Should you visit Flagstaff or Hood River?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Flagstaff and Hood River 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.
Hood River
The city of Hood River is the seat of Hood River County, Oregon, United States. It is a port on the Columbia River, and is named for the nearby Hood River. The dynamic town of Hood River is one of the best windsurfing and kiteboarding destinations in the world. Strong river currents, prevailing westerly winds and a vast body of water provide the perfect conditions for these wind sports, attracting sometimes hundreds of photogenic enthusiasts who zip back and forth across the wide Columbia River.
Which city is cheaper, Hood River or Flagstaff?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Flagstaff is $60, while the average daily cost in Hood River 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 Flagstaff and Hood River in more detail.
Accommodation
The average price for accommodation for two people in Flagstaff is $66. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $124 in Hood River For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
Flagstaff food costs typically run travelers around $20 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.
In Hood River travelers spend around $32 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
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Food
Meals for one day
Flagstaff $20
Hood River $32
Local Transportation
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Hood River than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $37 on transportation in Hood River on average per day.
Entertainment
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $29 per person, per day in Flagstaff. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Sightseeing expenses in Hood River, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $14 per day, per person.
Tours and Activities in Flagstaff
Here are a few actual costs in Flagstaff for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Day Tour from Flagstaff:
$229
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Antelope Slot Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Day Tour from Flagstaff:
$236
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Comprehensive Grand Canyon Tour from Flagstaff:
$186
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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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Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course-Kids Course:
$30
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Flagstaff Segway Tour:
$89
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Small-Group Haunted City Tour:
$30
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From Flagstaff or Sedona: Hopi Lands Cultural Tour & Lunch:
$176
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From Grand Canyon National Park Tour:
$169
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From Grand Canyon Railroad Full-Day Tour:
$219
Tours and Activities in Hood River
For Hood River, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Hood River Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour:
$29
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Oregon Wine Country Experience - All-Inclusive Tour by Bike or Shuttle:
$184
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Flagstaff may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $40 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Typically, people visiting Hood River spend on average $15 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Flagstaff and Hood River, we can see that Hood River 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 Hood River would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hood River than you might in Flagstaff.
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