Which place is cheaper, Napa Valley or Tucson?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Tucson or Napa Valley?
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 Napa Valley can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Tucson or Napa Valley?
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.
Napa Valley
Napa Valley, in the Bay Area of California, is a popular destination for its wineries and beautiful scenery. The area, referred to as Wine Country, is just north of San Francisco and makes for a great day or weekend trip. Many honeymooners visit the area for its romantic setting and popular bed and breakfasts. The best time to visit is during the months of September and October when the grapes are wipe. This time is referred to as the harvest "crush." The summer months are also a popular time but the crowds are often overwhelming.
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 $157Napa Valley $288
The average daily cost (per person) in Tucson is $157, while the average daily cost in Napa Valley is $288. 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 Napa Valley in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTucson $93Napa Valley $126
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTucson $186Napa Valley $252
Compare Hotels in Tucson and Napa Valley
Looking for a hotel in Tucson or Napa Valley? 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 Napa Valley Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tucson $27Napa Valley $183
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Napa Valley
Also for Napa Valley, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Airport Transfer from Sonoma to SFO (One-way): $286
- Napa, CA to Sacramento Airport (SMF) - Departure Private Transfer : $110
Is it cheaper to fly into Tucson or Napa Valley?
Prices for flights to both Napa Valley 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 $36Napa Valley $62
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tucson $16Napa Valley $28
Tours and Activities in Napa Valley
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Napa Valley.
- #1 Sonoma Walking Food, Wine & History Tour (Small Groups): $179
- 3-Hour Guided Wine Country Tour in Sonoma on Electric Trike: $175
- Behind-the-Scenes Food and Wine E-Bike Tour: $179
- Full-Day Napa Valley E-Bike Tour: $225
- Half Day Bike Tour: $139
- Half Day Tour: $139
- Napa Valley River History Kayak Tour: 2 Person Tandem : $158
- Napa Valley River History Kayak Tour: Single Kayaks: $79
- Napa Valley Wineries Tour Including Picnic Lunch: $125
- Napa and Sonoma Wine and Food Experience (Napa pickup): $109
- Private Sidecar Winery Tour through Napa Valley: $165
- Small-Group Wine-Tasting Tour through Napa Valley: $130
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTucson $16Napa Valley $66
Sample the Local Flavors in Napa Valley
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Napa Valley:
- Private Self-Guided Wine Tasting Tour in Sonoma: $50
- 6 Hour Wine Tour in Napa & Sonoma with Pick-Up from Napa: $109
- Napa Cable Car Wine Tasting Tour: $129
- Intro to Wine Tasting with Napa Sommelière : $195
- Healdsburg Cycling Wine Tour : $199
- Yountville Food and Wine Tour in Napa: $275
- Napa's Downtown Food & Wine Tour : $275
- Private, Customized Sonoma Valley Wine Tour: $300
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tucson and Napa Valley, we can see that Napa Valley 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 Napa Valley would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Napa Valley 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 Napa Valley Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tucson or Napa Valley?
Tucson has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Napa Valley. When comparing the sizes of Tucson and Napa Valley, 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.