A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Boise vs. Seattle for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Boise or Seattle?

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

Should I visit Boise or Seattle? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Boise or Seattle?

Boise

The capital of the U.S. state of Idaho, Boise is an urban center with the adventure of the outdoors just a step away. The metropolis itself has an active arts community and a lively downtown filled with shops and restaurants. Boise is a regional hub for jazz, theater, and indie music, hosting musical festivals throughout the year and several theater groups that operate in the city. There is even a Department of Arts and History that was created with the goal of promoting the arts, culture, and history of the city among its residents and visitors.

Seattle

Situated on the Puget Sound in the state of Washington, Seattle is the largest city in the United States Pacific Northwest. It's a beautiful city surrounded by the water and mountains and filled with evergreen trees. It's also the home of some famous American institutions including Starbucks Coffee, Amazon, and Microsoft. The population of almost 700,000 continues to grow. As of 2014, the city was considered the fastest growing major city in the United States. The entire metropolitan area has about 3.6 million residents, making it the 15th largest metro area in the US. The natural beauty, growing economy, and educational base give Seattle a youthful vibe that keep the city young and energetic.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Camping Tours in United States of America, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America, and The Best Walking Tours in United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Seattle or Boise?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Boise is $146, while the average daily cost in Seattle is $205. 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 Boise and Seattle in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Boise $75
    Seattle $120
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Boise $150
    Seattle $240
Compare Hotels in Boise and Seattle

Looking for a hotel in Boise or Seattle? 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 Boise


Hotels in Seattle


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: Boise Hotel Prices and Seattle Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Boise $34
    Seattle $30

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Boise

Also for Boise, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Boise Air Terminal Airport One Way Transfer : $80

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Seattle

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Seattle:


  • Lightrail from Airport (for 2)
    $5.50
  • Roundtrip Ferry to Bainbridge Island (for 2)
    $15

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Seattle

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Seattle:

  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Seattle HTL-APT (SEA): $143
  • Transfer in Private Vehicle from Seattle Airport (SEA)- Seattle Downtown: $86
  • Transfer in Private Minivan from Seattle Downtown - Seattle Airport (SEA): $97
  • Smith Cove Terminal: Private Transfer to Seattle hotels: $313
  • Smith Cove Terminal to Seattle hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $150
  • Smith Cove Terminal to Seattle Tacoma Airport (SEA) - Departure Private Transfer: $75
  • Smith Cove Terminal to Seattle Airport (SEA) - Departure Transfer: $75
  • One-Way Private Transfer from Seattle Airport: $76
  • Seattle Tacoma Airport(SEA): Transfer to Smith Cove Terminal: $313
  • Seattle Tacoma Airport to Summit at Snoqualmie Arrival Transfer: $155
  • Seattle Tacoma Airport (SEA): Private Transfer to Seattle: $269
  • Seattle Tacoma Airport (SEA) to Smith Cove Terminal - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $150

Is it cheaper to fly into Boise or Seattle?

Prices for flights to both Seattle and Boise 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
    Boise $45
    Seattle $51
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

Typical Food Prices in Seattle

Some typical examples of dining costs in Seattle are as follows:


  • Expresso & cookie at Pier 70
    $7.00
  • Cashews at Pike Place Market
    $6.00
  • 6 Mini Donuts at Pike Place Market
    $3.25
  • Chinese Lunch in International District (for 2)
    $21
  • Breakfast at Lowel's in Pike Place Market (for 2)
    $32
  • Breakfast at French Cafe (for 2)
    $37

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Seattle

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Seattle.

  • Seattle : Fun Cooking Classes With Chef Seamus: $55
  • Seattle Delicious Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $60
  • Pike Place Market: Walking Food Tour: $66
  • Chef Guided Food Tour of Pike Place Market- 2 Hours: $67
  • Pike Place Market Chef-Guided Food Tour: $67
  • International District Food Tour: $69
  • Ballard Waterfront Walking Food Tour: $75
  • Plant Based Food Tour in Pike Place Market: $79
  • Secret Food Tours: Seattle Pike Place Market: $86
  • Pike Place Market Food Tour: $99
  • Small Group Cooking Class: $138
  • Market to Table Tour and Cooking Class at Pike Place Market: $159

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Boise $30
    Seattle $16
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
  • Hells Canyon Kirkwood Jet Boat Tour near Boise, Idaho: $218

Tours and Activities in Seattle

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Seattle are as follows:

  • 3 Hour Seattle City Tour: $90
  • 3 Hours Electric Bike Tour of Seattle's Waterways, Nature and Neighborhoods: $87
  • A Fun Day in Olympia: Rotunda tour: $253
  • Adult Pirate Party Cruise: $47
  • Bald Eagles Nesting Area Tour at Skagit River: $135
  • Beneath The Streets Underground History Tour: $29
  • Best of Seattle Small Group Walking Tour W/ Space Needle: $244
  • Boeing Factory Tour with Guided Transport from Seattle: $125
  • Customized Mount Rainier Tour from Seattle: $176
  • Discover the magic of Seattle (all inclusive 3 hour tour): $38
  • Downtown Seattle Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $9.99
  • Early-Bird Tasting Tour of Pike Place Market: $76

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Boise $24
    Seattle $16

Sample the Local Flavors in Seattle

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Seattle:

  • Guided Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
  • Seattle Terrors Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $38
  • Woodinville's Downtown Wine Tasting Pass: $65
  • Woodinville Wine Country: Downtown Wine Tasting Pass: $65
  • Woodinville Wine Country: Artisan Hill Wine Tasting Pass: $65
  • Bon Vivant Woodinville Wine Tasting Tour : $120
  • Day Private Snoqualmie Falls & Woodinville Wine Tour from Seattle: $181
  • From Snoqualmie Falls & Woodinville Wine Tasting: $262


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Boise and Seattle, we can see that Seattle 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 Seattle would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Seattle 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 Boise Expensive? and Is Seattle Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Boise or Seattle?

Seattle has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Boise. When comparing the sizes of Boise and Seattle, 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.