Should you visit Austin or El Paso?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Austin or El Paso, 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.
Austin
Located in the Texas Hill Country, Austin is the capital city of the state. It is a relatively small city with a compact downtown area and many sprawling suburbs stretching out along the interstate. Austin prides itself on its eclectic culture and alternative vibe which is epitomized by the city's unofficial slogan "Keep Austin Weird." The University of Texas at Austin is also located downtown. The school's large student population helps give the city a youthful feel with a lively nightlife and no shortage of activities on weekends. The city is also the self proclaimed live music capital of the country. As such, it has many music venues and bars, most of which are clustered around the 6th Street area downtown. There are also many free outdoor concerts, particularly during the summer months.
El Paso
El Paso is a city in west Texas, along the waters of the Rio Grande. Outside the city, Franklin Mountains State Park is home to cacti and desert wildlife like coyotes and golden eagles. The park's Wyler Aerial Tramway ascends to Ranger Peak for views of the city and over to Mexico. El Paso is coming up in the world and starting to make a name for itself. A sleek new hotel has opened downtown, luring locals back to the city’s core for socializing and dining. The new Montecillo entertainment and residential district to the west is booming. The city even has a new baseball team, the El Paso Chihuahuas. And the city’s first microbrewery opened in 2015. Outdoorsy types also have it made here: there’s cycling and hiking in the largest urban park in the US, and the nearby Hueco Tanks State Park is ideal for wintertime rock climbing. Best of all is the hospitality of the locals, which makes this city of nearly 700,000 feel a whole lot smaller.
Which city is cheaper, El Paso or Austin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Austin is $114, while the average daily cost in El Paso is $129. 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 Austin and El Paso in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Austin is about $90 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $130 in El Paso For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
The average traveler spends about $28 per day in Austin for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
In El Paso travelers spend around $43 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
Austin $28
El Paso $43
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Austin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Austin.
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Austin Food Tour by Bus with Live Band On Board:
$93
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Austin Beer and Food Tour by Bike:
$97
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Private Secret Food Tour of Downtown Austin:
$103
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East Austin Urban Farms & Brewery Food Tour by Bike:
$106
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Wood Fired Dinner Series at the Austin Winery:
$159
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Secret Food Tour of Downtown Austin w/ Private Tour Option:
$221
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Secret Food Tour:
$288
Typical Food prices in El Paso
For El Paso, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Rudy's BBQ (family of 4)
$40
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Austin is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $38 per person, per day, on local transportation in Austin.
To get around in El Paso, the average visitor spends $30 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 Austin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Austin:
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Transfer from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to Austin:
$109
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Private Departure Transfer to Austin Bergstrom Airport AUS:
$40
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Private Austin Transfer: Hotel to Airport:
$114
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Private Austin Transfer: Airport to Hotel:
$128
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Private Arrival Transfer from Austin Bergstrom Airport AUS:
$40
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Private Airport and Hotel Transfer Services in Austin:
$86
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Austin-Bergstrom International Airport One Way Transfer:
$69
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Austin-Bergstrom Airport (AUS) to Austin City - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$187
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Austin-Bergstrom Airport (AUS) to Austin City - Arrival Private Transfer:
$93
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Austin City to Austin-Bergstrom Airport (AUS) - Departure Private Transfer:
$93
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Paso
Also for El Paso, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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El Paso International Airport (ELP) to El Paso - Arrival Private Transfer:
$62
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El Paso International Airport (ELP) to El Paso - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$124
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El Paso to El Paso International Airport (ELP) - Departure Private Transfer:
$62
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Private transfer: El Paso Airport (ELP) to El Paso:
$622
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Private transfer: El Paso Airport (ELP) to El Paso:
$622
Is it cheaper to fly into Austin or El Paso?
Prices for flights to both El Paso and Austin 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
Entertainment and activities in Austin typically cost an average of $22 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
In El Paso, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $22 per person, per day.
Typical Entertainment prices in Austin
Here are a few typical costs in Austin for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in Austin
Here are a few actual costs in Austin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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48-Hour Austin Hop-On Hop-Off Blue Line City Tour:
$45
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Austin Biker Gang E-Bike Adventure:
$62
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Austin Capital Photo Tour:
$21
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Austin City Landmarks and Taco Tour by Bike:
$97
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Austin Digital Private Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$11
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Austin E-Bike Tour:
$69
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Austin Electric Bike Tour: Let it Ride:
$71
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Austin Electric Minibike Adventure Tour:
$77
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Austin Famous Ghost and Bat Segway Tour:
$59
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Austin Indoor Skydiving Experience with 2 Flights & Personalized Certificate:
$81
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Austin Like a Local: Customized Guided Tour:
$33
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Austin Like a Local: Customized Guided Tour:
$30
Tours and Activities in El Paso
For El Paso, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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El Paso Indoor Skydiving Experience with 2 Flights & Personalized Certificate:
$65
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UTV Adventure Tour / Rental:
$349
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Austin may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $23 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Typically, people visiting El Paso spend on average $22 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Austin
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Austin:
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Austin Bar Hunt: Sixth Street Spree: Austin Bar Crawl:
$12
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More than a Pub Crawl:
$24
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Haunted Austin Ghost and Pub Walking Tour:
$27
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Brewery Tours through East Austin via Motorized Pedicab:
$40
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Austin Pedicab Brewery Tour with Beer Flights Included Option:
$46
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The Brew Bus: Austin Brewery Tour with Live Band:
$81
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Half-Day Craft Beer and Brewery Tour:
$82
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Private Texas Hill Country Half-Day Wine Tour from Austin:
$140
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Texas Hill Country Wine Tour by Limousine:
$175
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Customizable Austin Distillery and Brewery Tour:
$206
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Half-Day Brewery and Craft Beer Tour in Austin with Tastings:
$240
When comparing the travel costs between Austin and El Paso, we can see that El Paso 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.
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