How Expensive Is The Snow, Really?

Dreaming of bringing the family to the snow but don’t want to remortgage your house to do so? We get it, skiing and snowboarding can be a pretty expensive hobby – especially when you’re paying for a family of four. Lift passes, rentals, accommodation, commuting costs, it all adds up pretty quickly, resulting in a massive blow to your hip-pocket. 

But how expensive is it really? Is the 25% ‘snow tax’ only an Australian thing? What about lift passes, rentals, and food? Can you actually spend 5 days in Japan for the same price you’re paying for 5 days at an Australian resort?


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All very good questions that we don’t know the answers to. But, like you, we’d like to find out.

So we decided to put on our best Sherlock Holmes pea coats and do a deep dive into some of our favourite resorts around the world (including, of course, Niseko), comparing the cost of a five-day family holiday with all things considered: accommodation, rentals, lessons, lift passes, and of course, exchange rates.

Please note: all prices have been converted to USD via xe.com's rates as of July 28th, 2025.

For best viewing on mobile devices please use horizontal mode.



Baker (USA)
Located in Whatcom County, Washington, about ten miles south from the Canadian border, Baker boasts a collection of 8 quad chairs and 2 handle tows covering up to 5,089 feet of elevation. On average, Baker receives around 666 inches of snowfall annually, with the 2023 - 24 season receiving 508 inches.
Brighton (USA)
As Utah’s only resort with 100% of its terrain accessible by high speed quads, Brighton sits at 1,875 vertical feet and features over 200 acres of terrain, 24 runs, and multiple terrain parks available each night for night skiing.
Jackson Hole (USA)
Based in Teton Village, 12 miles out of the town of Jackson, Jackson Hole offers riders over 2,500 acres of in-bound terrain across two mountains, Après Vous and Rendezvous, as well as over 3,000 acres of open backcountry gate access.
Snowbird (USA)
Only 45 minutes from downtown Salt Lake City, Snowbird averages over 500 inches of snowfall annually, and is regarded as North America’s most accessible alpine resort due to its location sitting only 29 miles from Salt Lake City International Airport.
Mt Buller (AUS)
As one of Victoria’s most established resorts, Mt Buller offers beginner and intermediate riders approximately 45% blue runs. On average, Buller gets an annual snowfall of about 48 inches of snow per year and receives roughly of 17 snowfall days per season.
Perisher (AUS)
The Southern Hemisphere’s largest alpine resort, Perisher features varied terrain for riders of all abilities, has a total elevation of 6,738 feet, and features 45 different lift lines. Throughout the past 15 years, Perisher’s average maximum snow depth throughout winter has been 1.9m (74 inches).
Thredbo (AUS)
Boasting Australia’s longest ski run (3.6 miles), Thredbo sits 2,037 m (171 ft) above sea level and has the largest vertical drop of any Australian ski resort. Thredbo features 14 lifts in total, receives an average seasonal snowfall of 2.03m (79 inches), and hosts some of Australia’s best terrain parks, including one of the country's largest half pipes.
Niseko (JAP)
Japan's most popular alpine destination, Niseko, is regarded as the countries home of deep pow, with its four interconnect resorts receiving 12m (472 inches) of snowfall over the 2023/24 season. Located 100km south of Sapporo, and a two-hour drive from Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport, Niseko sits at 1,308m and offers some of the best back-country skiing in all of Japan.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. Currency Exchange

  2. Travel Cost

  3.  Cost

    • Accommodation
    • Ski and Snowboard Rental
    • Lessons & Guiding
    • Lift Passes

  4. Daily Meal Budget

  5. Healthcare and Safety

Key Takeaways and handy tips

IN A NUTSHELL


Takeaways

Baker sits at the highest elevation and receives the most snow annually

On average, accommodation is more expensive at Snowbird, Mt Buller and Perisher.

Last year the Japanese yen hit an all time low and is currently still very low.

Rentals tend to cost a similar amount regardless of the resort you visit.

Japan and North America are the best options for those looking for lift access to backcountry and sidecountry via gate systems.

All resorts boast a variety of dining experiences, shopping options, night-life, and off-snow experiences, although resorts like Niseko, and Baker offer the most budget friendly options.


Currency Exchange Rate


Egg salad sandwiches, konbini fried chicken, waist-deep pow – if you’re looking for a reason to visit Japan over Australian or American resorts, we can give you 50. But we don’t need to list all of them, because there’s one clear selling point that makes us think booking a trip to Niseko is the way to go this winter: the weak yen.

