Canada is an expensive country. I should know – I’m from there! While travel is worth every penny (especially to beautiful Canada!), if you’re on a budget, you can still experience this gorgeous country without going broke. In this article, I’ll outline my favorite cheap places to travel in Canada. As a frugal traveler who has saved thousands of dollars simply by budgeting and choosing budget-friendly destinations, I’ll share my expertise on:
- How to plan a budget trip to Canada
- The top wallet-friendly destinations around the country
- General money-saving strategies to stretch your dollar as much as possible.
Read on for the ultimate guide on cheap places to travel in Canada.
Why Travel on a Budget?
Even if you aren’t strapped for cash or want to backpack on the cheap, traveling on a budget has many benefits, including:
- Freeing up cash for other short-term and long-term financial goals
- Having fun getting creative with cheaper, local alternatives to higher-priced tourist traps
- Enjoying the sense of satisfaction that comes with spending minimally while enjoying your life
After I get home from my travels and see that I have a few hundred dollars left in my travel account, I feel great! Additionally, I take action to put that money to use by investing it right away to take advantage of compound interest. Speak with a financial professional to determine the best course of action for your extra cash accrued from budget travel.
Budget Travel Essentials When Choosing Cheap Places to Travel in Canada
Canada Travel Costs
According to Trip.com, a budget traveler can expect to spend $50-70 USD per day when traveling to Canada. A round-trip ticket to Canada can cost between $500-1500 USD. Hotels will cost $50-100 per night, a bus ticket is between $2-5 per trip and a meal will run you between $10-20. When staying in a city for a longer period of time, you can often get a discount on transportation with a weekly or monthly pass.
Tips on Keeping Travel Costs Down When Traveling Around Canada
Book Flights and Accommodation in Advance
No matter where you are traveling to in the world, booking flights and accommodation well in advance will help you minimize costs. I typically save around 30-50% on my flights and accommodation costs by booking flights 3-4 months before my departure date and hotels 2-3 months in advance.
Volunteer In Exchange for Accommodation
There’s no doubt about it – when traveling around Canada, you’ll spend a huge chunk of your budget on a roof over your head. However, there are ways to get around this! Websites such as Workaway let you stay at locals’ homes in exchange for a couple of hours of work per day. Tasks can range greatly, but the most common types include farm work, childcare, and general assistance with housekeeping and running errands.
Use the Megabus when Traveling Between Major Cities
The Megabus is an affordable way to travel between major cities like Montreal and Vancouver. It’s also the cheapest way to travel across Canada. Tickets only start at $1 – a lot cheaper than flying!
Travel During the Shoulder or Off-Season
Prices on everything travel-related vary drastically not only depending on how far in advance you book tickets, but the time of the year you intend to travel. Spring (April-May) and Fall (September-November) are the shoulder seasons in Canada. Prices are generally lower then. If you can, keep costs down by traveling during these months.
Eat Street Food
While restaurants in Canada aren’t cheap, you can still find some good deals. Check out small shops in Vancouver and Toronto’s Chinatowns, where you’ll find sandwiches, soups and noodle dishes for well under $15 – sometimes under $10, even in this day and age! When I lived in Toronto, I enjoyed 2 doubles, a snack food from Trinidad and Tobago, for under $10! Many cities also host food festivals during the day or at night. Do your research to see what’s on at your destination!
Snack During the Day
Head over to a dollar store and pick up cheap and healthy snacks. Load up on peanut butter and bread and peanuts so you won’t feel hungry and end up spending $80 on lunch, completely blowing your daily budget! Major dollar stores in Canada include Dollarama and DollarTree.
Choose Accommodation with a Kitchen
A tried-and-true travel trick that’s saved me hundreds of dollars per trip I go on! Book a rental on VRBO or AirBnB that comes with a kitchen or access to one. Cook one or two out of your three meals per day at your accommodation instead of going out to eat. I typically like to make my breakfasts and dinners at my rental and then go out for lunch. Why? Breakfasts are simple and cheap – meals like oatmeal, eggs on toast, and protein shakes are all budget-friendly meals that will keep you full during your busy sightseeing adventures. Dinners are generally more expensive than lunches, so I like to go out for lunch.
Participate in Free or Low-Cost Activities
There are many free activities to do in Canada – you just need to wait for the right time! For example, on Wednesday evenings, admission to the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto is free. You can also get creative with activities such as a picnic in the park, stand-up (SUP) paddle boarding on a lake or simply grabbing a coffee at a cafe and people-watching.
