Which place is cheaper, Calgary or Rapid City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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 Rapid City and Calgary can help you decide which place is right for you.
Rapid City is a large city in western South Dakota that is considered the gateway to the Black Hills National Forest. Rapid City is often used as a base for all types of outdoor activities, including tours to the infamous Mount Rushmore and surrounding parks. The city has a budding art scene and offers the perfect combination of a metropolitan city surrounded by stunning natural scenery. Rapid City experiences the best weather from June-September with temperatures in the 70's and 80's Fahrenheit. Temperatures drop to the low 20's F in the winter and the area receives the most rain pour in April and May.
Calgary is the largest city in Alberta and, located at the edge of the prairie and foothills, it is a gateway to the Rocky Mountains. If you're headed to Banff or Jasper, this is likely to be your first stop. It's also Canada's fourth largest city and worth a few days visit. Calgary's economy is diverse, but includes energy, financial services, film and television, transportation, technology, manufacturing, and much more.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage, The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Canada.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Rapid City is $116, while the average daily cost in Calgary is $154. 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 Rapid City and Calgary in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Rapid City or Calgary? 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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Calgary:
Prices for flights to both Calgary and Rapid City 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.
For Rapid City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Calgary:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Calgary.
For Rapid City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Here are a few typical costs in Calgary for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Here are a few actual costs in Calgary for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Also in Calgary, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rapid City and Calgary, we can see that Calgary is more expensive. And not only is Rapid City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Rapid City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Rapid City 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 Calgary would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Calgary than you might in Rapid City.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Rapid City Expensive? and Is Calgary Expensive?.
Calgary has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Rapid City. When comparing the sizes of Rapid City and Calgary, 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.