Which place is cheaper, Kamloops or Moab?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Moab or Kamloops?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Moab or Kamloops? 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 Kamloops?
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.
Kamloops
In British Columbia, Canada, Kamloops is perhaps most famous for the large number of tournaments it hosts, everything from the Strauss Canada Cup of Curling, to the World Fly Fishing Championships. It also hosts Skate Canada, Tim Horton's Olympic Qualifying Bike Race, and the World Junior Hockey Championships among others. The city is in the south central part of the province and it sits near the confluence of the two branches of the Thompson River near Kamloops Lake. The city has a population of about 85,000 and it's the largest community in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District.
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 Train & Rail Tours in Canada, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMoab $388Kamloops $81
The average daily cost (per person) in Moab is $388, while the average daily cost in Kamloops is $81. 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 Kamloops in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMoab $336Kamloops $44
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMoab $672Kamloops $88
Compare Hotels in Moab and Kamloops
Looking for a hotel in Moab or Kamloops? 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 Kamloops Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Moab $17Kamloops $20
Is it cheaper to fly into Moab or Kamloops?
Prices for flights to both Kamloops 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
-
Food Meals for one dayMoab $37Kamloops $24
Typical Food Prices in Moab
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Moab:
-
Moab Brewery$42
-
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 Kamloops
For Kamloops, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Pastries$5.81
-
Lunch for Two$25
-
Coffee and Gelato$12
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Moab $3.13Kamloops $13
Typical Entertainment Prices in Moab
For Moab, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
-
Slickrock Trail Pass$5.00
Tours and Activities in Moab
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Moab.
- 2 Hours Guided UTV Tour in Moab Utah: $129
- 2 hour Moab Ebike Petroglyph Tour: $107
- 25+ National Parks Self-Guided Driving Tours Bundle: $85
- 3-Hours Sunset Arches National Park Pavement Sights Tour: $191
- Afternoon Arches National Park 4x4 Tour: $185
- Afternoon Canyonlands Island In The Sky 4X4 Tour: $185
- Afternoon Half Day Moab Jeep Tour: $152
- Arches Full Day Small Group Tour : $299
- Arches National Park 4x4 Adventure from Moab: $197
- Arches National Park Airplane Tour: $189
- Arches National Park Back Country Adventure from Moab: $142
- Arches National Park Backcountry Tour: $252
Tours and Activities in Kamloops
For Kamloops, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Skip the Line: Kamloops BC Wildlife Park Admission Ticket: $14
- Smartphone Audio Driving Tour between Kamloops & Revelstoke: $6.33
- Smartphone Audio Driving Tour between Kamloops and Vancouver: $6.36
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Kamloops by Zombie Scavengers: $21
- Vancouver and Smartphone Audio Driving Tour: $6.21
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayMoab $66Kamloops $6.77
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Moab and Kamloops, we can see that Moab is more expensive. And not only is Kamloops much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kamloops would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kamloops 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 Kamloops.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Moab Expensive? and Is Kamloops Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Moab or Kamloops?
Kamloops has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Moab. When comparing the sizes of Moab and Kamloops, 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.