Blog

Welcome to a new post where we are going to unravel How much does a trip to Canada cost?

We are going to tell you about it through our own experience during our last 21-day trip through the Canadian Rockies.

On all trips it is important to plan well the budget that we will spend. But especially here, planning a budget for traveling to Canada It is essential to avoid overspending and to be able to fully enjoy the trip.

The main factors that influence the cost of a trip to Canada are: Flights, accommodation, transportation, food and activities.

 Our future will depend on it. travel budget to Canada from Spain or from anywhere we travel to Canada.

Therefore, in this post we will review all these costs one by one and advise you on what to do to save and travel cheap to canada, to the extent possible to make a cheap trip to canada and above all without additional costs.

About us

Is Canada expensive? 1st premise: Currency and currency exchange, a plus

The first thing you should know is that, luckily for us, the Euro is stronger than the Canadian dollar And that is the key to why travelling to Canada is currently quite affordable and not as expensive as it was said for years,

100 Canadian dollars are currently worth 66 Euros in 2024.

Having a card that does not charge you exchange fees is the first key to not paying more

After the good news about the currency change, it's time to take a closer look Everything related to currency exchange from Euro to Canadian dollar to avoid overpaying in commissions.

In Canada everything can be paid with a card, so we recommend that you take out very little cash on the first day and then Always pay by card and in dollars to get the best deal possible.

We do recommend withdrawing cash, because in In many places you will find that you pay in a cash box., for honesty, as they say there. For example, to rent a canoe on a lake there may not be anyone or an office, just a mailbox and a sign for payment in cash.

Regarding cards, it's a whole new world, each one charges you what they want in commissions, exchange rates and cash withdrawals.

We advise you Evo's smart account card, which is the one we have had since it was Nova Caixa Galicia and which has 0 commissions for everything worldwide, but on the contrary you have to have the payroll or a minimum monthly income in that account, or the Revolut card.

A card that can be activated in minutes from the internet in an easy way and that allows unlimited top-ups so that you can pay at the currency exchange rate with 0 commissions and the best currency exchange. In addition, you can carry it digitally in your mobile wallet and it is great for paying with your mobile. We did not have a single problem paying with our mobile phone with Revolut. The only bad thing we see is that you can only withdraw 200 euros per month at ATMs without commission. Otherwise, it is one of the best commission-free cards for traveling around the world.

 

The cost of flights from Spain to Canada: when to travel and stopovers are key

The main airports in Canada with connections to Spain are Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, where can we find direct flights without scales.

The average prices of flights between these cities in Spain and these main airports can vary greatly depending on the season in which you travel and this is the first major point to take into account. 

So, when you are going to travel is the first point to plan in the travel budget. And the second point to take into account is the scales.

Both the day and time as well as the number of stopovers will greatly influence the price of the flight.

Tips for finding cheap flights to Canada

Our top tip for getting the cheapest flight and the best price is: Book one year in advance in advance, travel outside of peak season, in days during the week and making stops from European cities where they have more frequent flights to Canada, such as London. 

If you do everything described above, the round trip flight can cost you around 400-500 Euros on average

In return, if you travel in high season, even if you book well in advance and have a stopover, round-trip flights cost on average around 800-900 €uros the cheapest.

So the big difference in prices, more than in the stops you make, is in the selected dates. 

Then with the scales you can save between 100 to 300 euros but here, on the other hand, you can lose many hours or even a day on the stopover, which you also have to weigh carefully in terms of costs. And remember, time is also money.

Finally, if you book well in advance or little is the other big difference factor. Booking with minimum 6 months in advance You can save half or more by booking less than a month in advance, especially if you fly in high season, which can cost you 900 euros round trip to more than 5000 euros round trip.

The best airlines to travel to Canada from Spain

As for the airlines that fly to Canada from Spain, you will find Air Canada, for us the best in terms of quality and the only one with more Direct flights from Barcelona and Madrid.

As cheaper, but quality options, where you will always have to do scale At any European airport, you have: Lufthansa, Air France, British Airways and Air Europa.

Lastly, as cheaper options with low cost companies, where stopovers are required are the following companies: Tap Air Portugal or Ita airways.

It is best Compare prices well and evaluate extra costs of the cheapest flights (Overnight stays and meals during stopovers, extra costs for luggage or food during flights with low-cost airlines, wasted time…) and finally purchase the flight that best fits your budget.

