Which place is cheaper, Santa Fe or Hot Springs?
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 Hot Springs or Santa Fe?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Hot Springs or Santa Fe? 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: Hot Springs or Santa Fe?
Hot Springs
Hot Springs is a popular resort city in central Arkansas. It's location in the Ouachita Mountains make it a convenient base for exploring the area's natural hot springs, from which the city gets its name. The city is also home to Hot Springs National Park, which have long been believed to have healing properties. Today many spas have popped up around the hot springs.
Santa Fe
Santa Fe is the state capital of New Mexico as well as the oldest state capital in the United States, founded in 1607. It has become a popular travel destination due to the surrounding scenic beauty, its long history, cultural diversity especially with its proximity to American Indian pueblos and culture, and a rich concentration of arts, music, and food.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in United States of America.
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Hot Springs Prices
USA PricesSanta Fe Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHot Springs $220Santa Fe $190
The average daily cost (per person) in Hot Springs is $220, while the average daily cost in Santa Fe is $190. 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 Hot Springs and Santa Fe in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHot Springs $100Santa Fe $81
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHot Springs $200Santa Fe $162
Compare Hotels in Hot Springs and Santa Fe
Looking for a hotel in Hot Springs or Santa Fe? 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: Hot Springs Hotel Prices and Santa Fe Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hot Springs $47Santa Fe $61
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hot Springs
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hot Springs:
- Hot Springs to Little Rock Airport LIT Departure Private Transfer: $126
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Fe
Also for Santa Fe, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- New Mexico: Private Transfer from Santa Fe Regional Airport: $196
Is it cheaper to fly into Hot Springs or Santa Fe?
Prices for flights to both Santa Fe and Hot Springs 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 dayHot Springs $90Santa Fe $75
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Fe
For Santa Fe, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- New Mexican Flavors Food Tour of the Santa Fe Plaza: $187
- Wander New Mexico Food Tour - Downtown Plaza 'Sip & Savor': $209
- Santa Fe Farmers Market & Railyard Food Tour: $213
- Savor Wine Pairing Dinner: $234
- Downtown Plaza "Sip and Savor" Half-day Food Tour: $239
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hot Springs $30Santa Fe $17
Tours and Activities in Hot Springs
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Hot Springs are as follows:
- Hot Springs NP Self Guided Driving and Walking Audio Tour: $17
- Small-Group Zipline Tour in Hot Springs: $67
Tours and Activities in Santa Fe
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santa Fe.
- Santa Fe Historic Downtown Smart Phone Audio App Self Guided GPS Walking Tour : $9.75
- Santa Fe Historic Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $13
- Murder Mystery Detective Experience in Santa Fe NM: $15
- Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour of Historic Santa Fe: $15
- Santa Fe Botanical Garden General Admission Ticket : $17
- Meow Wolf The House of Eternal Return Ticket: $35
- Allan Houser Sculpture Garden and Studio Tour: $35
- Canyon Road Art & History Walking Tour: $69
- Canyon Road Art & History Walking Tour: $70
- Santa Fe Chocolate Tasting and History Exploration Tour : $80
- Small Group History Walking Tour Thru Santa Fe a City Different: $98
- Santa Fe Deep Dive History Walking Tour: $109
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHot Springs $22Santa Fe $9.68
Sample the Local Flavors in Santa Fe
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Santa Fe:
- Tumbleroot Brewery and Distillery Tour and Tasting: $18
- Architectural Walking Tour & Wine Tasting: $135
- Join in Wine Tours: $145
When comparing the travel costs between Hot Springs and Santa Fe, we can see that Hot Springs 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 Hot Springs Expensive? and Is Santa Fe Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hot Springs or Santa Fe?
Santa Fe has a larger population, and is about 85% larger than the population of Hot Springs. When comparing the sizes of Hot Springs and Santa Fe, 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.