Should you visit Flagstaff or Breckenridge?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Flagstaff and Breckenridge can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
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.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Breckenridge or Flagstaff?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Flagstaff is $132, while the average daily cost in Breckenridge is $160. 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 Flagstaff and Breckenridge in more detail.
Accommodation
The average price for accommodation for two people in Flagstaff is $136. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $85. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Breckenridge the cost is $170 on average.
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $30 per day to get around in Flagstaff.
The average price of local transportation around Breckenridge is $15 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Breckenridge
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Breckenridge:
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Breckenridge to Denver Airport (DEN) - Departure Private Transfer:
$404
Is it cheaper to fly into Flagstaff or Breckenridge?
Prices for flights to both Breckenridge 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
Flagstaff food costs typically run travelers around $43 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.
The average traveler spends about $49 per day in Breckenridge for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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Food
Meals for one day
Flagstaff $43
Breckenridge $49
Entertainment
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $22 per person, per day in Flagstaff. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Breckenridge's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $75 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Tours and Activities in Flagstaff
Here are a few actual costs in Flagstaff for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Self-Guided Downtown Flagstaff Walking Tour:
$20
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Self-Guided Flagstaff Driving Tour - History, Geology, Fun!:
$20
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Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course-Kids Course:
$30
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Haunted Downtown Flagstaff Tour by Segway Bike or Walking:
$31
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Fun Flagstaff History Segway, Bike or Walking Tour:
$31
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Dark Skies Astrophotography Tour:
$50
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Flagstaff Adventure Zipline Course:
$61
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Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course-Adult Course:
$61
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Grand Falls Hidden Experience Tour:
$160
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Grand Canyon Experience Tour from Flagstaff:
$162
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Small-Group Grand Canyon Day Tour from Flagstaff:
$173
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Grand Canyon Sightseeing Tour from Flagstaff:
$178
Tours and Activities in Breckenridge
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Breckenridge are as follows:
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Listen to a Tour Guide While You Drive between Breckenridge and Denver:
$3.75
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Colorado: Smartphone Driving Tour Between Vail & Denver:
$7.82
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Breckenridge Scavenger Hunt: Breckenridge Adventure:
$12
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Breckenridge Tours - Strange but True:
$24
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Breckenridge Tours - Ghostly Tales:
$31
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Real Gold Mine Tour with, gold panning and more:
$35
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1 hour Axe Throwing experience with a Coach:
$44
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Flagstaff may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $23 per day on alcoholic beverages.
The average person spends about $6.23 on alcoholic beverages in Breckenridge per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in Breckenridge
Also in Breckenridge, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Fat Bike Beer & Distillery Tour:
$85
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Flagstaff and Breckenridge, we can see that Breckenridge is more expensive. And not only is Flagstaff much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Flagstaff would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Flagstaff 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 Flagstaff.
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