Should you visit Washington or Albuquerque?
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 Washington and Albuquerque can help you decide which place is right for you.
Washington
Washington, DC is the capital city of the United States of America. It is also a city rich in history and culture. The city dates back to 1791 when the states of Maryland and Virginia donated the land to create the capital. In 1846, Congress returned the land that was ceded by Virginia and in 1871 it created a single municipal government with the remaining area. Today, Washington, DC has a population of over 600,000 people. The metropolitan area includes suburbs in Maryland and Virginia and has a population of about 5.8 million.
Albuquerque
Albuquerque is a large city in the middle of the desert, right in the heart of New Mexico. It's the largest city in the state and has a lot to offer visitors. The city has a quaint downtown with a handful of good shops and restaurants. The surrounding area is quite beautiful and every fall the city hosts a famous and spectacular hot air balloon festival.
Which city is cheaper, Albuquerque or Washington?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Washington is $155, while the average daily cost in Albuquerque is $108. 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 Washington and Albuquerque in more detail.
Accommodation
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $182 in Washington For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
For a normal double-occupancy room in Albuquerque, $110 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Albuquerque, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $55, such as in a hostel.
Food
The average traveler spends about $30 per day in Washington for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
Albuquerque food costs typically run travelers around $33 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
Washington $30
Albuquerque $33
Typical Food prices in Washington
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Washington:
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Water
$2.00
-
Snacks on Monuments Tour
$6.15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Washington
For Washington, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Washington D.C.: 3.5-Hour Georgetown Food Tour:
$65
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Washington DC: 3-Hour Italian Food Tour:
$65
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Washington DC Food Tour: Italian Cuisine in Dupont Circle:
$65
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Adams Morgan Food Tour:
$76
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Lonely Planet Experiences: DC Morning Food Tour on H Street:
$79
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Washington DC: Private Food Tour Experience:
$79
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Capitol Hill Walking Food Tour:
$79
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Washington, DC: The Original Brew Tour with Tasting & Dinner:
$81
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U Street Neighborhood Food Tour:
$89
-
Washington DC Odyssey Dinner Cruise:
$100
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Private French Cooking Class with an Expert in the Heart of Washington DC:
$108
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Washington, DC 3-Hour Dinner Buffet Cruise:
$122
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Albuquerque
For Albuquerque, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show - Albuquerque:
$71
Local Transportation
To get around in Washington, the average visitor spends $37 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
To get around in Albuquerque, the average visitor spends $29 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Washington
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Washington are as follows:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Washington
Also for Washington, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Washington to New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA) - Departure Private Transfer:
$535
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Washington to New York J.F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) - Departure Private Transfer:
$535
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Washington City to New York City - Private Car Transfer:
$516
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Washington to Newark International Airport (EWR) - Departure Private Transfer:
$491
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Washington City to Philadelphia City - Private Car Transfer:
$392
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Washington, DC: Potomac Mills Outlet Private Transfer:
$357
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Private transfer from or to IAD , DCA , PHL , MDT airports , VA and Philadelphia:
$320
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Washington Airport Transfers: Washington to Dulles Airport IAD in Luxury Car:
$218
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Washington, DC: Private Airport Transfer(SUV): To or From: (DCA) Reagan National:
$180
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Washington City to Baltimore City - Private Car Transfer:
$168
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Airport Transfer to and from Dulles International IAD Airport:
$160
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Departure Private Transfers: Washington to Baltimore Airport BWI in Luxury Van:
$159
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Albuquerque
Also for Albuquerque, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Transfer: Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) to Albuquerque:
$622
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Private Transfer: Albuquerque to Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ):
$622
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Albuquerque Airport (ABQ) to Albuquerque - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$177
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Albuquerque Airport (ABQ) to Albuquerque - Arrival Private Transfer:
$88
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Albuquerque to Albuquerque Airport (ABQ) - Departure Private Transfer:
$88
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Private Arrival Transfer from Albuquerque Airport (ABQ):
$81
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Private Departure Transfer To Albuquerque Airport ABQ:
$49
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Albuquerque International Airport One Way Transfer:
$48
Is it cheaper to fly into Washington or Albuquerque?
Prices for flights to both Albuquerque and Washington 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
In Washington, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $19 per person, per day.
In Albuquerque, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $20 per person, per day.
Tours and Activities in Washington
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Washington.
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"HEROES OF FREEDOM" PRIVATE TOUR (4 Hour Military Tribute):
$658
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"SHINING CITY" PRIVATE TOUR (3 Hour Evening Tour):
$658
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2 Day Grand Tour with George Washington's Mount Vernon:
$95
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2-Day Colonial Williamsburg Guided Tour from Washington DC:
$330
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24/48-Hour Washington, D.C. Hop-on Hop-off Tour:
$49
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3-Hour "DC After Dark" Night-Time Guided Bus Tour with Stops at Top Attractions:
$35
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3-Hour Private Jeep Tour of Washington D.C.:
$495
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3-Hour Washington DC "Monuments By Night" Guided Night-Time Sightseeing Bus Tour:
$49
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3-Hour Washington DC "Morning Monuments" Guided Sightseeing Walking & Bus Tour:
$64
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3-Hour Washington, D.C Urban Adventure Scavenger Hunt:
$44
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30-Minutes Supercar Driving Pilot Experience in Washington DC:
$275
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Advance Tickets to Washington, D.C.'s Newseum:
$24
Tours and Activities in Albuquerque
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Albuquerque.
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12pm - Public High Noon History, Legends & Lore Tour - Guided Old Town Stroll:
$35
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ABQ NM Film locations Tour, tour your favorite movies/shows filmed in ABQ:
$45
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Albuquerque Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$21
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Breaking Bad RV Tour, visiting locations from Breaking Bad and Better call Saul:
$80
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Breaking Bad RV Virtural Tour:
$13
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Georgia on My Mind: Georgia O'keeffe and Ghost Ranch Country Tour:
$395
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Guided Bicycle Nature Tour of Albuquerque - Daily:
$69
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Mezcla de Culturas A Walking Tour of ABQ Sawmill District & Historic Old Town:
$75
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New Mexico Flavors Tour Of Old Town Albuquerque:
$124
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New Mexico Mines, Wild West Towns and Turquoise Trail Tour from Albuquerque:
$295
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Private Tour: Albuquerque Full Day:
$295
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Private Tour: Albuquerque Half Day:
$175
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 Washington, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $15.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Albuquerque, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $16.
Sample the Local Flavors in Washington
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Washington:
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Epic Washington DC Bar Crawl: By Let’s Roam:
$12
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Haunted Washington D.C. Ghost and Pub Walking Tour:
$27
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DC: 'New York Times Journeys' Walking Tour with Beer, Cheese and Wine Tasting:
$120
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NOVA Private Custom Wine Tours & Tasting from DMV:
$645
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6 Hours Northern VA Wine Tour:
$920
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Washington and Albuquerque, we can see that Washington is more expensive. And not only is Albuquerque much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Albuquerque would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Albuquerque 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 Washington would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Washington than you might in Albuquerque.
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