A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Atlanta vs. Rapid City for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Atlanta or Rapid City?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Atlanta or Rapid City, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Atlanta or Rapid City?

Atlanta

Atlanta is a city rich in history but modern in its development and industry. It has a population of just under 500,000 with more than five million people living in the metropolitan area. It is also the ninth largest metropolitan area in the United States The city is rich in culture and was at the center of the civil rights movement. It is the capital of the state of Georgia, and was home to the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games. It has the world's busiest airport and arguably some of the country's worst traffic, but the residents are recognized for their friendly and welcoming nature and the city is lush with green trees and wonderful parks.

Rapid City

Rapid City is a large city in western South Dakota that is considered the gateway to the Black Hills National Forest. Rapid City is often used as a base for all types of outdoor activities, including tours to the infamous Mount Rushmore and surrounding parks. The city has a budding art scene and offers the perfect combination of a metropolitan city surrounded by stunning natural scenery. Rapid City experiences the best weather from June-September with temperatures in the 70's and 80's Fahrenheit. Temperatures drop to the low 20's F in the winter and the area receives the most rain pour in April and May.

Which city is cheaper, Rapid City or Atlanta?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Atlanta is $136, while the average daily cost in Rapid City is $93. 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 Atlanta and Rapid City in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Atlanta $72
    Rapid City $48
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Atlanta $144
    Rapid City $96
Compare Hotels in Atlanta and Rapid City

Looking for a hotel in Atlanta or Rapid City? 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 Atlanta


Hotels in Rapid City


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: Atlanta Hotel Prices and Rapid City Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Atlanta $34
    Rapid City $42
Typical Local Transportation prices in Atlanta

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Atlanta:


  • MARTA Subway Ticket
    $4.00

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Atlanta

Also for Atlanta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer in executive private vehicle from Atlanta Downtown to Atlanta Airport: $53
  • Transfer in executive private vehicle from Atlanta Airport to Atlanta Downtown: $53
  • Transfer in Executive Private Minivan from Atlanta Downtown to Atlanta Airport: $67
  • Transfer in Executive Private Minivan from Atlanta Airport to Atlanta Downtown: $67
  • Transfer from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport (ATL) to Atlanta: $83
  • RoundTrip Transfer in Private Minivan from-to Atlanta Airport - Camp Cove Crest: $433
  • RoundTrip Transfer in Executive Private Minivan from-to Airport-Atlanta Downtown: $133
  • Round trip transfer in executive private car from-to Airport - Atlanta Downtown: $105
  • Private Transfer: Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta Int. Airport (ATL) to Atlanta: $622
  • Private Transfer: Atlanta to Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta Int. Airport (ATL): $622
  • Private Transfer from Atlanta City to Atlanta (ATL) Airport: $107
  • Private Transfer from Atlanta (ATL) Airport to Atlanta City: $107

Is it cheaper to fly into Atlanta or Rapid City?

Prices for flights to both Rapid City and Atlanta 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
    Atlanta $33
    Rapid City $19
Typical Food prices in Atlanta

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Atlanta:


  • Fast Food Lunch (for 2)
    $15
  • Lunch
    $20

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Atlanta

For Atlanta, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • 2.5-Hour History and Food Tour in Atlanta: $75
  • Atlanta's Southern Food Tour: $86
  • Private Tour: Secret Food Tours Atlanta: $116
  • Secret Food Tours Atlanta w/ Private Tour Option: $249

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Atlanta $45
    Rapid City $21

Tours and Activities in Atlanta

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Atlanta.

  • 3 Hour Hollywood of the South Private Atlanta Film Locations Tour: $136
  • 3 Hour Private Gone With the Wind Tour of Margaret Mitchell's Atlanta: $136
  • 6-Day Charleston+North Carolina+Tennessee Tour (Atlanta departure)(G6): $888
  • A City in a Forest: Private Atlanta Nature Tour: $136
  • Art on the Streets: Private Atlanta Public and Street Art Tour: $136
  • Atlanta Beltline Small Group Walking Tour: $38
  • Atlanta Black History and Civil Rights Tour: $67
  • Atlanta Brew Bus Tour: $71
  • Atlanta City Private Hop-on Hop-off Tour by Bus: $700
  • Atlanta City Tour by Convertible: $77
  • Atlanta City Tour by Luxury Car: $65
  • Atlanta Heart & Soul Tour by Luxury Car: $65

Tours and Activities in Rapid City

For Rapid City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Bike Adventure on the Mickelson Trail - Private: $267
  • Bus Tour of Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills: $123
  • Mount Rushmore and Black Hills Bus Tour with Live Commentary: $84
  • Private Badlands National Park Day Tour: $315
  • Private Jeep Safari and Hiking Tour/ Two Person Minimum: $307
  • Private Mickelson Trail Bicycling Tour/ Two Person Minimum: $299
  • Private Mt Rushmore & Southern Black Hills Tour: $329
  • Southern Black Hills Bicycle Tour - Private: $267

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Atlanta $14
    Rapid City $5.54

Sample the Local Flavors in Atlanta

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

  • Atlanta Bar Hunt: All About Atlanta Bar Crawl: $12
  • Atlanta 5-Hour VIP Brewery Tour with Tastings: $65
  • Atlanta Brewery Guided Tours: $65
  • Three Vineyard Classic Wine Tasting Tour: $165
  • Explore Rabun County - Three Vineyard Wine Tasting Tour: $170
  • Georgia Horseback Ride with Wine Tasting: $204
  • Private Wine Tasting Tour of Three Vineyards: $210

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Atlanta and Rapid City, we can see that Atlanta is more expensive. And not only is Rapid City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Rapid City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Rapid City 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 Atlanta would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Atlanta than you might in Rapid City.

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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Atlanta vs. Rapid City Travel Comparison

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