Which place is cheaper, Rapid City or Big Pine Key?
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 Big Pine Key or Rapid City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Big Pine Key and Rapid City. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Big Pine Key or Rapid City?
Big Pine Key
If you are yearning for a slice of paradise without the hustle and bustle of an ever-growing tourist population, the calm, turquoise waters and the untouched sands of Big Pine Key will surely do. Located 100 miles south of Miami and 30 miles north of Key West, this small community huddled in the family of Florida keys is often overlooked by many. However, Big Pine Key is truly a gem for all who seek a tropical vacation as activities like boating, fishing, scuba diving and snorkeling are found throughout the town. Besides its oceanic wonders, Big Pine Key also boasts in containing some of the United States' best seafood restaurants. Enjoy the aquatic wonders of the Keys and stop at Big Pine Key!
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 Northern Lights Tours in Alaska, The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, and The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America.
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Big Pine Key Prices
USA PricesRapid City Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBig Pine Key $174Rapid City $133
The average daily cost (per person) in Big Pine Key is $174, 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 Big Pine Key and Rapid City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBig Pine Key $64Rapid City $60
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBig Pine Key $128Rapid City $120
Compare Hotels in Big Pine Key and Rapid City
Looking for a hotel in Big Pine Key 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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Big Pine Key $56Rapid City $53
Is it cheaper to fly into Big Pine Key or Rapid City?
Prices for flights to both Rapid City and Big Pine Key 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 dayBig Pine Key $72Rapid 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.Big Pine Key $42Rapid 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:
- Northern Black Hills - Deadwood, Lead, Spearfish Canyon Tour: $275
- Badlands National Park: Premiere Day Tour: $375
- Black Hills Self Guided Driving Audio Tour: $20
- Buffalo Jeep Safari & Mammoth Site Tour: $700
- Custer State Park Wildlife Loop and Needles Highway Shared Tour: $264
- From 1880 Train Guided Tour: $291
- From Badlands and Wall Drug Store Tour: $291
- From Black Hills, Deadwood, and Lead Day Tour: $275
- From Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup Tour: $185
- From Custer State Park and Needles Highway Tour: $264
- From Epic Badlands Tour and Legendary Wall Drug: $1,399
- From Mt. Rushmore Memorial Tour: $148
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBig Pine Key $9.29Rapid City $6.93
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Big Pine Key and Rapid City, we can see that Big Pine Key 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 Big Pine Key would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Big Pine Key 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 Big Pine Key Expensive? and Is Rapid City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Big Pine Key or Rapid City?
Rapid City has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Big Pine Key. When comparing the sizes of Big Pine Key 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.