Travel Budget for Phoenix Visit Phoenix on a Budget or Travel in Style

Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America

How much does it cost to travel to Phoenix?

You should plan to spend around $238 per day on your vacation in Phoenix. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

  • $52 on meals
  • $39 on local transportation
  • $287 on hotels

A one week trip to Phoenix for two people costs, on average, $3,328. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    $238
  • One Week Per person
    $1,664
  • 2 Weeks Per person
    $3,328
  • One Month Per person
    $7,132
  • One Week For a couple
    $3,328
  • 2 Weeks For a couple
    $6,657
  • One Month For a couple
    $14,264
This data comes from the travel budgets of real travelers - How it works. Put these numbers on your website.


How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to Phoenix cost?

A one week trip to Phoenix usually costs around $1,664 for one person and $3,328 for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to Phoenix on average costs around $3,328 for one person and $6,657 for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Phoenix will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to Phoenix on average costs around $7,132 for one person and $14,264 for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.




Independent Travel

Traveling Independently to Phoenix has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.

All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.

Is Phoenix expensive to visit?

Prices in Phoenix are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.

Within North America, which is known to be an expensive region, Phoenix is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Naples or New Orleans.

For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Phoenix Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to Phoenix?

The average Phoenix trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Phoenix travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.


Category Cost
Accommodation 1 (Double Occupancy) $287
Local Transportation 1 $39
Food 2 $52
Entertainment 1 $40
Alcohol 2 $8 - 25
Accommodation Budget in Phoenix
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Phoenix is $144. For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Phoenix is $287. This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.


  • Accommodation1 Hotel or hostel for one person
    $144
  • Accommodation1 Typical double-occupancy room
    $287

Hotel Prices in Phoenix

Looking for a hotel in Phoenix? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.

Find the best hotel for your travel style.

 

Actual Hotel Prices
The average hotel room price in Phoenix based on data provided by Kayak for actual hotel rooms is $126. (Prices in U.S. Dollars, before taxes & fees.)

Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.


Recommended Properties


Transportation Budget in Phoenix
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The cost of a taxi ride in Phoenix is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $39 per person, per day, on local transportation in Phoenix.


  • Transportation1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    $39

Recommended Services


Flights to Phoenix
How much does it cost to go to Phoenix? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.

Rental Cars in Phoenix
The price of renting a car in Phoenix will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.



Food Budget in Phoenix
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • While meal prices in Phoenix can vary, the average cost of food in Phoenix is $52 per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Phoenix should cost around $21 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Phoenix is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.


  • Food2 Meals for one day
    $52

Recommended

What did other people spend on Food in Phoenix?

Typical prices for Food in Phoenix are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Phoenix, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.


  • Nice Lunch (for 2)
    $36
  • Indian Food Dinner (for 2)
    $32


Entertainment Budget in Phoenix
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • Entertainment and activities in Phoenix typically cost an average of $40 per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.


  • Entertainment1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    $40

Recommended Activities


Alcohol Budget in Phoenix
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average person spends about $17 on alcoholic beverages in Phoenix per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.


  • Alcohol2 Drinks for one day
    $17

Recommended


Water Budget in Phoenix
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • On average, people spend $5.55 on bottled water in Phoenix per day. The public water in Phoenix is considered safe to drink.


  • Water2 Bottled water for one day
    $5.55


Last Updated: Apr 9, 2023
Phoenix On a Budget
Phoenix Phoenix, Arizona
The most populous city in the American Southwest, Phoenix is the capital city of Arizona and busiest hub of activity in the general area. Geographically it is located in the Sonoran Desert, making for long hot summers and mild winters. This climate has ensured a thriving tourism industry with plenty of attractions both in and around Phoenix.
Sights
Phoenix is home to many sights, both indoors and out. For those seeking refuge from the hot southwestern sun, check out some of the city's best museums. The Arizona Science Center features a planetarium and IMAX theatre, the Heard Museum celebrates local Native American cultures and arts, and the Phoenix Art Museum hosts a collection of about 16,000 works of art in American, Asian, Latin American, and modern and contemporary styles.

