Should you visit Arlington or Pittsburgh?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Arlington or Pittsburgh, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Arlington
Located just across the Potomac River from Washington DC, capital of the United States, Arlington is a city that also has many government sites and monuments that commemorate the nation's past. Two of its most famous features include Arlington National Cemetery and the Pentagon-the largest office building in the world.
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is a city in western Pennsylvania at the junction of 3 rivers. Set between the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers, and a mountain ridge called Mt Washington, Pittsburgh has a unique character that is evident from the moment you arrive. Juxtaposed with the rumbling freight trains and the iconic bridges are the Bladerunner-esque self-driving Uber vehicles, scanning the roads with spinning Lidar scanners. Its Gilded Age sites, including the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, the Carnegie Museum of Art, and the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, speak to its history as an early-20th-century industrial capital. In the North Shore neighborhood are the modern Andy Warhol Museum, Heinz Field football stadium, and PNC Park baseball stadium. Experiencing periods of boom and bust since its founding, the city is in a boom now, and it's a fun place to visit, with top-notch museums, great gardens and parks, and amazing food.
Which city is cheaper, Pittsburgh or Arlington?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Arlington is $211, while the average daily cost in Pittsburgh is $145. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Arlington and Pittsburgh in more detail.
Accommodation
The prices for places to stay in Arlington can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $105, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $210.
The prices for places to stay in Pittsburgh can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $85, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $170.
Food
Food in Arlington costs travelers about $64 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
Pittsburgh food costs typically run travelers around $43 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
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Food
Meals for one day
Arlington $64
Pittsburgh $43
Local Transportation
Arlington's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $39 per person, per day on transportation in Arlington.
Pittsburgh's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $18 per person, per day on transportation in Pittsburgh.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arlington
Also for Arlington, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private transfer from or to IAD, DCA, JFK, LGA, EWR airports, MD, WDC, and NY:
$700
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Private transfer from DCA airport to Washington DC:
$250
-
Round trip transfer in private minivan from-to Ronald R Airport in Washington DC:
$160
-
Private Transfer from Washington Reagan Airport to Washington DC by Luxury SUV:
$154
-
Round trip transfer in private car from-to Ronald Reagan Airport in Washington:
$128
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Washington, DC: Private Airport Transfer: To or From: (DCA) Reagan National:
$127
-
Washington R. Reagan Airport (DCA) to Washington - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$122
-
Washington Airport Transfers: National Airport DCA to Washington in Luxury Car:
$106
-
Arrival Private Transfer Ronald Reagan Airport DCA to Washington DC by SUV:
$104
-
Private Washington DC Transfer: DCA Airport to Hotel:
$103
-
Washington Airport Transfers: National Airport DCA to Washington in Luxury SUV:
$82
-
Washington Airport Transfers: National Airport DCA to Washington in Luxury Van:
$82
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pittsburgh
Also for Pittsburgh, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Pittsburgh International Airport One Way Transfer:
$80
-
Pittsburgh Departure Private Transfer to Airport:
$69
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Pittsburgh City to Pittsburgh Airport (PIT) - Departure Private Transfer:
$93
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Pittsburgh Airport (PIT) to Pittsburgh hotel/address - Arrival Private Transfer:
$93
-
Pittsburgh Airport (PIT) to Pittsburgh City - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$187
Is it cheaper to fly into Arlington or Pittsburgh?
Prices for flights to both Pittsburgh and Arlington change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Arlington can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $8.50 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Pittsburgh can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $30 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Tours and Activities in Arlington
For Arlington, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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4 Hours Private Chauffeured DC Sight Seeing Tour / SUV & Sedan:
$428
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Arlington Cemetery & American History Museum Guided Combo Tour - Private Tour:
$143
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Arlington Cemetery & American History Museum Guided Tour - 8ppl Max:
$143
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Arlington Cemetery Private Tour:
$359
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Arlington National Cemetery Guided Walking Tour:
$36
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Arlington National Cemetery Guided Walking Tour - 8ppl Max:
$73
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Arlington National Cemetery Guided Walking Tour - Private Tour:
$73
-
Arlington National Cemetery Hop-On Hop-Off Tour:
$15
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Arlington National Cemetery Private Walking Tour:
$360
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Stuck at the Airport Washington DC Tour:
$450
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Tasting & Tour:
$8.78
Tours and Activities in Pittsburgh
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Pittsburgh.
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2-Hr Pittsburgh Walking Tour:
$15
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Bike the Burgh Tour:
$49
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Black & Ghost Tour:
$30
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Entrance Ticket to AT BLAQK House Collections:
$5.60
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Essential Pittsburgh Experience - The One Tour to Take:
$75
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Pittsburgh Private Tours:
$94
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Pittsburgh Scavenger Hunt Experience:
$11
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Pittsburgh to Logstown: Discover the area's settler history on an audio tour:
$5.99
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Architecture and History Tour:
$29
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Beauty of the Burgh Bike Tour:
$49
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Evening Ghost Tour:
$27
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Sip of Pittsburgh Brew Tour:
$90
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Arlington spend on average $13 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Pittsburgh, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $26.
Sample the Local Flavors in Pittsburgh
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Pittsburgh:
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Wacky Pittsburgh Bar Crawl: By Let’s Roam:
$12
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Pittsburgh Bar Hunt: Party Through Pittsburgh Bar Crawl:
$13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Arlington and Pittsburgh, we can see that Arlington is more expensive. And not only is Pittsburgh much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pittsburgh would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pittsburgh and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Arlington would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Arlington than you might in Pittsburgh.
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