Conclusion: How much does a flight from Madrid to Canada cost or how much does a flight from Barcelona to Canada cost?

In conclusion, if you want to know how much a flight from Madrid to Canada or from Barcelona to Canada costs, you should know that It depends a lot on how far in advance you book, what dates you book for, which company you book with and how many stops there are. 

The prices ofand the cheapest ones are around 400 euros round trip y The most expensive ones can even exceed €5000 per person.

Example of the cost of our last flight from Barcelona to Canada

For your reference, I will give you the costs of our last trip to Canada as an example.

During our last trip to Canada we paid, round trip, 850 € average per person to Air Canada. Traveling from Barcelona to Calgary, with a stopover in Toronto, and traveling the outward journey in August and the return at the beginning of September. We booked the flight in advance 6 months ago.

Accommodation in Canada: Variables to take into account that influence prices

Regarding accommodation, the first thing you should know is that Prices by city vary greatly. 

What influences the variation are the Rates, taxes of each city and each province of CanadaCalgary's taxes, which are very low, have nothing to do with those in Quebec, for example, which are among the highest in Canada.

On the other hand, the big difference in prices has to do with the type of accommodation. The price of a hostel has nothing to do with that of a 5-star hotel, obviously.

The hostels and hostelss is cheaper options for backpackers which you can find especially in the cities. The cost of these accommodations is usually on average about 30 euros per person. On the other hand, the cheapest option for travelling by car is Natural spaces from Canada is to go in tent in campsitesThe camping pitch costs between 15 and 30 euros maximum, so the price per person can be very low.

Just like intermediate pricing option, We found Airbnb-type apartments, which can reduce costs, especially for long stays, and are a great option for saving on meals during the trip. Here the price per person is around €50.

The cottages and rural houses, bed and breakfast type, are also intermediate options in natural areas such as the Rocky Mountains. The average price per person is also €50 in this case.

Finally, apart from the type of tourist accommodation you choose, there is another important factor to find cheap accommodation in canada: choose accommodations between tourist areas and less tourist areas.

Table of cheapest accommodations in Canada

Type of budget accommodation	Description
Hostels and hostels	Cheaper option for backpackers, available mainly in cities. 20-30 € average/person
Campings (tent)	Cheaper option in natural areas; camping pitch between €15 and €30 (very low price per person).
Apartments (Airbnb)	Good option for long stays and saving on meals. €50 per person on average.
Cottages and rural houses (B&B)	Intermediate option in natural areas such as the Rocky Mountains. €50 per person on average.
Cheaper hotels	Outside tourist areas.

Best Budget Hotels in Canada

in Canada We have not observed any large low-cost hotel chains. that we can recommend to you, as there are in other countries. In general, they are family hotels and hostels or large hotel companies but with a medium-high price range, such as Marriott.

Therefore, recommending the best budget hotels in Canada would not depend on the cities and destinations you are going to visit.

What is clear is that if you look for the cheapest hotel, always look for hostels, lodges, campsites and outside the areas with the highest tourist influx. This way you will surely find the best option at the best price.

Food and Drink: How much does it cost to eat out in Canada?

One of the things that makes a trip to Canada more expensive is precisely eating and drinking out. Restaurants, bars and cafes are one of the Origins of the extra costs that may occur on a trip to Canada.

First of all, we must talk about the fact that Canadian cuisine leaves much to be desiredVery similar to American restaurants, Canadian restaurants offer little variety in food, always opting for menus with hamburgers and pizzas.

Apart from the more traditional Canadian restaurants, the rest of the offering is Chinese, Vietnamese and Mexican restaurants. 

They all have something in common, there are usually no menus and the dish on the menu costs around € 15, where drinks are also very expensive, unless you ask for tap water. For example, A beer can cost you €10 and make any meal very expensive. To top off the food budget, In Canada, tipping is mandatory.. Directly, they charge you many times or at least, you must pay a 15% in tipsEven when paying by card, you are given the option before paying of what you are going to tip.

About how much it costs to eat out in Canada on average, I can tell you to calculate the average per person, tending towards a normal restaurant. €20 per lunch or dinner minimum.

If you go from food trucks or fast food Maybe you can lower your cost to about €10 per lunch or dinner per person. 

Without a doubt, the best advice I can give you here to save is to buy in the supermarket and prepare your own food. Apart from being much healthier, it will make your trip to Canada much cheaper and your average price per meal/person can end up being between 3 to 5 € per meal.

