Which place is cheaper, Portland or Berkshires?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Berkshires or Portland?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Berkshires and Portland 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: Berkshires or Portland?
Berkshires
The Berkshires are a popular highland destination in the western part of Massachusetts and northwest Connecticut. The region has scenic landscape, hiking, lakes, recreational opportunities and other outdoor experiences. The Berkshires also has an impressive cultural scene with music, arts, museums, and live theaters.
The Berkshires can be a bit expensive to visit if you stay at a luxury resort and take advantage of the award winning restaurants in the area. Alternatively, the experience can be equally rewarding by camping, picnicking, and spending your time hiking and enjoying the beautiful natural setting.
Portland
Referred to as "The City of Roses", Portland is the largest city in Oregon. It sits on the banks of the Columbia River and offers breathtaking views of Mount Hood when the weather allows. Portland is famous for its alternative vibe, live music scene, and popular microbreweries. It's also a mecca for environmentally conscious urban planning. The downtown area is quite compact and walkable. While the city itself may be smaller than you expect, it is still the largest metropolitan area between San Francisco and Seattle.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America, The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBerkshires $244Portland $180
The average daily cost (per person) in Berkshires is $244, while the average daily cost in Portland is $180. 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 Berkshires and Portland in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBerkshires $141Portland $97
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBerkshires $282Portland $194
Compare Hotels in Berkshires and Portland
Looking for a hotel in Berkshires or Portland? 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.
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: Berkshires Hotel Prices and Portland Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Berkshires $47Portland $28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Portland
Also for Portland, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Lake Oswego to Portland Airport (PDX) - Departure Private Transfer: $73
- Portland Airport (PDX) to Beaverton hotel - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $156
- Portland Airport (PDX) to Beaverton hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer: $78
- Portland Airport (PDX) to Lake Oswego - Arrival Private Transfer: $73
- Portland Airport (PDX) to Lake Oswego - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $147
- Portland Airport (PDX) to Portland downtown - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $194
- Portland Airport to The Summit at Snoqualmie Arrival Transfer: $192
- Private Departure Transfer to Portland Airport (PDX): $40
- Private Transfer from Portland Airport (PDX) to Astoria Port: $90
- Private Transfer from Portland City Hotels to Astoria Cruise Port: $90
- Tigard hotel or address to Portland Airport (PDX) - Departure Private Transfer: $78
Is it cheaper to fly into Berkshires or Portland?
Prices for flights to both Portland and Berkshires 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
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Food Meals for one dayBerkshires $73Portland $43
Typical Food Prices in Portland
For Portland, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Afternoon Drinks (for 2)$9.50
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Portland
For Portland, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Walking Pizza Tour: $75
- Portland Pizza Tour : $75
- Secret Food Tour with Local Guide: $89
- Brunch on Mississippi Food Tour: $95
- Mississippi Avenue Walking Food Tour: $95
- Brunch on Mississippi Food Tour: $95
- Mississippi Avenue Walking Food Tour: $100
- Downtown Food Tour: $102
- The Vibrant Kerns Hood Food Tour: $105
- The Bustling Buckman Hood Food Tour: $105
- 2.5-hour Dinner Cruise on Willamette River: $127
- Willamette River 2.5-hour Dinner Cruise: $127
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Berkshires $25Portland $24
Tours and Activities in Berkshires
Here are a few actual costs in Berkshires for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2-Hour Guided Private Forest Bathing Experience Lenox: $40
Tours and Activities in Portland
For Portland, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Smartphone Old Port Portland, ME Audio Walking Tour APP/GPS: $6.75
- Portland (Along the Waterfront) Scavenger Hunt & Self-Guided Tour: $7.23
- Portland (Downtown) Scavenger Hunt & Self-Guided Tour: $7.23
- Downtown Portland In-App Audio Tour (ENG): $9.00
- Portland, Maine: Walking Tour Audio Guide: $9.99
- Portland (Waterfront): Sights & Highlights Walking tour: $11
- Portland (Downtown): Sights & Highlights Walking tour: $11
- Portland Trail Blazers Basketball Game Ticket at Moda Center: $12
- Self-Guided Sightseeing Driving Audio Tour: $17
- Portland Exploration: Self-Guided Driving & Walking Tour: $20
- Portland Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $21
- Guided Walking Tour of Downtown Portland, Oregon: $23
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBerkshires $31Portland $17
Sample the Local Flavors in Portland
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Portland:
- Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- Oregon Priority Wine Tasting Pass: $40
- Haunted Underground Shanghai Tunnel Tour with Brewery Tastings: $40
- Weird Bar Crawl with Fanatical Local: $59
- Guided Bike Tour with Brewery Visits: $65
- Portland, Maine: Old Port Brewery & Pub Walking Tour: $89
- Portland, Maine: Local Brewery & Spirits Bus Tour: $99
- Waterfalls, Mt Hood, and Wine Tour (Tasting Fees Included): $135
- Urban Wine Tasting Tour: $139
- Portland Urban Wine Tasting Tour: $139
- Willamette Valley Wine Tour with Lunch: $210
- From Willamette Valley Full-Day Wine Tour: $210
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Berkshires and Portland, we can see that Berkshires is more expensive. And not only is Portland much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Portland would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Portland 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 Berkshires would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Berkshires than you might in Portland.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Berkshires Expensive? and Is Portland Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Berkshires or Portland?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Berkshires or Portland in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Berkshires as well as Portland. Also, the hiking, the small town charm, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Portland this time of year.
