Which place is cheaper, Winnipeg or Rapid City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Rapid City or Winnipeg?
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 Rapid City and Winnipeg can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Rapid City or Winnipeg?
Rapid City
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.
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital of the Canadian province of Manitoba. Its heart is The Forks, a historic site at the intersection of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, with warehouses converted to shops and restaurants, plus ample green space dedicated to festivals, concerts and exhibits. Nearby, the Exchange District is known for its well-preserved, early 20th-century architecture and numerous art galleries. Rising above the prairie, Winnipeg is a metropolis where you least expect it. Cultured, confident and captivating, it’s more than just a pit stop on the Trans-Canada haul, but a destination in its own right, with a couple of world-class museums and a wonderfully diverse dining scene.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage, The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Canada, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRapid City $116Winnipeg $251
The average daily cost (per person) in Rapid City is $116, while the average daily cost in Winnipeg is $251. 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 Winnipeg in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRapid City $60Winnipeg $92
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRapid City $120Winnipeg $184
Compare Hotels in Rapid City and Winnipeg
Looking for a hotel in Rapid City or Winnipeg? 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: Rapid City Hotel Prices and Winnipeg Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rapid City $53Winnipeg -
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Winnipeg
Also for Winnipeg, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arrivals Private Transfer from Richardson Airport: $141
- Winnipeg accomodation to Winnipeg Airport (YWG) - Departure Private Transfer: $61
- Winnipeg One way Private transfer from/to the Airport: $200
- Winnipeg Airport (YWG) to Winnipeg accomodation - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $122
- Winnipeg Airport (YWG) to Winnipeg accomodation - Arrival Private Transfer: $61
- Private Transfer from Winnipeg Hotels to Winnipeg Airport: $61
- Private Transfer from Winnipeg Airport to Winnipeg Accommodation : $37
- Private Transfer from Winnipeg Airport (YWG) to Winnipeg Hotels: $61
Is it cheaper to fly into Rapid City or Winnipeg?
Prices for flights to both Winnipeg 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayRapid City $23Winnipeg $5.40
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rapid City
For Rapid City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Roller Coaster Tickets with Dinner and Show in Rapid City: $70
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Rapid City $26Winnipeg $2.52
Tours and Activities in Rapid City
For Rapid City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Badlands National Park Private Tour: $650
- Badlands Sunset and Wildlife Adventure : $289
- Badlands Winter Wonderland Adventure: $239
- Black Hills & Badlands: Self-Guided Audio Driving Tours: $20
- Buffalo Jeep Safari & Mammoth Site Tour: $700
- Bus Tour of Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills: $133
- From Private Devils Tower Tour and Hike: $650
- From Private Spearfish Canyon Tour: $650
- Full-Day Private Sightseeing Tour in South Dakota: $275
- Mount Rushmore Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $15
- Mount Rushmore and Black Hills Tour with Two Meals and a Music Variety Show: $164
- NEW! Half Day Tour of the Black Hills: $289
Tours and Activities in Winnipeg
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Winnipeg.
- Discover Assiniboine Park with a Smartphone Audio Tour: $5.23
- Explore The Challenge of Moderninity with Walking Tours in Winnipeg, MB: $6.73
- Louis Riel & Red River Metis Trails Tour: $74
- Manitoba Legislative Grounds: a Smartphone Audio Tour & Trivia Challenge: $5.23
- Murder Mystery Detective Experience Winnipeg, MB: $11
- Private City Tour in Winnipeg: $49
- Sights of South Winnipeg Smartphone Audio Driving Tour: $6.21
- The Forks Historic Site: a Smartphone Audio Tour: $5.23
- The Indigenous Residential School Museum Private Tour: $82
- The Sights of South a Smartphone Audio Tour: $6.36
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Winnipeg by Operation City Quest: $10
- Walk Downtown Winnipeg with 4 Unique Smartphone Audio Tours: $18
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRapid City $6.93Winnipeg -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rapid City and Winnipeg, we can see that Winnipeg 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 Winnipeg would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Winnipeg 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 Winnipeg Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Rapid City or Winnipeg?
Winnipeg has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Rapid City. When comparing the sizes of Rapid City and Winnipeg, 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.