Which place is cheaper, Eugene or Moab?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Moab or Eugene?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Moab or Eugene? 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: Moab or Eugene?
Moab
Moab is the closest town to Arches National Park in Utah's Canyon Country. It is also a popular base for exploring Canyonlands National Park. It's a small town that serves mainly to accommodate tourists to the popular national parks and other surrounding wildlife areas. It has grown dramatically in recent years and has a population of just over 5,000. In town you will find hotels and motels, a handful of restaurants and a few shops where you can stock up on supplies. There's a small museum, the Museum of Moab, and a variety of tour operators in town. You can easily book river rafting trips, jeep expeditions, and tours of the surrounding area. For many, exploring Arches National Park on your own is a more enjoyable and independent experience.
Eugene
At the southern end of the Willamette Valley, Eugene is most recognized as the home of the University of Oregon. It's a smaller city with a liberal population that is generally concerned about environmental issues. A popular experience in Eugene is to go to the Saturday Market, which has been around since 1970 and is the oldest open air market in the United States.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in United States of America, The Best Photography Tours in United States of America, The Best Camping Tours in United States of America, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMoab $388Eugene $160
The average daily cost (per person) in Moab is $388, while the average daily cost in Eugene is $160. 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 Moab and Eugene in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMoab $336Eugene $97
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMoab $672Eugene $194
Compare Hotels in Moab and Eugene
Looking for a hotel in Moab or Eugene? 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: Moab Hotel Prices and Eugene Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Moab $17Eugene $37
Is it cheaper to fly into Moab or Eugene?
Prices for flights to both Eugene and Moab 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 dayMoab $37Eugene $41
Typical Food Prices in Moab
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Moab:
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Moab Brewery$42
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Breakfast for Two$17
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Moab
For Moab, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Colorado River Dinner Cruise with Music and Light Show: $99
- Colorado River Sunset Boat Tour with Optional Dinner: $109
Typical Food Prices in Eugene
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Eugene:
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Sam Bonds Food and Music (for 2)$16
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Morning Glory Cafe Breakfast (for 2)$12
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Moab $3.13Eugene -
Typical Entertainment Prices in Moab
For Moab, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Slickrock Trail Pass$5.00
Tours and Activities in Moab
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Moab.
- La Sal Mountain Loop: Scenic Self-Driving App Tour: $8.99
- La Sal Mountain Loop Scenic Drive: Half-Day Audio Driving Private Tour : $8.99
- Canyonlands National Park: Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour: $8.99
- Arches National Park: Driving Tour with Audio Guide: $8.99
- La Sal Mountain: Scenic Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $12
- Canyonlands National Park Self-Driving Tour: $13
- Arches National Park Self-Guided Driving Tour: $17
- Explore Arches, Canyonlands & La Sal Audio Tour Guide: $19
- Zion & Bryce Canyon National Parks Self-Driving Bundle Tour: $25
- Moab Giants Dinosaur Park and Museum Entrance Ticket: $28
- Ultimate Utah Combo Self-Driving Audio Tour: $40
- Utah: The Grand Circle Self-Guided Driving Tour Bundle: $42
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMoab $66Eugene -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Moab and Eugene, we can see that Moab is more expensive. And not only is Eugene much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Eugene would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Eugene 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 Moab would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Moab than you might in Eugene.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Moab Expensive? and Is Eugene Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Moab or Eugene?
Eugene has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Moab. When comparing the sizes of Moab and Eugene, 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.