Which place is cheaper, Eugene or Asheville?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Asheville or Eugene?
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 Asheville and Eugene. 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: Asheville or Eugene?
Asheville
Asheville is a beautiful mountain town between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains. It's a popular tourist destination in western North Carolina that attracts hikers, shoppers, and adventurers alike. It's the largest city in the area and is famous for it's liberal mindset and large art community. Local crafts are frequently available for sale in the downtown shops.
Eugene
At the southern end of the Willamette Valley, Eugene is most recognized as the home of the University of Oregon. It's a smaller city with a liberal population that is generally concerned about environmental issues. A popular experience in Eugene is to go to the Saturday Market, which has been around since 1970 and is the oldest open air market in the United States.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America, The Best Walking Tours in United States of America, and The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAsheville $133Eugene $160
The average daily cost (per person) in Asheville is $133, while the average daily cost in Eugene is $160. 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 Asheville and Eugene in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAsheville $89Eugene $97
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAsheville $178Eugene $194
Compare Hotels in Asheville and Eugene
Looking for a hotel in Asheville or Eugene? 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: Asheville Hotel Prices and Eugene Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Asheville $14Eugene $37
Is it cheaper to fly into Asheville or Eugene?
Prices for flights to both Eugene and Asheville 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 dayAsheville $33Eugene $41
Typical Food Prices in Asheville
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Asheville:
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Biltmore Estate Entrance Fee$60
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Asheville
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Asheville.
- Electric Bike Tour of Asheville's Best Pizza: $98
- Best Pizza E-bike Tour: $111
Typical Food Prices in Eugene
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Eugene:
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Sam Bonds Food and Music (for 2)$16
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Morning Glory Cafe Breakfast (for 2)$12
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Asheville $16Eugene -
Typical Entertainment Prices in Asheville
Here are a few typical costs in Asheville for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Massage$40
Tours and Activities in Asheville
Here are a few actual costs in Asheville for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Downtown Asheville Tip-Based Sightseeing Walking Tour : $5.00
- River Arts District Tip-Based Sightseeing Walking Tour : $5.00
- Asheville's Famous Ghosts Smart Phone GPS APP Solo Walking Tour: $6.75
- Asheville's Historic Smart Phone Guided App (GPS) Walking Tour: $7.75
- Asheville Historic Highlights: Self-Guided Walking Tour: $8.49
- Blue Ridge Parkway Asheville Audio Driving Tour: $9.99
- Blue Ridge Parkway South Audio Driving Tour: $9.99
- Blue Ridge Parkway Self-Drive Tour w/ Audio Guide: $9.99
- Blue Ridge Parkway Driving Audio Tour (Asheville ↔ Roanoke): $12
- Asheville Scavenger Hunt: Downtown Asheville Adventure: $12
- Asheville Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $21
- Asheville Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour and Game: $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAsheville $16Eugene -
Sample the Local Flavors in Asheville
Also in Asheville, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Skip the Line: Copper Barrel's Premium Distillery Tour & Tasting: $10
- Terrors, Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- Ultimate Late Night Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- Asheville Terrors Boos and Brews Haunted Pub Crawl: $39
- Expert-Led Brewery Walking Tour with Beer Samples: $65
- Downtown Asheville Guided Brewery Walking Tour: $69
- Premier Walking Guided Brewery Tour Through Downtown Asheville: $69
- Electric Bike Brewery Crawl of Asheville: $74
- Guided Craft Brewery Tour with a Snack: $99
- Asheville Signature Guided Brewery Tour: $105
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Asheville and Eugene, we can see that Eugene is more expensive. And not only is Asheville much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Asheville would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Asheville 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 Eugene would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Eugene than you might in Asheville.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Asheville Expensive? and Is Eugene Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Asheville or Eugene?
Eugene has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Asheville. When comparing the sizes of Asheville and Eugene, 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 along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Asheville or Eugene?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Asheville or Eugene in the Summer?
Both Eugene and Asheville are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Asheville because of the hiking, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
Asheville is a little warmer than Eugene in the summer. The daily temperature in Asheville averages around 82°F (28°C) in July, and Eugene fluctuates around 68°F (20°C).
It's quite rainy in Asheville. In July, Asheville usually receives more rain than Eugene. Asheville gets 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain, while Eugene receives 0.3 inches (8 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAsheville 82°F (28°C)Eugene 68°F (20°C)
Should I visit Asheville or Eugene in the Autumn?
Both Eugene and Asheville during the autumn are popular places to visit. The hiking trails, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Asheville this time of year.
In the autumn, Asheville is a little warmer than Eugene. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Asheville in October average around 64°F (18°C), and Eugene averages at about 55°F (13°C).
Eugene gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Asheville usually gets less rain in October than Eugene. Asheville gets 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain, while Eugene receives 4.3 inches (109 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAsheville 64°F (18°C)Eugene 55°F (13°C)
Should I visit Asheville or Eugene in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Asheville and Eugene. Many travelers come to Asheville for the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Asheville is generally a little warmer than Eugene. Daily temperatures in Asheville average around 44°F (7°C), and Eugene fluctuates around 41°F (5°C).
Eugene receives a lot of rain in the winter. Asheville gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Asheville usually receives less rain than Eugene. Asheville gets 3.9 inches (100 mm) of rain, while Eugene receives 7.1 inches (181 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAsheville 44°F (7°C)Eugene 41°F (5°C)
Should I visit Asheville or Eugene in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Asheville as well as Eugene. Many visitors come to Asheville in the spring for the natural beauty.
Asheville is much warmer than Eugene in the spring. The daily temperature in Asheville averages around 64°F (18°C) in April, and Eugene fluctuates around 51°F (11°C).
Asheville receives a lot of rain in the spring. Asheville usually gets more rain in April than Eugene. Asheville gets 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain, while Eugene receives 2.2 inches (57 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAsheville 64°F (18°C)Eugene 51°F (11°C)
Typical Weather for Eugene and Asheville
| Asheville | Eugene | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 44°F (7°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) | 41°F (5°C) | 7.1 inches (181 mm) |
| Feb | 47°F (8°C) | 4.3 inches (109 mm) | 45°F (7°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) |
| Mar | 55°F (13°C) | 5.4 inches (137 mm) | 48°F (9°C) | 4.6 inches (118 mm) |
| Apr | 64°F (18°C) | 4.4 inches (112 mm) | 51°F (11°C) | 2.2 inches (57 mm) |
| May | 71°F (22°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) | 56°F (13°C) | 2 inches (50 mm) |
| Jun | 79°F (26°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 1.3 inches (34 mm) |
| Jul | 82°F (28°C) | 5.4 inches (137 mm) | 68°F (20°C) | 0.3 inches (8 mm) |
| Aug | 81°F (27°C) | 4.6 inches (118 mm) | 68°F (20°C) | 0.4 inches (11 mm) |
| Sep | 75°F (24°C) | 4 inches (101 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 1.1 inches (28 mm) |
| Oct | 64°F (18°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) | 55°F (13°C) | 4.3 inches (109 mm) |
| Nov | 55°F (13°C) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) | 47°F (8°C) | 5.9 inches (149 mm) |
| Dec | 47°F (8°C) | 4.1 inches (103 mm) | 42°F (5°C) | 6.3 inches (161 mm) |
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.