A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Sedona vs. Rapid City for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Sedona or Rapid City?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Sedona or Rapid City? 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 Rapid City?

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.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America, The Best Historical Tours in United States of America, The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Rapid City or Sedona?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Sedona is $165, while the average daily cost in Rapid City is $116. 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 Rapid City in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Sedona $93
    Rapid City $60
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Sedona $186
    Rapid City $120
Compare Hotels in Sedona and Rapid City

Looking for a hotel in Sedona or Rapid City? 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.

Hotels in Sedona


Hotels in Rapid City


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 and Rapid City Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Sedona $40
    Rapid City $53

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rapid City

Also for Rapid City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private One Way Airport Transfer and Orientation: $89

Is it cheaper to fly into Sedona or Rapid City?

Prices for flights to both Rapid City 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 day
    Sedona $48
    Rapid City $23

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sedona

For Sedona, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Sedona/Flagstaff: Grand Canyon Day Trip with Dinner & Sunset: $241
  • Cooking class and candlelit dinner with a view: $295

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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Sedona $19
    Rapid City $26
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.

  • Adventurers Ready To Jump Into The Void SedonaStyle Wanted: $39
  • 1-Hour Jeep Tour in Camp Verde: $120
  • 2-Hour Private Sedona Native Hopi Tours : $300
  • Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park Sedona, Arizona Experience: $300
  • 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
  • Arizona Ghost Adventure: $150
  • Best Sightseeing tour in Sedona Vortex and THE CITY VIP : $139
  • Best UFO Tour of Sedona: $110
  • Canyon Panorama Helicopter Tour: $119
  • City of the Star People Tours: $189

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 : $239
  • 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

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Sedona $13
    Rapid City $6.93

Sample the Local Flavors in Sedona

Also in Sedona, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Bliss Sedona’s Most Luxurious Wine Tour with Lunch Included: $115
  • All inclusive Sedona Join in Wine Tour 200+ 5 star reviews!: $179
  • Best Value, Private Wine Tour, great for parties!: $185
  • Tastings Included! EXPRESS PRIVATE ELEVATED WINE TOUR: $199
  • Sedona-Jerome Scenic Vortex, Wine Tasting Grand Tour. See It All!: $199
  • Pedal and Paddle Wine Tour in Arizona: $235
  • Private Sedona Local and Wine Tour: $244
  • Private Wine Tour in Sedona, Arizona: $295


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sedona and Rapid City, we can see that Sedona 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 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 Rapid City.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Sedona Expensive? and Is Rapid City Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Sedona or Rapid City?

Rapid City has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Sedona. When comparing the sizes of Sedona and Rapid City, 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.