Which place is cheaper, Berkshires or Washington?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Washington or Berkshires?
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 Washington and Berkshires can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Washington or Berkshires?
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.
Berkshires
The Berkshires are a popular highland destination in the western part of Massachusetts and northwest Connecticut. The region has scenic landscape, hiking, lakes, recreational opportunities and other outdoor experiences. The Berkshires also has an impressive cultural scene with music, arts, museums, and live theaters.
The Berkshires can be a bit expensive to visit if you stay at a luxury resort and take advantage of the award winning restaurants in the area. Alternatively, the experience can be equally rewarding by camping, picnicking, and spending your time hiking and enjoying the beautiful natural setting.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America, The Best Historical Tours in United States of America, and The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayWashington $198Berkshires $244
The average daily cost (per person) in Washington is $198, while the average daily cost in Berkshires is $244. 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 Washington and Berkshires in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personWashington $113Berkshires $141
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomWashington $226Berkshires $282
Compare Hotels in Washington and Berkshires
Looking for a hotel in Washington or Berkshires? 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: Washington Hotel Prices and Berkshires Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Washington $47Berkshires $47
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Washington
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Washington are as follows:
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Metro Day Pass$9.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Washington
Also for Washington, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arrival Private Transfer: National Airport DCA to Washington in Business Car: $140
- Arrival Transfer Dulles Airport IAD to Washington DC by Sedan: $106
- Departure Private Transfer: Washington to Baltimore Airport BWI in Luxury SUV: $187
- Departure Private Transfer: Washington to Baltimore Airport BWI in Luxury Van: $187
- Departure Private Transfer: Washington to Dulles Airport IAD in Business Car: $127
- Departure Private Transfer: Washington to Dulles Airport IAD in Luxury SUV: $157
- Departure Private Transfer: Washington to National Airport DCA in Business Car: $140
- Departure Private Transfer: Washington to National Airport DCA in Luxury Car: $184
- Luxury Airport Transfer DCA to/from Washington DC: $120
- Private Airport Transfer: Washington to Dulles Airport IAD in Business Car: $127
- Private Departure Transfer to Baltimore Washington Airport BWI: $60
- Private Departure Transfer to Washington Dulles Airport IAD: $144
Is it cheaper to fly into Washington or Berkshires?
Prices for flights to both Berkshires 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayWashington $38Berkshires $73
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
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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:
- Little Ethiopia Food Tour: $67
- Washington DC Holiday Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $70
- Washington DC: Buffet Lunch or Dinner Cruise on the Spirit: $78
- Dupont Circle Food Tour: $80
- Washington D.C.: Georgetown Guided Secret Food Tour: $97
- Washington, DC: African American History Tour with Dinner: $108
- Washington,DC: Union Market Private Food Tour: $125
- Washington D.C.: Taste of Georgetown Walking Food Tour: $129
- Washington DC:Gourmet Brunch or Dinner Cruise on the Odyssey: $140
- Washington DC: Christmas Eve Gourmet Brunch or Dinner Cruise: $140
- Washington DC: Personalized & Private Food Tour with a Local: $151
- Washington DC Christmas Eve Plated Dinner Cruise: $206
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Washington $24Berkshires $25
Tours and Activities in Washington
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Washington.