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Other Essential Tips When Traveling Canada
Bringing Weather-Appropriate Clothing
I’m sure you’ve heard that Canada is a cold country. Absolutely! However, temperatures and climate can range drastically. There are four seasons here – winter, spring, summer and fall. For example, in the summer in British Columbia, temperatures are around 68 Fahrenheit on average. In Quebec and Ontario, summer temperatures can reach around 88 Fahrenheit. In the winter, British Columbia can dip down to 45 Fahrenheit. While that isn’t warm, in Ontario and Quebec, the temperature often dips down to between 14 to -4 Fahrenheit! Be sure to bring weather-appropriate clothing. For winter, you’ll need to bring:
- A quality winter jacket
- Snow boots
- A hat
- Gloves
- A scarf
- Snow pants (if you’re skiing, sledding or snowing)
Depending on the season, you’ll also need to bring a raincoat and/or umbrella. If you’re traveling during the summer, you can bring regular summer clothing such as shorts, t-shirts and skirts/dresses. However, the weather in Canada changes quite a bit, so bring layers! Pro tip: stocking a travel capsule wardrobe is a simple way to have a collection of quality items that go together and suit a variety of seasons. Go here to check out my ultimate guide to building one.
The Ultimate List of Cheap Places to Travel in Canada: Specific Cities
Popular Places to Travel in Canada
Niagara Falls, Ontario
First on my list of cheap places to visit in Canada – Niagara Falls! If it’s your first time in Canada, you MUST visit Niagara Falls. This famous tourist destination can be pricey, but it is possible to travel here on a budget. Follow these tips and you’ll be just fine:
Hotels
Choose a hotel carefully – use an app such as Hotels.com to compare and grab the best deal. While I mentioned earlier that it’s often best to book hotels in advance, you can often score sweet deals ranging from $40-60 USD per night!
Transportation
Get around Niagara Falls on foot – no need to rent a car! Be sure to book a hotel that’s within walking distance of the main attractions.
Clifton Hill
The ultimate tourist trap! Clifton Hill is basically an amusement park. Rather than going here to dine, eat out at restaurants away from the tourist strip.
Vancouver, British Columbia
Do you like nature and a big city vibe? Look no further than Vancouver. I visited in early October and enjoyed the beautiful weather – optimal temperatures and minimal rain. Vancouver can be pricey, but there are tons of ways to experience this stunning city on a budget. Below are the top places to visit and my budget tips.
Vancouver is incredibly walkable! I got around the city almost entirely by foot. I booked a hotel right across from Robson Square and was able to walk to most of my destinations in 40 minutes or less. Each day I was in Vancouver, I chose a different area of the city to explore:
- Stanley Park on day 1
- Chinatown and downtown on day 2
- Kitsilano Beach and Granville Island on day 3
- Mt. Pleasant on day 4 (I took the SkyTrain to get there on this day)
I’ll be honest – when I stayed in Vancouver, I got a pretty deep discount on a 5-star hotel there. Today, that same hotel will run you $250-300 a night. This was back a few years ago when the province was helping businesses by giving them funds to provide discounts to drive tourism. While a hotel in Vancouver won’t be cheap, you can find some deals for under $100 a night if you look. Keep costs down on your trip overall by stocking up on snacks, walking everywhere, and visiting national parks.
Calgary, Alberta
Calgary is best known for its annual Calgary Stampede. However, it’s a great place to visit year-round! Aside from being relatively close to Banff National Park, there are many things to do here on a budget. Visitors to Calgary can enjoy different sports such as water rafting, kayaking and even skiing in the winter.
Start your visit to Calgary by walking down Stephen Avenue, a walking street downtown that’s only open to pedestrians. Visitors here will enjoy checking out the many stores and restaurants here. In the summer,r there are many festivals and food trucks to indulge in.
Calgary is also home to many parks. Enjoy cycling or walking down their trails or even having a BBQ. In the winter, you can ice skate at Bowness Park. Another great place to visit is the Calgary Zoo, which houses around 900 animals.
I can’t end this section on Calgary without mentioning Banff National Park, a famous Canadian UNESCO World Heritage Site. Grab a bus from downtown Calgary or the airport and enjoy hiking, camping and horseback riding at the park. Keep costs down in Banff by staying in a hostel.
Quebec City, Quebec
I’ve been to Quebec City no less than three times – once you visit, you’ll understand why! This city is straight out of a picture book. Quebec City was founded in 1608. Originally a French colony, it has retained its roots well. When you come to Quebec City, you’ll fall in love with its cobblestone streets, historic buildings and delicious food. As is the case with any Canadian city, visiting here can add up quickly. However, there are some easy ways to keep costs down. Let’s get into my top tips on where to visit and how I saved hundreds of dollars during my visits to the capital city of “La Belle Province.”
