Banff on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Banff can be done on a budget, but it takes planning. Expect about C$185 a day per person with a hostel or shared room, groceries, a paid sight and buses, and book months ahead for summer.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | C$80 | C$200 | C$500 |
| Food & drink | C$45 | C$90 | C$180 |
| Sights & tickets | C$20 | C$70 | C$150 |
| Local transport | C$40 | C$60 | C$100 |
| Per person, per day | C$185 | C$420 | C$930 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Banff day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Walking to Bow Falls and the Hoodoos Trail from town
- Johnston Canyon's catwalks to the Lower and Upper Falls (park pass needed)
- The Lake Louise shoreline trail and the climb to Lake Agnes
- Vermilion Lakes at sunrise, a short ride from town
- The Cave and Basin area's outdoor trails and boardwalk
- Driving the Icefields Parkway viewpoints such as Peyto Lake and Bow Lake
Cheap eats
- Supermarket picnic lunch: about C$10–15
- Breakfast sandwich and coffee at a bakery: about C$12–15
- Pizza slice or poutine in town: about C$8–15
- Pub burger with fries: about C$20–25
- Hostel kitchen dinner: about C$10 per person
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers use the hostels in Banff and Lake Louise, with dorm beds roughly C$60–110 in summer, or stay in Canmore. Campgrounds such as Tunnel Mountain cost far less but must be reserved on the Parks Canada site months ahead.
Getting around cheaply
From Calgary airport, shared shuttle buses run to Banff in about two hours. Once there, Roam Transit buses cover Banff, Canmore and Lake Louise for a few dollars a ride (day passes are available), and the Parks Canada shuttle reaches Lake Louise and Moraine Lake.
A sample budget day
- Morning: hike the Tunnel Mountain trail from town (free with park pass)
- Lunch: supermarket picnic by the Bow River, about C$12
- Afternoon: Banff Upper Hot Springs, about C$17, by Roam bus
- Evening: pub dinner on Banff Avenue, about C$35
- Total: about C$185 including a dorm bed and park pass
More ways to save
- Reserve the Parks Canada shuttle to Moraine Lake as soon as booking opens; it is cheaper than a commercial tour.
- Camp or stay in hostels with kitchens to cut food costs in half.
- Bring your own bear spray if you can buy it in Calgary, rather than renting by the day.
- Choose free hikes over paid gondolas and glacier tours.
- Travel in June or late September, when hostel and car rental prices are lower than in midsummer.
- Share a rental car with other travellers to make the Icefields Parkway affordable.
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Common questions
Can I visit Banff on a budget?
Yes, with hostels or camping, groceries, free hikes and Roam Transit buses. Allow about C$185 a day and book early.
Can I see Banff without a car?
Yes. Shuttles connect Calgary airport with Banff, and Roam Transit and the Parks Canada shuttle reach Lake Louise, Moraine Lake and Canmore.
Is Canmore a good cheaper base?
Yes. It is about 20 minutes from Banff, outside the park, with more rooms, a lively centre and its own trails.