Table of how much it costs to eat in Canada

Appearance	Description
Average prices of dishes	Approximately €15 per dish in restaurants.
Cost of drinks	Drinks are expensive (a beer costs around €10). Free tap water.
Tips	They are mandatory and are usually a minimum of 15%.
Average cost in restaurants	Around €20 per person for lunch/dinner in normal restaurants.
Cost of food trucks/fast food	Approximately €10 per person for lunch/dinner.
Savings advice	Shopping at the supermarket and preparing your own food (cost 3 to 5 € per meal).

Transportation in Canada: How much does it cost? 

First of all, to answer this section, I must tell you that this It will vary greatly depending on the type of trip you take through Canada..

A trip in which you only visit one of the major cities is not the same as a road trip through different cities, towns and natural destinations.

If you are going to visit cities you can move around by public transport, but if you're going to make a road trip, for example through the Rocky Mountains, you should rent a vehicle.

Public transport prices in major cities in Canada

El single ticket price The subway, bus or tram in the main cities of Canada such as Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary or Quebec is very similar and is around around € 2. 

As a tourist, however, what is best for you is always to buy daily tickets unlimited that cost around 8 €.

Taxi and Uber prices for getting around cities or from the airport to the city

To get around the cities or from the airport to the city you are going to in Canada, you may consider taking a taxi or Uber. It is really a very good option if you are traveling as a family like us and there are 4 of you.

Taxi and Uber prices are very similar, as we found out on our last trip to Calgary. Taxis are slightly more expensive, but not too much.

The price per kilometer of taxi comes out around 1 € /km, instead, of the Uber comes out to about 0,80 cents approximately €.

How much does it cost to rent a car in Canada? Daily prices and tips for renting cars in Canada.

Rent a car in Canada It's like buying a flight or booking a hotel. It will depend a lot on different invoices: if it is high or low season, where you rent it, what Safety contracts, driver age and about him type of car to rent.

Cars economic On average they have a daily rental price about 40–50 €.

But if you want something better type Sedan or an SUV The price will already go up 60-80 € daily average.

The weekly price drops a little and an economy or mid-range car can cost you to semana unos 400-500 euros on average.

Most of them are automatic and gasoline cars. 

What you rWe recommend it Compare car rentals very well and always take out comprehensive insuranceIt is very easy to have a small stone hit your windshield in Canada, especially if you are going to visit National Parks. It happened to us, thank goodness we took out comprehensive insurance.

Rent a car or rent a motorhome or camper in Canada?

Many people ask us this question when they are preparing a trip through Canada, after seeing us on the trip we made through Canada by motorhomeI always answer the same: depends.

First of all, it depends on your audiovisual and secondly of your context y travel preferences.

If you travel alone for example 2 people and you have a tight budget, it will cost you a lot It is more cost effective to rent an economy car and stay in campsites with tents, hostels or inns.

If you travel 2 or more people, but with a more comfortable budget and you really like it a lot nature and camping, Here, a motorhome or camper can be an option.

On the other hand, if you are going to travel to big cities, for example, you I advise against it totally travel to Canada by motorhome.

As you can see, it depends on many things, not just the budget.

Renting a motorhome or camper has its advantages and disadvantages. It is not the best option because it is cheap and it does not require much work and headaches either.

Not the same driving and parking a motorhome or camper than a car. And traveling in a motorhome is not the same as traveling in a motorhome, which requires constant cleaning, emptying and filling water, etc.. than traveling in hostels, hotels or cabins where you avoid all that.

In favor, but, the motorhome or camper, means that you only have to do and unpack a single time on your trip and that you have Always available a sink and a kitchen at any time.

Overall, there are many things to consider when making this choice.

How much does it cost to rent a motorhome in Canada?

Si you rent a car in Canada On average it costs you €500 per week, renting a motorhome costs you on average €1500 per week.

That is the average price, but you should know that the prices of both cars and motorhomes vary greatly, especially if it is high or low season.

TIP: If you want to do this route by Canada by motorhome Like us, we recommend renting a motorhome. Do it in Calgary or Vancouver with Road surfers, a company we would repeat with. Roadsurfer  gave us un discount of 150 $ that you as readers can also benefit from applying the DISCOUNT CODE: KUCAVANAAMERICA

Activities and tickets: how much they cost in Canada

Activities and tickets for museums or visits in Canada, in general, They are at a very reasonable price and similar to Spain.

