Should you visit Atlanta or Rapid City?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Atlanta or Rapid City, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
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. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Atlanta and Rapid City in more detail.
Accommodation
The prices for places to stay in Atlanta can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $72, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $144.
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $96 in Rapid City For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
Food in Atlanta costs travelers about $33 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
In Rapid City travelers spend around $19 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
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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:
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Fast Food Lunch (for 2)
$15
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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:
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Ponce City Market 2.5-Hour Weekend Food Tour:
$75
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Grant Park Past & Future Food Tour:
$75
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2.5-Hour History and Food Tour in Atlanta:
$75
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Atlanta's Southern Food Tour:
$86
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Modern Southern Food Tour of Historic Inman Park:
$99
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Private Tour: Secret Food Tours Atlanta:
$116
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Secret Food Tours Atlanta w/ Private Tour Option:
$249
Local Transportation
Atlanta's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $34 per person, per day on transportation in Atlanta.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Rapid City than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $42 on transportation in Rapid City on average per day.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Atlanta
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Atlanta:
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MARTA Subway Ticket
$4.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Atlanta
Also for Atlanta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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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
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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
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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
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Private Transfer: Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta Int. Airport (ATL) to Atlanta:
$622
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Private Transfer: Atlanta to Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta Int. Airport (ATL):
$622
-
Private Transfer from Atlanta City to Atlanta (ATL) Airport:
$107
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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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Atlanta can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $45 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Sightseeing expenses in Rapid City, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $21 per day, per person.
Tours and Activities in Atlanta
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Atlanta.
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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
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A City in a Forest: Private Atlanta Nature Tour:
$136
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Art on the Streets: Private Atlanta Public and Street Art Tour:
$136
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Atlanta 5 Hour City Tour by Air-Conditioned Bus:
$70
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Atlanta Amazing Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$27
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Atlanta Beltline Small Group Walking Tour:
$38
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Atlanta Black History and Civil Rights Tour:
$67
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Atlanta Brew Bus Tour:
$71
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Atlanta City Private Hop-on Hop-off Tour by Bus:
$700
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Atlanta City Tour by Convertible:
$77
Tours and Activities in Rapid City
For Rapid City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Badlands National Park Private Tour:
$299
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Bike Adventure on the Mickelson Trail - Private:
$267
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Black Hills: Private Tour of Mt. Rushmore & Flume Trail Hike:
$299
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Bus Tour of Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills:
$123
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Mount Rushmore and Black Hills Bus Tour with Live Commentary:
$84
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Private Badlands National Park Day Tour:
$315
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Private Jeep Safari and Hiking Tour/ Two Person Minimum:
$307
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Private Mickelson Trail Bicycling Tour/ Two Person Minimum:
$299
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Private Mt Rushmore & Southern Black Hills Tour:
$329
-
Mount Rushmore and Black Hills Full-Day Tour:
$84
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Private Black Hills Monuments Full-Day Tour:
$299
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Southern Black Hills Bicycle Tour - Private:
$267
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Atlanta, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $14.
Typically, people visiting Rapid City spend on average $5.54 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Atlanta
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Atlanta:
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Atlanta Bar Hunt: All About Atlanta Bar Crawl:
$12
-
Krog Street Market Pub Crawl:
$36
-
Atlanta Brewery Guided Tours:
$65
-
Three Vineyard Classic Wine Tasting Tour:
$165
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Explore Rabun County - Three Vineyard Wine Tasting Tour:
$170
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Georgia Horseback Ride with Wine Tasting:
$204
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Private Wine Tasting Tour of Three Vineyards:
$210
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.
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