Should you visit Chicago or Boise?
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 Chicago and Boise can help you decide which place is right for you.
Chicago
Located in the Midwest, Chicago is the third largest city in the United States. It has a population of almost 3 million and a metropolitan area that covers more than 10,000 square kilometers. It is also a hub for music, comedy and theater. It's skyline is beautiful with modern skyscrapers and Lake Michigan as a backdrop. It is easy to stay entertained in Chicago for weeks. There are world class museums, upscale or eclectic shopping opportunities, and impressive architecture.
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 Chicago?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Chicago is $221, 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 Chicago and Boise in more detail.
Accommodation
Chicago's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $304. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $152.
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
The price of a meal in Chicago can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $37 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $15 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
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
Chicago $37
Boise $36
Typical Food prices in Chicago
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Chicago:
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Dinner for 1
$24
-
Dinner for 3
$118
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chicago
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chicago.
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Traveling Spoon Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza Private Online Cooking Class:
$27
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Factories to Calories Fulton Market Food Tour:
$46
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Learn to Make Chicago Deep-Dish Pizza with a Local:
$49
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Chicago Crime & Pizza Walk:
$50
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Lonely Planet Experiences: Chicago History and Food Tour:
$59
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Lonely Planet Experiences: River North Historical Food Tour:
$61
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Signature Food Tour at Chicago's Navy Pier:
$64
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Best in Chow: Chicago River North Food Tour:
$64
-
Private Fusion Cooking Class in Downtown Chicago:
$64
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Skip the Line: Tommy Gun's Garage Dinner and Show Ticket:
$67
-
Small-Group Chicago Food Tour: Gold Coast and Old Town:
$75
-
Best of Chicago Tour Including a Deep-Dish Pizza:
$75
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:
-
Vegan Food Tour Experience in Boise:
$91
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $29 per day to get around in Chicago.
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.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Chicago
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Chicago:
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Parking
$19
-
Taxi Ride
$10
-
Taxi from Airport
$45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chicago
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chicago:
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Transfers in Chicago:
$107
-
Transfer to Chicago Premium Outlets:
$288
-
Transfer from O'Hare International Airport to Chicago:
$93
-
Private transfer: Chicago to Chicago International Airport (MDW):
$105
-
Private transfer: Chicago International Airport (MDW) to Chicago:
$105
-
Private Transfer: O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Chicago:
$133
-
Private Transfer: Chicago to O'Hare International Airport (ORD):
$133
-
Private Transfer from Chicago City to Chicago (ORD) Airport:
$113
-
Private Transfer from Chicago City to Chicago (MDW) Airport:
$113
-
Private Transfer from Chicago (ORD) Airport to Chicago City:
$113
-
Private Transfer from Chicago (MDW) Airport to Chicago City:
$113
-
Private Sedan Transfer from Chicago Downtown to O`Hare airport:
$100
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 Chicago or Boise?
Prices for flights to both Boise and Chicago 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
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $34 per person, per day in Chicago. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
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.
Typical Entertainment prices in Chicago
Here are a few typical costs in Chicago for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in Chicago
Here are a few actual costs in Chicago for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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2 Hour Chicago Art and Architecture Segway Tour:
$71
-
2 Hour Pier Fireworks and Evening Segway Tour in Chicago:
$65
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2 Hours Chicago Sightseeing Tour - Luxury Private Stretch Limo / 8 Passengers:
$250
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2-Hour Chicago City Lights and Skyline Segway Tour:
$76
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2-Hour Chicago Fireworks Segway Tour:
$76
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2-Hour Chicago Lakefront and Museum Campus Segway Tour:
$73
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2-Hour Haunted Segway Tour of Chicago:
$76
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2-Hour History of Chicago Architecture and Art Segway Tour:
$75
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3 Hours Chicago Sightseeing Tour - Luxury Private SUV, ALL Inclusive:
$392
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3-Hour Segway Tour of Chicago:
$76
-
360 Chicago Observation Deck Admission: Skip the Ticket Desk:
$25
-
4 Hours Chicago Sightseeing Tour - Luxury Private SUV, ALL Inclusive:
$220
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 Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$21
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Sunday Brunch Tour in Downtown Boise:
$77
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Culinary and Cultural Tour of Boise:
$81
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Boise Booze and Bites Cocktail Tour:
$91
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Chicago may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $20 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Typically, people visiting Boise spend on average $19 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Chicago
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Chicago:
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Haunted Chicago Ghost and Pub Walking Tour:
$25
-
Walking tour to Chicago dive bars:
$41
-
Chicago Barrel Bus Craft Distillery Tour:
$90
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Chicago Craft Brewery Barrel Bus Tour:
$90
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Ultimate Girl's Night Out in Sparkling Wine, Photo Shoot, Burlesque:
$900
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chicago and Boise, we can see that Chicago 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 Chicago would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Chicago than you might in Boise.
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