Which place is cheaper, Dayton or Asheville?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Asheville or Dayton?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Asheville and Dayton. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Asheville or Dayton?
Asheville
Asheville is a beautiful mountain town between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains. It's a popular tourist destination in western North Carolina that attracts hikers, shoppers, and adventurers alike. It's the largest city in the area and is famous for it's liberal mindset and large art community. Local crafts are frequently available for sale in the downtown shops.
Dayton
Located in southwest Ohio, Dayton is known as the "Gem City." It's the original home of Orville and Wilbur Wright, the brothers who designed the first airplane. You'll also find the Dayton Aviation Heritage Park here, which is one of the only multi-site National Parks in the United States. The cities climate has four different seasons, winter, spring, summer and fall. The winter months are quite cold and you can expect a decent amount of snow in the area. Spring remains cool and there are infrequent showers. This is also the peak time for tornadoes in the area. Summer is hot and humid and can be unpleasant at times, but fall is crisp and refreshing with occasional storms and infrequent tornadoes.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America, The Best Walking Tours in United States of America, and The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAsheville $133Dayton $323
The average daily cost (per person) in Asheville is $133, while the average daily cost in Dayton is $323. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Asheville and Dayton in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAsheville $89Dayton $250
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAsheville $178Dayton $500
Compare Hotels in Asheville and Dayton
Looking for a hotel in Asheville or Dayton? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Asheville Hotel Prices and Dayton Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Asheville $14Dayton $25
Is it cheaper to fly into Asheville or Dayton?
Prices for flights to both Dayton and Asheville 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayAsheville $33Dayton $61
Typical Food Prices in Asheville
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Asheville:
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Biltmore Estate Entrance Fee$60
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Asheville
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Asheville.
- 1-HR cooking class: $40
- Electric Bike Tour of Asheville's Best Pizza: $98
- Best Pizza E-bike Tour: $111
Typical Food Prices in Dayton
Some typical examples of dining costs in Dayton are as follows:
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Noodle Company Lunch (for 2)$17
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Indian Food Dinner (for 2)$34
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Asheville $16Dayton -
Typical Entertainment Prices in Asheville
Here are a few typical costs in Asheville for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Massage$40
Tours and Activities in Asheville
Here are a few actual costs in Asheville for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Downtown Asheville Tip-Based Sightseeing Walking Tour : $5.00
- River Arts District Tip-Based Sightseeing Walking Tour : $5.00
- Asheville's Famous Ghosts Smart Phone GPS APP Solo Walking Tour: $6.75
- Asheville's Historic Smart Phone Guided App (GPS) Walking Tour: $7.75
- Asheville Historic Highlights: Self-Guided Walking Tour: $8.49
- Blue Ridge Parkway (Asheville) Driving Tour with Audio Guide: $9.99
- Blue Ridge Parkway South Audio Driving Tour: $9.99
- Blue Ridge Parkway Asheville Audio Driving Tour: $9.99
- Blue Ridge Parkway Driving Audio Tour (Asheville ↔ Roanoke): $12
- Asheville Scavenger Hunt: Downtown Asheville Adventure: $12
- Highlights of Asheville Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $15
- Asheville Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour and Game: $25
Tours and Activities in Dayton
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Dayton are as follows:
- Daytona Beach: Guided Kayaking or Standup Paddling Tour: $65
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAsheville $16Dayton -
Sample the Local Flavors in Asheville
Also in Asheville, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Skip the Line: Copper Barrel's Premium Distillery Tour & Tasting: $10
- Terrors, Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- Ultimate Late Night Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- Asheville Terrors Boos and Brews Haunted Pub Crawl: $39
- Expert-Led Brewery Walking Tour with Beer Samples: $65
- Downtown Asheville Guided Brewery Walking Tour: $69
- 3-Hour Guided Walking Brewery Tour Through Downtown Asheville: $69
- Electric Bike Brewery Crawl of Asheville: $74
- Guided Craft Brewery Tour with a Snack: $99
- Asheville Signature Guided Brewery Tour: $105
Sample the Local Flavors in Dayton
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dayton:
- Dive Bar Bus Crawl: $38
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Asheville and Dayton, we can see that Dayton is more expensive. And not only is Asheville much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Asheville would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Asheville 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 Dayton would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dayton than you might in Asheville.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Asheville Expensive? and Is Dayton Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Asheville or Dayton?