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Over the last two years the Japanese yen has been steadily depreciating, recently reaching below 160 to the dollar, its lowest value in more than 30 years. This means that North American and Australian dollars will go a lot further in Japan than they previously would.

Travel Cost


Unsure how much flights will cost for you and the family to get from your hometown to Jackson Hole,  Thredbo or Niseko? Check out different flight options here:



Accommodation Cost


Out of all of the essential purchases needed for a one-week snow trip, accommodation is the most varied with resorts offering a range of options, from luxury chalets and high-end self-contained apartments to cosy flat-share lodges. As a result, you can spend as much or as little as you want, with every resort offering both high-end and budget-friendly options.

We looked into prices for a family of four to stay at a 4-star hotel for a total of 5 nights.


Resort

Cost

Distance to resort

Baker

$9,796

17 km (34 min drive)

*Mt Baker does not offer ski-in, ski-out accommodation

Brighton

$3,922

Ski-in, ski-out

Jackson Hole

$4,098

Ski-in, ski-out

Snowbird

$3,921

Ski-in, ski-out

Buller

$7,732 

Ski-in,ski-out

Perisher

$5,707

0.5 km

Thredbo

$9,580

Ski-in, ski-out

Niseko

$3,924

Ski-in, ski out


Notes: Accommodation cost is based on accommodation options rated 8+, within (20 km) of ski fields for family of four for a 5 night stay between 26th December - 31st for US and JP. Prices listed on Expedia.com or Airbnb.com as of the 28th of July, 2025. We tried to keep most selections ski-in, ski-out, but as Jackson Hole does not offer this style of accommodation we extended the radius.

Australian rates are based on peak season dates, varying between the 29th of July, 2025 - August 9th, 2025. Also for a 5-night stay for a family of four.


Rental Cost


While they are incredibly practical shoes, you won’t be able to ride chairlifts and shred down runs in a pair of Timberland’s. So yes, you will have to hire skis or snowboards when visiting the snow.

Ski and board rentals are usually available from multiple retailers around ski resorts. For this analysis, we decided to base our research on mountain-owned rental stores. If the resort didn’t have a mountain-owned rental/retail store, we used the retailer closest to the lifts.


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Please Note:

  • Cliff Sports (Snowbird), Hoback Sports (Jackson Hole) does not currently list multi-day prices. 5-Day rentals are based on 5 x 1-day rental cost 
  • Hoback Sports (Jackson Hole) based on in-store rates (discount for online bookings apply)
  • Mt Baker prices based on 24/25 rates
  • Prices based on premium packages.

Lesson and Guiding Cost


Regardless of your experience skiing or snowboarding, there’s always room for improvement. Sometimes all you need is that one piece of advice from an outside perspective, and all of a sudden, the trick you’ve been trying to master finally comes together. Plus, it’s a great way to get out and meet local instructors and discover all the best secret spots.

For this comparison, we decided to look into mountain-owned and operated ski schools and compare prices for full-day private lessons.



Lesson

Guiding

Touring

Baker

Adult: $285

Child: 150

Prices based on Mt Baker Ski Lessons

N/A

N/A

Brighton

All Ages: $720

Prices based on Brighton Ski School

All Ages (10+): $450

Prices based on Red River Adventures

All Ages $1,1995

Prices based on Ski Utah

Jackson Hole

All Ages: $950

Prices based on Jackson Hole Snowsports

All Ages: $1,355

All Ages: $1,355

Snowbird

All Ages (3+): $616.50


Prices based on Snowbird Snowsports

All Ages: $308

All Ages (3+): Starting from $616.50

Buller

All Ages: $787.23

Prices based on Mt Buller Snowsports

N/A

N/A

Perisher

All Ages: $929.04

Prices based on Perisher Snowsports

All Ages: $459.51

Prices based on Snowy Mountain Backcountry

All Ages: $459.51

Prices based on Snowy Mountain Backcountry

Thredbo

$839.81


Prices based on Thredbo Snowsports

All Ages: $393.24

Prices based on Thredbo Snowsports Private Touring and Guiding Experiences

All Ages (15+): $393.24

Prices based on Thredbo Snowsports Private Touring and Guiding Experiences

Niseko

All Ages: $739

Prices based on Rhythm Rides Niseko Private Lesson

All Ages: $807

Prices based on Rhythm Rides Resort Guiding

All Ages: $1,009

Prices based on Rhythm Rides Backcountry Touring Experiences (Prince includes BC gear rental)


Please note: 

  • Prices based on private 1-day lesson, guiding and touring options during peak season dates.
  • Brighton prices vary per day, prices based on 2024/25 pricing
  • Jackson Hole private lesson based on 24/25 pricing 

Lift Pass Cost


Annnnddd now for the biggest killer, lift passes. 

