11 of the Most Affordable Ski Towns in the World

I know, skiing and snowboarding are EXPENSIVE sports, BUT there are more affordable ski towns out there than you think. It’s all about doing your research and planning EARLY, to find the best deals. I have been to many different ski mountains, and know, just how expensive things get. You need A TON of gear, your lift tickets, and then you still need to eat and drink, it’s A LOT. But in this post, you will find very affordable gear (if you need), lift tickets and the most economical places to stay at.

Also, in this post you will learn about, 11 of the most affordable ski towns to live in, most affordable ski trips, most affordable ski towns in Colorado & Utah, most affordable ski towns out west, most affordable ski towns near New York, most affordable ski towns in Canada, in Europe, to retire in, and more.

This post is all about the most affordable ski towns.

Affordable Ski Towns:

1. Reno, Nevada

The most affordable ski town throughout the entire US, that I found, is Reno, Nevada. Reno truly has the BEST price for its location. The average cost of an AirBnB per night is $95. It is within 2 hours of SO MANY different ski resorts. For example, Reno is 32 minutes from Mount Rose, an hour and a half from Kirkwood, an hour from Diamond Peak Ski Resort, an hour from Sugar Bowl Resort, 40 minutes from Northstar, and much more. This list will show you more ski resorts.

Also, Sun Valley, Idaho is another affordable ski town, right next to Sun Vally ski mountain. However, there are not a lot of places to stay in Sun Valley, thus if you want to ski here, I would plan your trip in ADVANCE. The average price for an AirBnB per night is $96.

Boise, Idaho (average price per night is $80) is also a very economical place to stay at with lots of options. But, it is 2 and a half hour drive from Sun Valley and about 40 minutes from Bogus Basin. You could also stay in McCall, Idaho, which is about 15 minutes from Brundage Mountain. Again, from Boise, Idaho, Brundage is about 2 and a half hours.

Some more affordable ski towns that were close to being number 1 are, Bozeman, Montana (about an hour from Big Sky), Whitefish, MT, or Kalispell, MT (about 30 minutes from Whitefish), Jackson, WY (22 minutes from Jackson Hole), Alta, WY (about 13 minutes from Grand Targhee & an hour from Jackson Hole), Salt Lake City, UT (45 minutes from Park City, and many others), Heber City, UT (about 30 minutes from Park City, and many others), and Bend, Oregon (about 30 minutes from Mt. Bachelor).

2. Winter Park, Colorado

Okay, moving along, next on our list is the most affordable ski trips in Colorado. The most economical town that I found in Colorado is, Winter Park. The average price per night at an AirBnB is $97. Winter Park does have its own ski resort and is close to MANY others. Winter Park is a little over an hour from Copper Mountain Ski Resort + Keystone + Loveland Ski Area, about 2 hours from Steamboat + Ski Cooper, about an hour and a half from Vail, and many more mountains here. In addition, Winter Park is about an hour from Denver.

Some more affordable ski towns in Colorado are Leadville, (about 15 minutes from Ski Cooper & 47 from Vail), Durango (about 30 minutes from Purgatory Resort), Steamboat Springs (about 5 minutes from Steamboat), and Avon (about 10 minutes from Vail).

{Related Post: Vail & Steamboat Springs}

3. Heber City, Utah

One of the most affordable ski towns in Utah is Heber City. It’s about 20 minutes from Park City, but MUCH less crowded. An average AirBnB costs about $100 a night. You are also about 40 minutes from Brighton and Solitude and about an hour from Alta and Snowbird.

Some other affordable ski towns in Utah are Salt Lake City (about 40 minutes from Park City and other cool mountains), Brighton (chill vibe, attracts a lot of young people, specifically snowboarders), Brigham City (about an hour from Powder Mountain and about 50 minutes from Snowbasin).

{Related posts: Utah ski resorts}

4. Banff + Canmore, Alberta, Canada

The most affordable ski towns in Canada are Banff, & Canmore in Alberta, Canada. Canmore, is only 30 minutes from Banff. However, Canmore has a much bigger population than Banff. Canmore has a population of about 30,000 people, whereas, Banff has about 7,500 people. On AirBnB, Banff averages about $70 a night, whereas, Canmore is about $65 a night. Banff and Canmore are super close to Banff & Lake Louise ski resort.

Some other great affordable ski towns in Canada are Mont Tremblant ($100 a night), Nelson, British Columbia (24 minutes from → Whitewater Ski Resort, about $115 a night), Revelstoke, British Columbia (about $90 a night), Fernie, BC (about $80 a night), and Sun Peaks, BC (about $90 a night).

