Which place is cheaper, Phoenix or Hot Springs?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Hot Springs or Phoenix?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Hot Springs or Phoenix? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Hot Springs or Phoenix?
Hot Springs
Hot Springs is a popular resort city in central Arkansas. It's location in the Ouachita Mountains make it a convenient base for exploring the area's natural hot springs, from which the city gets its name. The city is also home to Hot Springs National Park, which have long been believed to have healing properties. Today many spas have popped up around the hot springs.
Phoenix
The most populous city in the American Southwest, Phoenix is the capital city of Arizona and busiest hub of activity in the general area. Geographically it is located in the Sonoran Desert, making for long hot summers and mild winters. This climate has ensured a thriving tourism industry with plenty of attractions both in and around Phoenix.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America, The Best Walking Tours in United States of America, and The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHot Springs $182Phoenix $238
The average daily cost (per person) in Hot Springs is $182, while the average daily cost in Phoenix is $238. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Hot Springs and Phoenix in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHot Springs $100Phoenix $144
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHot Springs $200Phoenix $288
Compare Hotels in Hot Springs and Phoenix
Looking for a hotel in Hot Springs or Phoenix? 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.
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: Hot Springs Hotel Prices and Phoenix Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hot Springs $47Phoenix $39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hot Springs
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hot Springs:
- Hot Springs Resorts to Memphis Airport (MEM) Departure Transfer: $142
- Private Departure Transfer from Hot Springs Resort to Little Rock: $71
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phoenix
Also for Phoenix, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer From Hotels To Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport PHX : $41
- Private Transfer from Sky Harbor Airport PHX to Phoenix in Business Car: $90
- Departure Private Transfer: Phoenix to Sky Harbor Airport PHX in Business Car: $90
- Arrival Private Transfer: Sky Harbor Airport PHX to Phoenix in Luxury SUV: $104
- Private Transfer from Phoenix to Sky Harbor Airport PHX in Luxury SUV: $104
- Private Transfer from Sky Harbor Airport PHX to Phoenix in Luxury SUV: $104
- Departure Private Transfer: Phoenix to Sky Harbor Airport PHX in Luxury SUV: $104
- One-Way Transfer Sky Harbor Airport to Phoenix: $104
- Departure Private Transfer Phoenix City to Phoenix Airport PHX : $110
- Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (PHX) to Phoenix - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $116
- Arrival Private Transfer Phoenix Airport PHX to Phoenix City : $117
- Phoenix International Airport (PHX) - Private transfer From/to Hotels: $118
Is it cheaper to fly into Hot Springs or Phoenix?
Prices for flights to both Phoenix and Hot Springs 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 dayHot Springs $52Phoenix $52
Typical Food Prices in Phoenix
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Phoenix:
-
Nice Lunch (for 2)$36
-
Indian Food Dinner (for 2)$32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Phoenix
For Phoenix, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Awesome French Crêpes Cooking Class: $75
- Old Town Scottsdale Food Tour: $92
- Downtown Phoenix Food Tour: $92
- Scottsdale Waterfront Food Tour: $95
- Quiche Lorraine French Cooking Class in Scottsdale: $129
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hot Springs $30Phoenix $40
Tours and Activities in Hot Springs
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Hot Springs are as follows:
- Hot Springs, AR: Magic Springs Theme & Water Park Ticket: $44
- Small-Group Zipline Tour in Hot Springs: $67
Tours and Activities in Phoenix
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Phoenix.
- Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting Entry Ticket: $17
- Private Speakeasy Escape Room Experience in Avondale: $24
- Private Asylum Escape Room Experience in Avondale: $24
- The Scottsdale Selfie Experience: $25
- Ghosts & Poltergeists Guided Haunted Walking Tour: $26
- RoRo Street Art Tour in Phoenix: $27
- Scottsdale Puzzling Adventure: $35
- Tempe Puzzling Adventure: $35
- Phoenix Zoo Admission Ticket: $38
- Phoenix Zoo: One Day General Admission Ticket: $38
- Phoenix History, Mystery and Ghost Hunting Tour : $39
- Phoenix History, Mystery and Ghost Hunting Tour: $39
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayHot Springs $22Phoenix $17
Sample the Local Flavors in Phoenix
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Phoenix:
- Scottsdale Bar Hunt: Scorching Scottsdale Bar Crawl: $12
- Pedal Bar Crawl of Old Town Scottsdale: $55
- Stretch Limo Party Cart - Custom Bar Crawls, Wine Tastings, Night Clubs & More: $155
- Ghost town of Jerome, Brew and Wine Tour: $215
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hot Springs and Phoenix, we can see that Phoenix is more expensive. And not only is Hot Springs much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hot Springs would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hot Springs 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 Phoenix would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Phoenix than you might in Hot Springs.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hot Springs Expensive? and Is Phoenix Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hot Springs or Phoenix?