In July, Berkshires is generally a little warmer than Portland. Daily temperatures in Berkshires average around 72°F (22°C), and Portland fluctuates around 68°F (20°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Portland. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Berkshires this time of the year. In the summer, Berkshires often gets less sunshine than Portland. Berkshires gets 289 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Portland receives 338 hours of full sun.
Berkshires usually gets more rain in July than Portland. Berkshires gets 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain, while Portland receives 0.7 inches (18 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBerkshires 72°F (22°C)Portland 68°F (20°C)
Should I visit Berkshires or Portland in the Autumn?
Both Portland and Berkshires are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Portland for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the music scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.
Berkshires is cooler than Portland in the autumn. The daily temperature in Berkshires averages around 51°F (11°C) in October, and Portland fluctuates around 55°F (13°C).
Berkshires usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Portland during autumn. Berkshires gets 162 hours of sunny skies, while Portland receives 155 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Berkshires usually receives around the same amount of rain as Portland. Berkshires gets 2.6 inches (67 mm) of rain, while Portland receives 2.6 inches (67 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBerkshires 51°F (11°C)Portland 55°F (13°C)
Should I visit Berkshires or Portland in the Winter?
Both Portland and Berkshires during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many visitors come to Portland in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Portland can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Berkshires. In the winter, Berkshires is much colder than Portland. Typically, the winter temperatures in Berkshires in January average around 22°F (-6°C), and Portland averages at about 40°F (4°C).
In the winter, Berkshires often gets more sunshine than Portland. Berkshires gets 138 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Portland receives 86 hours of full sun.
Portland gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Berkshires usually gets less rain in January than Portland. Berkshires gets 1.9 inches (49 mm) of rain, while Portland receives 5.2 inches (132 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBerkshires 22°F (-6°C)Portland 40°F (4°C)
Should I visit Berkshires or Portland in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Berkshires and Portland. Furthermore, most visitors come to Portland for the small town charm and the natural beauty during these months.
In April, Berkshires is generally cooler than Portland. Daily temperatures in Berkshires average around 47°F (9°C), and Portland fluctuates around 51°F (11°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Portland this time of the year. In Berkshires, it's very sunny this time of the year. Berkshires usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Portland during spring. Berkshires gets 223 hours of sunny skies, while Portland receives 231 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Berkshires usually receives more rain than Portland. Berkshires gets 2.6 inches (66 mm) of rain, while Portland receives 2.4 inches (61 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBerkshires 47°F (9°C)Portland 51°F (11°C)
Typical Weather for Portland and Berkshires
| Berkshires | Portland | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 22°F (-6°C) | 1.9 inches (49 mm) | 40°F (4°C) | 5.2 inches (132 mm) |
| Feb | 24°F (-4°C) | 2 inches (51 mm) | 44°F (7°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) |
| Mar | 35°F (2°C) | 2.5 inches (63 mm) | 47°F (9°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) |
| Apr | 47°F (9°C) | 2.6 inches (66 mm) | 51°F (11°C) | 2.4 inches (61 mm) |
| May | 59°F (15°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 2 inches (51 mm) |
| Jun | 67°F (20°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 1.5 inches (39 mm) |
| Jul | 72°F (22°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) | 68°F (20°C) | 0.7 inches (18 mm) |
| Aug | 70°F (21°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) | 69°F (20°C) | 1 inches (25 mm) |
| Sep | 62°F (17°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 1.7 inches (44 mm) |
| Oct | 51°F (11°C) | 2.6 inches (67 mm) | 55°F (13°C) | 2.6 inches (67 mm) |
| Nov | 41°F (5°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) | 46°F (8°C) | 5.4 inches (136 mm) |
| Dec | 28°F (-2°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) | 40°F (5°C) | 6.1 inches (156 mm) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.