Which place is cheaper, Tucson or Sedona?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sedona or Tucson?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sedona or Tucson? 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 Tucson?
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.
Tucson
Tucson, Arizona is the second largest city in the state and sits at an elevation of 2,400 feet. It's temperature is slightly milder than Phoenix and it is a pleasant place to visit. Most people arrive in the city by car, but Amtrak does travel through Tucson, as does Greyhound. The area is also served by the Tucson International Airport. Once in the city, you'll likely want to have access to a car, as the city is not very pedestrian friendly and public transportation is very much lacking. Many popular and beautiful sights are also outside of town in the surrounding desert, so having access to a vehicle is paramount if you hope to visit any of the places.
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 Sightseeing Tours in United States of America, and The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySedona $165Tucson $157
The average daily cost (per person) in Sedona is $165, while the average daily cost in Tucson is $157. 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 Tucson in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSedona $93Tucson $93
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSedona $186Tucson $186
Compare Hotels in Sedona and Tucson
Looking for a hotel in Sedona or Tucson? 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 and Tucson Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sedona $40Tucson $27
Is it cheaper to fly into Sedona or Tucson?
Prices for flights to both Tucson 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
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Food Meals for one daySedona $48Tucson $36
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sedona $19Tucson $16
Typical Entertainment Prices in Sedona
For Sedona, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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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
- Sedona Soul Tour with Shamanic Guide: $295
- 1-Hour Jeep Tour in Camp Verde: $120
- 2.5-Hour Sedona Sightseeing Tour with Sedona Hotel Pickup: $76
- 20 mile Helicopter Tour in See Everything around Sedona!: $186
- Antelope Canyon X and Horseshoe Bend Scenic 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 Slot Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Day Tour from Sedona: $285
- Best Sightseeing tour in Sedona Vortex and THE CITY VIP : $164
- Best UFO Tour of Sedona: $110
- Canyon Panorama Helicopter Tour: $119
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySedona $13Tucson $16
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 : $85
- Bliss Sedona’s Most Luxurious Wine Tour with Lunch Included: $115
- Sedona Wine Crawl - Customizable Hop-on Hop-off Wine Tour : $135
- All inclusive Sedona Join in Wine Tour 200+ 5 star reviews!: $179
- Pedal and Paddle Wine Tour in Arizona: $235
- Private Sedona Local and Wine Tour: $244
- Private Wine Tour in Sedona, Arizona: $295
When comparing the travel costs between Sedona and Tucson, we can see that Sedona is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Sedona Expensive? and Is Tucson Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sedona or Tucson?
Tucson has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Sedona. When comparing the sizes of Sedona and Tucson, 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.