A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Asheville vs. Richmond for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Asheville or Richmond?

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 Richmond. 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 Richmond?

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.

Richmond

One of the oldest American cities, Richmond was established in 1607 by English settlers led by Captain Christopher Newport and Captain John Smith. During the Civil War it existed as the capital of the Confederacy, and today it remains the capital of the U.S. state of Virginia. There are many historic sights to see and museums to explore, as well as plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment.

Which place is cheaper, Richmond or Asheville?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Asheville is $133, while the average daily cost in Richmond is $161. 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 Richmond in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Asheville $89
    Richmond $101
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Asheville $178
    Richmond $202
Compare Hotels in Asheville and Richmond

Looking for a hotel in Asheville or Richmond? 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 Asheville


Hotels in Richmond


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 Richmond Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Asheville $14
    Richmond $72

Is it cheaper to fly into Asheville or Richmond?

Prices for flights to both Richmond 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Asheville $33
    Richmond $21
Typical Food prices in Asheville

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Asheville:


  • 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.

  • 3-Hour Hands on Cooking Class: $120
  • Guided Craft Brewery Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $129

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Richmond

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Richmond.

  • The Carytown Food Tour in Richmond: $80
  • Church Hill Food Tour in Richmond, VA: $80
  • Church Hill Food Tour: $80
  • Trendy Carytown Food Tour: $80
  • Arts District Food Tour in Richmond: $85
  • Arts District Walking Food Tour: $85

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Asheville $16
    Richmond $13
Typical Entertainment prices in Asheville

Here are a few typical costs in Asheville for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Massage
    $40

Tours and Activities in Asheville

Here are a few actual costs in Asheville for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • River Arts District Tip-Based Sightseeing Walking Tour : $5.00
  • Downtown Asheville Tip-Based Sightseeing Walking Tour : $5.00
  • A Taste of West Asheville Tip-Based Guided Walking Tour: $5.00
  • Asheville's Historic Smart Phone Guided App (GPS) Walking Tour: $6.75
  • Asheville's Famous Ghosts Smart Phone GPS APP Solo Walking Tour: $6.75
  • Highlights of Asheville Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $7.99
  • Asheville Historic Highlights: Self-Guided Walking Tour: $8.99
  • Blue Ridge Parkway (Asheville) Driving Tour with Audio Guide: $9.99
  • Asheville Scavenger Hunt: Downtown Asheville Adventure: $12
  • Gem Mining and Goat Farm Walking Tour in Hendersonville: $26
  • Asheville Ghost Tour: A Walk Through Riverside Cemetery & Montford Neighborhood: $27
  • Asheville Night-Time Walking Ghost Tour : $30

Tours and Activities in Richmond

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Richmond are as follows:

  • Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Richmond by Wacky Walks: $10
  • Hollywood Cemetery Tour Richmond Lore and Civil War: $24
  • Capitol Hill Ghost Walking Tour with A Guide: $25
  • Shockoe Bottom Ghost Walking Tour: $25
  • Phantoms of Franklin Walking Ghost Tour: $25
  • Monroe Park Campus Walking Ghost Tour: $25
  • Church Hill Guided Ghost Tour: $25
  • Shadows of Shockoe Ghost Tour: $25
  • Church Hill Chillers Ghost Tour: $25
  • RVA Ghosts Shockoe Bottom Sinister Scares by US Ghost Adventures : $30
  • Downtown & Capitol Square Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $30
  • Self-Guided City Murals Smartphone Tour: $32

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Asheville $16
    Richmond -

Sample the Local Flavors in Asheville

Also in Asheville, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Terrors, Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
  • Asheville Terror Boos and Brews Ultimate Guided 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: $67
  • 3-Hour Guided Walking Brewery Tour Through Downtown Asheville: $69
  • Floating Bar Crawl Tour: $72
  • "Beer Flight" Drag Queen Bar Crawl Tour + VIP After Party Seating: $77
  • Electric Bike Brewery Crawl of Asheville: $79
  • 3 Hour Brewery Bus Guided Tour in Asheville: $89
  • Guided Craft Brewery Tour with a Snack: $99

Sample the Local Flavors in Richmond

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Richmond:

  • Richmond Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl : $34
  • Richmond Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
  • Brewery Tour of Richmond, VA: $90

How are these travel costs calculated?

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Asheville and Richmond, we can see that Richmond 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 Richmond would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Richmond than you might in Asheville.

Which is Bigger, Asheville or Richmond?