Where to Visit in Quebec City
Start your visit by exploring the old town by yourself. Before you go out exploring, write down some notes or print off your own research about different spots in the region. Stop for a coffee or an ice cream in one of the many shops around. You can walk around, but if you want an interesting experience and are tired from all the steps, take the funicular up to the top of the hill from the lower part of the old town.
After visiting the old town, head over to La Citadelle and the old fortified wall. Quebec City has one of the oldest fortified cities in North America and was built to protect against Americans potentially coming up to fight.
If you have enough time, grab a bus and head over to Montmorency Falls, an impressive waterfall only 50 minutes or so away from downtown Quebec City.
Keeping Costs Down in Quebec City
Keep food costs down by indulging in a delicious poutine for $10 or less! Of course, you can’t survive on poutine for several days (at least, I can’t). Load up on some healthy snacks such as fruit and nuts at the grocery store and do a picnic lunch at the Plains of Abraham. The Plains of Abraham are worth a visit as they were the site of the battle of 1759 between England and France. The historic battle resulted in England winning and dominating the country.
Other Cheap Places to Travel in Canada
Magdalen Islands, Quebec
The Magdalen Islands are a lesser-known destination in Quebec closer to the Atlantic provinces than Quebec itself. There are five main islands:
- Havre Aubert
- Havre aux Maisons
- Cap aux Meules
- Grosse ÃŽle
- Pointe aux Loups
The islands became a part of Quebec in 1774 and its inhabitants are known as the Madelinots, proud Acadians who were originally from Nova Scotia. Most people on the islands speak French, so when you visit, it’s a good idea to learn a few phrases.
The Magdalen Islands are perfect for a peaceful getaway away from the everyday hustle and bustle of life. Enjoy the sand dunes at the beaches including Dune Du Sud, Pointe-Aux-Loups, Dune De L’Ouest, Old Havre-Aubert and Old Harry. You can also enjoy paddleboarding, kayaking and other fun outdoor activities. Finally, enjoy viewing one or all 5 lighthouses on the islands including the Borgot Lighthouse.
Muskoka Lakes, Ontario
The Muskokas are a popular getaway for many Canadians living in densely-populated Southern Ontario. They’re part of Ontario’s cottage country and are perfect for a getaway from the busy city life. You can enjoy a weekend (or week!) relaxing in front of lakes, kayaking, SUP (stand-up paddleboarding) or just sitting by the fireplace after a long week of work. Grab a few friends and rent an AirBnB or VRBO listing and a car to get to your destination. Travel and lodging expenses will be the biggest part of the budget. However, you can keep costs down by buying groceries and cooking at your lodging.
Pro cottage country travel tip: if you’re coming from a big city such as Toronto or are passing through a small city, buy your groceries there. It’s cheaper than buying at local convenience stores.
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Halifax is a great place to travel on a budget. When I visited here, I enjoyed many free activities such as taking a harbor tour and walking down the boardwalk. Indulge in a coffee or ice cream, sit down and people-watch. Aside from walking around and touring the harbor, check out the Immigration Museum at Pier 21. It was where over 1 million immigrants arrived between 1928 and 1971 (including my grandparents!).
If you love live music, you’re in for a treat. Halifax is home to tons of pubs that host live music with a heavy Scottish influence. Additionally, if the timing lines up with your visit, check out one of the many festivals hosted in Halifax including the Halifax Jazz Festival and the Fringe Festival.
A Final Word on Cheap Places to Travel in Canada
There you have it – my list of cheap places to travel in Canada. I hope my tips on how to travel on a budget and where to go have been helpful in helping you plan your big adventure. If you’re feeling overwhelmed on where to start with budget travel, choose one or two travel tips. Slowly integrate more frugal methods into your travel planning. Once you’ve mastered travel on a budget, why not try out other frugal living strategies?
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Janita is a frugal living expert and owner of Frugal Fun Finance. With over five years of personal experience finding and trying out the best ways to make and save more money, she's eager to share her knowledge. Janita's strategies have helped her save thousands of dollars for funding investments and traveling to over 20 countries.
Janita completed training in personal finance at The University of Western Ontario and McGill University, two prestigious Canadian universities. Her expertise has been shared on GoBankingRates, Yahoo Finance, and NASDAQ.com.
