Which place is cheaper, Alaska or North Carolina?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit North Carolina or Alaska?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between North Carolina and Alaska can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: North Carolina or Alaska?
North Carolina
North Carolina is a diverse state in the southern United States. The state has a variety of landscapes, with mountains, forests, and beaches all represented. The state's elevation ranges from sea level to 6,684 feet on Mount Mitchell, which is the highest point in North America east of the Mississippi. There are large cosmopolitan cities like Charlotte, and there are quaint college towns like Chapel Hill. North Carolina is the nineth most populous state in the country and the economy is currently centered around engineering, energy, biotechnology, and finance. Historically, the state's economy developed from the tobacco, textile, and furniture making industries.
Alaska
Alaska joined the United States of America as the 49th state. The US purchased the area from the Russian Empire in 1867 for just 7.2 million dollars (about two cents an acre). It became an organized territory in 1912 and a state in 1959. It is separated from the rest of the country by Canada and, although it is the largest state, it is the least densely populated and for many years had the lowest population. It covers an area equal to California, Texas and Montana combined and lies on the Arctic Circle. Many people consider Alaska to be the United State's "final frontier" because of its vast wilderness. It is also where you will find the highest point in North America.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in United States of America, The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America, and The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America.
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North Carolina Prices
USA PricesAlaska Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNorth Carolina $213Alaska $280
The average daily cost (per person) in North Carolina is $213, while the average daily cost in Alaska is $280. 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 North Carolina and Alaska in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNorth Carolina $112Alaska $135
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNorth Carolina $224Alaska $270
Compare Hotels in North Carolina and Alaska
Looking for a hotel in North Carolina or Alaska? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.North Carolina $36Alaska $51
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alaska
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Alaska:
- Whittier to Anchorage Shared Bus Transfer Service: $69
- Seward to Anchorage Shared Bus Transfer Service: $75
- Whittier to Anchorage Direct Transfer Tour: $80
- Anchorage to Whittier Direct Transfer Tour: $80
- Anchorage to Seward Direct Transfer Tour: $89
- Seward to Anchorage Direct Transfer Tour: $89
- Anchorage to Seward Cruise Transfer with Exit Glacier: $190
- Whittier to Anchorage Post Cruise Scenic Transfer Tour: $195
- Whittier to Anchorage Transfer on Sprinter Van: $199
- Whittier Cruise Transfer with Wildlife&Glacier tour to Anchorage: $199
- Whittier to Anchorage Cruise Transfer & Wildlife Tour: $217
- Anchorage to Seward Cruise Transfer & Wildlife Tour: $227
Is it cheaper to fly into North Carolina or Alaska?
Prices for flights to both Alaska and North Carolina 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 dayNorth Carolina $70Alaska $94
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Alaska
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Alaska.
- Alaska Cabin Nite Dinner Theatre Experience: $95
- Aurora Viewing and Dinner: $120
- Ketchikan Fireside Feast: Open-Fire Salmon & Reindeer Dinner: $159
- Anchorage Sightseeing and Food Tour - Available All Year Long!: $195
- Northern Lights Experience and Cabin Dinner: $200
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.North Carolina $25Alaska $65
Tours and Activities in Alaska
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Alaska are as follows:
- Anchorage Self-Guided Tour: Discover Glaciers & Alaska's Frontier: $4.56
- Podcast Tour Anchorage Mud, Concrete, and Wild Air: $5.48
- Gold Rush Boomtown: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Skagway: $7.99
- Skagway Downtown Walking Private Tour Experience: $9.75
- Juneau Scenic Drive on Your Own 70 Mile Self Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- The Last Saloon Before the Wilderness: A Ketchikan Audio Tour: $9.99
- Skagway Cultural Garden Self Guided Tour: $15
- Skagway Gold Rush Self Guided GPS Walking Audio Tour: $17
- Self Guided Driving Audio Tour: Anchorage to Seward: $17
- Self-Guided Anchorage to Denali Driving Audio Tour: $20
- Self Guided Driving Audio Tour Anchorage to Homer: $20
- Seward Hwy Scenic Drive: Anchorage-Seward Self-Guided Audio Tour: $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNorth Carolina $28Alaska $20
Sample the Local Flavors in Alaska
Also in Alaska, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Sitka Haunted Pub Crawl: Ghost Stories, Local History & Drinks: $104
- Craft Brews & Epic Views: Juneau's Brewery & Sightseeing Tour: $159
- Arctic Ale Trail: a Fairbanks Brewery Tour with Drinks & Pickup.: $189
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between North Carolina and Alaska, we can see that Alaska is more expensive. And not only is North Carolina much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to North Carolina would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in North Carolina 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 Alaska would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Alaska than you might in North Carolina.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is North Carolina Expensive? and Is Alaska Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, North Carolina or Alaska?
North Carolina has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Alaska. When comparing the sizes of North Carolina and Alaska, 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.