{Related Post: Ski Resorts in Canada}

5. Bansko + Pamporovo, Bulgaria

One of the most affordable ski towns in Europe is Bansko, Bulgaria. Pamporovo, Bulgaria is also super affordable. The average AirBnB in Bansko runs about per $50 night, while the average AirBnB in Pamporovo runs about $60 a night. You can see the two towns are pretty comparable in price. Pamporovo is also a great ski resort for beginners.

Some more affordable ski towns in Europe are, Borovets, Bulgaria (about $80 a night, also a known party town), Grandvalira, Andorra (about $85 a night), Livigno, Italy (about $80 a night), Les Menuires + Val Cenis, France (about $60 a night, great for groups and intermediate skiers), Serre-Chevalier-Briançon, France (abotu $80, great if you want peace & quiet), Yllas, Finland (about $100 a night), and Jahorina, Bosnia (about $60).

Some other great affordable ski towns in Europe in addition are, Vemdalen, Sweden (about $80), Bialka Tatrzańska, Poland (about $80 per night, great for beginners), Davos, Switzerland ($90-110), and Filzmoos, Austria (about $90 per night). You can find more prices of different European ski towns and resorts here. Also, here and here.

6. Keystone, Colorado

Keystone is one of the most affordable ski trips for families. The town is about $100 a night on AirBnB. However, Steamboat Springs, is also a very affordable ski trip for families. Steamboat Springs is about $110 per night and is a great town! If you go to Steamboat I HIGHLY recommend skiing/snowboarding at morningside. You can catch birds on your hands from the chairlift. All you need are some chips/crackers, crush the crackers in your hand, then place your hand out, and one of the birds will fly up upon your hand. My dad almost dropped his camera when two different birds landed on my hand, it’s super cool!

Steamboat was the first ski resort I skied, that was out west (I’m from the east coast). Thus, I know a lot about it, whereas Keystone, I do not. I have yet to ski at Keystone, but I hope to one day, it looks amazing. Copper is also a great family mountain.

Some other great affordable ski towns for families to stay in are, Sun Valley, Idaho (about $100 per night) and Mont Tremblant, Quebec (about $100 per night).

7. Kalispell, Montana

One of the most affordable ski towns out west is Kalispell, Montana. Kalispell is about 40 minutes from Whitefish Mountain and about 6 hours from Big Sky. An average night on AirBnB in Kalispell, will cost you about $115. In addition, a one day lift ticket at Whitefish Mountain is $85 for 3,000 skiable acres. Also, Glacier National Park is only 45 minutes from Kalispell.

Bozeman is another affordable ski town in Montana. It is about the same cost per night on AirBnB as Kalispell. Also, Bozeman is about 20 minutes from Bridger Bowl, and will cost you $63 for a one day lift ticket. Also, Bozeman is about an hour from Big Sky and about 2 hours from Yellowstone National Park.

Jackson, Wyoming (about $130 per night) is a more expensive ski town, but is in a good location, being 20 minutes from Jackson Hole, about an hour from Grand Targhee, and about 20 minutes from Grand Teton National Park.

8. Spokane, Washington

One of the most affordable ski towns to retire in is Spokane, Washington. An average condo in Spokane, goes for about $300,000. Spokane is in a decent location being close to Mount Spokane (about an hour away), Silver Mountain (again, about an hour away), Lookout Pass (about an hour and a half away), 49 Degrees North (about an hour and twenty minutes away), and Schweitzer (about 2 hours away).

More great affordable ski towns to retire in are Reno, Nevada (about $400,000 for a condo) and Colorado Springs. The average condo again goes for about $300,000 in Colorado Springs. Colorado Springs is close to Vail (about 2 & 1/2 hours away), Breckenridge (about 2 hours away), Keystone (about 2 hours away), and Copper (about 2 hours away).

9. Reno, Nevada + Spokane, Washington

Some of the most affordable ski towns to live in are Reno, Nevada and Spokane, Washington. The average house goes for about $400,000 in Reno and about $500,000 in Spokane. Some nearby mountains to Reno are Mount Rose, Northstar, Sierra at Tahoe, Heavenly, Palisades Tahoe, Donner Ski Ranch and much more. Similarly, some nearby mountains to Spokane are Schweitzer, Mt. Spokane and 49 Degrees North.