For those who don't mind the heat, Phoenix has a plethora of outdoor attractions as well. The Phoenix Zoo is the largest privately owned, non-profit zoo in the United States, placing an emphasis on animal conservation, often breeding and reintroducing endangered species back into the wild. Next to the zoo, visitors can also see the Phoenix Botanical Gardens, acclaimed worldwide for their exhibits and educational programs, with the largest collection of arid plants in the United States. South Mountain Park is another great stop for experiencing a preserved desert mountain environment.

S'edav Va'aki Museum (formerly known as Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park) is also of interest for anyone wanting to channel their inner Indiana Jones. It is the only city-operated archaeological site in the U.S., showcasing ancient pre-Columbian Hohokam inhabitants of the area. There are too many sights within and around the city to name them all, but a few additional items of note include the Japanese Friendship Garden, Historic Heritage Square, Phoenix Mountains Park, Tovrea Castle, Camelback Mountain, Hole in the Rock, Mystery Castle, St. Mary’s Basilica, Taliesin West, and the Wrigley Mansion.
Neighborhoods
Greater Phoenix is divided into seven districts: Downtown, Midtown, West Phoenix, North Phoenix, South Phoenix, Camelback East, and Ahwatukee. Downtown is the center of activity, especially for visitors, spanning 2-3 square miles and a few main thoroughfares-Central Avenue and Washington and Jefferson Streets. Midtown is home to a number of historic neighborhoods as well as several cultural, performance, and sporting venues. West Phoenix has seen some urban decline except for its Cricket Pavilion concert venue, while North Phoenix is a good home base for hiking and outdoor activities. South Phoenix is another district that has seen decline, but is home to South Mountain Regional Park-the largest municipal park in the country. And finally, both Camelback East and Ahwatukee are upscale districts, with Camelback East being home to the Phoenix Zoo and world class resorts.

Activities
Being the largest, most populous city of the general area, Phoenix is host to a wide range of activities both within and without. The arts and entertainment scene is alive with opportunities to enjoy opera, symphony, theatre, and a number of festivals held throughout the year. Historic sites and museums are abundant, as are opportunities to get outdoors and enjoy hiking in a unique desert environment.

There are also many sites of interest just outside the city, some of which include National Monuments like Agua Fria, Casa Grande Ruins, and Organ Pipe Cactus, as well as other destinations like Lost Dutchman State Park, Montezuma’s Castle, and Montezuma’s Well.

If you're looking for adventure or relaxation, you should do a day trip or weekend trip out of Phoenix to go Whitewater Rafting in Arizona. A variety of types of trips are available from relaxing floats to adrenaline-filled rapid-cresting adventures.

Phoenix is also often a starting point for popular southwest locations like the Grand Canyon, Painted Desert, Tombstone, Sedona, Meteor Crater, Lake Havasu, and the Petrified Forest.

Plenty of hotel options can be found in the Phoenix area at all price ranges. The central area of downtown tends to have the highest priced hotels. Cheaper accommodation can be found on the outskirts of the city. Another option is to find an AirBnB in Phoenix, too.
Food and Dining
Like much of Arizona, Phoenix is known for its huge spicy plates of Southwestern food. Most dishes are based in a spicy sauce made from red or green chili peppers, or a mix of both. Typical dishes of the American southwest that most people are familiar with include items like burrito, chimichanga, enchilada, fajitas, nachos, chili con carne, chili con queso, quesadilla, stuffed peppers, tacos, and tostados, many of which are often served with sides of rice and beans and salsa or guacamole. Arizona is actually the home of the chimichanga-a deep-fried burrito. Cactus is also popular, either fried or in salads. When in Arizona it's best to take advantage of the abundance of authentic southwestern food, though there are additionally plenty of standard chain restaurants and other fare in Phoenix for the less adventurous palette.

Transportation
If you're flying into Phoenix, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is the main way of entry. The airport is a main hub for both American Airlines and Southwest Airlines, and is served by many other airlines from three main terminals. From the airport there are buses, a sky rail, and low-cost shuttles to downtown Phoenix. The next best option for flying is Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport located east of Phoenix in Mesa. Within the United States, visitors can also arrive by car or bus.

We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.



1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.