Which place is cheaper, Whistler or Asheville?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Asheville or Whistler?
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 Whistler. 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 Whistler?
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.
Whistler
Located in the province of British Columbia in Canada, Whistler is most famous as the largest ski area in North America. It is also only a short distance from the city of Vancouver, and offers countless opportunities for snow boarding and other winter sports. The town has a permanent population of almost 10,000 and there is a larger seasonal population of workers that come from all over the world. Whistler is a major travel destination with more than two million people visiting the town yearly. As such, there are countless amenities available to visitors. Hotels can vary dramatically in price and quality. There are some budget options, including a couple of hostels in the area, but most people do not visit Whistler as a budget travel destination. It's usually an expensive vacation, but few would argue that it isn't worth the cost.
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 Contiki Tours to Canada, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAsheville $133Whistler $125
The average daily cost (per person) in Asheville is $133, while the average daily cost in Whistler is $125. 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 Whistler in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAsheville $89Whistler $65
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAsheville $178Whistler $130
Compare Hotels in Asheville and Whistler
Looking for a hotel in Asheville or Whistler? 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 Whistler Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Asheville $14Whistler $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Whistler
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Whistler:
- Private Transfer from Whistler to Downtown Vancouver: $570
- Private Transfer from Whistler to Richmond BC: $633
- Vancouver: Seaplane Transfer between Vancouver & Whistler: $161
Is it cheaper to fly into Asheville or Whistler?
Prices for flights to both Whistler 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 $33Whistler $30
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.
- 1-HR cooking class: $40
- Electric Bike Tour of Asheville's Best Pizza: $98
- Best Pizza E-bike Tour: $111
Typical Food Prices in Whistler
Some typical examples of dining costs in Whistler are as follows:
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Coffee at Starbucks$12
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Tim Hortons Breakfast$12
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Coffee at Timmy's$3.63
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Whistler
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Whistler.
- Finer Things: 4-Course Dinner Tour in Whistler: $131
- Finer Things Dinner Tour in Whistler: $144
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Asheville $16Whistler $78
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
- Blue Ridge Parkway South Audio Driving Tour: $7.99
- Blue Ridge Parkway Asheville Audio Driving Tour: $7.99
- Asheville Historic Highlights: Self-Guided Walking Tour: $8.49
- 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
- Blue Ridge Parkway (Asheville to Roanoke) Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
- Asheville Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $21
Typical Entertainment Prices in Whistler
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Whistler are as follows:
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Driving Range$15
Tours and Activities in Whistler
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Whistler are as follows:
- Sea to Sky Highway: a Smartphone Audio Driving Tour: $6.31
- Audain Art Museum Admission Ticket: $16
- One Hour Axe Throwing Guided Experience in Whistler: $33
- Vallea Lumina Multimedia Experience: $35
- The Great Whistler Walking Tour: Discover Whistler's Sights, History & Culture!: $49
- Whistler Sightseeing Tour: Discover all of Whistler Year-Round!: $78
- Guided Lunch Tour in Whistler: $88
- Rock Climbing Beginner Experience: $94
- Whistler Valley Tour by Seaplane: 20-Minute Flight: $102
- Sky-Walk Mountain Climbing Tour: $102
- Whistler Glacier Discovery Tour: $103
- Guided eBike Adventure: $106
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAsheville $16Whistler $8.72
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
- Premier Mobile Guided Brewery Tour Around Asheville: $99
- Guided Craft Brewery Tour with a Snack: $99
- Asheville Signature Guided Brewery Tour: $105
Sample the Local Flavors in Whistler
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Whistler:
- Whistler Distillery Tour & Tasting Experience: $66
When comparing the travel costs between Asheville and Whistler, we can see that Asheville is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Asheville Expensive? and Is Whistler Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Asheville or Whistler?
Asheville has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Whistler. When comparing the sizes of Asheville and Whistler, 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 Whistler?
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 Whistler in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Asheville and Whistler. Many visitors come to Asheville in the summer for the hiking, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Asheville is generally much warmer than Whistler. Daily temperatures in Asheville average around 82°F (28°C), and Whistler fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Whistler this time of the year. In Asheville, it's very sunny this time of the year. Asheville usually receives less sunshine than Whistler during summer. Asheville gets 268 hours of sunny skies, while Whistler receives 296 hours of full sun in the summer.
Asheville gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Asheville usually receives more rain than Whistler. Asheville gets 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain, while Whistler receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAsheville 82°F (28°C)Whistler 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Asheville or Whistler in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Asheville as well as Whistler. Most visitors come to Asheville for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
Asheville is much warmer than Whistler in the autumn. The daily temperature in Asheville averages around 64°F (18°C) in October, and Whistler fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Asheville this time of the year. In the autumn, Asheville often gets more sunshine than Whistler. Asheville gets 229 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whistler receives 124 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Whistler. Asheville usually gets less rain in October than Whistler. Asheville gets 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain, while Whistler receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAsheville 64°F (18°C)Whistler 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Asheville or Whistler in the Winter?
Both Whistler and Asheville are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The winter months attract visitors to Asheville because of the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
It's quite cold in Whistler in the winter. In the winter, Asheville is a little warmer than Whistler. Typically, the winter temperatures in Asheville in January average around 44°F (7°C), and Whistler averages at about 4°C (40°F).
Asheville usually receives more sunshine than Whistler during winter. Asheville gets 176 hours of sunny skies, while Whistler receives 55 hours of full sun in the winter.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Whistler. It's quite rainy in Asheville. In January, Asheville usually receives less rain than Whistler. Asheville gets 3.9 inches (100 mm) of rain, while Whistler receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAsheville 44°F (7°C)Whistler 4°C (40°F)
Should I visit Asheville or Whistler in the Spring?
Both Whistler and Asheville during the spring are popular places to visit. The natural beauty are the main draw to Asheville this time of year.
In April, Asheville is generally much warmer than Whistler. Daily temperatures in Asheville average around 64°F (18°C), and Whistler fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).
It's quite sunny in Asheville. In the spring, Asheville often gets more sunshine than Whistler. Asheville gets 266 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whistler receives 172 hours of full sun.
Whistler gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Asheville. Asheville usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Whistler. Asheville gets 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain, while Whistler receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAsheville 64°F (18°C)Whistler 9°C (49°F)
Typical Weather for Whistler and Asheville
| Asheville | Whistler | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 44°F (7°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) | 4°C (40°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Feb | 47°F (8°C) | 4.3 inches (109 mm) | 6°C (42°F) | 179 mm (7.1 in) |
| Mar | 55°F (13°C) | 5.4 inches (137 mm) | 7°C (45°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) |
| Apr | 64°F (18°C) | 4.4 inches (112 mm) | 9°C (49°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| May | 71°F (22°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) | 13°C (55°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jun | 79°F (26°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) | 16°C (60°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jul | 82°F (28°C) | 5.4 inches (137 mm) | 18°C (64°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Aug | 81°F (27°C) | 4.6 inches (118 mm) | 18°C (64°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 75°F (24°C) | 4 inches (101 mm) | 15°C (59°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Oct | 64°F (18°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) | 11°C (51°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Nov | 55°F (13°C) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) | 7°C (44°F) | 234 mm (9.2 in) |
| Dec | 47°F (8°C) | 4.1 inches (103 mm) | 4°C (40°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) |
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.