Which place is cheaper, Grand Canyon National Park or Kansas City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kansas City or Grand Canyon National Park?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kansas City or Grand Canyon National Park? 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: Kansas City or Grand Canyon National Park?
Kansas City
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.
Grand Canyon National Park
The Grand Canyon is a national landmark in the United States. It is also one of the most beautiful landscapes in the country and the colors, particularly at sunrise and sunset, will never cease to amaze you. The canyon is entirely within the state of Arizona and has been carved over millions of years by the Colorado River. It stands at over a mile deep and you can easily see the layers of geology with the Canyon's dramatic colors. The Grand Canyon National Park itself was created by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1908 as a national monument. It was later upgraded to a national park in 1919. It currently covers an area of more than 1.2 million acres and is visited yearly by more than four million guests.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKansas City $161Grand Canyon National Park $168
The average daily cost (per person) in Kansas City is $161, while the average daily cost in Grand Canyon National Park is $168. 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 Grand Canyon National Park in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKansas City $88Grand Canyon National Park $89
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKansas City $176Grand Canyon National Park $178
Compare Hotels in Kansas City and Grand Canyon National Park
Looking for a hotel in Kansas City or Grand Canyon National Park? 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: Kansas City Hotel Prices and Grand Canyon National Park Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kansas City $44Grand Canyon National Park $43
Is it cheaper to fly into Kansas City or Grand Canyon National Park?
Prices for flights to both Grand Canyon National Park 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayKansas City $47Grand Canyon National Park $49
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kansas City $11Grand Canyon National Park $35
Tours and Activities in Grand Canyon National Park
For Grand Canyon National Park, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 3 Hour Off-Road Sunset Safari to Grand Canyon with Entrance Gate Detour : $123
- 3-Day Adventure in Mulu National Park: $298
- 4 Hour Grand Canyon Biblical Creation Morning Rim Tour: $149
- 4-Hour Biblical Creation + Sunset Tour • Grand Canyon National Park South Rim: $149
- Desert View Grand Canyon Tour - Pink Jeep: $143
- Full Day Chauffeur for Grand Canyon Tour from inside Grand Canyon: $249
- Full Day Chauffeur for South Rim Grand Canyon Tour from Tusayan: $249
- Full-Day Tour to Grand Canyon Coach and River Float: $245
- Grand Canyon Full Day Small Group Tour: $299
- Grand Canyon Landmarks Tour by Airplane with Optional Hummer Tour: $179
- Grand Canyon Signature Hummer Tour with Optional Sunset Views: $121
- Grand Canyon South & East Rim Self-Driving, Walking & Shuttling Tour: $17
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKansas City $12Grand Canyon National Park $11
When comparing the travel costs between Kansas City and Grand Canyon National Park, we can see that Grand Canyon National Park 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.
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 Grand Canyon National Park Expensive?.
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.