Which place is cheaper, Fairbanks or San Fernando?
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 San Fernando or Fairbanks?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Fernando or Fairbanks, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: San Fernando or Fairbanks?
San Fernando
As the industrial capital of Trinidad & Tobago, San Fernando is an oil city which attracts more business visitors than tourists. While it is primarily focused on industry, the city has a certain charm with its old buildings and sloping streets that frame pretty views of the sea. It is the big city of Trinidad's southern half with plenty to offer in nightlife, especially during Carnival.
Fairbanks
Fairbanks is the only 'city' in the interior region of Alaska, and the largest settlement for hundreds of miles, but it has many characteristics of a small town where everyone seems to know everyone. Because the city sits at the nexus of some truly epic routes - north to the Arctic, east to Canada and south to Denali - you'll almost inevitably end up spending time here, and that time is rarely boring. The residential streets of compact downtown are pretty as a picture, and during winter, this is ground zero for viewing the aurora borealis.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage.
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San Fernando Prices
Trinidad and Tobago PricesFairbanks Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Fernando $188Fairbanks $318
The average daily cost (per person) in San Fernando is $188, while the average daily cost in Fairbanks is $318. 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 San Fernando and Fairbanks in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Fernando $74Fairbanks $154
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Fernando $148Fairbanks $308
Compare Hotels in San Fernando and Fairbanks
Looking for a hotel in San Fernando or Fairbanks? 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: Fairbanks Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Fernando $50Fairbanks $66
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Fairbanks
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Fairbanks:
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Full Tank of Gas$90
Is it cheaper to fly into San Fernando or Fairbanks?
Prices for flights to both Fairbanks and San Fernando 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 daySan Fernando $83Fairbanks $109
Typical Food Prices in Fairbanks
For Fairbanks, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two at Pike's Landing$63
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Totem Inn Breakfast for Two$46
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Fairbanks
For Fairbanks, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Aurora Viewing and Dinner : $120
- Late Night Yurt Dinner and Northern Lights: $210
- "Aurora Ice" - Ice Fishing & Salmon Dinner Tour: $239
- Electric Moose Studios Aurora Adventure W/Portraits & Hot Pizza!!: $270
- Northern Lights Adventure with Photos & HOT PIZZA: $300
- Moonlight Dog Sled, Dinner & Northern Lights: $320
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Fernando $28Fairbanks $65
Typical Entertainment Prices in Fairbanks
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Fairbanks's activities, tours, and tickets:
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The Riverboat Discovery Trip$55
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1 Day Mountain Bike Rental$27
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Canoe Rental with Pickup$56
Tours and Activities in Fairbanks
For Fairbanks, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 Day Shared Tour Arctic Circle and Aurora Viewing in Alaska: $150
- 1 Hour Fall Sled Dog Experience in Two Rivers: $130
- 1 Hour Snowmobile Adventure in Boreal Forest: $159
- 1-hr. Dog Sledding Tour in Fairbanks (without transportation): $170
- 1.5-Hour Beer and Puppies Guided Experience in Fairbanks: $58
- 2-Hour Guided Snowmobile Tour in Fairbanks: $295
- 3 Hour Ice Fishing Experience: $145
- 3-Hour Small Group 9-Hole Self-Guided Fairbanks Golf Experience: $114
- 45 Minute Private Reindeer Tour: $90
- Alaska: Private Northern Lights Viewing Tour: $495
- Alaskan Heritage and Sightseeing Tour in Fairbanks: $165
- Arctic Circle Adventure: Journey on the Dalton Highway: $275
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Fernando $22Fairbanks $27
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Fernando and Fairbanks, we can see that Fairbanks is more expensive. And not only is San Fernando much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Fernando is in Caribbean Islands and Fairbanks is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to San Fernando would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Fernando 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 Fairbanks would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Fairbanks than you might in San Fernando.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Fernando Expensive? and Is Fairbanks Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Fernando or Fairbanks?
San Fernando has a larger population, and is about 87% larger than the population of Fairbanks. When comparing the sizes of San Fernando and Fairbanks, 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.
When is the best time to visit San Fernando or Fairbanks?
Fairbanks has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but San Fernando experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit San Fernando or Fairbanks in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both San Fernando and Fairbanks. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Fernando year-round. Furthermore, most visitors come to Fairbanks for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, San Fernando is much warmer than Fairbanks. Typically, the summer temperatures in San Fernando in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Fairbanks averages at about 64°F (18°C).
San Fernando gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, San Fernando usually receives more rain than Fairbanks. San Fernando gets 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain, while Fairbanks receives 2 inches (51 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Fernando 27°C (81°F)Fairbanks 64°F (18°C)
Should I visit San Fernando or Fairbanks in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to San Fernando as well as Fairbanks. San Fernando attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the autumn months attract visitors to Fairbanks because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
The weather in Fairbanks can be very cold. In October, San Fernando is generally much warmer than Fairbanks. Daily temperatures in San Fernando average around 27°C (81°F), and Fairbanks fluctuates around 27°F (-3°C).
San Fernando receives a lot of rain in the autumn. San Fernando usually gets more rain in October than Fairbanks. San Fernando gets 199 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Fairbanks receives 0.9 inches (22 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Fernando 27°C (81°F)Fairbanks 27°F (-3°C)
Should I visit San Fernando or Fairbanks in the Winter?
Both Fairbanks and San Fernando are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Fernando throughout the year. Also, the skiing, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Fairbanks this time of year.
It's quite cold in Fairbanks in the winter. San Fernando is much warmer than Fairbanks in the winter. The daily temperature in San Fernando averages around 26°C (78°F) in January, and Fairbanks fluctuates around -9°F (-23°C).
In January, San Fernando usually receives more rain than Fairbanks. San Fernando gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Fairbanks receives 0.5 inches (13 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Fernando 26°C (78°F)Fairbanks -9°F (-23°C)
Should I visit San Fernando or Fairbanks in the Spring?
Both Fairbanks and San Fernando during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to San Fernando because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Fairbanks for the natural beauty.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Fairbanks. In the spring, San Fernando is much warmer than Fairbanks. Typically, the spring temperatures in San Fernando in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Fairbanks averages at about 32°F (0°C).
San Fernando usually gets more rain in April than Fairbanks. San Fernando gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Fairbanks receives 0.4 inches (9 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Fernando 27°C (81°F)Fairbanks 32°F (0°C)
Typical Weather for Fairbanks and San Fernando
| San Fernando | Fairbanks | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (78°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | -9°F (-23°C) | 0.5 inches (13 mm) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | -2°F (-19°C) | 0.4 inches (11 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 13°F (-11°C) | 0.5 inches (12 mm) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 32°F (0°C) | 0.4 inches (9 mm) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) | 50°F (10°C) | 0.6 inches (16 mm) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 252 mm (9.9 in) | 62°F (16°C) | 1.4 inches (36 mm) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 266 mm (10.5 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 2 inches (51 mm) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 225 mm (8.9 in) | 58°F (15°C) | 2.2 inches (57 mm) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 203 mm (8 in) | 47°F (8°C) | 0.9 inches (24 mm) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 199 mm (7.8 in) | 27°F (-3°C) | 0.9 inches (22 mm) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 4°F (-15°C) | 0.9 inches (22 mm) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 155 mm (6.1 in) | -5°F (-21°C) | 0.9 inches (23 mm) |
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.