Which place is cheaper, Columbia River Gorge or Albuquerque?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Albuquerque vs. Columbia River Gorge for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Albuquerque or Columbia River Gorge?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Albuquerque and Columbia River Gorge. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Albuquerque or Columbia River Gorge?
Albuquerque
Albuquerque is a large city in the middle of the desert, right in the heart of New Mexico. It's the largest city in the state and has a lot to offer visitors. The city has a quaint downtown with a handful of good shops and restaurants. The surrounding area is quite beautiful and every fall the city hosts a famous and spectacular hot air balloon festival.
Columbia River Gorge
Columbia River Gorge is a popular destination in the Cascade Mountains in the Pacific Northwest. The region's close proximity to Portland, which is just 30 minutes away, makes it a popular weekend destination.
The gorge is formed by the Columbia River, with an 80 mile stretch designated as a National Scenic Area. The area has many beautiful cliffs with a number of tall waterfalls and its protected status means that most new development must occur within one of the already established towns.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAlbuquerque $135Columbia River Gorge $179
The average daily cost (per person) in Albuquerque is $135, while the average daily cost in Columbia River Gorge is $179. 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 Albuquerque and Columbia River Gorge in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAlbuquerque $69Columbia River Gorge $89
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAlbuquerque $138Columbia River Gorge $178
Compare Hotels in Albuquerque and Columbia River Gorge
Looking for a hotel in Albuquerque or Columbia River Gorge? 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: Albuquerque Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Albuquerque $37Columbia River Gorge $78
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Albuquerque
Also for Albuquerque, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Albuquerque International Airport One Way Transfer : $48
- Private Departure Transfer To Albuquerque Airport ABQ: $49
- Albuquerque Airport (ABQ) to Pagosa Springs Round-Trip Transfer: $354
Is it cheaper to fly into Albuquerque or Columbia River Gorge?
Prices for flights to both Columbia River Gorge and Albuquerque 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
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Food Meals for one dayAlbuquerque $41Columbia River Gorge $46
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Albuquerque
For Albuquerque, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show - Albuquerque, NM: $79
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Albuquerque $24Columbia River Gorge $20
Tours and Activities in Albuquerque
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Albuquerque.
- Old Town Self-Guided Walking Tour by App: $6.50
- Historic Old Town Albuquerque smart phone App/Audio Walking Tour: $6.50
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Albuquerque by Operation City Quest: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Albuquerque by Zombie Scavengers: $20
- Turquoise Museum Admission Ticket: $20
- Albuquerque Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $21
- Albuquerque Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour and Game: $25
- Duke City Pedaler: Beverage Tour to Old Town/Sawmill Albuquerque : $30
- ABQ City Guided History Tour: $30
- Old Town Hauntings of the West Ghost Tour: $33
- 12pm - Public High Noon History, Legends & Lore Tour - Guided Old Town Stroll: $35
- The Ghost Tour of Old Town - New Mexico's oldest Ghost Walk - Since 2001: $35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAlbuquerque $20Columbia River Gorge $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Albuquerque and Columbia River Gorge, we can see that Columbia River Gorge is more expensive. And not only is Albuquerque much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Albuquerque would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Albuquerque 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 Columbia River Gorge would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Columbia River Gorge than you might in Albuquerque.
Which is Bigger, Albuquerque or Columbia River Gorge?
Albuquerque is bigger, and its population is about 42.3 times larger than the population of Columbia River Gorge. When comparing the population of Albuquerque vs. Columbia River Gorge, 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 and the activities that interest you.
Related Articles for Albuquerque
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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.
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