Which place is cheaper, Anchorage or Kansas City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Kansas City or Anchorage? 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.
A large, mid western city that sits on the border between Missouri and Kansa, Kansas City has a population of about 450,000. It's not exactly a tourist destination, but it is a surprisingly beautiful city with more boulevards than Paris and more fountains than any other city in the world with the exception of Rome. Most of the city's suburbs are concentrated in the south but the city is beginning to grow to the north as well. The climate in Kansas City can vary dramatically, in large part because it is so far from any form of water. Winters can range from mild to extremely cold and snow is not uncommon. Spring and fall and quite comfortable but summer months can be incredibly hot and humid.
Anchorage, Alaska's largest city, is in the south-central part of the state on the Cook Inlet. It's known for its cultural sites and also as a gateway to nearby wilderness areas and mountains. From the sparkling waters of Cook Inlet to the tallest peaks of the Chugach Mountains, Anchorage encompasses incredible adventures and metropolitan appeals that are larger than life. With 1,500 moose, incredible national parks nearby and 60 glaciers a short drive away, it's a dream destination in Alaska.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America, The Best Coach Bus Tours in United States of America, The Best Adventure Tours to United States of America, and The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Kansas City is $161, while the average daily cost in Anchorage is $191. 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 Kansas City and Anchorage in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Kansas City or Anchorage? 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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Anchorage:
Prices for flights to both Anchorage and Kansas City 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.
Some typical examples of dining costs in Anchorage are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Anchorage.
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Anchorage are as follows:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Anchorage are as follows:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Anchorage:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kansas City and Anchorage, we can see that Anchorage is more expensive. And not only is Kansas City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kansas City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kansas City 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 Anchorage would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Anchorage than you might in Kansas City.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kansas City Expensive? and Is Anchorage Expensive?.
Kansas City has a larger population, and is about 70% larger than the population of Anchorage. When comparing the sizes of Kansas City and Anchorage, 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.
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.
The summer brings many poeple to Kansas City as well as Anchorage. Additionally, most visitors come to Anchorage for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Kansas City is much warmer than Anchorage. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kansas City in July average around 82°F (28°C), and Anchorage averages at about 59°F (15°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Anchorage. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kansas City this time of the year. In the summer, Kansas City often gets more sunshine than Anchorage. Kansas City gets 325 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Anchorage receives 240 hours of full sun.
Kansas City usually gets more rain in July than Anchorage. Kansas City gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Anchorage receives 1.7 inches (44 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Both Anchorage and Kansas City are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Anchorage because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
The weather in Anchorage can be very cold. In October, Kansas City is generally much warmer than Anchorage. Daily temperatures in Kansas City average around 60°F (15°C), and Anchorage fluctuates around 35°F (2°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kansas City. Kansas City usually receives more sunshine than Anchorage during autumn. Kansas City gets 208 hours of sunny skies, while Anchorage receives 118 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Kansas City usually receives more rain than Anchorage. Kansas City gets 2.4 inches (62 mm) of rain, while Anchorage receives 2.1 inches (53 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
Both Anchorage and Kansas City during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Anchorage this time of year.
It's quite cold in Anchorage in the winter. The weather in Kansas City can be very cold. Kansas City is much warmer than Anchorage in the winter. The daily temperature in Kansas City averages around 30°F (-1°C) in January, and Anchorage fluctuates around 15°F (-9°C).
In the winter, Kansas City often gets more sunshine than Anchorage. Kansas City gets 175 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Anchorage receives 80 hours of full sun.
Kansas City usually gets more rain in January than Anchorage. Kansas City gets 0.9 inches (23 mm) of rain, while Anchorage receives 0.7 inches (19 mm) of rain this time of the year.
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Kansas City and Anchorage. Also, many travelers come to Anchorage for the natural beauty.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Anchorage. In the spring, Kansas City is much warmer than Anchorage. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kansas City in April average around 58°F (15°C), and Anchorage averages at about 36°F (2°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Anchorage this time of the year. In Kansas City, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kansas City usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Anchorage during spring. Kansas City gets 231 hours of sunny skies, while Anchorage receives 233 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Kansas City usually receives more rain than Anchorage. Kansas City gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Anchorage receives 0.7 inches (18 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
Kansas City | Anchorage | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 30°F (-1°C) | 0.9 inches (23 mm) | 15°F (-9°C) | 0.7 inches (19 mm) |
Feb | 35°F (2°C) | 0.9 inches (24 mm) | 19°F (-7°C) | 0.8 inches (21 mm) |
Mar | 47°F (8°C) | 2 inches (52 mm) | 26°F (-3°C) | 0.7 inches (18 mm) |
Apr | 58°F (15°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) | 36°F (2°C) | 0.7 inches (18 mm) |
May | 68°F (20°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 47°F (8°C) | 0.8 inches (20 mm) |
Jun | 77°F (25°C) | 4.9 inches (125 mm) | 55°F (13°C) | 1.1 inches (27 mm) |
Jul | 82°F (28°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 59°F (15°C) | 1.7 inches (44 mm) |
Aug | 80°F (26°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.6 inches (67 mm) |
Sep | 71°F (22°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) | 49°F (9°C) | 2.6 inches (66 mm) |
Oct | 60°F (15°C) | 2.4 inches (62 mm) | 35°F (2°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
Nov | 46°F (8°C) | 1.7 inches (43 mm) | 22°F (-6°C) | 1.1 inches (27 mm) |
Dec | 34°F (1°C) | 1.2 inches (30 mm) | 17°F (-8°C) | 1.1 inches (28 mm) |