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

Should you visit Breckenridge or Reno?

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

Should I visit Breckenridge or Reno? 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 Reno?

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.

Reno

In the northwest area of Nevada, Reno sits at the base of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. After Las Vegas, it's the second most popular tourist destination in the state of Nevada. You'll find some nice resorts, elaborate casinos, nice restaurants and unique opportunities for entertainment throughout the city.

The city, referred to as "The Biggest Little City in the World", has a population of about 235,000. It's part of the Reno-Sparks metropolitan area, which has a population of about 440,000.

Reno is located in the rain shadow of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The city has a steppe climate with light to moderate snowfall in the winter months. Precipitation is most common during the winter and spring, but the city averages about 300 days of sunshine a year. Average temperatures are 35 degrees Fahrenheit in December and 75 degrees Fahrenheit in July.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, and The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Reno or Breckenridge?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Breckenridge is $200, while the average daily cost in Reno is $144. 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 Reno in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Breckenridge $106
    Reno $55
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Breckenridge $212
    Reno $110
Compare Hotels in Breckenridge and Reno

Looking for a hotel in Breckenridge or Reno? 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 Breckenridge


Hotels in Reno


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 Reno Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Breckenridge $19
    Reno $23

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Breckenridge

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Breckenridge:

  • Eagle County Airport to Breckenridge/Keystone-Round-Trip Transfer: $187
  • Denver Airport APA to Breckenridge Ski Resort-Arrival Transfer: $198
  • Breckenridge/Keystone/Copper to Denver Airport-Departure Transfer: $198
  • Breckenridge to Denver Airport (DEN) - Departure Private Transfer: $195
  • Breckenridge Ski Resort to Denver Airport APA Departure Transfer: $198

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Reno

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


  • Car Wash
    $5.00

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Reno

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

  • Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO) to Reno – Private Arrival Transfer : $67
  • Reno to Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO) - Departure Private Transfer: $67
  • Reno Tahoe Airport (RNO) to Heavenly Mountain - Arrival Transfer: $110
  • Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO) to Reno – Round-Trip Private Transfer: $134
  • Reno Tahoe Airport to Northstar/Squaw Valley - Arrival Transfer: $165
  • Reno Tahoe Airport (RNO) to Mammoth Mountain: Arrival Transfer: $187
  • Reno Tahoe Airport to Heavenly Mountain - Round-Trip Transfer: $220

Is it cheaper to fly into Breckenridge or Reno?

Prices for flights to both Reno 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 day
    Breckenridge $61
    Reno $54

Typical Food Prices in Reno

For Reno, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Dennys for Breakfast
    $22
  • Sushi DInner (for 2)
    $40
  • In-n-Out Burger (for 3)
    $19

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Breckenridge $94
    Reno $88

Tours and Activities in Breckenridge

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

  • 3 Hours 30 Minutes Colorado Astrophotography Experience: $260
  • Breckenridge Puzzling Adventure: $35
  • Breckenridge Scavenger Hunt: Breckenridge Adventure: $12
  • Breckenridge Tours - Ghostly Tales : $33
  • Breckenridge Tours - Strange but True: $32
  • Continental Divide Tour: $145
  • Half-Day Upper Colorado River Float Tour from Kremmling: $114
  • Island Kayak Tour Experience in Frisco: $67
  • Real Gold Mine Tour with, gold panning and more: $47
  • Smartphone Driving Tour b/w Breckenridge & Denver: $7.99

Tours and Activities in Reno

For Reno, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Downtown Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
  • From Reno Arch to Truckee River: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
  • Scavenger Hunt Adventure Self-Guided City Game: $10
  • Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Reno by Operation City Quest: $10
  • Reno Scavenger Hunt: Reno Adventure: $12
  • Lake Tahoe Audio Driving Tour: $14
  • Lake Tahoe: Self-Guided GPS Audio Tour: $14
  • Murder Mystery Detective Experience Carson City, NV: $15
  • Zero Latency Extreme Virtual Reality Experience Ticket: $25
  • Gangs and Gamblers Haunted Walking Tour: $26
  • Reno Ghosts Tour: $30
  • Carson City Puzzling Adventure: $35

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Breckenridge $7.79
    Reno $13

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

Sample the Local Flavors in Reno

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

  • 1 Hour Distillery Tour and Tasting Flight: $25


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Breckenridge and Reno, we can see that Breckenridge is more expensive. And not only is Reno much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Reno would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Reno 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 Reno.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Breckenridge Expensive? and Is Reno Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Breckenridge or Reno?

Reno has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Breckenridge. When comparing the sizes of Breckenridge and Reno, 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.