Which place is cheaper, Rapid City or Berkshires?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Berkshires or Rapid City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Berkshires and Rapid City can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Berkshires or Rapid City?
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.
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 Coach Bus Tours in United States of America, The Best Adventure Tours to United States of America, The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America.
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Berkshires Prices
USA PricesRapid City Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBerkshires $297Rapid City $133
The average daily cost (per person) in Berkshires is $297, while the average daily cost in Rapid City is $133. 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 Berkshires and Rapid City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBerkshires $141Rapid City $60
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBerkshires $282Rapid City $120
Compare Hotels in Berkshires and Rapid City
Looking for a hotel in Berkshires 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: Berkshires Hotel Prices and Rapid City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Berkshires $47Rapid City $53
Is it cheaper to fly into Berkshires or Rapid City?
Prices for flights to both Rapid City and Berkshires 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 dayBerkshires $126Rapid City $41
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: $81
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Berkshires $25Rapid 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 Audio Tour Guide : $15
- Mount Rushmore Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $15
- Black Hills Self Guided Driving Audio Tour: $20
- Mount Rushmore Theodore Roosevelt and Badlands Self-Guided Tour: $33
- Pinnacle Zipline Tour in Keystone: $125
- Guided Tour with Journey Museum Admission: $148
- Rapid City Shared Tour: $148
- From Mt. Rushmore Memorial Tour: $148
- Mount Rushmore Memorial Shared Tour from Rapid City, South Dakota: $148
- Black Hills Tour with Monument Tour: $179
- From Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup Tour: $185
- Mt Rushmore Night Ceremony and Tour - with Tunnels and Stargazing: $189
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBerkshires $31Rapid City $6.93
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Berkshires and Rapid City, we can see that Berkshires 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 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 Rapid City.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Berkshires Expensive? and Is Rapid City Expensive?.
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.