Should you visit Aspen or Moab?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Aspen and Moab can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Aspen
Aspen is a famous, and notably expensive travel destination. The town is one of the country's most famous and recognizable ski destinations, and prices can climb high during the ski season. Although still expensive, you can often find better deals during the summer months or shoulder seasons. For visitors who want to enjoy the area's hiking, natural beauty, and charm, these are the times to visit.
Moab
Moab is the closest town to Arches National Park in Utah's Canyon Country. It is also a popular base for exploring Canyonlands National Park. It's a small town that serves mainly to accommodate tourists to the popular national parks and other surrounding wildlife areas. It has grown dramatically in recent years and has a population of just over 5,000. In town you will find hotels and motels, a handful of restaurants and a few shops where you can stock up on supplies. There's a small museum, the Museum of Moab, and a variety of tour operators in town. You can easily book river rafting trips, jeep expeditions, and tours of the surrounding area. For many, exploring Arches National Park on your own is a more enjoyable and independent experience.
Which city is cheaper, Moab or Aspen?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Aspen is $235, while the average daily cost in Moab is $124. 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 Aspen and Moab in more detail.
Accommodation
The average price for accommodation for two people in Aspen is $272. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $164 in Moab For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
The price of a meal in Aspen can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $68 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $27 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
While meal prices in Moab can vary, the average travelers spends about $30 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Moab should cost around $12 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Moab is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
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Food
Meals for one day
Aspen $68
Moab $30
Typical Food prices in Moab
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Moab:
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Moab Brewery
$42
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Breakfast for Two
$17
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Moab
For Moab, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Sound and Light Show with Dinner:
$79
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Moab Dinner Cruise with Sound and Light Show:
$81
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Colorado River Sunset Boat Tour with Optional Dinner:
$89
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Sunset Jetboat Ride with Dinner on the Colorado River from Moab:
$102
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $45 per day to get around in Aspen.
To get around in Moab, the average visitor spends $14 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aspen
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aspen:
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Private Transfer: Aspen to Denver International Airport (DEN):
$1,321
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Aspen hotel or address to Denver Airport (DEN) - Departure Private Transfer:
$796
-
Private Eagle County Regional Airport Transfer to Aspen:
$400
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Private Departure Transfer to Aspen Airport (ASE):
$36
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Private Arrival Transfer from Aspen Airport (ASE):
$36
Entertainment
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $36 per person, per day in Aspen. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
In Moab, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $2.50 per person, per day.
Tours and Activities in Aspen
Here are a few actual costs in Aspen for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Aspen's DarkSide Ghost Tour:
$40
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Aspen's Past to Present Historic Tour:
$40
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Glimpse of Aspen Tour:
$40
Typical Entertainment prices in Moab
For Moab, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Slickrock Trail Pass
$5.00
Tours and Activities in Moab
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Moab.
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Arches National Park Self-Driving Audio Tour:
$10
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Ultimate Utah Combo Self-Driving Audio Tour:
$29
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1-Hour Colorado River Speed Boat Tour:
$49
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Guided Half-Day Mountain Bike Tour in Moab:
$67
-
Moab High Ropes Challenge Course 2-Hour Adventure:
$78
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Colorado River and Fisher Towers Half-Day Rafting Tour:
$89
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Self-Drive 2.5-Hour Hells Revenge 4x4 Guided Tour:
$91
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Moab Stand Up Paddleboarding: Splish and Splash Tour:
$93
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Full Day Colorado Rafting Tour from Moab:
$95
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Calm Water Cruise in Inflatable Boat on Colorado River:
$99
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Moab U-Drive Slickrock Guided Tour:
$99
-
Moab Off Road & Back Country Adventure:
$102
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Aspen may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $16 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 Moab, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $53.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Aspen and Moab, we can see that Aspen is more expensive. And not only is Moab much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Moab would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Moab 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 Aspen would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Aspen than you might in Moab.
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