Should you visit Flagstaff or Sonoma?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Flagstaff and Sonoma 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.
Sonoma
When people say Sonoma, they are often referring to the region's wine country, but in fact, Sonoma is a county, a valley, and a town. The county covers 1,768 square miles and is more spread out than nearby Napa. There are more than 30 cities and towns in the county and 425 wineries with tasting rooms. The county also borders the Pacific Ocean, and the beautiful 55 mile stretch of coastline is rugged and dramatic.
Which city is cheaper, Sonoma 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 Sonoma is $176. 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 Sonoma 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.
Travelers usually pay around $148 for a double occupancy room in Sonoma 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 $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.
Food in Sonoma costs travelers about $45 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
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Food
Meals for one day
Flagstaff $20
Sonoma $45
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sonoma
For Sonoma, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Wine Country Food Tours. Sightseeing to various local artisanal food producers:
$462
Local Transportation
Sonoma'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 $107 per person, per day on transportation in Sonoma.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sonoma
Also for Sonoma, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private transfer from SFO to Sonoma:
$215
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Private transfer from Sonoma to SFO:
$215
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, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Sonoma can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $13 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
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 Sonoma
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sonoma.
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Sonoma Valley Wine Buyer's Picnic Tour:
$125
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Small-Group Wine-Tasting Tour through Sonoma Valley:
$130
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Sonoma Food and Wine Private Group Tour:
$138
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#1 Private Walking Food, Wine & History Tour:
$139
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Sonoma County Wine Segway Tour:
$151
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Behind-the-Scenes Food and Wine E-Bike or Regular Bike Tour:
$151
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Sonoma Valley Full-Day Pedal Assist Bike Tour with Lunch - (Reg. Bike Optional):
$151
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All-Inclusive Sonoma Wine and Picnic Tour:
$198
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Rides by me, Sonoma Sidecar Wine-Tasting tours:
$220
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Pt. Reyes Food and Farm Tour with Lunch:
$225
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6 Hour Private Wine Sonoma Tours Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Passengers Van:
$499
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.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Sonoma, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $33.
Sample the Local Flavors in Sonoma
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Sonoma:
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2-Hour Private Guided E-Trike Wine Tour at Sonoma:
$80
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Sonoma County Wine Tasting Tour:
$103
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#1 Small Group Sonoma Walking Food and Wine Tour:
$105
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All-Inclusive Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch:
$198
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Private Sonoma and Napa Wine Tour Including Custom Concierge:
$225
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Wine Tours:
$513
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6 Hour Napa or Sonoma Wine Tour in Private Limousine:
$675
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8-Hour Private Wine Tour Experience for up to 6 Guests - San Francisco to Sonoma:
$680
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8 Hour Napa or Sonoma Wine Tour in Private Limousine:
$875
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Flagstaff and Sonoma, we can see that Sonoma 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 Sonoma would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sonoma than you might in Flagstaff.
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