Which place is cheaper, Rapid City or Kansas City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kansas City or Rapid City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kansas City or Rapid City? 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 Rapid City?
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.
Rapid City
Rapid City is a large city in western South Dakota that is considered the gateway to the Black Hills National Forest. Rapid City is often used as a base for all types of outdoor activities, including tours to the infamous Mount Rushmore and surrounding parks. The city has a budding art scene and offers the perfect combination of a metropolitan city surrounded by stunning natural scenery. Rapid City experiences the best weather from June-September with temperatures in the 70's and 80's Fahrenheit. Temperatures drop to the low 20's F in the winter and the area receives the most rain pour in April and May.
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 $161Rapid City $116
The average daily cost (per person) in Kansas City is $161, while the average daily cost in Rapid City is $116. 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 Rapid City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKansas City $88Rapid City $60
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKansas City $176Rapid City $120
Compare Hotels in Kansas City and Rapid City
Looking for a hotel in Kansas City or Rapid City? 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 Rapid City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kansas City $44Rapid City $53
Is it cheaper to fly into Kansas City or Rapid City?
Prices for flights to both Rapid City 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 $47Rapid City $23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rapid City
For Rapid City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Roller Coaster Tickets with Dinner and Show in Rapid City: $70
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kansas City $11Rapid City $26
Tours and Activities in Rapid City
For Rapid City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Badlands National Park Private Tour: $650
- Badlands Sunset and Wildlife Adventure : $289
- Badlands Winter Wonderland Adventure: $239
- Black Hills & Badlands: Self-Guided Audio Driving Tours: $20
- Buffalo Jeep Safari & Mammoth Site Tour: $700
- Bus Tour of Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills: $133
- From Private Devils Tower Tour and Hike: $650
- From Private Spearfish Canyon Tour: $650
- Full-Day Private Sightseeing Tour in South Dakota: $275
- Mount Rushmore Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $15
- Mount Rushmore and Black Hills Tour with Two Meals and a Music Variety Show: $164
- Murder Mystery Detective Experience Rapid City, SD: $15
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKansas City $12Rapid City $6.93
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kansas City and Rapid City, we can see that Kansas City is more expensive. And not only is Rapid City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Rapid City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Rapid 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 Kansas City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kansas City than you might in Rapid 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 Rapid City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kansas City or Rapid City?
Kansas City has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Rapid City. When comparing the sizes of Kansas City and Rapid City, 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.
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.