It must be said, however, that in Canada to access at main tourist attractions is free.  Why? Because Canada's main tourist activities are seeing destinations nature and access is free.

For example, if you ask yourself How much does it cost to visit Niagara Falls?, the answer is: nothing, it is free of chargeAnd so with so many other places to visit, such as visiting Peyto Lake, Lake Louise or so many other essential places to see in Canada.

You should know, however, that if you are within a Parque Nacional, of the 48 in Canada, you must have a Pass to access with your vehicle, the Discovery Pass, and this one does have a cost, although very reasonable

It's like a kind of toll, that by €100 approximately You have a pass that is useful to you year-round for one vehicle through all 48 National Parks from Canada, which also gives the right to Visit many museums and historical sites for free of the National Parks for up to 7 people and one vehicle.

On the other hand, activities such as rafting, canoe rentals, whale watching, or guided tour excursions are quite affordable in Canada compared to the United States or other places. Although, it is true that these activities are always a significant additional cost for the trip.

About the entries to public museums, public hot springs or public cultural venues, it must be said that they are quite cheap. Tickets usually do not exceed €10 person and if you are family there are always options family entrance which are very worthwhile.

Free activities in Canada

In short, you will find a lot of free activities in Canada. Basically, all those related to nature, where you don't even have to pay for parking.

Once you have your National Park pass, do Hiking and exploring the national parks, even visiting museums and historical sites in the parks It will cost you €0 with your Discovery Pass.

Other free activities in Canada can be visiting museums en open days. Almost all museums have free monthly visiting days.

And finally, Take advantage of festivals and public events where there are lots of free activities. For example, during Canada Day on July 1st, in most towns you will find parades, fireworks and lots of free activities.

Travel Insurance for Canada: How much does it cost and is it necessary?

It is certainly more than necessary and in fact on the official website of the Canadian government they tell you that it is a requirement to travel to Canada, since in Canada you will not have any medical coverage.

The cost will depend on what you hire. But if you are wondering How much does travel insurance to Canada cost?  On average, I can tell you that a good insurance per person for a week It can cost you a few 50 euros on average.

On best travel insurance for canada I will explain our experience and advice after comparing a lot.

AN IMPORTANT TIP: Don't travel to Canada without a good travel insurance, avoid big problems. It is one of the first requirements that they tell you on the Canadian government website along with the processing of the And so.
We recommend you the Iati Star We hired this insurance after a good comparison and study of the different ones on the market. It is the only one that exceeds one million euros of coverage. Without a doubt, it is the best for North America, where breaking a leg costs you €150.000, as happened to a friend of ours in the USA. Another positive thing is that Iati has an app for virtual visits.
I leave you here a link where you have a 5% off for any Iati travel insurance.

Visas and procedures: eTA costs for travelling to Canada

The eTa, electronic travel authorization from Canada, is like a visa to travel to Canada from Spain. It is mandatory to obtain it before travelling and has a cost. 

Our advice is to avoid falling for scams on the Internet from unofficial websites and to process the application yourself directly on the official website of the Government of Canada.

In our Post about requirements to travel to Canada I explain everything how to do it.

About How much does an eTA for Canada cost?, the answer is around € 8 per person, much cheaper than in the United States.

Total budget for a trip to Canada from Spain: Examples

Below I will show you in a summary table, based on everything explained, the average cost of a trip to Canada:

Appearance	Description	Approximate price
Direct Flights	Round trip, in low season	400-600 €
Accommodations	Hostels, motels and campsites	15-60 € per night
Lunch time	Food in restaurants	€10-30 per person
Transport	Car rental	40-80 € per day
Activities	National Parks Entrance (Discovery Pass)	100 € per year
Travel insurance	The best medical and travel insurance	€50 per week per person
Visa (eTA)	Travel authorization	€ 8 per person

Now, I will show you with examples what a trip to Canada from Spain can cost you depending on the days and accommodation chosen in total with everything included.

How much does it cost to travel to Canada for 10 days on a tight and medium Canada travel budget?

Un cheap backpacking trip to canada all with 10 days It can cost you per person traveling in low-medium season, in a rental car and traveling in a tent in campings and eating from supermarkets, traveling 2 people: 1500 € uros 

How much does it cost to travel to Canada for 10 days on an average Canada travel budget?

