Is skiing in Europe cheaper than the US?
Usually, yes. From Los Angeles, a week in Bansko for 2 adults costs about $4,260 with flights, lift tickets and rentals, and St. Anton about $7,270, against $9,080 for Park City and $10,210 for Aspen. Lift tickets and lodging make most of the difference.
. Flight fares and all totals are estimates, not live pricing.
Ski trip cost: US vs Europe vs Japan (from Los Angeles)
Six resorts, one week, 2 adults, priced the same way. Lift tickets and rentals are for both skiers.
| Cost | Aspen | Park City | Jackson Hole | St. Anton | Bansko | Niseko |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flights for 2 from LAX | $670–$1,100 | $330–$660 | $710–$1,100 | $1,660–$2,670 | $1,390–$2,070 | $1,600–$2,920 |
| Lodging, 7 nights | $2,450–$4,900 | $1,750–$3,500 | $2,100–$3,850 | $1,400–$2,660 | $490–$980 | $1,400–$2,800 |
| Lift tickets (2 people) | $2,510–$3,350 | $1,800–$4,250 | $2,700–$3,420 | $880–$1,090 | $600–$790 | $650–$930 |
| Ski/board rental (2 people) | $720–$1,080 | $720–$1,080 | $720–$1,080 | $480–$720 | $240–$420 | $480–$780 |
| Food & drink | $1,050–$1,750 | $910–$1,540 | $980–$1,610 | $840–$1,400 | $350–$630 | $630–$1,120 |
| All-in total | ≈ $10,210$7,540–$12,880 | ≈ $9,080$6,000–$12,150 | ≈ $9,730$7,490–$11,970 | ≈ $7,270$5,435–$9,100 | ≈ $4,260$3,210–$5,310 | ≈ $7,150$5,040–$9,250 |
Lift tickets are the big difference
- Aspen Snowmass: $1,255–$1,675 per person (6-day adult ticket); rentals $60–$90 per person per day.
- Park City (Utah): $900–$2,125 per person (6-day adult ticket); rentals $60–$90 per person per day.
- Jackson Hole: $1,350–$1,710 per person (6-day adult ticket); rentals $60–$90 per person per day.
- St. Anton (Austrian Alps): $440–$545 per person (6-day Ski Arlberg pass); rentals $40–$60 per person per day.
- Bansko (Bulgaria): $300–$395 per person (6-day adult pass); rentals $20–$35 per person per day.
- Niseko (Japan): $325–$465 per person (6-day Niseko United All-Mountain pass); rentals $40–$65 per person per day.
For two skiers, that's $2,510–$3,350 in lift tickets at Aspen against $880–$1,090 at St. Anton and $600–$790 at Bansko. Lodging is the other big line: $200–$380 a night in St. Anton and $70–$140 in Bansko, versus $350–$700 in Aspen and $250–$500 in Park City.
The catch: the flight and the transfer
From Los Angeles, round-trip fares run $830–$1,335 pp for St. Anton and $695–$1,035 pp for Bansko, versus $165–$330 pp for Park City. Travel time is the real cost. St. Anton: about 11 hr nonstop to Zürich (seasonal) or 1 stop, then ~2.5–3 hr by train. Bansko: about 14–17 hr with 1 stop to Sofia, then ~2.5 hr transfer. Park City: about 2 hr nonstop to SLC, then ~40 min drive.
Photos: Aspen: Chassig at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · St. Anton: qwesy qwesy, CC BY 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons · Photo credits
Cheapest US vs cheapest European ski week, by city
Europe's cheapest option beats the cheapest US resort from all 8 departure cities we cover.
