Which place is cheaper, Yosemite 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 Yosemite National Park?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kansas City or Yosemite 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 Yosemite 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.
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is located in east-central California in the Sierra Nevada mountains. It's one of the most famous and popular parks in the country and is known for its breathtaking granite cliffs, dramatic waterfalls, clear streams, and giant sequoia groves. The park covers 750,000 acres, or 1,200 square miles, and includes thousands of lakes and ponds and an impressive range of biodiversity. There are 800 miles of hiking trails within the park as well. Yosemite National Park is the third most visited park within the United States with an average annual visitation of almost 4 million people.
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 $161Yosemite National Park $129
The average daily cost (per person) in Kansas City is $161, while the average daily cost in Yosemite National Park is $129. 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 Yosemite National Park in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKansas City $88Yosemite National Park $64
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKansas City $176Yosemite National Park $128
Compare Hotels in Kansas City and Yosemite National Park
Looking for a hotel in Kansas City or Yosemite 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 Yosemite National Park Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kansas City $44Yosemite National Park $41
Is it cheaper to fly into Kansas City or Yosemite National Park?
Prices for flights to both Yosemite 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 $47Yosemite National Park $40
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kansas City $11Yosemite National Park $19
Tours and Activities in Yosemite National Park
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Yosemite National Park are as follows:
- Big Trees Hike & Riverside Cookout Adventure: $180
- Family Fun Private Half Day Fly Fishing Adventure: $215
- Full-Day Small Group Yosemite & Glacier Point Tour Including Hotel Pickup: $169
- Private Guided Hiking Tour in Yosemite: $293
- Semi Private Yosemite Tour with Ahwahnee Lunch and Hotel Pickup: $250
- Waterfalls of Yosemite: Customizable Private Tour: $495
- Yosemite Full Day Small Group High Country / Mariposa Tour: $299
- Yosemite Highlights Small Group Tour: $200
- Yosemite National Park Audio Driving Tour: $11
- Yosemite Panorama Trail Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
- Yosemite Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
- Yosemite Valley & Glacier Point Adaptive Tour: $180
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKansas City $12Yosemite National Park $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kansas City and Yosemite National Park, we can see that Kansas City is more expensive. And not only is Yosemite National Park much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Yosemite National Park would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Yosemite National Park 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 Yosemite National Park.
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 Yosemite 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.