Un medium trip to canada all with 10 days It can cost you per person traveling in high season, by rental car, in motels and hotels up to 3 stars and eating out. supermarkets half and restaurants, the other half, traveling 2 people: 2000 € uros 

How much does it cost to travel to Canada by motorhome for 21 days: our experience and real travel costs

Here are the costs and prices of travelling to Canada that we paid on our last trip to Canada, which we made for 21 days in a family motorhome:

• Cost of the flights per person on average (2 adults and 875 children): €6 round trip with Air Canada, with a stopover in Toronto, from Barcelona. Purchased XNUMX months in advance
• Daily cost of motorhome rental: €275/day (for the 4 of us travelling and in August, high season, if you book in medium or low season you can save more than half).
• Average daily cost of accommodation, campgrounds: €25/night (for the 4 of us and a motorhome). This is the average price of campsites there.
• Average daily costs for activities, food, souvenir shopping, restaurants, etc: 40 € (for the 4 of us)

In total, the total cost of the trip we made per person for 21 days in Canada in a motorhome has been de 2.550 €.

 It should be noted that we are two adults and two children and that the price of the motorhome and campsites are divided into 4. Between two adults the same trip would cost practically double per person, it could cost you around 4500 euros per person for 21 days in Canada in a motorhome.

How to save on a trip to Canada: tips for travelling cheap to Canada from Spain 

Traveling to Canada cheaply is possible, yes and no, it depends. 

It depends on each person what is cheap for them and what you compare it to.

Of course, if you want to travel to Canada cheaply, you should do the following:

• 1 Buy flights as soon as possible, ideally 1 year in advance, which is when the flights leave.
• 2 Compare flight options a lot. Sometimes it is cheaper to take a flight to London and then from there take a flight to Canada, which is usually cheaper.
• 3. Go camping in a tent at public campsites. There is a very good infrastructure, they are very cheap and you reduce the cost of accommodation a lot, and the weather is not so bad if you go in August.
• 4 If tent camping is not your thing and there are 4 of you in the family, renting a motorhome will be very cost-effective, especially because you will save a lot on food. For less than 4 people, motels and hostels will probably be more cost-effective.
• 5 Have picnics and save money on restaurants where the food is neither good nor healthy.
• 6 Buy in large supermarkets like Walmart in big cities and don't buy in national parks, where everything is much more expensive.
• 7. Fill your gas tank outside of National Parks where it is more expensive.
• 8 Travel outside of high season, outside of July and August

Frequently Asked Questions about the costs of a trip to Canada

To resolve your doubts about the budget for Canada and how to make a cheap trip to Canada, I am going to try to answer here some frequently asked questions that we have been receiving. If you have any other questions, remember to put them in the comments below or write to us by email.

How much does a trip to Canada cost for two people?

If it is with an economic budget of backpackers, out of high season and in camping tents It may cost you a few 3000 Euros 15 days on a trip to Canada for the two of us.

If on the other hand you are going to go motels and hotels Low-range and eating in more restaurants, it can cost you around a few €5000 for both.

Is it expensive to travel to Canada from Spain?

It is not a cheap trip compared to a closer trip through Europe, but especially because of the amount of the flight prices, which is what makes the trip more expensive compared to anything else you can do in Europe.

It all depends on what you compare it to. It's not cheap because the flight alone costs around 1000 euros per person to go and return in summer, even if you book well in advance and with stopovers.

But starting from the cost of the flight, it will depend on what you choose for accommodation and travel. You can make it cheaper or more expensive depending on your budget.

The cost of living there, food, accommodation and activities are not much more expensive than in Spain, so depending on what you compare it may even seem cheap to you.

How can I reduce the cost of my trip to Canada?

Clearly, eating from supermarket food first and second, staying in campsites and hostels.

Conclusion: Is Canada an expensive destination? Final Budget Analysis

In short, Canada can be a destination expensive, but because of the distance from Spain and because the flight is more expensive the whole trip. Especially when compared to other trips within Europe. 

But on the other hand, apart from the costs of the flight, the Other costs are very similar to those in Europe, or even a little cheaper in some aspects such as public campsites. Food, activities or accommodation, the price is very similar to what you can get in Germany or France.

I hope I have helped you with this article, remember that our effort is a pleasure, but we also like to read your comments below.