Should you visit Asheville or Detroit?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Asheville and Detroit. 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. So, let's dig into it.
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.
Detroit
Detroit is the largest city in the Midwestern state of Michigan. Near Downtown, the neoclassical Detroit Institute of Arts is famed for the Detroit Industry Murals painted by Diego Rivera, and inspired by the city's ties to the auto industry, giving it the nickname "Motor City." Detroit is also the birthplace of Motown Records, whose chart-topping history is on display at their original headquarters, Hitsville U.S.A.
Which city is cheaper, Detroit or Asheville?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Asheville is $106, while the average daily cost in Detroit is $112. 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 Asheville and Detroit in more detail.
Accommodation
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $142 for a double occupancy room in Asheville.
The prices for places to stay in Detroit can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $56, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $112.
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Asheville is $11 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Detroit than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $30 on transportation in Detroit on average per day.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Detroit
Also for Detroit, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Detroit - Wayne County Airport One Way Transfer:
$80
-
Detroit Airport (DTW) to Detroit City - Arrival Private Transfer:
$106
-
Detroit Airport (DTW) to Detroit City - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$212
-
Detroit City to Detroit Airport (DTW) - Departure Private Transfer:
$106
-
Private Departure Transfer to Detroit Airport DTW:
$43
-
Private Transfer From Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to Detroit City: One Way Arrival Transfer:
$149
-
Private Transfer from Detroit (DTW) Airport to Detroit City:
$122
-
Private Transfer from Detroit City to Detroit (DTW) Airport:
$122
-
Private Transfer: Detroit to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW):
$622
-
Transfer from Detroit Metropolitan Airport to Detroit:
$100
Is it cheaper to fly into Asheville or Detroit?
Prices for flights to both Detroit 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
In Asheville travelers spend around $26 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
In Detroit travelers spend around $36 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Asheville $26
Detroit $36
Typical Food prices in Asheville
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Asheville:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Detroit
For Detroit, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Fresh Mediterranean Inspired Cooking Class in a Unique Detroit Home:
$94
-
Detroit Revival Food Tours:
$139
Entertainment
Asheville's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $13 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Sightseeing expenses in Detroit, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $17 per day, per person.
Typical Entertainment prices in Asheville
Here are a few typical costs in Asheville for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in Asheville
Here are a few actual costs in Asheville for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
"Love Stories of Asheville" Guided Walking Tour:
$498
-
2-Hour Guided Segway Tour of Asheville:
$68
-
4-Mile Guided Paddleboard Tour on The French Broad River in Asheville:
$82
-
7 Mile Guided Paddleboard Tour On The French Broad River in Asheville:
$97
-
Asheville Insider Guided Walking Tour:
$30
-
Asheville Literary Tour:
$30
-
Asheville Night-Time Guided Walking Ghost Tour (1 or 1.5-Hour Options Available):
$21
-
Asheville Night-Time Walking Ghost Tour:
$21
-
Asheville Private Guided Bird Watching Tour:
$41
-
Asheville Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$21
-
Asheville Scavenger Hunt: Downtown Asheville Adventure:
$12
-
Asheville tip-based sightseeing Walking Tour with Donut & Spirits/Beer Tastings:
$5.00
Tours and Activities in Detroit
For Detroit, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
2020 Preservation Detroit Saturday Eastern Market Tour:
$18
-
Detroit Walking Tour Including Rides on the People Mover:
$29
-
Detroit Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$30
-
Detroit Beer History Walking Tour:
$39
-
Pre Mother's Day Detroit Shopping Tour:
$49
-
90 minute Segway Experience:
$64
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Asheville may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $13 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Typically, people visiting Detroit spend on average $16 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Asheville
Also in Asheville, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Downtown Asheville Guided Brewery Walking Tour:
$38
-
Private Adventure Brews Cruise Brewery Tours in Asheville (Up To 5 Breweries):
$1,013
When comparing the travel costs between Asheville and Detroit, we can see that Detroit is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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