Should you visit Arlington or Rapid City?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Arlington or Rapid City, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Arlington
Located just across the Potomac River from Washington DC, capital of the United States, Arlington is a city that also has many government sites and monuments that commemorate the nation's past. Two of its most famous features include Arlington National Cemetery and the Pentagon-the largest office building in the world.
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 city is cheaper, Rapid City or Arlington?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Arlington is $211, while the average daily cost in Rapid City is $93. 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 Arlington and Rapid City in more detail.
Accommodation
The prices for places to stay in Arlington can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $105, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $210.
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $96 in Rapid City For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
Food in Arlington costs travelers about $64 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
In Rapid City travelers spend around $19 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
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Food
Meals for one day
Arlington $64
Rapid City $19
Local Transportation
Arlington'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 $39 per person, per day on transportation in Arlington.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Rapid City than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $42 on transportation in Rapid City on average per day.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arlington
Also for Arlington, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Washington, DC: Private Airport Transfer: To or From: (DCA) Reagan National:
$127
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Washington R. Reagan Airport (DCA) to Washington - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$122
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Washington R. Reagan Airport (DCA) to Washington - Arrival Private Transfer:
$61
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Washington Airport Transfers: National Airport DCA to Washington in Luxury Van:
$82
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Washington Airport Transfers: National Airport DCA to Washington in Luxury SUV:
$82
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Washington Airport Transfers: National Airport DCA to Washington in Luxury Car:
$106
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Washington Airport Transfers: National Airport DCA to Washington in Business Car:
$68
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Washington - Ronald Reagan National Airport One Way Transfer:
$48
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Transfer in private minivan from Washington Ronald Reagan Airport to City:
$80
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Transfer in private car from Washington Ronald Reagan Airport to Washington City:
$64
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Round trip transfer in private minivan from-to Ronald R Airport in Washington DC:
$160
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Round trip transfer in private car from-to Ronald Reagan Airport in Washington:
$128
Is it cheaper to fly into Arlington or Rapid City?
Prices for flights to both Rapid City and Arlington 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Arlington can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $8.50 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Sightseeing expenses in Rapid City, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $21 per day, per person.
Tours and Activities in Arlington
For Arlington, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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4 Hours Private Chauffeured DC Sight Seeing Tour / SUV & Sedan:
$428
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Arlington Cemetery & American History Museum Guided Combo Tour - Private Tour:
$143
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Arlington Cemetery & American History Museum Guided Tour - 8ppl Max:
$143
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Arlington Cemetery Private Tour:
$359
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Arlington National Cemetery Guided Walking Tour:
$36
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Arlington National Cemetery Guided Walking Tour - 8ppl Max:
$73
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Arlington National Cemetery Guided Walking Tour - Private Tour:
$73
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Arlington National Cemetery Hop-On Hop-Off Tour:
$15
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Arlington National Cemetery Private Walking Tour:
$360
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Stuck at the Airport Washington DC Tour:
$450
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Tasting & Tour:
$8.78
Tours and Activities in Rapid City
For Rapid City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Badlands National Park Private Tour:
$299
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Bike Adventure on the Mickelson Trail - Private:
$267
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Black Hills: Private Tour of Mt. Rushmore & Flume Trail Hike:
$299
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Bus Tour of Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills:
$123
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Mount Rushmore and Black Hills Bus Tour with Live Commentary:
$84
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Private Badlands National Park Day Tour:
$315
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Private Jeep Safari and Hiking Tour/ Two Person Minimum:
$307
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Private Mickelson Trail Bicycling Tour/ Two Person Minimum:
$299
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Private Mt Rushmore & Southern Black Hills Tour:
$329
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Mount Rushmore and Black Hills Full-Day Tour:
$84
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Private Black Hills Monuments Full-Day Tour:
$299
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Southern Black Hills Bicycle Tour - Private:
$267
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Arlington spend on average $13 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typically, people visiting Rapid City spend on average $5.54 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Arlington and Rapid City, we can see that Arlington is more expensive. And not only is Rapid City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Rapid City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Rapid City 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 Arlington would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Arlington than you might in Rapid City.
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