. Canada has plenty of fast food locations as well as high-end restaurants, so don't feel guilty about grabbing a quick bite here and there if your budget demands it.
Transport costs in Canada
Getting around Canada can be very expensive if you're driving across the miles, but taking the subway in major cities like Vancouver normally won't stretch you more than $5 per trip. Bus rides are often even cheaper, but for the biggest savings on public transport, we suggest you invest in a rail pass.
[tip title="Save on train travel"]The Canada Strong Pass offered discounted costs for young adults across summer 2026. VIA Rail is your best port of call for cutting the cost of train journeys across the board — check for current offers before you book.[/tip]On average, you can expect to pay around $50 or more a day renting a vehicle, and anywhere between $5–$50 a day on public transit, depending on where you're going.
Attractions and activity prices
On average, for a full day's sightseeing, the SIMOVO team estimates you'll probably spend anywhere up to $60 on the biggest attractions across the main cities each day. There are plenty of free attractions, of course — such as visiting Niagara Falls or going hiking — but be prepared to pay entry fees for some of the most popular museums or to go whale watching, for example.
Example costs in the Rockies include riding up Sulphur Mountain, likely to be around $70 a ticket, and visiting the Butchart Gardens, likely to be $35 per person. Visiting the CN Tower in Toronto carries similar costs, as does taking a cruise on the Rideau Canal in Ottawa.
[tip title="Free is often the best"]Some of Canada's most spectacular experiences cost nothing at all. Niagara Falls, hiking in the national parks, and exploring coastal towns like those near Toronto are all free. Build free days into your itinerary to offset the cost of paid attractions.[/tip]Tips to save money in Canada
Here are a few quickfire tips to help you save even more money when travelling around Canada:
- Don't just stick to the cities — explore affordable towns and cities near Toronto, for example, with cheaper day rates.
- Exchange money before you go or pay exclusively in CAD to avoid conversion fees.
- Always ask for filtered tap water at restaurants — it's free and widely available.
- Shop at local grocery stores and eat from street vendors to save on lunch.
- Travel at less popular times of year, such as spring or autumn, to save on flights and accommodation.
Canada travel budget planning tips
To close our Canada travel cost guide, here are a few quick ways to make planning your travel budget less stressful.
- Book flights and accommodation as far ahead of time as possible, and compare across multiple search engines.
- Choose airports outside of the major cities if you don't mind a short transfer — prices can be significantly lower.
- Focus on one single region for your initial trip. Planning a budget across the whole country is both tricky and expensive.
- Go and see free attractions and enjoy the great outdoors. You don't have to pay to see the best of Canada — even beautiful regions like Niagara Falls are completely free to visit.
