Should you visit Boulder or Boise?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Boulder and Boise. We’ll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget. So, let's dig into it.
Boulder
Boulder is located on the edge of the Rocky Mountains in the state of Colorado. As home to the University of Colorado at Boulder, it's a college town with a liberal vibe and progressive values. In recent years, Boulder's economy has received a boost from the tech industry, which has grown rapidly in the area.
Boulder is also a great city to visit. It's surrounded by a beautiful mountain setting and there are countless outdoor sporting activities that you can enjoy. One unique aspect of Boulder is its role as home to many serious athletes who come here to train in the area's top facilities and programs.
Boulder's climate is similar to most of Colorado. It's a dry city with plenty of sunshine. Winters can vary dramatically from mild to incredibly cold and snowfall averages 44 inches a season. Summers are warm and dry with temperatures climbing above 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the warmest months.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Boise or Boulder?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Boulder is $153, while the average daily cost in Boise is $116. 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 Boulder and Boise in more detail.
Accommodation
For a normal double-occupancy room in Boulder, $164 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Boulder, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $82, such as in a hostel.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $120 in Boise For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
In Boulder 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.
Boise food costs typically run travelers around $36 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
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Food
Meals for one day
Boulder $43
Boise $36
Typical Food prices in Boulder
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Boulder:
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2 Coffees
$8.75
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Nice Dinner for Two
$71
Typical Food prices in Boise
For Boise, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Boise
For Boise, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Vegan Food Tour Experience in Boise:
$91
Local Transportation
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Boulder than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $41 on transportation in Boulder on average per day.
Boise's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $27 per person, per day on transportation in Boise.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Boise
Also for Boise, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Boise Air Terminal Airport One Way Transfer:
$80
Is it cheaper to fly into Boulder or Boise?
Prices for flights to both Boise and Boulder 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
Sightseeing expenses in Boulder, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $26 per day, per person.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Boise can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $24 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Tours and Activities in Boulder
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Boulder.
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A natural healing experience in a private epsom salt bath.:
$16
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Amazing Boulder Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$44
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Astronomy Tour:
$41
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Best of Boulder E-Bike Tour:
$104
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Boulder Backroads: E-Bike Dirt Road Tour:
$200
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Denver: 8-Hour Private Tour of Rocky Mountain National Park:
$609
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Downtown An audio tour around this weird and beautiful town:
$5.00
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Electric Cruiser Fat Tire Bike Tour - Best of Boulder:
$97
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Half-Day eBike Mural Tour in Boulder:
$90
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High-Vibes Foodie Tour:
$106
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Hiking Adventure in Rocky Mountain National Park from Boulder:
$173
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Holistic & Medicinal Tour:
$42
Typical Entertainment prices in Boise
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Boise's activities, tours, and tickets:
Tours and Activities in Boise
For Boise, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Boise Booze and Bites Cocktail Tour:
$91
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Boise Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$21
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Culinary and Cultural Tour of Boise:
$81
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Sunday Brunch Tour in Downtown Boise:
$77
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Boulder, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $22.
Typically, people visiting Boise spend on average $19 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Boulder and Boise, we can see that Boulder 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 Boulder would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Boulder than you might in Boise.
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