A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Bangor vs. Boise for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Bangor or Boise?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Bangor and Boise 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.

Bangor

Bangor is a friendly, laid back, and welcoming town. This is a charming small with plenty of activities, too. It's also popular because of the museums, food, and shopping.

Boise

Boise is a authentic, friendly, and welcoming city. Other popular activities here include museums, nightlife, and shopping.

Bangor and Boise: Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Popular museums and historical sights
  • Family-friendly
Things to Consider
  • Less popular for nightlife
  • Less popular with couples
Pros
  • Popular museums and historical sights
  • Active nightlife
Things to Consider
  • Less family-friendly
  • Less popular with couples


Is there more to do in Bangor or Boise?

Both Boise and Bangor have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. Bangor is very popular for its food and small town charm, while Boise attracts visitors for its nightlife. Bangor is famous for its history as a lumber town. Boise is famous for its many outdoor and recreational activities.

How is Bangor different from Boise?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Boise and Bangor. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Bangor or Boise?

Bangor
Boise

For an educational experience, head to a museum or a notable sight in either Bangor or Boise.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Bangor. There are a couple of museums around town that focus on culture and daily life in Maine.

Boise is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. As the state capital, there's a nice selection of local museums around town. Favorites include the Boise Art Museum, the Basque Museum & Cultural Center, the Idaho Black History Museum, and Discovery Center.


Is the Food Better in Bangor or Boise? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Bangor
Boise

Bangor is a popular place for its restaurants. However, Boise is lacking in options for its restaurant scene.

Bangor is becoming an appealing option for foodies. For a small town, there are a range of dining options in the area such as seafood, international cuisine, and quick eats.

Boise offers some easy restaurants to choose from. While Idaho has long been associated with the potato, the locals usually think of "finger steaks" when describing local food. These are deep-friend beef strips that are as good as they sound.

Is Bangor or Boise Better for Nightlife?

Bangor
Boise

Boise is a city with good options for its evening party scene. However, Bangor is not a good town for nightlife.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Boise. In downtown Boise you'll find a selection of bars, lounges, and breweries. There's enough around town to keep the nightlife scene interesting.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Bangor. There are breweries and bars with laid back vibes and a casual atmosphere.

Is the Shopping Better in Bangor or Boise?

Bangor
Boise

Both Bangor and Boise are nice shopping destinations.

Many visitors go to Bangor to go shopping. Head downtown for the widest selection of locally own shops and boutiques.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Boise. You'll find a mix of local boutiques, independent vendors, and suburban shopping centers where you'll find anything that you might need.


Is Bangor or Boise Better for Families?

Bangor
Boise

Bangor is a popular place for its kid-friendly activities. However, Boise is lacking in options for its family-friendly activities.

Bangor is a family-friendly town. You'll find a number of parks and walking trails nearby. There's also fruit picking and playgrounds to explore.

Boise doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. You'll find parks, playgrounds, and the Discovery Center which will help keep kids entertained.

Is Bangor or Boise Better for Couples?

Bangor
Boise

Most people don't think of either Bangor or Boise as a couple's destination.

Bangor is not always the best place to visit for a couple. There are local restaurants and several museums in town that couples will enjoy.

Boise is not the best destination for a couple to visit. Date night activities include dining at a nice restaurants and seeing a show at the theater.

Is Bangor or Boise Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Bangor
Boise

Both Bangor and Boise offer reasonable public transit options.

Public transit is generally limited in Bangor. There's a bus system, but visitors usually use their own car to get around.

Public transit is mostly limited in Boise. There are infrequent buses around town, but visitors usually have a car to get around town efficiently.


Is Bangor or Boise a more walkable city?

Bangor
Boise

Bangor is a popular place for its ease of walking around. However, Boise is lacking in options for its walkability.

Bangor is a somewhat walkable town. The downtown is compact and easy to explore on foot.

Boise is generally not very walkable. There are a couple of walkable neighborhoods but, in general, the town isn't very walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Bangor Worth Visiting? and Is Boise Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Boise or Bangor?

How long in Bangor or Boise?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Bangor or Boise to fill your time. In our opinion, Bangor has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Bangor than Boise. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Families should spend more time in Bangor than Boise. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Bangor, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Bangor than Boise. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Bangor that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Bangor than Boise if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Bangor.


  • How many days in Bangor or Boise? Ideal Length of Stay
    Bangor 1-2 
    Boise 1-2

One day in Bangor or Boise?

In Bangor, many people enjoy the food and shopping that this friendly destination offers. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the destination of Boise. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Bangor or Boise?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bangor. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Boise is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.


Five days in Bangor or Boise?

Bangor is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the museums and food when visiting the destination of Bangor. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Boise. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Bangor or Boise?

You'll find food and shopping around the laid back destination of Bangor. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the welcoming destination of Boise. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.


For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America, The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in United States of America, and The Best Cultural Tours in United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Boise or Bangor?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Bangor is $197, while the average daily cost in Boise is $146. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Bangor and Boise in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bangor $114
    Boise $75
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bangor $228
    Boise $150
Compare Hotels in Bangor and Boise

Looking for a hotel in Bangor or Boise? 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 Bangor


Hotels in Boise


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: Bangor Hotel Prices and Boise Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Bangor $36
    Boise $34

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bangor

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bangor:

  • Private Transfer from Bangor city hotels to Rockland Cruise Port: $69
  • Private Transfer from Bangor Airport(BGR) to Rockland Cruise Port: $69

Is it cheaper to fly into Bangor or Boise?

Prices for flights to both Boise and Bangor 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
    Bangor $54
    Boise $45

Typical Food Prices in Boise

For Boise, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Hotel
    $59
  • Cracker Barrel Lunch (for 4)
    $55

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bangor $45
    Boise $30
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bangor

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Bangor are as follows:


  • Children's Museum (for 4)
    $32

Typical Entertainment Prices in Boise

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Boise's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Edwards Boise Imax
    $27

Tours and Activities in Boise

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

  • Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Boise by 3Quest Challenge: $10
  • Scavenger Hunt Adventure Self-Guided City Game: $10
  • Boise Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $13
  • Boise Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $14
  • Boise Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $21
  • A Macabre History of Boise Walking Tour: $25
  • Hells Canyon Kirkwood Jet Boat Tour near Boise, Idaho: $218

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bangor $23
    Boise $24


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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bangor Expensive? and Is Boise Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Bangor or Boise?

Boise has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Bangor. When comparing the sizes of Bangor and Boise, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.