A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Sun Valley vs. Niagara Falls for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Sun Valley or Niagara Falls?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Sun Valley and Niagara Falls. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Sun Valley or Niagara Falls?

Sun Valley

Sun Valley is a beautiful resort city in the Wood River Valley area of Idaho, most famous for becoming a snowy wonderland every winter. The area was actually named the 2nd best ski resort by Ski Magazine and was a favorite place of escape for Ernest Hemingway. Whether you visit in winter or summer, you're always met with beautiful scenery that's perfect for exploring. The best time of year for winter activities is December-March, while June-August is best for hiking and exploring the area.

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls, Ontario sits on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, across the border from Niagara Falls, New York. Together these cities have claimed themselves to be the "Honeymoon Capital of the World" a status that is probably little more than a marketing ploy. That said, Niagara Falls, Ontario, is perhaps a quainter and more natural version of its American counterpart. The town has existed as a tourist destination for hundreds of years, with its main attraction, obviously, being Niagara Falls. Today, millions of visitors come to see the falls every year. It's truly an impressive sight, and there is no shortage of entertainment options while you're in the area.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America, The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada, and The Best Camping Tours in Canada.


Which place is cheaper, Niagara Falls or Sun Valley?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Sun Valley is $184, while the average daily cost in Niagara Falls is $122. 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 Sun Valley and Niagara Falls in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Sun Valley $95
    Niagara Falls $74
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Sun Valley $190
    Niagara Falls $148
Compare Hotels in Sun Valley and Niagara Falls

Looking for a hotel in Sun Valley or Niagara Falls? 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 Sun Valley


Hotels in Niagara Falls


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: Sun Valley Hotel Prices and Niagara Falls Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Sun Valley $61
    Niagara Falls $16

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Niagara Falls

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Niagara Falls:

  • Private Departure Transfer to Buffalo Airport (BUF): $104
  • Private Transfer: Niagara Falls, ON to Pearson Int’l Airport (YYZ): $134
  • Buffalo Niagara Airport (BUF) to Buffalo - Arrival Private Transfer: $42
  • Buffalo Niagara Airport (BUF) to Buffalo - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $83
  • Buffalo Niagara Airport to Holiday Valley - Round-Trip Transfer: $263
  • Buffalo Niagara Airport(BUF) to Holiday Valley - Arrival Transfer: $131
  • Buffalo to Buffalo Niagara Airport (BUF) - Departure Private Transfer: $41
  • Departure Private Transfer: Niagara Falls to Toronto Airport YYZ in Luxury SUV: $195
  • Niagara Buffalo Airport Arrival: Private Transfer to Niagara Falls Ontario: $80
  • Niagara Buffalo Airport Departure: Private Transfer to Buffalo Niagara Airport: $79
  • Private Arrival Transfer from Buffalo Airport (BUF): $96
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Buffalo Niagara Airport to Niagara Falls, Ontario: $88

Is it cheaper to fly into Sun Valley or Niagara Falls?

Prices for flights to both Niagara Falls and Sun Valley 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
    Sun Valley $48
    Niagara Falls $28

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Niagara Falls

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Niagara Falls.

  • The Wing Ride: The Hidden History of Chicken Wings Food Tour: $105
  • Walking Food Tour in Niagara Falls: $108
  • Niagara Falls Sightseeing Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $130
  • Sunset Wine Tour with Dinner Niagara On The Lake: $146
  • Guided Night Tour w/ Dinner & Hotel Transfer: $149
  • Light up The Falls Small Group Tour with Fallsview Dinner: $155
  • Evening Lights Tour with Skylon Tower Dinner: $177
  • Sunset Niagara-on-the-Lake Small Group Wine Tour with Dinner: $178
  • Niagara Wine Tasting and three courses Dinner: $192
  • Niagara Falls Evening Lights Tour With Skylon Tower Dinner: $192
  • Night on Niagara Walking Tour with Fireworks Cruise + Dinner: $200
  • Small Group Night Tour w/ Dinner & Light Show: $204

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Sun Valley $42
    Niagara Falls $20

Typical Entertainment Prices in Niagara Falls

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Niagara Falls are as follows:


  • Maid of the Mist
    $37

Tours and Activities in Niagara Falls

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Niagara Falls are as follows:

  • Visit Niagara Falls with bus ticket from/to Hamilton Airport: $3.65
  • Niagara Peninsula Smartphone Audio Driving Tour: $6.21
  • Niagara Falls, Canada: Niagara Adventure Theater: $11
  • Niagara Falls, Canada: Niagara SkyWheel Ticket: $12
  • Niagara SkyWheel Admission Ticket: $13
  • Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site Admission and Guided Tour: $13
  • Niagara's Fury 4D Experience Entry Ticket: $14
  • Niagara Falls USA Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $15
  • Niagara Falls, Canada: White Water Walk Entry Ticket: $16
  • Niagara Falls, Canada: Skylon Tower Observation Deck Ticket: $16
  • Niagara Falls, Canada: Bird Kingdom Entry Ticket: $16
  • Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Buffalo by Zombie Scavengers: $20

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Sun Valley $49
    Niagara Falls $11

Sample the Local Flavors in Niagara Falls

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

  • Niagara Wine Tour and Tastings with Included Transportation : $56
  • Small Group Niagara-on-the-Lake Wine Tasting Tour: $96
  • Sip, Swirl and Savour Chocolate & Wine Tour : $103
  • Niagara Craft Brewery Tour Niagara Falls: $110
  • 3.5 Hours NOTL E-Bike Wine Tour: $111
  • Niagara All American All inclusive Boutique Wine Tour : $114
  • Half Day Wine & Cheese Tour - Niagara On The Lake Wine Tour: $119
  • Full-Day Group Wine Tour (with cheese and charcuterie) in Niagara-on-the-Lake: $141
  • myWineCountry Experience Premium Wine Tours and Tastings: $148
  • Relaxing three courses Lunch & Wine Tour through Niagara's Wine Country: $148
  • Niagara-on-the-Lake Small Group Wine Tour with Picnic Lunch: $149
  • Luxury Buffalo Brewery Tour: $149


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sun Valley and Niagara Falls, we can see that Sun Valley is more expensive. And not only is Niagara Falls much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Niagara Falls would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Niagara Falls 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 Sun Valley would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sun Valley than you might in Niagara Falls.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Sun Valley Expensive? and Is Niagara Falls Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Sun Valley or Niagara Falls?

Niagara Falls has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Sun Valley. When comparing the sizes of Sun Valley and Niagara Falls, 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.