Phoenix has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Hot Springs. When comparing the sizes of Hot Springs and Phoenix, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Hot Springs or Phoenix?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Hot Springs or Phoenix in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Hot Springs as well as Phoenix. Also, most visitors come to Phoenix for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
It's very hot in Phoenix this time of the year. In July, Hot Springs is generally cooler than Phoenix. Daily temperatures in Hot Springs average around 83°F (28°C), and Phoenix fluctuates around 98°F (36°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Phoenix. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Hot Springs this time of the year. In the summer, Hot Springs often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Phoenix. Hot Springs gets 364 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Phoenix receives 380 hours of full sun.
Hot Springs usually gets more rain in July than Phoenix. Hot Springs gets 3.6 inches (92 mm) of rain, while Phoenix receives 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyHot Springs 83°F (28°C)Phoenix 98°F (36°C)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Phoenix in the Autumn?
Both Phoenix and Hot Springs are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Phoenix because of the hiking trails and the shopping scene.
Hot Springs is cooler than Phoenix in the autumn. The daily temperature in Hot Springs averages around 64°F (18°C) in October, and Phoenix fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).
It's quite sunny in Phoenix. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Hot Springs. Hot Springs usually receives less sunshine than Phoenix during autumn. Hot Springs gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Phoenix receives 305 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Hot Springs usually receives more rain than Phoenix. Hot Springs gets 3.7 inches (93 mm) of rain, while Phoenix receives 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHot Springs 64°F (18°C)Phoenix 79°F (26°C)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Phoenix in the Winter?
Both Phoenix and Hot Springs during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Phoenix this time of year.
The weather in Hot Springs can be very cold. In the winter, Hot Springs is much colder than Phoenix. Typically, the winter temperatures in Hot Springs in January average around 40°F (4°C), and Phoenix averages at about 58°F (14°C).
In Phoenix, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Hot Springs. In the winter, Hot Springs often gets less sunshine than Phoenix. Hot Springs gets 205 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Phoenix receives 254 hours of full sun.
Hot Springs usually gets more rain in January than Phoenix. Hot Springs gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Phoenix receives 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHot Springs 40°F (4°C)Phoenix 58°F (14°C)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Phoenix in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Hot Springs and Phoenix.
In April, Hot Springs is generally cooler than Phoenix. Daily temperatures in Hot Springs average around 65°F (18°C), and Phoenix fluctuates around 74°F (23°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Phoenix this time of the year. In Hot Springs, it's very sunny this time of the year. Hot Springs usually receives less sunshine than Phoenix during spring. Hot Springs gets 304 hours of sunny skies, while Phoenix receives 355 hours of full sun in the spring.
Hot Springs gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Hot Springs usually receives more rain than Phoenix. Hot Springs gets 5.2 inches (133 mm) of rain, while Phoenix receives 0.2 inches (6 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilHot Springs 65°F (18°C)Phoenix 74°F (23°C)
Typical Weather for Phoenix and Hot Springs
| Hot Springs | Phoenix | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 40°F (4°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 58°F (14°C) | 0.7 inches (17 mm) |
| Feb | 45°F (7°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) | 62°F (17°C) | 0.7 inches (17 mm) |
| Mar | 54°F (12°C) | 4.8 inches (121 mm) | 66°F (19°C) | 0.9 inches (22 mm) |
| Apr | 65°F (18°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) | 74°F (23°C) | 0.2 inches (6 mm) |
| May | 71°F (22°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) | 83°F (28°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
| Jun | 79°F (26°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) | 92°F (34°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
| Jul | 83°F (28°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) | 98°F (36°C) | 0.8 inches (21 mm) |
| Aug | 81°F (27°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) | 96°F (35°C) | 0.9 inches (24 mm) |
| Sep | 75°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) | 90°F (32°C) | 0.9 inches (22 mm) |
| Oct | 64°F (18°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 79°F (26°C) | 0.7 inches (17 mm) |
| Nov | 53°F (12°C) | 5.1 inches (130 mm) | 66°F (19°C) | 0.7 inches (18 mm) |
| Dec | 44°F (6°C) | 4.6 inches (118 mm) | 58°F (15°C) | 1 inches (25 mm) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.