Travel Budget for North Carolina Visit North Carolina on a Budget or Travel in Style

North Carolina, United States of America

How much does it cost to travel to North Carolina?

You should plan to spend around $185 per day on your vacation in North Carolina. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

  • $45 on meals
  • $36 on local transportation
  • $224 on hotels

A one week trip to North Carolina for two people costs, on average, $2,595. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    $185
  • One Week Per person
    $1,297
  • 2 Weeks Per person
    $2,595
  • One Month Per person
    $5,560
  • One Week For a couple
    $2,595
  • 2 Weeks For a couple
    $5,189
  • One Month For a couple
    $11,120
This data comes from the travel budgets of real travelers - How it works. Put these numbers on your website.


How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to North Carolina cost?

A one week trip to North Carolina usually costs around $1,297 for one person and $2,595 for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to North Carolina on average costs around $2,595 for one person and $5,189 for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in North Carolina will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to North Carolina on average costs around $5,560 for one person and $11,120 for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.




Independent Travel

Traveling Independently to North Carolina has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.

All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.

Is North Carolina expensive to visit?

Prices in North Carolina are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.

Within North America, which is known to be an expensive region, North Carolina is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to many other destinations.

For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is North Carolina Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to North Carolina?

The average North Carolina trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these North Carolina travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.


Category Cost
Accommodation 1 (Double Occupancy) $224
Local Transportation 1 $36
Food 2 $45
Entertainment 1 $25
Tips and Handouts 1 $2 - 5
Alcohol 2 $14 - 43
Accommodation Budget in North Carolina
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in North Carolina is $112. For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in North Carolina is $224. This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.


  • Accommodation1 Hotel or hostel for one person
    $112
  • Accommodation1 Typical double-occupancy room
    $224

Hotel Prices in North Carolina

Looking for a hotel in North Carolina? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.

Find the best hotel for your travel style.

Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.



Transportation Budget in North Carolina
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The cost of a taxi ride in North Carolina is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $36 per person, per day, on local transportation in North Carolina.


  • Transportation1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    $36


Flights to North Carolina
How much does it cost to go to North Carolina? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.

Rental Cars in North Carolina
The price of renting a car in North Carolina will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.



Food Budget in North Carolina
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • While meal prices in North Carolina can vary, the average cost of food in North Carolina is $45 per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in North Carolina should cost around $18 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in North Carolina is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.


  • Food2 Meals for one day
    $45


Entertainment Budget in North Carolina
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • Entertainment and activities in North Carolina typically cost an average of $25 per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.


  • Entertainment1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    $25


Tips and Handouts Budget in North Carolina
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average cost for Tips and Handouts in North Carolina is $3.13 per day. The usual amount for a tip in North Carolina is 10% - 20%.


  • Tips and Handouts1 For guides or service providers
    $3.13


Alcohol Budget in North Carolina
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average person spends about $29 on alcoholic beverages in North Carolina per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.


  • Alcohol2 Drinks for one day
    $29


North Carolina On a Budget
North Carolina North Carolina Outer Banks
North Carolina is a diverse state in the southern United States. The state has a variety of landscapes, with mountains, forests, and beaches all represented. The state's elevation ranges from sea level to 6,684 feet on Mount Mitchell, which is the highest point in North America east of the Mississippi. There are large cosmopolitan cities like Charlotte, and there are quaint college towns like Chapel Hill. North Carolina is the nineth most populous state in the country and the economy is currently centered around engineering, energy, biotechnology, and finance. Historically, the state's economy developed from the tobacco, textile, and furniture making industries.

North Carolina's climate varies depending on the region. The coastal areas have milder temperatures in the winter months with winter highs rarely going below 40 degrees Celsius. The Piedmont is colder than the coast with occasional snowfalls and frequent sleet or freezing rain. The mountains are the coolest area and winter highs occasionally falling into the low 20s Fahrenheit. Thunderstorms are common during the summer months and tropical storms reach the state every three or four years.
Sights
North Carolina has a range of sights and attractions that attract visitors from around the US and abroad. Some of the most popular attractions in the state include the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, the Blue Ridge Parkway, the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, Blandwood Mansion, and Pisgah National Forest.
Regions
North Carolina can be divided into three main regions. The mountain region has some of the highest elevations in eastern North America. It is also where you'll find the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Piedmont has many diverse cities, universities, and college towns. The Coastal Plain has miles of beautiful beaches, the Outer Banks, and historic towns such as New Bern.

Major cities in North Carolina include the capital city of Raleigh, Asheville, Boone, Chapel Hill, Charlotte, Durham, Greensboro, New Bern, Wilmington, and Winston Salem.

Other popular places to visit include the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Cape Lookout National Seashore, the Outer Banks, and Pinehurst.

Activities
There are countless activities that you can enjoy in North Carolina. In the mountains, there is plenty of hiking, camping, and skiing opportunities. The state also has some of the best swimming beaches in the country. The Gulf Stream keeps the water warm well into October and the waves are lively but not intimidating. College sports are also lively in the state with several famous rivalries keeping spirits high. ACC basketball boasts a yearly competition between the Duke Blue Devils and UNC Tarheels. Other teams in the area include Wake Forest and North Carolina State.
Food and Dining
North Carolina cuisine makes use of many southern traditions. North Carolina barbecue is made with pulled pork that is marinated in a vinegar based sauce. It varies significantly from barbecues found elsewhere in the south. It is typically served on a bun with slaw and lemonade or iced tea (sweetened of course).

Other local favorites in the area include fried chicken, fried okra, grits, cornbread, and hush puppies. Seafood is abundant along the coast and many dishes are fried and served with an appetizer of hush puppies.

Larger cities have a range of food options including many international restaurants. In smaller towns you'll likely find several local restaurants and the standard chain restaurants. Prices are reasonable and comparable to what you'd find elsewhere in the region.

Transportation
North Carolina's four international airports are Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, Raleigh-Durham International Airport and Wilmington International Airport. There are also several domestic airports throughout the state.

The state also has a ferry system that runs along the Outer Banks. With 24 ferries, it's the second largest ferry system in the country. There are also twelve daily Amtrak trains that connect 17 cities in the state along six routes.

If you're planning to travel extensively in North Carolina, it's really best to have your own car. Roads are well maintained and traffic is at it's peak during rush hours or on holidays. Public transportation in most cities is limited, so having access to a car during your stay is the most efficient option.


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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.



1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.