Richmond is bigger, and its population is about 2.8 times larger than the population of Asheville. When comparing the population of Asheville vs. Richmond, 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.


When is the best time to visit Asheville or Richmond?

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 Richmond in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Asheville and Richmond. Many travelers come to Asheville for the hiking, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Asheville is around the same temperature as Richmond. Typically, the summer temperatures in Asheville in July average around 82°F (28°C), and Richmond averages at about 78°F (26°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Richmond this time of the year. In Asheville, it's very sunny this time of the year. Asheville usually receives less sunshine than Richmond during summer. Asheville gets 268 hours of sunny skies, while Richmond receives 305 hours of full sun in the summer.

Richmond receives a lot of rain in the summer. Asheville gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Asheville usually receives around the same amount of rain as Richmond. Asheville gets 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain, while Richmond receives 5 inches (128 mm) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Asheville 82°F (28°C) 
    Richmond 78°F (26°C)

Should I visit Asheville or Richmond in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Asheville as well as Richmond. Many visitors come to Asheville in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Asheville is generally a little warmer than Richmond. Daily temperatures in Asheville average around 64°F (18°C), and Richmond fluctuates around 59°F (15°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Richmond. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Asheville this time of the year. In the autumn, Asheville often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Richmond. Asheville gets 229 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Richmond receives 221 hours of full sun.

Asheville usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Richmond. Asheville gets 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain, while Richmond receives 3.5 inches (90 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Asheville 64°F (18°C) 
    Richmond 59°F (15°C)

Should I visit Asheville or Richmond in the Winter?

Both Richmond and Asheville are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Asheville for the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

The weather in Richmond can be very cold. Asheville is much warmer than Richmond in the winter. The daily temperature in Asheville averages around 44°F (7°C) in January, and Richmond fluctuates around 36°F (2°C).

Asheville usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Richmond during winter. Asheville gets 176 hours of sunny skies, while Richmond receives 169 hours of full sun in the winter.

It's quite rainy in Asheville. In January, Asheville usually receives more rain than Richmond. Asheville gets 3.9 inches (100 mm) of rain, while Richmond receives 3.2 inches (83 mm) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Asheville 44°F (7°C) 
    Richmond 36°F (2°C)

Should I visit Asheville or Richmond in the Spring?

Both Richmond and Asheville during the spring are popular places to visit. The spring months attract visitors to Asheville because of the natural beauty.

In the spring, Asheville is a little warmer than Richmond. Typically, the spring temperatures in Asheville in April average around 64°F (18°C), and Richmond averages at about 58°F (14°C).

In Richmond, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Asheville. In the spring, Asheville often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Richmond. Asheville gets 266 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Richmond receives 265 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Asheville. Asheville usually gets more rain in April than Richmond. Asheville gets 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain, while Richmond receives 3 inches (75 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Asheville 64°F (18°C) 
    Richmond 58°F (14°C)

Typical Weather for Richmond and Asheville

Asheville Richmond
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 44°F (7°C) 3.9 inches (100 mm) 36°F (2°C) 3.2 inches (83 mm)
Feb 47°F (8°C) 4.3 inches (109 mm) 39°F (4°C) 3.2 inches (80 mm)
Mar 55°F (13°C) 5.4 inches (137 mm) 49°F (9°C) 3.6 inches (92 mm)
Apr 64°F (18°C) 4.4 inches (112 mm) 58°F (14°C) 3 inches (75 mm)
May 71°F (22°C) 3.1 inches (79 mm) 67°F (19°C) 3.8 inches (98 mm)
Jun 79°F (26°C) 3.8 inches (96 mm) 74°F (24°C) 3.6 inches (92 mm)
Jul 82°F (28°C) 5.4 inches (137 mm) 78°F (26°C) 5 inches (128 mm)
Aug 81°F (27°C) 4.6 inches (118 mm) 77°F (25°C) 4.4 inches (113 mm)
Sep 75°F (24°C) 4 inches (101 mm) 71°F (21°C) 3.3 inches (85 mm)
Oct 64°F (18°C) 3.4 inches (86 mm) 59°F (15°C) 3.5 inches (90 mm)
Nov 55°F (13°C) 3.2 inches (81 mm) 50°F (10°C) 3.2 inches (81 mm)
Dec 47°F (8°C) 4.1 inches (103 mm) 41°F (5°C) 3.3 inches (83 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.
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Asheville vs. Richmond Travel Comparison

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