Dayton has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Asheville. When comparing the sizes of Asheville and Dayton, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Asheville or Dayton?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Asheville or Dayton in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Asheville and Dayton. Many visitors come to Asheville in the summer for the hiking, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Asheville is around the same temperature as Dayton. Typically, the summer temperatures in Asheville in July average around 82°F (28°C), and Dayton averages at about 78°F (26°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Dayton this time of the year. In Asheville, it's very sunny this time of the year. Asheville usually receives less sunshine than Dayton during summer. Asheville gets 268 hours of sunny skies, while Dayton receives 298 hours of full sun in the summer.
Asheville gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Asheville usually receives more rain than Dayton. Asheville gets 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAsheville 82°F (28°C)Dayton 78°F (26°C)
Should I visit Asheville or Dayton in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Asheville as well as Dayton. Most visitors come to Asheville for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In October, Asheville is generally a little warmer than Dayton. Daily temperatures in Asheville average around 64°F (18°C), and Dayton fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Asheville this time of the year. In the autumn, Asheville often gets more sunshine than Dayton. Asheville gets 229 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dayton receives 188 hours of full sun.
Asheville usually gets more rain in October than Dayton. Asheville gets 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 2.5 inches (64 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAsheville 64°F (18°C)Dayton 57°F (14°C)
Should I visit Asheville or Dayton in the Winter?
Both Dayton and Asheville are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The winter months attract visitors to Asheville because of the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
It's quite cold in Dayton in the winter. Asheville is much warmer than Dayton in the winter. The daily temperature in Asheville averages around 44°F (7°C) in January, and Dayton fluctuates around 30°F (-1°C).
Asheville usually receives more sunshine than Dayton during winter. Asheville gets 176 hours of sunny skies, while Dayton receives 129 hours of full sun in the winter.
It's quite rainy in Asheville. In January, Asheville usually receives more rain than Dayton. Asheville gets 3.9 inches (100 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 2.1 inches (54 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAsheville 44°F (7°C)Dayton 30°F (-1°C)
Should I visit Asheville or Dayton in the Spring?
Both Dayton and Asheville during the spring are popular places to visit. The natural beauty are the main draw to Asheville this time of year.
In the spring, Asheville is a little warmer than Dayton. Typically, the spring temperatures in Asheville in April average around 64°F (18°C), and Dayton averages at about 55°F (13°C).
In Dayton, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Asheville. In the spring, Asheville often gets more sunshine than Dayton. Asheville gets 266 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dayton receives 215 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Asheville. Asheville usually gets more rain in April than Dayton. Asheville gets 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 3.5 inches (88 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAsheville 64°F (18°C)Dayton 55°F (13°C)
Typical Weather for Dayton and Asheville
| Asheville | Dayton | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 44°F (7°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) | 30°F (-1°C) | 2.1 inches (54 mm) |
| Feb | 47°F (8°C) | 4.3 inches (109 mm) | 33°F (1°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
| Mar | 55°F (13°C) | 5.4 inches (137 mm) | 44°F (7°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Apr | 64°F (18°C) | 4.4 inches (112 mm) | 55°F (13°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) |
| May | 71°F (22°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) | 65°F (18°C) | 4 inches (102 mm) |
| Jun | 79°F (26°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) | 74°F (23°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) |
| Jul | 82°F (28°C) | 5.4 inches (137 mm) | 78°F (26°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) |
| Aug | 81°F (27°C) | 4.6 inches (118 mm) | 76°F (25°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
| Sep | 75°F (24°C) | 4 inches (101 mm) | 69°F (21°C) | 2.6 inches (65 mm) |
| Oct | 64°F (18°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.5 inches (64 mm) |
| Nov | 55°F (13°C) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) | 47°F (8°C) | 3.1 inches (80 mm) |
| Dec | 47°F (8°C) | 4.1 inches (103 mm) | 35°F (2°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.