Should you visit North Conway or Sun Valley?
Should I visit North Conway or Sun Valley? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
North Conway
North Conway is a small town in New Hampshire in the Mount Washington Valley (MWV). The entire valley is a popular vacation area year-round due to the multiple ski resorts and summer activities including amusement parks, hiking, outdoor activities, and more.
Sun Valley
Sun Valley is a beautiful resort city in the Wood River Valley area of Idaho, most famous for becoming a snowy wonderland every winter. The area was actually named the 2nd best ski resort by Ski Magazine and was a favorite place of escape for Ernest Hemingway. Whether you visit in winter or summer, you're always met with beautiful scenery that's perfect for exploring. The best time of year for winter activities is December-March, while June-August is best for hiking and exploring the area.
Which city is cheaper, Sun Valley or North Conway?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in North Conway is $179, while the average daily cost in Sun Valley is $147. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for North Conway and Sun Valley in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $200 in North Conway For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $152 for a double occupancy room in Sun Valley.
Food
North Conway food costs typically run travelers around $51 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
Food in Sun Valley costs travelers about $38 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
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Food
Meals for one day
North Conway $51
Sun Valley $38
Local Transportation
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in North Conway than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $42 on transportation in North Conway on average per day.
The cost of a taxi ride in Sun Valley is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $49 per person, per day, on local transportation in Sun Valley.
Is it cheaper to fly into North Conway or Sun Valley?
Prices for flights to both Sun Valley and North Conway 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing expenses in North Conway, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $30 per day, per person.
Entertainment and activities in Sun Valley typically cost an average of $33 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In North Conway, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $27.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Sun Valley may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $39 per day on alcoholic beverages.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between North Conway and Sun Valley, we can see that North Conway is more expensive. And not only is Sun Valley much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Sun Valley would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sun Valley 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 North Conway would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in North Conway than you might in Sun Valley.
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