Which place is cheaper, Rapid City or Woodstock?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Woodstock or Rapid City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Woodstock or Rapid City? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Woodstock or Rapid City?
Woodstock
While this town does lend its name to the 1969 Woodstock Festival, the legendary event was actually held on a dairy farm almost 60 miles away in Bethel, NY. So if you are looking to see the field where it all happened and a museum dedicated to its history, you will need to take a day trip outside of town.
Woodstock, New York, however, does stay true to the spirit of the arts. Since 1903, the place lay home to Byrdcliffe Art Colony, the oldest of its kind in the nation, and even attracted artists of the Hudson River School during the late 1800s. Today, artists from all disciplines-visual, ceramic, music, fiction, nonfiction, screenwriting, playwriting, and poetry-take up residence at the colony and have works displayed in galleries open in the main part of town.
Tinker Street and Mill Hill Road are lined with a mix of restaurants and shops all teeming with the essence of hippie living, arts, and spirituality. From shops selling Woodstock paraphernalia, incense, and Himalayan products, to yoga studios, vegan restaurants, and local art galleries-the town of Woodstock is one dedicated to keeping the spirit of the Woodstock Festival and the arts alive.
Rapid City
Rapid City is a large city in western South Dakota that is considered the gateway to the Black Hills National Forest. Rapid City is often used as a base for all types of outdoor activities, including tours to the infamous Mount Rushmore and surrounding parks. The city has a budding art scene and offers the perfect combination of a metropolitan city surrounded by stunning natural scenery. Rapid City experiences the best weather from June-September with temperatures in the 70's and 80's Fahrenheit. Temperatures drop to the low 20's F in the winter and the area receives the most rain pour in April and May.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America, and The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayWoodstock $154Rapid City $116
The average daily cost (per person) in Woodstock is $154, while the average daily cost in Rapid City is $116. 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 Woodstock and Rapid City in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personWoodstock $81Rapid City $60
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomWoodstock $162Rapid City $120
Compare Hotels in Woodstock and Rapid City
Looking for a hotel in Woodstock or Rapid City? 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: Rapid City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Woodstock $60Rapid City $53
Is it cheaper to fly into Woodstock or Rapid City?
Prices for flights to both Rapid City and Woodstock 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 dayWoodstock $34Rapid City $23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rapid City
For Rapid City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Roller Coaster Tickets with Dinner and Show in Rapid City: $70
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Woodstock $35Rapid City $26
Tours and Activities in Rapid City
For Rapid City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Mount Rushmore Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $15
- Black Hills & Badlands: Self-Guided Audio Driving Tours: $20
- Bus Tour of Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills: $133
- Mount Rushmore and Black Hills Tour with Two Meals and a Music Variety Show: $164
- Badlands Winter Wonderland Adventure: $239
- Full-Day Private Sightseeing Tour in South Dakota: $275
- NEW! Half Day Tour of the Black Hills: $289
- Badlands Sunset and Wildlife Adventure : $289
- From Private Spearfish Canyon Tour: $650
- From Private Devils Tower Tour and Hike: $650
- Private Black Hills Monuments Full-Day Tour: $650
- Badlands National Park Private Tour: $650
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayWoodstock $22Rapid City $6.93
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Woodstock and Rapid City, we can see that Woodstock is more expensive. And not only is Rapid City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Rapid City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Rapid City 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 Woodstock would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Woodstock than you might in Rapid City.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Woodstock Expensive? and Is Rapid City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Woodstock or Rapid City?
Rapid City has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Woodstock. When comparing the sizes of Woodstock and Rapid City, 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.