Which place is cheaper, Rapid City or Breckenridge?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Breckenridge vs. Rapid City for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
Jump to 
Should you visit Breckenridge or Rapid City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Breckenridge or Rapid City? 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: Breckenridge or Rapid City?
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.
Rapid City
Rapid City is a large city in western South Dakota that is considered the gateway to the Black Hills National Forest. Rapid City is often used as a base for all types of outdoor activities, including tours to the infamous Mount Rushmore and surrounding parks. The city has a budding art scene and offers the perfect combination of a metropolitan city surrounded by stunning natural scenery. Rapid City experiences the best weather from June-September with temperatures in the 70's and 80's Fahrenheit. Temperatures drop to the low 20's F in the winter and the area receives the most rain pour in April and May.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBreckenridge $200Rapid City $116
The average daily cost (per person) in Breckenridge is $200, while the average daily cost in Rapid City 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Breckenridge and Rapid City in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBreckenridge $106Rapid City $60
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBreckenridge $212Rapid City $120
Compare Hotels in Breckenridge and Rapid City
Looking for a hotel in Breckenridge or Rapid City? 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: Breckenridge Hotel Prices and Rapid City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Breckenridge $19Rapid City $53
Is it cheaper to fly into Breckenridge or Rapid City?
Prices for flights to both Rapid City and Breckenridge 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 dayBreckenridge $61Rapid City $23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rapid City
For Rapid City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Roller Coaster Tickets with Dinner and Show in Rapid City: $70
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Breckenridge $94Rapid City $26
Tours and Activities in Breckenridge
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Breckenridge are as follows:
- Breckenridge Scavenger Hunt: Breckenridge Adventure: $12
- Breckenridge Tours - Ghostly Tales : $33
- Breckenridge Tours - Strange but True: $32
- Continental Divide Tour: $145
- Full-Day Views and Scenic Mount Evans Private Guided Drive Tour: $784
- Half-Day Upper Colorado River Float Tour from Kremmling: $114
- Real Gold Mine Tour with, gold panning and more: $47
- Self-Guided Snow Shoe Tours: $17
- Smartphone Driving Tour b/w Breckenridge & Denver: $7.99
Tours and Activities in Rapid City
For Rapid City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Mount Rushmore Self Guided Walking Audio Tour: $9.99
- Black Hills & Badlands: Self-Guided Audio Driving Tours: $20
- Mount Rushmore and Black Hills Bus Tour with Live Commentary: $89
- Bus Tour of Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills: $133
- Mount Rushmore and Black Hills Tour with Two Meals and a Music Variety Show: $164
- NEW! Half Day Tour of the Black Hills: $255
- Full-Day Private Sightseeing Tour in South Dakota: $275
- Badlands National Park Adventure, Wall Drug and Baja: $279
- Devils Tower, Spearfish Canyon and Northern Black Hills Adventure: $299
- Badlands Premium Van Tour - Public: $299
- Private Half Day Mt Rushmore & Black Hills Tour: $325
- Badlands Sunset, Stars and Silhouettes Tour: $329
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayBreckenridge $7.79Rapid City $6.93
Sample the Local Flavors in Breckenridge
Also in Breckenridge, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Ridden Fat Bike Beer & Distillery Tour: $85
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Breckenridge and Rapid City, we can see that Breckenridge is more expensive. And not only is Rapid City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Rapid City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Rapid City 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 Rapid City.
Which is Bigger, Breckenridge or Rapid City?
Rapid City is bigger, and its population is about 21.8 times larger than the population of Breckenridge. When comparing the population of Breckenridge vs. Rapid City, 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 and the activities that interest you.
Related Articles for Breckenridge
Related Articles for Rapid City
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.
More City Comparisons
Flagstaff vs. BreckenridgeFlagstaff vs. Rapid City
Phoenix vs. Breckenridge
Phoenix vs. Rapid City
Sedona vs. Breckenridge
Sedona vs. Rapid City
Big Sur vs. Breckenridge
Big Sur vs. Rapid City
Los Angeles vs. Breckenridge
Los Angeles vs. Rapid City
Napa Valley vs. Breckenridge
Napa Valley vs. Rapid City
Sacramento vs. Breckenridge
Sacramento vs. Rapid City
San Diego vs. Breckenridge
San Diego vs. Rapid City
San Francisco vs. Breckenridge
San Francisco vs. Rapid City
Sonoma vs. Breckenridge
Sonoma vs. Rapid City
South Lake Tahoe vs. Breckenridge
South Lake Tahoe vs. Rapid City
Aspen vs. Breckenridge
Aspen vs. Rapid City
Avon vs. Breckenridge
Avon vs. Rapid City
Breckenridge vs. Colorado Springs
Breckenridge vs. Denver
Pin This Page
Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.