Should you visit Asheville or Phoenix?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Asheville and Phoenix. 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.
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.
Phoenix
The most populous city in the American Southwest, Phoenix is the capital city of Arizona and busiest hub of activity in the general area. Geographically it is located in the Sonoran Desert, making for long hot summers and mild winters. This climate has ensured a thriving tourism industry with plenty of attractions both in and around Phoenix.
Which city is cheaper, Phoenix or Asheville?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Asheville is $106, while the average daily cost in Phoenix is $187. 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 Asheville and Phoenix in more detail.
Accommodation
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $142 for a double occupancy room in Asheville.
Travelers usually pay around $226 for a double occupancy room in Phoenix If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Asheville is $11 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Phoenix'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 $28 per person, per day on transportation in Phoenix.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phoenix
Also for Phoenix, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Airport SUV Phoenix One Way Transfer Phoenix Address:
$100
-
Airport SUV Phoenix One Way Transfer Scottsdale Address:
$121
-
Airport Sedan Phoenix One Way Transfer Scottsdale Address:
$91
-
Airport Sedan Phoenix One Way Transfer to Phoenix Address:
$91
-
Airport VAN Phoenix One Way Transfer Phoenix Address:
$213
-
Airport VAN Phoenix One Way Transfer Scottsdale Address:
$213
-
Arrival Private Transfer Phoenix Airport PHX to Phoenix Business-Luxury Vehicle:
$78
-
Arrival Private Transfers: Sky Harbor Airport PHX to Phoenix in Business Car:
$76
-
Arrival Private Transfers: Sky Harbor Airport PHX to Phoenix in Luxury SUV:
$96
-
Arrival Private Transfers: Sky Harbor Airport PHX to Phoenix in Luxury Van:
$96
-
Departure Private Transfer to Phoenix Airport PHX by Business or Luxury Vehicle:
$78
-
Departure Private Transfers: Phoenix to Sky Harbor Airport PHX in Business Car:
$76
Is it cheaper to fly into Asheville or Phoenix?
Prices for flights to both Phoenix 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
In Asheville travelers spend around $26 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.
In Phoenix travelers spend around $42 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
Asheville $26
Phoenix $42
Typical Food prices in Asheville
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Asheville:
Typical Food prices in Phoenix
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Phoenix:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Phoenix
For Phoenix, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Awesome French Crêpes Cooking Class:
$65
Entertainment
Asheville's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $13 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Phoenix can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $32 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Typical Entertainment prices in Asheville
Here are a few typical costs in Asheville for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in Asheville
Here are a few actual costs in Asheville for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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"Love Stories of Asheville" Guided Walking Tour:
$498
-
2-Hour Guided Segway Tour of Asheville:
$68
-
4-Mile Guided Paddleboard Tour on The French Broad River in Asheville:
$82
-
7 Mile Guided Paddleboard Tour On The French Broad River in Asheville:
$97
-
Asheville Insider Guided Walking Tour:
$30
-
Asheville Literary Tour:
$30
-
Asheville Night-Time Guided Walking Ghost Tour (1 or 1.5-Hour Options Available):
$21
-
Asheville Night-Time Walking Ghost Tour:
$21
-
Asheville Private Guided Bird Watching Tour:
$41
-
Asheville Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$21
-
Asheville Scavenger Hunt: Downtown Asheville Adventure:
$12
-
Asheville tip-based sightseeing Walking Tour with Donut & Spirits/Beer Tastings:
$5.00
Tours and Activities in Phoenix
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Phoenix.
-
Skip the Line: Heard Museum Admission Ticket:
$18
-
Phoenix Walking Ghost Tour:
$20
-
Phoenix Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$21
-
Phoenix Zoo: One Day General Admission Ticket:
$23
-
RoRo Street Art Tour:
$27
-
Lockdown- Samurai Escape Room Experience:
$28
-
Phoenix Legends Bike Tour:
$43
-
Tabletop Adventure - Gaming in Nature:
$46
-
BYOB Pedal Bar Experience In Old Town Scottsdale:
$53
-
Private Group Sonoran Desert 1.5 Hour Hiking Adventure:
$75
-
Scottsdale: Half-Day Casual Bike Tour with Guide:
$75
-
Private Group Sonoran Desert Half Day Hiking Adventure:
$95
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Asheville may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $13 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Phoenix, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $13.
Sample the Local Flavors in Asheville
Also in Asheville, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Downtown Asheville Guided Brewery Walking Tour:
$38
-
Private Adventure Brews Cruise Brewery Tours in Asheville (Up To 5 Breweries):
$1,013
Sample the Local Flavors in Phoenix
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Phoenix:
-
Wine Tours, Airport Transportation and more!:
$100
-
Custom Arizona Brewery Tour:
$245
-
Scottsdale: Mountain Biking and Brewery Tour:
$250
-
From Phoenix/Scottsdale: Sedona Hiking & Wine Tasting Tour:
$275
-
Private Southern Arizona Wine Tour Phoenix to Sonoita-Elgin Vineyards:
$997
-
Private Wine Tour from Phoenix to Sonoita-Elgin Vineyards:
$1,650
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Asheville and Phoenix, we can see that Phoenix 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 Phoenix would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Phoenix than you might in Asheville.
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