Is skiing in Europe cheaper than skiing in the U.S.?
Is skiing in Europe cheaper than skiing in the U.S.?

Skiing in Europe is often hyped up to be significantly cheaper than skiing in the United States, and that certainly seems true if you’re looking just at the lift ticket costs. While some of Europe’s largest and most well-known resorts cost less than $100 for a day ticket, many resorts not even a quarter of the size of Europe’s largest will charge $200+.

But when you consider food, housing, and travel, is a trip to Europe really cheaper than a ski trip in the United States? PeakRankings explored the price differences.

@peakrankings

Does the reality of lift ticket pricing in Europe mean that all facets of a ski vacation will be cheaper than in the US? And the answer to that is plainly no. The biggest complicating factor might be lodging. In major Alps destinations like Zermatt, St. Anton, Verbier, Courchevel, or St. Moritz, accommodation can be just as expensive, if not more expensive than staying in luxury towns in the states like Aspen, Vail, or Jackson Hole. Off-site vacation home rentals do exist at much better values in Europe, but if you don’t have a rental car, they might be tough to reach. #peakrankings #werankpeaks #skieurope #skivacation #mountains #winter #skitrip #travel #landscape #snowboarding #wintertrip #skiusa #skiingisfun #powder

โ™ฌ original sound – PeakRankings

Depending on where you stay, a European ski resort’s hotel and food costs can easily rival or top that of the highest-end ski resorts in the United States. Once you consider the flights and travel costs, it wouldn’t be easy to do a Europe trip for significantly cheaper than a trip in the U.S. However if the costs are close, would you rather travel to a different state, or a different continent? I think the answer there is pretty clear.

Nolan Deck is a writer for Unofficial Networks, covering skiing and outdoor adventure. After growing up and skiing in Maine, he moved to the Denver area for college where he continues to live and work...