Should you visit Albuquerque or Reno?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Albuquerque and Reno. 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. So, let's dig into it.
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.
Reno
In the northwest area of Nevada, Reno sits at the base of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. After Las Vegas, it's the second most popular tourist destination in the state of Nevada. You'll find some nice resorts, elaborate casinos, nice restaurants and unique opportunities for entertainment throughout the city.
The city, referred to as "The Biggest Little City in the World", has a population of about 235,000. It's part of the Reno-Sparks metropolitan area, which has a population of about 440,000.
Reno is located in the rain shadow of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The city has a steppe climate with light to moderate snowfall in the winter months. Precipitation is most common during the winter and spring, but the city averages about 300 days of sunshine a year. Average temperatures are 35 degrees Fahrenheit in December and 75 degrees Fahrenheit in July.
Which city is cheaper, Reno or Albuquerque?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Albuquerque is $72, while the average daily cost in Reno is $113. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Albuquerque and Reno in more detail.
Accommodation
For a normal double-occupancy room in Albuquerque, $50 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Albuquerque, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $25, such as in a hostel.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $86 in Reno For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
Albuquerque food costs typically run travelers around $20 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
The price of a meal in Reno can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $42 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $17 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
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Food
Meals for one day
Albuquerque $20
Reno $42
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Albuquerque
For Albuquerque, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show - Albuquerque:
$71
Typical Food prices in Reno
For Reno, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dennys for Breakfast
$22
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Sushi DInner (for 2)
$40
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In-n-Out Burger (for 3)
$19
Local Transportation
To get around in Albuquerque, the average visitor spends $42 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Reno's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $18 per person, per day on transportation in Reno.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Albuquerque
Also for Albuquerque, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Transfer: Albuquerque to Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ):
$622
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Private Transfer: Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) to Albuquerque:
$622
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Private Departure Transfer To Albuquerque Airport ABQ:
$49
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Private Arrival Transfer from Albuquerque Airport (ABQ):
$81
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Albuquerque to Albuquerque Airport (ABQ) - Departure Private Transfer:
$88
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Albuquerque International Airport One Way Transfer:
$48
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Albuquerque Airport (ABQ) to Albuquerque - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$177
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Albuquerque Airport (ABQ) to Albuquerque - Arrival Private Transfer:
$88
Typical Local Transportation prices in Reno
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Reno:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Reno
Also for Reno, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO) to Reno – Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$336
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Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO) to Reno – Private Arrival Transfer:
$168
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Reno to Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO) - Departure Private Transfer:
$168
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Reno/Tahoe International Airport One Way Transfer:
$48
Entertainment
In Albuquerque, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $25 per person, per day.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Reno can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $70 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Tours and Activities in Albuquerque
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Albuquerque.
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12pm - Public High Noon History, Legends & Lore Tour - Guided Old Town Stroll:
$35
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ABQ NM Film locations Tour, tour your favorite movies/shows filmed in ABQ:
$45
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Albuquerque Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$21
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Breaking Bad RV Tour, visiting locations from Breaking Bad and Better call Saul:
$80
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Breaking Bad RV Virtural Tour:
$13
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Georgia on My Mind: Georgia O'keeffe and Ghost Ranch Country Tour:
$395
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Guided Bicycle Nature Tour of Albuquerque - Daily:
$69
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Mezcla de Culturas A Walking Tour of ABQ Sawmill District & Historic Old Town:
$75
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New Mexico Flavors Tour Of Old Town Albuquerque:
$124
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New Mexico Mines, Wild West Towns and Turquoise Trail Tour from Albuquerque:
$295
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Private Tour: Albuquerque Full Day:
$295
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Private Tour: Albuquerque Half Day:
$175
Tours and Activities in Reno
For Reno, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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ATV & Snow Mobile Winter Adventures from Reno:
$290
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ATV - Tours & Trap Shooting Combo Packages from Reno:
$394
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Biking Adventure Tour from Reno:
$102
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Culinary & Cultural Reno Tour:
$91
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Hot Air Balloon & Snowmobile Adventure:
$616
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Reno Scavenger Hunt: Reno Adventure:
$12
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Truckee River Rafting Tour from Reno:
$132
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Winter Horseback Riding Adventure from Reno:
$206
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Reno spend on average $10 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Albuquerque and Reno, we can see that Reno 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 Reno would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Reno than you might in Albuquerque.
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