Which place is cheaper, Rapid City or Fairfield?
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 Fairfield 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 Fairfield 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: Fairfield or Rapid City?
Fairfield
The city of Fairfield is in Solano County, California, in the Sacramento Valley area. It's a medium sized city that is home to the Travis Air Force Base. It's also halfway between San Francisco and Sacramento along Interstate 80. There are a handful of interesting activities in the area. Consider visiting either the Grizzly Island Wildlife Area or the Hill Slough Wildlife Area both of which have hiking, fishing, birdwatching, and boating opportunities. You can also take a tour of the Jelly Belly Factory which is in town, or tour the Anheuser-Busch Brewery which includes two complimentary beers and a limitless supply of pretzels. On Thursdays you can take a guided tour of the Travis Air Force Base. If you're interested in visited a working ranch, Rush Ranch is open to the public and can be a fun experience with an opportunity to visit with the animals.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America, The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America, and The Best Historical Tours in United States of America.
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Fairfield Prices
USA PricesRapid City Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFairfield $153Rapid City $133
The average daily cost (per person) in Fairfield is $153, 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 Fairfield and Rapid City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFairfield $97Rapid City $60
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFairfield $194Rapid City $120
Compare Hotels in Fairfield and Rapid City
Looking for a hotel in Fairfield 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: Fairfield Hotel Prices and Rapid City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Fairfield -Rapid City $53
Is it cheaper to fly into Fairfield or Rapid City?
Prices for flights to both Rapid City and Fairfield 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 dayFairfield $53Rapid City $41
Typical Food Prices in Fairfield
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Fairfield:
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El Pollo Loco Lunch (for 3)$17
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Hometown Buffet Dinner (for 3)$44
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.Fairfield $13Rapid 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 dayFairfield -Rapid City $6.93
When comparing the travel costs between Fairfield and Rapid City, we can see that Fairfield is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Fairfield Expensive? and Is Rapid City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Fairfield or Rapid City?
Fairfield has a larger population, and is about 71% larger than the population of Rapid City. When comparing the sizes of Fairfield 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.