Should you visit Flagstaff or Portland?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Flagstaff and Portland 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.
Portland
Referred to as "The City of Roses", Portland is the largest city in Oregon. It sits on the banks of the Columbia River and offers breathtaking views of Mount Hood when the weather allows. Portland is famous for its alternative vibe, live music scene, and popular microbreweries. It's also a mecca for environmentally conscious urban planning. The downtown area is quite compact and walkable. While the city itself may be smaller than you expect, it is still the largest metropolitan area between San Francisco and Seattle.
Which city is cheaper, Portland or Flagstaff?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Flagstaff is $133, while the average daily cost in Portland is $136. 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 Portland in more detail.
Accommodation
The average price for accommodation for two people in Flagstaff is $138. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
Travelers usually pay around $152 for a double occupancy room in Portland If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
Flagstaff food costs typically run travelers around $44 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.
While meal prices in Portland can vary, the average travelers spends about $34 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Portland should cost around $14 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Portland is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
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Food
Meals for one day
Flagstaff $44
Portland $34
Typical Food prices in Portland
For Portland, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Afternoon Drinks (for 2)
$9.50
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Portland
For Portland, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Arts District Food Tour:
$84
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Portland's Art District Food Tour:
$84
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Walking Food Tour in Downtown Portland with Brunch:
$86
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Downtown Deluxe Food Tour:
$89
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Tastes of Downtown Portland Walking Food Tour:
$89
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2.5-Hour Dinner Cruise Through Downtown Portland:
$108
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.
To get around in Portland, the average visitor spends $20 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Portland
Also for Portland, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Arrival Business Class Private Transfer Portland Airport PDX to Portland City:
$75
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Arrival Private Transfer from Portland Airport PDX to Oregon, West Linn or Tigar:
$82
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Departure Business Class Private Transfer from Portland Airport PDX to Portland:
$75
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PDX - Portland Airport Transfer - Chauffeured Round Trip in a Luxury Sedan/SUV:
$267
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PDX - Portland One Way Airport Transfer in a Chauffeured Sedan/SUV:
$133
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Portland Airport (PDX) to Beaverton hotel - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$281
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Portland Airport (PDX) to Beaverton hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer:
$141
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Portland Airport (PDX) to Lake Oswego - Arrival Private Transfer:
$141
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Portland Airport (PDX) to Lake Oswego - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$281
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Portland Airport (PDX) to Portland downtown - Arrival Private Transfer:
$102
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Portland Airport (PDX) to Portland downtown - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$204
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Portland Airport (PDX) to Tigard hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer:
$141
Is it cheaper to fly into Flagstaff or Portland?
Prices for flights to both Portland 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.
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.
In Portland, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $19 per person, per day.
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 Portland
For Portland, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Downtown Portland's Outdoor Sculptures Walking Audio Tour by VoiceMap:
$5.20
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The Eastern Promenade: Explore the sounds and vistas on an audio walking tour:
$5.20
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Portland Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$21
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Portland Old Town Ghost Tour:
$22
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Downtown Ghost Tour:
$23
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Intro to Portland Small Group Walking Tour:
$29
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Pink Trolley City Tour of Portland - 10am:
$29
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Pink Trolley City Tour of Portland - 2pm:
$29
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Underground Donut Tour: Portland's Only Donut Tour:
$30
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Underground Donut Tour:
$30
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Portland's Only Underground Donut Tour:
$31
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Portland, Maine: 2.5-Hour History Tour with Sweet Treat:
$35
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.
Typically, people visiting Portland spend on average $14 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Portland
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Portland:
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Power Through Portland Bar Crawl:
$12
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Oregon Priority Wine Tasting Pass:
$40
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Weird Bar Crawl with Fanatical Local:
$49
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Portland's Eastside Craft Brewery Walking Tour:
$55
-
Portland Brewery Bike Tour:
$71
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Oregon Famous Wine Country Wine Tasting Adventure:
$75
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Brews & Bites - Food Carts & Brewery Tour:
$94
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Views and Brews, Portland Brewery Bike Tour:
$118
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5-Hour Willamette Valley Wine Tour with Tastings:
$120
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Oregon Coast Brewery Tour:
$130
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Willamette Valley Wine Tasting from Portland:
$139
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Full-Day City & Oregon Wine Tasting Tour:
$140
When comparing the travel costs between Flagstaff and Portland, we can see that Portland is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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