Which place is cheaper, Kamloops or Santa Fe?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Santa Fe or Kamloops?
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 Santa Fe and Kamloops can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Santa Fe or Kamloops?
Santa Fe
Santa Fe is the state capital of New Mexico as well as the oldest state capital in the United States, founded in 1607. It has become a popular travel destination due to the surrounding scenic beauty, its long history, cultural diversity especially with its proximity to American Indian pueblos and culture, and a rich concentration of arts, music, and food.
Kamloops
In British Columbia, Canada, Kamloops is perhaps most famous for the large number of tournaments it hosts, everything from the Strauss Canada Cup of Curling, to the World Fly Fishing Championships. It also hosts Skate Canada, Tim Horton's Olympic Qualifying Bike Race, and the World Junior Hockey Championships among others. The city is in the south central part of the province and it sits near the confluence of the two branches of the Thompson River near Kamloops Lake. The city has a population of about 85,000 and it's the largest community in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to United States of America, The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, The Best Train & Rail Tours in Canada, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySanta Fe $159Kamloops $81
The average daily cost (per person) in Santa Fe is $159, while the average daily cost in Kamloops is $81. 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 Santa Fe and Kamloops in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSanta Fe $81Kamloops $44
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSanta Fe $162Kamloops $88
Compare Hotels in Santa Fe and Kamloops
Looking for a hotel in Santa Fe or Kamloops? 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: Santa Fe Hotel Prices and Kamloops Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santa Fe $61Kamloops $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Fe
Also for Santa Fe, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Departure Transfer to Santa Fe Airport SAF: $125
- Private Arrival Transfer from Santa Fe Airport (SAF): $62
Is it cheaper to fly into Santa Fe or Kamloops?
Prices for flights to both Kamloops and Santa Fe 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 daySanta Fe $43Kamloops $24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Fe
For Santa Fe, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- New Mexican Flavors Food Tour of the Santa Fe Plaza: $184
- Wander New Mexico Food Tour - Railyard Arts District: $189
- Wander New Mexico Food Tour - Downtown Plaza 'Sip & Savor': $209
- Downtown Plaza "Sip and Savor" Half-day Food Tour: $209
- Savor Wine Pairing Dinner: $228
Typical Food Prices in Kamloops
For Kamloops, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Pastries$5.81
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Lunch for Two$25
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Coffee and Gelato$12
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santa Fe $17Kamloops $13
Tours and Activities in Santa Fe
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santa Fe.
- 2 Hour Pottery Experience (Wheel or Hand-Building): $160
- 2-Hour Photography Class While Touring Downtown Santa Fe, Smart Phones Welcome!: $85
- A Walking Tour of Santa Fe's Most Beautiful and Historic Sites: $214
- Canyon Road Art & History Walking Tour: $70
- Downtown Santa Fe Walking Wine & Tapas Tour: $149
- Enchanted Eats of Santa Fe Half-Day Tour: $946
- Explore Santa Fe's Old Town & the Museum of Art: Private Tour: $195
- Murder Mystery Detective Experience Santa Fe, NM: $15
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Walking Tour in Santa Fe: $53
- Plaza Sip, Savor, & History Walking Tour in Santa Fe: $119
- Private Canyon Road Art & History Walking Tour: $138
- Railyard Sip, Savor, & History Walking Tour in Santa Fe: $119
Tours and Activities in Kamloops
For Kamloops, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Skip the Line: Kamloops BC Wildlife Park Admission Ticket: $14
- Smartphone Audio Driving Tour between Kamloops & Revelstoke: $6.33
- Smartphone Audio Driving Tour between Kamloops and Vancouver: $6.31
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Kamloops by Zombie Scavengers: $21
- Vancouver and Smartphone Audio Driving Tour: $6.21
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySanta Fe $9.68Kamloops $6.77
Sample the Local Flavors in Santa Fe
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Santa Fe:
- Tumbleroot Brewery and Distillery Tour and Tasting: $18
- Architectural Walking Tour & Wine Tasting: $135
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santa Fe and Kamloops, we can see that Santa Fe is more expensive. And not only is Kamloops much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kamloops would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kamloops 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 Santa Fe would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santa Fe than you might in Kamloops.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santa Fe Expensive? and Is Kamloops Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santa Fe or Kamloops?
Santa Fe has a larger population, and is about 1% larger than the population of Kamloops. When comparing the sizes of Santa Fe and Kamloops, 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.