Some other very affordable ski towns to live in are Asheville, North Carolina, the average house goes for about $600,000, and Boise, Idaho. The average house in Boise goes for about $500,000. Asheville is in proximaty to MANY different ski resorts. For example, Asheville is near Wolf Ridge, Cataloochee, Moonshine Mountain, Ski Sapphire Valley, and MANY more. Similarly, Boise is near Bogus Basin.

Taos, New Mexico is also a great affordable ski town to live in. Taos is about 30 minutes from Taos Ski Area and the average house in Taos goes for about $500,000. Wenatchee, Washington is another great affordable ski town. Wenatchee is about about 25 minutes from Mission Ridge Ski Area and the average house goes for about $500,000. Brian Head, Utah is another affordable ski town to live in. Brian Head‘s average house goes for about $400,000. Br ian Head also has its own ski resort. In addition, Bear Valley, California is a very affordable ski town to live in. The average house goes for about $600,000. Bear Valley, CA is about 10 minutes from Bear Valley Ski Resort.

10. Lake Placid, New York

The most affordable ski town near New York, is Lake Placid. On average a night in Lake Placid on AirBnB goes for about $125, which I know is still expensive, but compared to other ski towns in New York, and with all that Lake Placid has to offer, it is the most affordable in New York. The closest ski resort is Whiteface, however, I would go to Gore Mountain or Titus. Titus is definitely smaller than Whiteface and farther away (about an hour from Placid) but Titus is cheaper ($70 lift tickets versus, Whiteface being $115). Also, Whiteface gets SUPER icy SUPER quickly, so unless there’s been a really good snow storm, I wouldn’t go to Whiteface. However, I LOVE Lake Placid.

Lake Placid has SO MUCH do to. Such as, winter hikes, dog sledding, toboggan chute, ice skating, and more. Even though Lake Placid is about an hour and a half from Gore Mountain, I HIGHLY suggest staying in Lake Placid, because there is SO MUCH more to do.

Now, that being said, if you do want a quieter stay or somewhere closer to Gore Mountain, North Creek, is a great town for you. However, I would suggest only staying in North Creek if you stay as a group, because the AirBnB’s are expensive compared to Lake Placid. You could also stay in Keene, Keene Valley, or Elizabethtown, as well, that are near Lake Placid. If you stay in North Creek, I STRONGLY advise going to Gore Mountain.

In addition, Woodstock, New York is a great town to stay in the Catskills. Again, I recommend staying with a group or family, because the AirBnBs are expensive. I STRONGLY recommend going to Belleayre. I STRONGLY PREFER Belleayre and Windham over Hunter.

{Related post: Ski resorts in New York + Whiteface Mountain}

11. Burlington, Vermont + North Conway, New Hampshire

The most affordable ski towns on the east coast are Burlington, Vermont and North Conway, New Hampshire. Burlington is a GREAT town, seriously, having grown up in upstate New York, I’ve taken MANY trips to Burlington, and I’ve always had a great time. Also, Burlington is in a great location if you are interested in skiing/snowboarding at many different mountains. The average price for one night in Burlington on AirBnB is $120.

For ski resorts, Burlington is near Bolton Valley Resort (40 minutes away), Smuggler’s Notch (about an hour away), Stowe (about an hour away), Sugarbush (about an hour away), and Mad River Glen (also about an hour away). In addition, Burlington has SO MANY things to do!!

Similarly, North Conway, New Hampshire is nearby Bretton Woods (about 40 minutes), Attitash (about 15 minutes), Wild Cat (about 30 minutes), Cannon (about an hour), Sunday River (about an hour), and Gunstock (about an hour and a half).

Some other affordable ski towns in Vermont are Rutland and Waterbury. Waterbury is less than 20 miles from Stowe, Sugarbush, and Mad River Glen. It’s also about an hour and a half from Mount Mansfield and Camel’s Hump. West Dover (near Mount Snow), and Ludlow (near Okemo), are also pretty affordable ski towns in Vermont.

{Related posts: Ski Resorts in Vermont, New Hampshire & Maine}

And that wraps up our list of the most affordable ski towns in the world. I hope you learned about some great new affordable mountain towns, where you can plan a great ski vacation. Hopefully, this list gave you some great areas that you can stay at to save some money.

This post was all about the most affordable ski towns in the world. In this post, you learned about the most affordable ski town in the entire US, the best ski towns to live in, the best ski towns to retire in, the most affordable ski towns in Colorado + Utah, the most affordable ski towns out west, the most affordable ski towns in Europe, and more.