Which place is cheaper, Big Sur or Sedona?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Sedona vs. Big Sur for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
Jump to 
Should you visit Sedona or Big Sur?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sedona or Big Sur? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Sedona or Big Sur?
Sedona
Sedona, Arizona is a desert town near Flagstaff. Sedona has many canyons and pine forests, but the most stunningly, beautiful landscape here is the many red rock limestone formations that can be found almost everywhere. The stone formations always have a deep red color, and this color only intensifies in the light of the sun. Sedona has been named one of the most beautiful places in America because of its mesmerizing scenery that changes hourly with the shifting of light. Native Americans have always regarded Sedona as a place of healing and renewal, and that continues to be true as they still value this land as sacred. Sedona is surrounded by 1.8 million acres of national forest land, and no matter where you are in Sedona you are never far from breathtaking scenery.
Big Sur
Big Sur is the 90-mile stretch of the California Central Coast which runs from the Carmel River in Monterey County south to San Carpoforo Creek in San Luis Obispo County and 20 miles east into the Santa Lucius Foothills.
However you look at it, California's Central Coast is beautiful and undoubtedly a huge tourist trap. If you're not willing to fork over big bucks for overnight stays on coastal hotels, be prepared ahead of time with your camping gear and get ready to go off the beaten track to avoid crowds as best you can and save your wallet.
While the weather in Central Coast is overall, mild and temperate, between 50 and 70 degrees year-round. The highs and lows during the year are in August and January, respectively, with dry summers and wet winters, making April through October the best times to visit but be warned: there will be crowds.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySedona $165Big Sur $0.00
The average daily cost (per person) in Sedona is $165, while the average daily cost in Big Sur is $0.00. 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 Sedona and Big Sur in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSedona $93Big Sur $165
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSedona $186Big Sur $330
Compare Hotels in Sedona and Big Sur
Looking for a hotel in Sedona or Big Sur? 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: Sedona Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sedona $40Big Sur -
Is it cheaper to fly into Sedona or Big Sur?
Prices for flights to both Big Sur and Sedona 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
-
Food Meals for one daySedona $48Big Sur -
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sedona
For Sedona, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Grand Canyon Sunset Tour with Dinner: $230
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sedona $19Big Sur -
Typical Entertainment prices in Sedona
For Sedona, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
-
Red Rock Fantasy Light Show (for 2)$10
Tours and Activities in Sedona
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sedona.
- Private 4-Hour Sedona Spectacular Journey and Vortex Tour: $289
- 2 Hour Sedona Little Hollywood Private Tour: $256
- 2.5-Hour Sedona Sightseeing Tour with Sedona Hotel Pickup: $76
- 3-Hour Sedona Spirit Journey and Vortex Tour : $222
- Antelope Canyon X and Horseshoe Bend Tour from Sedona & Flagstaff: $285
- Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Small-Group Tour from Sedona or Flagstaff: $285
- Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Tour from Sedona: $285
- Antelope Canyon via Canyon X and Horseshoe Bend Scenic Tour from Sedona: $285
- Best Sightseeing tour in Sedona Vortex and THE CITY VIP : $189
- Best UFO Tour of Sedona: $110
- Best Vortex and Chakra Tour of Sedona: $140
- Boynton Canyon Trolley Tour from Sedona: $26
Tours and Activities in Big Sur
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Big Sur.
- Big Sur California: Pacific Coast Highway Self-Drive Tour: $15
- Big Sur Hwy 1 | Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour: $15
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one daySedona $13Big Sur -
Sample the Local Flavors in Sedona
Also in Sedona, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Elevated Social Wine Tours of Sedona's Vineyards : $95
- Bliss Sedona’s Most Luxurious Wine Tour - Gourmet Lunch Included: $115
- Experience E-Bike with Wine Tasting Activity: $126
- All inclusive Sedona Join in Wine Tour 200+ 5 star reviews!: $169
- Best Value, Private 3 stop Wine Tour , its Divine: $175
- Sedona's #1 WINE TOUR-Vortex to Vineyards w/ABC wildlife host Rachel Reenstra : $179
- Elevated Express 3 Hour Private Wine Tasting Tour : $190
- 5 Star, Private Wine Tour, BEST in Town, it's simply Sublime!: $240
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sedona and Big Sur, we can see that Sedona is more expensive. And not only is Big Sur much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Big Sur would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Big Sur 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 Sedona would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sedona than you might in Big Sur.
Related Articles for Sedona
Related Articles for Big Sur
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.
More City Comparisons
Flagstaff vs. SedonaFlagstaff vs. Big Sur
Phoenix vs. Sedona
Phoenix vs. Big Sur
Sedona vs. Los Angeles
Sedona vs. Napa Valley
Sedona vs. Sacramento
Sedona vs. San Diego
Sedona vs. San Francisco
Sedona vs. Sonoma
Sedona vs. South Lake Tahoe
Sedona vs. Aspen
Sedona vs. Avon
Sedona vs. Breckenridge
Sedona vs. Colorado Springs
Sedona vs. Denver
Sedona vs. Durango
Sedona vs. Vail
Sedona vs. Albuquerque
Sedona vs. Roswell, New Mexico
Sedona vs. Santa Fe
Sedona vs. Las Vegas
Sedona vs. Reno
Sedona vs. Moab
Sedona vs. Boulder
Sedona vs. Boise
Sedona vs. Hood River
Sedona vs. Portland
Pin This Page
Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.