- The Kennedy Homes: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- The Kennedy Homes of Georgetown: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- DC's Presidents, Pubs, and Parties: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Washington, DC: Lincoln Assassination Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Washington D.C.’s Tidal Basin: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Scandals & Secrets on Embassy Row: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Washington DC: National Mall Self Guided App Walking Tour: $6.50
- Lincoln Memorial to the Cap Hill D.C. Smart Phone App/GPS Tour: $6.75
- Washington DC Outdoor Escape Game Tour: FBI vs. Bank Robbers: $7.06
- Washington, DC: National Air and Space Museum Audio Tour: $9.00
- The National Mall: Walking In App Audio Tour (ENG): $9.00
- D.C: White House Museum & President's Park Audio Tour (EN): $9.00
Tours and Activities in Berkshires
Here are a few actual costs in Berkshires for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2-Hour Guided Private Forest Bathing Experience Lenox: $40
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayWashington $19Berkshires $31
Sample the Local Flavors in Washington
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Washington:
- Epic Washington DC Bar Crawl: By Let’s Roam: $12
- DC Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl By US Ghost Adventures: $35
- Washington DC: Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- Washington, D.C.: History Tour Pub Crawl: $59
- DC Signature Guided Brewery Tour: $105
- DC: Guided Craft Brewery Tours with a Snack: $105
- Private Washington DC Virginia Winery Wine Tasting Tour -Spirited: $255
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Washington and Berkshires, we can see that Berkshires is more expensive. And not only is Washington much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Washington would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Washington 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 Berkshires would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Berkshires than you might in Washington.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Washington Expensive? and Is Berkshires Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Washington or Berkshires?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Washington or Berkshires in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Washington as well as Berkshires. Many travelers come to Washington for the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Washington is a little warmer than Berkshires. Typically, the summer temperatures in Washington in July average around 79°F (26°C), and Berkshires averages at about 72°F (22°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Berkshires. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Washington this time of the year. In the summer, Washington often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Berkshires. Washington gets 278 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Berkshires receives 289 hours of full sun.
Washington usually gets more rain in July than Berkshires. Washington gets 3.5 inches (88 mm) of rain, while Berkshires receives 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyWashington 79°F (26°C)Berkshires 72°F (22°C)
Should I visit Washington or Berkshires in the Autumn?
Both Berkshires and Washington are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Washington in the autumn for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Washington is generally a little warmer than Berkshires. Daily temperatures in Washington average around 60°F (15°C), and Berkshires fluctuates around 51°F (11°C).
Washington usually receives more sunshine than Berkshires during autumn. Washington gets 197 hours of sunny skies, while Berkshires receives 162 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Washington usually receives more rain than Berkshires. Washington gets 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain, while Berkshires receives 2.6 inches (67 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberWashington 60°F (15°C)Berkshires 51°F (11°C)
Should I visit Washington or Berkshires in the Winter?
Both Berkshires and Washington during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Washington for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine during these months.
The weather in Berkshires can be very cold. Washington can be very cold during winter. Washington is much warmer than Berkshires in the winter. The daily temperature in Washington averages around 35°F (1°C) in January, and Berkshires fluctuates around 22°F (-6°C).
In the winter, Washington often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Berkshires. Washington gets 139 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Berkshires receives 138 hours of full sun.
Washington usually gets more rain in January than Berkshires. Washington gets 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain, while Berkshires receives 1.9 inches (49 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryWashington 35°F (1°C)Berkshires 22°F (-6°C)
Should I visit Washington or Berkshires in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Washington and Berkshires. The spring months attract visitors to Washington because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Washington is much warmer than Berkshires. Typically, the spring temperatures in Washington in April average around 56°F (14°C), and Berkshires averages at about 47°F (9°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Berkshires this time of the year. In Washington, it's very sunny this time of the year. Washington usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Berkshires during spring. Washington gets 228 hours of sunny skies, while Berkshires receives 223 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Washington usually receives more rain than Berkshires. Washington gets 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain, while Berkshires receives 2.6 inches (66 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilWashington 56°F (14°C)Berkshires 47°F (9°C)
Typical Weather for Berkshires and Washington
| Washington | Berkshires | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 35°F (1°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) | 22°F (-6°C) | 1.9 inches (49 mm) |
| Feb | 37°F (3°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) | 24°F (-4°C) | 2 inches (51 mm) |
| Mar | 47°F (8°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 35°F (2°C) | 2.5 inches (63 mm) |
| Apr | 56°F (14°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) | 47°F (9°C) | 2.6 inches (66 mm) |
| May | 66°F (19°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) | 59°F (15°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) |
| Jun | 75°F (24°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 67°F (20°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
| Jul | 79°F (26°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| Aug | 78°F (26°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) | 70°F (21°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) |
| Sep | 71°F (22°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) | 62°F (17°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Oct | 60°F (15°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) | 51°F (11°C) | 2.6 inches (67 mm) |
| Nov | 50°F (10°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 41°F (5°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) |
| Dec | 39°F (4°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 28°F (-2°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
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.