Should you visit Sonoma or Vail?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Sonoma and Vail can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Sonoma
When people say Sonoma, they are often referring to the region's wine country, but in fact, Sonoma is a county, a valley, and a town. The county covers 1,768 square miles and is more spread out than nearby Napa. There are more than 30 cities and towns in the county and 425 wineries with tasting rooms. The county also borders the Pacific Ocean, and the beautiful 55 mile stretch of coastline is rugged and dramatic.
Vail
Vail is one of the premier ski resort areas in the United States. Located in central Colorado, Vail is not far from Denver and situated in the heart of the Rockies. Here you'll find a quaint mountain town designed around tourism, especially for the winter, although plenty of visitors come in the warmer months, too.
High-end hotels, condos, and other accommodation options are surrounded by shops and restaurants that are all somewhat expensive compared to other costs in the United States. Because of this, Vail is definitely not considered an “affordable” travel option for many. However, good deals can be found if you look around and do some research.
Which city is cheaper, Vail or Sonoma?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Sonoma is $176, while the average daily cost in Vail is $233. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Sonoma and Vail in more detail.
Accommodation
Travelers usually pay around $148 for a double occupancy room in Sonoma If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $278 in Vail For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
Food in Sonoma costs travelers about $45 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
Vail food costs typically run travelers around $60 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
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Food
Meals for one day
Sonoma $45
Vail $60
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sonoma
For Sonoma, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Wine Country Food Tours. Sightseeing to various local artisanal food producers:
$462
Local Transportation
Sonoma's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $107 per person, per day on transportation in Sonoma.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Vail than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $16 on transportation in Vail on average per day.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sonoma
Also for Sonoma, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private transfer from SFO to Sonoma:
$215
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Private transfer from Sonoma to SFO:
$215
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vail
Also for Vail, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Airport Transfer Service - Vail Hotels to Denver Int'l Airport:
$600
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Private Transfer: Vail to Denver International Airport (DEN):
$576
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Transfer in private minivan from Vail city to Denver International Airport (DEN):
$291
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Private Eagle County Airport Transfer to Vail:
$210
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Private Eagle County Regional Airport Transfer to Beaver Creek:
$190
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Private Departure Transfer to Vail Airport EGE:
$128
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Shared Transfer from Vail or Beaver Creek to Denver Downtown:
$99
Is it cheaper to fly into Sonoma or Vail?
Prices for flights to both Vail and Sonoma 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Sonoma can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $13 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Sightseeing expenses in Vail, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $106 per day, per person.
Tours and Activities in Sonoma
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sonoma.
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#1 Private Walking Food, Wine & History Tour:
$139
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6 Hour Private Wine Sonoma Tours Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Passengers Van:
$499
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All-Inclusive Sonoma Wine and Picnic Tour:
$198
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Behind-the-Scenes Food and Wine E-Bike or Regular Bike Tour:
$151
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Pt. Reyes Food and Farm Tour with Lunch:
$225
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Rides by me, Sonoma Sidecar Wine-Tasting tours:
$220
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Small-Group Wine-Tasting Tour through Sonoma Valley:
$130
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Sonoma County Wine Segway Tour:
$151
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Sonoma Food and Wine Private Group Tour:
$138
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Sonoma Valley Full-Day Pedal Assist Bike Tour with Lunch - (Reg. Bike Optional):
$151
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Sonoma Valley Wine Buyer's Picnic Tour:
$125
Tours and Activities in Vail
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vail.
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Aspen Independence Pass Day Tour:
$545
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Blackhawk-Central City Casino Tour from Vail:
$377
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Dillon Marina & Shopping Tour:
$267
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Fall Leaves Tour from Vail:
$373
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Glenwood Adventure Park Tour:
$350
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Glenwood Hot Springs Tour:
$377
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Historic Mining Town Tour:
$693
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Listen to a Tour Guide While you Drive between Vail & Denver:
$3.75
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Vail Segway Tour from Vail Village:
$89
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2-Hour Small-Group Guided Segway Tour:
$89
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Sonoma, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $33.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Vail, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $7.83.
Sample the Local Flavors in Sonoma
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Sonoma:
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2-Hour Private Guided E-Trike Wine Tour at Sonoma:
$80
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Sonoma County Wine Tasting Tour:
$103
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#1 Small Group Sonoma Walking Food and Wine Tour:
$105
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All-Inclusive Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch:
$198
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Private Sonoma and Napa Wine Tour Including Custom Concierge:
$225
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Wine Tours:
$513
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6 Hour Napa or Sonoma Wine Tour in Private Limousine:
$675
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8-Hour Private Wine Tour Experience for up to 6 Guests - San Francisco to Sonoma:
$680
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8 Hour Napa or Sonoma Wine Tour in Private Limousine:
$875
Sample the Local Flavors in Vail
Also in Vail, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Vail Valley Brewery & Wine Tour:
$377
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Palisade Wine Tour from Vail:
$779
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sonoma and Vail, we can see that Vail is more expensive. And not only is Sonoma much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Sonoma would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sonoma 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 Vail would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Vail than you might in Sonoma.
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