As lift passes are absolutely essential for everyone visiting a ski resort, they are normally one of the most expensive aspects of ever snow holiday. 

When looking at data comparing lift pass prices, it is important to consider the fact that prices vary on weekends, peak-season dates and school holidays. All figures below are based on peak-season mid-week prices.

It is worth noting that night skiing is available every night and included in lift passes for Baker, Brighton, Jackson Hole, Snowbird, and Niseko. However, night skiing passes must be purchased separately for Mt Buller, Perisher, and Thredbo, unless you have a season pass.

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Please note: 

  • Mt Baker, Brighton, Jackson Hole and Snowbird does not currently offer pricing information on 1-day passes

  • Mt Buller, Perisher and Threbo day pass prices vary based on the day and time of the season. Pricing listed is based on the 28th of July, 2025

  • US and Japanese passes based on 25/26 season, Aus lift passes based on 2025

  • Niseko prices are based on Niseko United All Mountain pass

Daily Meal Budget


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There’s a reason you see so many people chowing down on Cliff Bars on the chairlift, eating on the mountain can be incredibly expensive, regardless of which resort you go to.

And if you’ve ever been to the snow before, you’ll know that the biggest trap of them all is in-resort restaurants, with most bistros serving up incredibly overpriced and under-portioned meals for exorbitant prices (looking at you, every place that serves ‘Loaded Fries’).

At most American and Australian resorts, you should expect to pay around $15 to $25 per lunch dish and $25 to $45 per dinner dish. If you’re visiting Japan, you’ll likely find many more budget options such as konbini and food trucks, where meal options (both lunch and dinner) range from $7 to $15 per dish.

If you’re traveling with your family, we recommend looking for accommodation with a kitchen so that you can reserve eating out for special occasions and save money by preparing home-cooked meals most nights.


Healthcare and Safety


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Trust us, you don’t want to cheap out on travel insurance. 

There’s nothing worse than being in a foreign country with an injury and looking at the hospital bill thinking, ‘how am I ever going to pay for this?’ Don’t make that mistake on this trip.

If you’re an American looking to hop over and shred some JaPow with your family this winter, you’ll be looking at around $480 to $500 USD for a comprehensive travel insurance package for your family, including coverage for action and snow sports.

Alternatively, a trip to Australia’s alpine ranges will cost you around $414.

Travel insurance from Australia to Japan – Based on 4 passengers, 2 adults, 2 children for a 5-day stay with snow sports included starts from $242.65 AUD with a $200 excess.

If you don’t have travel insurance and have a fall while riding in Niseko, you could face costs of either ¥17,600, ¥33,000, or ¥44,000 depending on the severity of the injury, with additional costs for X-rays and more detailed consultations.


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Based on these findings....


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  • Jackson Hole stands out as the most expensive for lift passes, with its 5-day adult lift pass at $950. It also has the second most expensive private lessons at $950 for all ages.
  • Mt. Baker is the most expensive when considering accommodation and rentals. The cost for a 5-night family stay is $9,796, which is significantly higher than any other resort listed, and due to its long distance would most likely require additional costs like car rentals or bus fares.
  • Niseko is the cheapest for adults 5-day lift passes, while Baker stands out as the cheapest 5-day pass for children.
  • Mt Buller offers the most affordable 5-day equipment rentals for both adults ($112.41) and children ($86.12).
  • Snowbird, Niseko and Brighton stand out as the cheapest resorts for accommodation, with only 3 dollars separating each accommodation option. 

Which means the overall winner is:


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Based on a combined calculation for a 5-night family trip, Niseko is the cheapest overall resort, primarily because it combines the lowest adult 5-day lift pass price ($392.73) with very affordable accommodation ($3,924) and competitive rental prices. While Brighton comes in at close second.

Resorts like Mt. Baker and Thredbo were the most expensive under this calculation, largely due to significantly higher accommodation costs of $9,796 and $9,580, respectively.

Please note: This is an advisory guide. At the end of the day, we are ski bums, not data analysts. And while we put in a hell of a lot of work pulling all this data together, it is currently the time of year that many resorts are updating prices, and many resorts and accommodations alter prices depending on the day and time of the season. So if you check this in a week's time and find out prices slightly vary, don't get mad at us. We did our best!

Feeling hyped on a Japan trip? Save a few dollars on baggage fees by packing light and renting with us. Annnnnndddddddd if you book within the next 48 hours, you’ll score 20% off your rentals!