Should you visit Phoenix or Las Vegas?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Phoenix and Las Vegas can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Phoenix
The most populous city in the American Southwest, Phoenix is the capital city of Arizona and busiest hub of activity in the general area. Geographically it is located in the Sonoran Desert, making for long hot summers and mild winters. This climate has ensured a thriving tourism industry with plenty of attractions both in and around Phoenix.
Las Vegas
Las Vegas has long been the gambling capital of the United States. Known as "Sin City," it is a hot spot for bachelor and bachelorette parties, but in recent years it has seen a dramatic increase in weddings and business conferences. It is the largest city in the state of Nevada and one of the most visited and well known cities in the country. It is located in the Mojave Desert in South Nevada and has a very arid climate with very hot and dry summers. The average high in July is 104 degrees Fahrenheit, but as many people like to say "its a dry heat." Winters are cooler and pleasant with highs around 60 degrees Fahrenheits. Snow is very rare but the surrounding mountains are often topped with snow during the winter months.
Which city is cheaper, Las Vegas or Phoenix?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Phoenix is $114, while the average daily cost in Las Vegas is $246. 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 Phoenix and Las Vegas in more detail.
Accommodation
Travelers usually pay around $92 for a double occupancy room in Phoenix If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $254 for a double occupancy room in Las Vegas.
Local Transportation
Phoenix's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $16 per person, per day on transportation in Phoenix.
The cost of a taxi ride in Las Vegas is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $38 per person, per day, on local transportation in Las Vegas.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phoenix
Also for Phoenix, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Private Arrival Transfer from Phoenix Airport (PHX):
$26
-
Private Departure Transfer to Phoenix Airport (PHX):
$26
-
Private Phoenix International Airport Transfer to Pittsburgh:
$48
-
Transfer from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport to Phoenix:
$56
-
Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (PHX) to Phoenix - Arrival Private Transfer:
$60
-
Phoenix to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (PHX) - Departure Private Transfer:
$60
-
Arrival Private Transfers: Sky Harbor Airport PHX to Phoenix in Business Car:
$76
-
Departure Private Transfers: Phoenix to Sky Harbor Airport PHX in Business Car:
$76
-
Departure Private Transfer to Phoenix Airport PHX by Business or Luxury Vehicle:
$78
-
Arrival Private Transfer Phoenix Airport PHX to Phoenix Business-Luxury Vehicle:
$78
-
Airport Sedan Phoenix One Way Transfer to Phoenix Address:
$91
-
Airport Sedan Phoenix One Way Transfer Scottsdale Address:
$91
Typical Local Transportation prices in Las Vegas
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Las Vegas are as follows:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Las Vegas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Las Vegas:
-
Departure Private Transfer Las Vegas to Los Angeles Airport LAX by Minibus:
$1,928
-
Departure Private Transfer Las Vegas to Los Angeles Airport LAX by Executive SUV:
$1,818
-
Departure Private Transfer Las Vegas to Los Angeles Airport LAX by SUV:
$1,653
-
Las Vegas Private Transfer: Mercedes Sprinter Van:
$1,300
-
Las Vegas Round Trip Chauffeur Driven Airport Transfer by Executive Sprinter:
$200
-
Private Las Vegas Airport to Hotel Luxury Limousine Transfer:
$195
-
Private Las Vegas Hotel to Airport Luxury Limousine Transfer:
$175
-
Airport Transfer - Round Trip to or from Your Hotel:
$165
-
Departure Private Transfers: Las Vegas to Las Vegas Airport LAS in Luxury Car:
$163
-
Las Vegas Airport Transfers : Las Vegas to Airport LAS in Luxury Car:
$163
-
Arrival Private Transfers: Las Vegas Airport LAS to Las Vegas in Luxury Car:
$163
-
Las Vegas Airport Transfers : Airport LAS to Las Vegas in Luxury Car:
$163
Is it cheaper to fly into Phoenix or Las Vegas?
Prices for flights to both Las Vegas and Phoenix 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
In Phoenix travelers spend around $42 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
While meal prices in Las Vegas can vary, the average travelers spends about $64 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Las Vegas should cost around $26 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Las Vegas is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Phoenix $42
Las Vegas $64
Typical Food prices in Phoenix
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Phoenix:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Phoenix
For Phoenix, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Awesome French Crêpes Cooking Class:
$65
Typical Food prices in Las Vegas
Some typical examples of dining costs in Las Vegas are as follows:
-
Coffee
$5.00
-
Deep Fried Twinkie
$1.07
-
Chocolate Dip Banana
$1.07
-
Gelato
$5.95
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Las Vegas
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Las Vegas.
