A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Flagstaff vs. Vail for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Flagstaff or Vail?

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 Vail 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 Vail?

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.

Vail

Vail is one of the premier ski resort areas in the United States. Located in central Colorado, Vail is not far from Denver and situated in the heart of the Rockies. Here you'll find a quaint mountain town designed around tourism, especially for the winter, although plenty of visitors come in the warmer months, too.

High-end hotels, condos, and other accommodation options are surrounded by shops and restaurants that are all somewhat expensive compared to other costs in the United States. Because of this, Vail is definitely not considered an "affordable" travel option for many. However, good deals can be found if you look around and do some research.

Which city is cheaper, Vail 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 Vail is $233. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Flagstaff and Vail in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Flagstaff $69
    Vail $139
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Flagstaff $138
    Vail $278
Compare Hotels in Flagstaff and Vail

Looking for a hotel in Flagstaff or Vail? 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.

Hotels in Flagstaff


Hotels in Vail


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 and Vail Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Flagstaff $30
    Vail $16

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vail

Also for Vail, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Airport Transfer Service - Vail Hotels to Denver Int'l Airport: $600
  • Private Departure Transfer to Vail Airport EGE: $128
  • Private Eagle County Airport Transfer to Vail: $210
  • Private Eagle County Regional Airport Transfer to Beaver Creek: $190
  • Private Transfer: Vail to Denver International Airport (DEN): $576
  • Shared Transfer from Vail or Beaver Creek to Denver Downtown: $99
  • Transfer in private minivan from Vail city to Denver International Airport (DEN): $291

Is it cheaper to fly into Flagstaff or Vail?

Prices for flights to both Vail 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Flagstaff $44
    Vail $60

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Flagstaff $22
    Vail $106

Tours and Activities in Flagstaff

Here are a few actual costs in Flagstaff for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Day Tour from Flagstaff: $229
  • Antelope Slot Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Day Tour from Flagstaff: $236
  • Comprehensive Grand Canyon Tour from Flagstaff: $186
  • Dark Skies Astrophotography Tour: $50
  • Flagstaff Adventure Zipline Course: $61
  • Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course-Adult Course: $61
  • Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course-Kids Course: $30
  • From Sedona or Full-Day Monument Valley Tour: $306
  • Fun Flagstaff History Segway, Bike or Walking Tour: $31
  • Grand Canyon Discovery Tour: $379
  • Grand Canyon Experience Tour from Flagstaff: $162
  • Grand Canyon Sightseeing Tour from Flagstaff: $178

Tours and Activities in Vail

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vail.

  • Listen to a Tour Guide While you Drive between Vail & Denver: $3.75
  • Vail Segway Tour from Vail Village: $89
  • Dillon Marina & Shopping Tour: $267
  • Glenwood Adventure Park Tour: $350
  • Fall Leaves Tour from Vail: $373
  • Glenwood Hot Springs Tour: $377
  • Blackhawk-Central City Casino Tour from Vail: $377
  • Aspen Independence Pass Day Tour: $545
  • Historic Mining Town Tour: $693

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Flagstaff $23
    Vail $7.83

Sample the Local Flavors in Vail

Also in Vail, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Vail Valley Brewery & Wine Tour: $377
  • Palisade Wine Tour from Vail: $779

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Flagstaff and Vail, we can see that Vail 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 Vail would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Vail than you might in Flagstaff.

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Flagstaff vs. Vail Travel Comparison

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