Which place is cheaper, Big Sur or Flagstaff?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Flagstaff vs. Big Sur for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Flagstaff or Big Sur?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Flagstaff and Big Sur can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Flagstaff or Big Sur?
Flagstaff
Located in northern Arizona near the San Francisco Peaks mountain range, Flagstaff is a small city surrounded by natural beauty. The city's proximity to a number of popular tourist sights, including Grand Canyon National Park, Oak Creek Canyon, the Arizona Snowbowl, Meteor Crater, and Historic Route 66, make it a common destination for tourists. It lies at an elevation of almost 7,000 feet with nearby areas climbing higher. In large part because of its altitude, the city has a cooler climate than the southern part of Arizona, which is famous for its low lying desert.
Big Sur
Big Sur is the 90-mile stretch of the California Central Coast which runs from the Carmel River in Monterey County south to San Carpoforo Creek in San Luis Obispo County and 20 miles east into the Santa Lucius Foothills.
However you look at it, California's Central Coast is beautiful and undoubtedly a huge tourist trap. If you're not willing to fork over big bucks for overnight stays on coastal hotels, be prepared ahead of time with your camping gear and get ready to go off the beaten track to avoid crowds as best you can and save your wallet.
While the weather in Central Coast is overall, mild and temperate, between 50 and 70 degrees year-round. The highs and lows during the year are in August and January, respectively, with dry summers and wet winters, making April through October the best times to visit but be warned: there will be crowds.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFlagstaff $166Big Sur $0.00
The average daily cost (per person) in Flagstaff is $166, while the average daily cost in Big Sur is $0.00. 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 Flagstaff and Big Sur in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFlagstaff $86Big Sur $165
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFlagstaff $172Big Sur $330
Compare Hotels in Flagstaff and Big Sur
Looking for a hotel in Flagstaff or Big Sur? 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: Flagstaff Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Flagstaff $37Big Sur -
Is it cheaper to fly into Flagstaff or Big Sur?
Prices for flights to both Big Sur and Flagstaff 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
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Food Meals for one dayFlagstaff $55Big Sur -
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Flagstaff $28Big Sur -
Tours and Activities in Flagstaff
Here are a few actual costs in Flagstaff for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2 HR Guided Electric Bike Tour of Flagstaff and Buffalo Park: $105
- 2 Hours Private E-Bike Tours In Northern Arizona: $75
- Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Day Tour from Flagstaff: $289
- Antelope Canyon via Canyon X and Horseshoe Bend Scenic Tour from Flagstaff: $285
- Arizona: Grand Canyon National Park Tour with Lunch & Pickup: $245
- Comprehensive Grand Canyon Tour from Flagstaff w/Lunch: $208
- Downtown Flagstaff Haunted History Tour: $28
- Family-Friendly Ghost Walking Tour in Flagstaff: $25
- Flagstaff Cemetery Haunted History Tour: $40
- Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course-Adult Course: $65
- Flagstaff Ghosts Tour By Us Ghost Adventures: $33
- Flagstaff Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour and Game: $25
Tours and Activities in Big Sur
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Big Sur.
- Big Sur Highway 1: Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour: $15
- Big Sur California: Pacific Coast Highway Self-Drive Tour: $15
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayFlagstaff $29Big Sur -
Sample the Local Flavors in Flagstaff
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Flagstaff:
- Spirits With The Spirits, Haunted Pub Crawl Of Downtown Flagstaff: $50
- Haunted Pub Crawl with Guide: $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Flagstaff and Big Sur, we can see that Flagstaff is more expensive. And not only is Big Sur much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Big Sur would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Big Sur 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 Flagstaff would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Flagstaff than you might in Big Sur.
Related Articles for Flagstaff
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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.
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