A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Albuquerque vs. Rapid City for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Albuquerque or Rapid City?

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 Rapid City. 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 Rapid City?

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.

Rapid City

Rapid City is a large city in western South Dakota that is considered the gateway to the Black Hills National Forest. Rapid City is often used as a base for all types of outdoor activities, including tours to the infamous Mount Rushmore and surrounding parks. The city has a budding art scene and offers the perfect combination of a metropolitan city surrounded by stunning natural scenery. Rapid City experiences the best weather from June-September with temperatures in the 70's and 80's Fahrenheit. Temperatures drop to the low 20's F in the winter and the area receives the most rain pour in April and May.

Which place is cheaper, Rapid City or Albuquerque?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Albuquerque is $135, while the average daily cost in Rapid City is $116. 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 Rapid City in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Albuquerque $69
    Rapid City $60
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Albuquerque $138
    Rapid City $120
Compare Hotels in Albuquerque and Rapid City

Looking for a hotel in Albuquerque or Rapid City? 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.

Hotels in Albuquerque


Hotels in Rapid City


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 and Rapid City Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Albuquerque $37
    Rapid City $53

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Albuquerque

Also for Albuquerque, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Departure Transfer To Albuquerque Airport ABQ: $49
  • Albuquerque International Airport One Way Transfer : $48
  • Albuquerque Airport (ABQ) to Pagosa Springs Round-Trip Transfer: $354

Is it cheaper to fly into Albuquerque or Rapid City?

Prices for flights to both Rapid City 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Albuquerque $41
    Rapid City $23

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

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rapid City

For Rapid City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Roller Coaster Tickets with Dinner and Show in Rapid City: $70

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Albuquerque $24
    Rapid City $26

Tours and Activities in Albuquerque

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Albuquerque.

  • 12pm - Public High Noon History, Legends & Lore Tour - Guided Old Town Stroll: $35
  • 4pm - 75 Minute Private Ghost Tour Up To 5 People For All Ages in New Mexico: $108
  • 6pm PRIVATE GHOST TOUR of Old Town - 90 Minutes: $135
  • ABQ Beer Tour: A Curated Craft Beer Experience in the Land of Enchantment: $95
  • ABQ City Guided History Tour: $30
  • Albuquerque Old Town Art Tour with Wine & Museum Admission: $85
  • Albuquerque Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $21
  • Albuquerque Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour and Game: $25
  • Albuquerque Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour and Game: $49
  • Old Town Culture & Heritage Walking Tour: $86
  • Old Town Self-Guided Walking Tour by App: $6.50
  • Turquoise Museum Admission Ticket: $20

Tours and Activities in Rapid City

For Rapid City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Badlands Premium Van Tour - Public: $299
  • Badlands National Park Adventure, Wall Drug and Baja: $279
  • Badlands National Park Private Tour: $650
  • Badlands Sunset, Stars and Silhouettes Tour: $329
  • Black Hills & Badlands: Self-Guided Audio Driving Tours: $20
  • Black Hills: Private Tour of Mt. Rushmore & Flume Trail Hike: $650
  • Buffalo Jeep Safari & Mammoth Site Tour: $698
  • Bus Tour of Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills: $133
  • Devils Tower, Spearfish Canyon and Northern Black Hills Adventure: $299
  • From Private Devils Tower Tour and Hike: $650
  • From Private Spearfish Canyon Tour: $650
  • Full-Day Private Sightseeing Tour in South Dakota: $275

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Albuquerque $20
    Rapid City $6.93

How are these travel costs calculated?

When comparing the travel costs between Albuquerque and Rapid City, we can see that Albuquerque is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

Which is Bigger, Albuquerque or Rapid City?

Albuquerque is bigger, and its population is about 7.9 times larger than the population of Rapid City. When comparing the population of Albuquerque vs. Rapid City, 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.

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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Albuquerque vs. Rapid City Travel Comparison

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