Which place is cheaper, Moab or Tucson?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Tucson or Moab?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Tucson and Moab can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Tucson or Moab?
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.
Moab
Moab is the closest town to Arches National Park in Utah's Canyon Country. It is also a popular base for exploring Canyonlands National Park. It's a small town that serves mainly to accommodate tourists to the popular national parks and other surrounding wildlife areas. It has grown dramatically in recent years and has a population of just over 5,000. In town you will find hotels and motels, a handful of restaurants and a few shops where you can stock up on supplies. There's a small museum, the Museum of Moab, and a variety of tour operators in town. You can easily book river rafting trips, jeep expeditions, and tours of the surrounding area. For many, exploring Arches National Park on your own is a more enjoyable and independent experience.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America, The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTucson $157Moab $388
The average daily cost (per person) in Tucson is $157, while the average daily cost in Moab is $388. 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 Tucson and Moab in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTucson $93Moab $336
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTucson $186Moab $672
Compare Hotels in Tucson and Moab
Looking for a hotel in Tucson or Moab? 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: Tucson Hotel Prices and Moab Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tucson $27Moab $17
Is it cheaper to fly into Tucson or Moab?
Prices for flights to both Moab and Tucson 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 dayTucson $36Moab $37
Typical Food Prices in Moab
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Moab:
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Moab Brewery$42
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Breakfast for Two$17
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Moab
For Moab, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Colorado River Dinner Cruise with Music and Light Show: $99
- Colorado River Sunset Boat Tour with Optional Dinner: $109
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tucson $16Moab $3.13
Typical Entertainment Prices in Moab
For Moab, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Slickrock Trail Pass$5.00
Tours and Activities in Moab
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Moab.
- 2 hour Moab Ebike Petroglyph Tour: $107
- 25+ National Parks Self-Guided Driving Tours Bundle: $85
- 3-Hours Sunset Arches National Park Pavement Sights Tour: $191
- Afternoon Arches National Park 4x4 Tour: $185
- Afternoon Canyonlands Island In The Sky 4X4 Tour: $185
- Arches National Park 4x4 Adventure from Moab: $197
- Arches National Park Airplane Tour: $189
- Arches National Park Back Country Adventure from Moab: $142
- Arches National Park Scenic Tours From Moab: $161
- Arches National Park: Driving Tour with Audio Guide: $8.99
- Arches National Park: Guided Tour: $279
- Arches National Park: Sunset Pavement Van Tour: $161
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTucson $16Moab $66
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tucson and Moab, we can see that Moab is more expensive. And not only is Tucson much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Tucson would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tucson 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 Moab would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Moab than you might in Tucson.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tucson Expensive? and Is Moab Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tucson or Moab?
Tucson has a larger population, and is about 110 times larger than the population of Moab. When comparing the sizes of Tucson and Moab, 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.