A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Aspen vs. Sun Valley for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Aspen or Sun Valley?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Aspen and Sun Valley can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Aspen or Sun Valley?

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.

Sun Valley

Sun Valley is a beautiful resort city in the Wood River Valley area of Idaho, most famous for becoming a snowy wonderland every winter. The area was actually named the 2nd best ski resort by Ski Magazine and was a favorite place of escape for Ernest Hemingway. Whether you visit in winter or summer, you're always met with beautiful scenery that's perfect for exploring. The best time of year for winter activities is December-March, while June-August is best for hiking and exploring the area.

Which city is cheaper, Sun Valley 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 Sun Valley is $147. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Aspen and Sun Valley in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Aspen $136
    Sun Valley $76
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Aspen $272
    Sun Valley $152
Compare Hotels in Aspen and Sun Valley

Looking for a hotel in Aspen or Sun Valley? 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 Aspen


Hotels in Sun Valley


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: Aspen Hotel Prices and Sun Valley Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Aspen $45
    Sun Valley $49

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aspen

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aspen:

  • Aspen hotel or address to Denver Airport (DEN) - Departure Private Transfer: $796
  • Private Arrival Transfer from Aspen Airport (ASE): $36
  • Private Departure Transfer to Aspen Airport (ASE): $36
  • Private Eagle County Regional Airport Transfer to Aspen: $400
  • Private Transfer: Aspen to Denver International Airport (DEN): $1,321

Is it cheaper to fly into Aspen or Sun Valley?

Prices for flights to both Sun Valley and Aspen 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
    Aspen $68
    Sun Valley $38

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Aspen $36
    Sun Valley $33

Tours and Activities in Aspen

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

  • Aspen's DarkSide Ghost Tour: $40
  • Aspen's Past to Present Historic Tour: $40
  • Glimpse of Aspen Tour: $40

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Aspen $16
    Sun Valley $39

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Aspen and Sun Valley, we can see that Aspen is more expensive. And not only is Sun Valley much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Sun Valley would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sun Valley 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 Sun Valley.

Budget Your Trip

Budget Your Trip has average travel costs for thousands of cities around the world, all provided by other travelers. You can also register to organize your spending by category and location with graphs, maps, charts, and tables.
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Aspen vs. Sun Valley Travel Comparison

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