| Flying from | Cheapest US resort | Cheapest Europe resort | Niseko (Japan) | Europe saves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles (LAX) | Park City≈ $9,080 | Bansko≈ $4,260 | ≈ $7,150$5,040–$9,250 | $4,800 |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | Park City≈ $8,930 | Bansko≈ $4,440 | ≈ $7,310$5,250–$9,360 | $4,500 |
| Phoenix (PHX) | Park City≈ $9,040 | Bansko≈ $4,240 | ≈ $7,010$4,834–$9,184 | $4,800 |
| Denver (DEN) | Park City≈ $8,940 | Bansko≈ $4,340 | ≈ $7,480$5,634–$9,322 | $4,600 |
| Dallas (DFW) | Park City≈ $9,180 | Bansko≈ $4,490 | ≈ $8,510$5,880–$11,134 | $4,700 |
| Seattle (SEA) | Park City≈ $9,160 | Bansko≈ $4,190 | ≈ $6,620$4,778–$8,470 | $4,950 |
| Chicago (CHI) | Park City≈ $9,510 | Bansko≈ $4,400 | ≈ $7,650$5,698–$9,610 | $5,100 |
| New York (NYC) | Park City≈ $9,560 | Bansko≈ $4,230 | ≈ $7,460$5,474–$9,454 | $5,350 |
When to go
- Aspen: Late January–March for the best snow; early December and April are cheaper. Christmas–New Year is the priciest week.
- Park City: January–March for snow; weekdays in January are quieter and cheaper. Holiday weeks carry peak lift and lodging prices.
- Jackson Hole: January–March for deep snow; early season and April have the cheapest lift tickets.
- St. Anton: Mid-January–March for reliable snow; early December "Wedel weeks" and April have lower lift prices.
- Bansko: Late December–March; prices drop from April 1 when the late-season lift tariff applies.
- Niseko: Mid-December–February for the famous powder; Christmas/New Year and Chinese New Year are peak-priced.
Entry: the US resorts need no passport for US citizens. St. Anton: Passport required (Schengen). Check whether the EU's ETIAS travel authorization is in effect before you go. Bansko: Passport required. Bulgaria is in the Schengen area; check whether ETIAS is in effect before you go. Niseko: Passport required; US citizens can visit Japan visa-free for short stays.
Book this trip: Bansko or St. Anton (from Los Angeles)
Flight searches start in Los Angeles (LAX) for a 7-night trip for 2 adults. Partner prices are live and may differ from our estimates.
Bansko (Bulgaria)
St. Anton (Austrian Alps)
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Frequently asked questions
Is skiing in Europe cheaper than the US?
Often, yes, mainly because of lift tickets. From Los Angeles, our cheapest European ski week (Bansko) comes to about $4,260 for 2 adults and 7 nights with flights, versus about $9,080 for the cheapest US resort we price (Park City). Bansko beats the cheapest US option from all 8 cities we cover, and St. Anton beats Aspen from all 8. Sample estimates, not live prices.
What is the cheapest ski resort in Europe for Americans?
Of the resorts we price, Bansko (Bulgaria): about $4,260 all-in for 2 adults from Los Angeles, with a 6-day adult pass at $300–$395 per person. We price two European resorts so far (Bansko and St. Anton), so treat this as a comparison, not a ranking of all of Europe.
How much does a ski trip to Europe cost for two?
From Los Angeles, about $5,435–$9,100 for a week in St. Anton (midpoint ≈ $7,270) and $3,210–$5,310 in Bansko (≈ $4,260), including round-trip flights, lodging, lift tickets, rentals and food for 2 adults.
Is Aspen more expensive than the Alps?
Compared with St. Anton, yes, from all 8 of our departure cities. From Los Angeles, Aspen comes to about $10,210 versus about $7,270 for St. Anton. Aspen's lift tickets are $1,255–$1,675 per person (6-day adult ticket) against $440–$545 at St. Anton (6-day Ski Arlberg pass).
Is Niseko cheaper than Jackson Hole?
In our data, yes: Niseko is cheaper than Jackson Hole from all 8 cities we cover. From Los Angeles: Niseko ≈ $7,150, Jackson Hole ≈ $9,730. Fares to Japan ($800–$1,460 pp) are much higher than to Wyoming ($355–$550 pp).
How we priced this
Every total is 7 nights for 2 adults: round-trip economy flights for both travelers, one mid-range room, and daily food, local transport and activities for two (plus lift tickets and rentals on ski trips). Flight ranges per route come from published typical fares or, where marked "Aviasales cached", from cached fare data refreshed automatically; lodging and daily costs are the same figures used on each comparison page, where every source is listed. These are sample estimates, not live prices. Read the full methodology.