-
Only On The Strip Food Tour:
$79
-
The "What The Frog?" Senor Frogs Dinner Package:
$80
-
Chinatown Vegan Food Tour:
$87
-
Downtown Vegan Food Tour:
$87
-
Walking Food Tour of Downtown Las Vegas:
$99
-
Evening Walking Food Tour on the Las Vegas Strip:
$103
-
Walking Food Tour of the Las Vegas Strip:
$103
-
Fremont Street Dinner Tour with Photographer:
$129
-
Secret Food Tours Las Vegas:
$136
-
Downtown Las Vegas Food Tour by Segway:
$149
-
Wild West Sunset Horseback Ride with Dinner from Las Vegas:
$150
-
Private Tour: Secret Food Tours Las Vegas:
$156
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Phoenix can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $29 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Entertainment and activities in Las Vegas typically cost an average of $63 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Tours and Activities in Phoenix
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Phoenix.
-
Skip the Line: Heard Museum Admission Ticket:
$18
-
Phoenix Walking Ghost Tour:
$20
-
Phoenix Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$21
-
Phoenix Zoo: One Day General Admission Ticket:
$23
-
RoRo Street Art Tour:
$27
-
Lockdown- Samurai Escape Room Experience:
$28
-
Phoenix Legends Bike Tour:
$43
-
Tabletop Adventure - Gaming in Nature:
$46
-
BYOB Pedal Bar Experience In Old Town Scottsdale:
$53
-
Private Group Sonoran Desert 1.5 Hour Hiking Adventure:
$75
-
Scottsdale: Half-Day Casual Bike Tour with Guide:
$75
-
Private Group Sonoran Desert Half Day Hiking Adventure:
$95
Typical Entertainment prices in Las Vegas
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Las Vegas are as follows:
Tours and Activities in Las Vegas
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Las Vegas are as follows:
-
1 Hour Private Limo Photo Tour:
$343
-
1-Day Grand Canyon West Rim Sunset Tour:
$135
-
1-Day Hoover Dam - Lake Mead - Oatman Ghost Town Tour:
$291
-
1-Day Tour to Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend from Las Vegas:
$176
-
1.5-Hour BLACKOUT: Dining in the Dark Experience in Las Vegas:
$81
-
11 Day Best of the West National Parks Tour Las Vegas to San Francisco:
$2,151
-
15-Day Southwest Grand Circle Tour:
$6,000
-
2 Day Zion and Bryce in depth National Tour Camp or Lodge options:
$330
-
2 Hour Photo Tour by Luxury Rolls Royce:
$986
-
2 Hour Private Limo Photo Tour:
$549
-
2-Day Grand Canyon Tour from Las Vegas:
$330
-
2-Day Private Tour: Grand Canyon, Zion Canyon and Bryce Canyon from Las Vegas:
$1,198
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 Phoenix, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $13.
The average person spends about $44 on alcoholic beverages in Las Vegas per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in Phoenix
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Phoenix:
-
Wine Tours, Airport Transportation and more!:
$100
-
Custom Arizona Brewery Tour:
$245
-
Scottsdale: Mountain Biking and Brewery Tour:
$250
-
From Phoenix/Scottsdale: Sedona Hiking & Wine Tasting Tour:
$275
-
Private Southern Arizona Wine Tour Phoenix to Sonoita-Elgin Vineyards:
$997
-
Private Wine Tour from Phoenix to Sonoita-Elgin Vineyards:
$1,650
Sample the Local Flavors in Las Vegas
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Las Vegas:
-
Zombie Burlesque at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino:
$49
-
Fantasy Burlesque Show at Luxor Hotel & Casino:
$61
-
The Weird, Wacky and Wonderful Bar Crawl of Fremont Street:
$89
-
Las Vegas Bar Crawl:
$90
-
Las Vegas Brewery Tour by Party Bus:
$103
-
Bar Crawl On Fremont Street:
$260
-
Small Group Pahrump Wine Tasting with Death Valley Sightseeing and Stargazing:
$295
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Phoenix and Las Vegas, we can see that Las Vegas is more expensive. And not only is Phoenix much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Phoenix would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Phoenix 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 Las Vegas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Las Vegas than you might in Phoenix.
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