Should you visit Big Sur or Breckenridge?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Big Sur and Breckenridge can help you decide which place is right for you.
Big Sur
Big Sur is the 90-mile stretch of the California Central Coast which runs from the Carmel River in Monterey County south to San Carpoforo Creek in San Luis Obispo County and 20 miles east into the Santa Lucius Foothills.
However you look at it, California's Central Coast is beautiful and undoubtedly a huge tourist trap. If you're not willing to fork over big bucks for overnight stays on coastal hotels, be prepared ahead of time with your camping gear and get ready to go off the beaten track to avoid crowds as best you can and save your wallet.
While the weather in Central Coast is overall, mild and temperate, between 50 and 70 degrees year-round. The highs and lows during the year are in August and January, respectively, with dry summers and wet winters, making April through October the best times to visit but be warned: there will be crowds.
Breckenridge
Breckenridge is a charming ski town that is notable for its quaint downtown area and impressive ski slopes. Most visitors head to Breckenridge to enjoy the winter ski season, so you can expect prices to jump during these times, but Breckenridge also has a lot to offer visitors during the warmer seasons as well. Hiking, mountain biking, and fly fishing are all popular activities during these times, and the prices are usually a bit more moderate.
Which city is cheaper, Breckenridge or Big Sur?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Big Sur is $0.00, while the average daily cost in Breckenridge is $160. 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 Big Sur and Breckenridge in more detail.
Accommodation
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $264 in Big Sur For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $85. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Breckenridge the cost is $170 on average.
Food
The average traveler spends about $49 per day in Breckenridge 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.
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Food
Meals for one day
Big Sur
-
Breckenridge $49
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Breckenridge is $15 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Breckenridge
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Breckenridge:
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Breckenridge to Denver Airport (DEN) - Departure Private Transfer:
$404
Is it cheaper to fly into Big Sur or Breckenridge?
Prices for flights to both Breckenridge and Big Sur 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
Breckenridge's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $75 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Tours and Activities in Breckenridge
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Breckenridge are as follows:
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1 hour Axe Throwing experience with a Coach:
$44
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Breckenridge Scavenger Hunt: Breckenridge Adventure:
$12
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Breckenridge Tours - Ghostly Tales:
$31
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Breckenridge Tours - Strange but True:
$24
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Listen to a Tour Guide While You Drive between Breckenridge and Denver:
$3.75
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Real Gold Mine Tour with, gold panning and more:
$35
Alcohol
The average person spends about $6.23 on alcoholic beverages in Breckenridge per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in Breckenridge
Also in Breckenridge, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Fat Bike Beer & Distillery Tour:
$85
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Big Sur and Breckenridge, we can see that Breckenridge is more expensive. And not only is Big Sur much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Big Sur would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Big Sur 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 Breckenridge would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Breckenridge than you might in Big Sur.
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