Which place is cheaper, Duck or Asheville?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for North Carolina Asheville vs. Duck for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Asheville or Duck?
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 Duck. 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 Duck?
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.
Duck
Duck is a resort town in Dare County, North Carolina. The town is quite small, with a year around population of just 369, but during the peak summer months the tourist crowds can climb to over 20,000. Duck is also the northernmost incorporated town in the county, and also the newest town in the Outer Banks, having been incorporated on May 1st, 2002.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAsheville $133Duck $188
The average daily cost (per person) in Asheville is $133, while the average daily cost in Duck is $188. 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 Duck in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAsheville $89Duck $107
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAsheville $178Duck $214
Compare Hotels in Asheville and Duck
Looking for a hotel in Asheville or Duck? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Asheville $14Duck $66
Is it cheaper to fly into Asheville or Duck?
Prices for flights to both Duck 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 $33Duck $45
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.
- Guided Craft Brewery Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $129
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Asheville $16Duck $13
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:
- River Arts District Tip-Based Sightseeing Walking Tour : $5.00
- Downtown Asheville Tip-Based Sightseeing Walking Tour : $5.00
- A Taste of West Asheville Tip-Based Guided Walking Tour: $5.00
- Asheville's Historic Smart Phone Guided App (GPS) Walking Tour: $6.75
- Asheville's Famous Ghosts Smart Phone GPS APP Solo Walking Tour: $6.75
- Asheville Historic Highlights: Self-Guided Walking Tour: $8.99
- Blue Ridge Parkway (Asheville) Driving Tour with Audio Guide: $9.99
- Asheville Scavenger Hunt: Downtown Asheville Adventure: $12
- Asheville Ghost Tour: A Walk Through Riverside Cemetery & Montford Neighborhood: $27
- Asheville Night-Time Walking Ghost Tour : $30
- Asheville Terrors Ghosts of the Blue Ridge By US Ghost Adventures: $30
- Historic Music Scene Walking Tour in Asheville: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAsheville $16Duck $45
Sample the Local Flavors in Asheville
Also in Asheville, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Ultimate Late Night Haunted Pub Crawl: $28
- Terrors, Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- Asheville Terror Boos and Brews Ultimate Guided 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: $67
- 3-Hour Guided Walking Brewery Tour Through Downtown Asheville: $69
- Floating Bar Crawl Tour: $72
- "Beer Flight" Drag Queen Bar Crawl Tour + VIP After Party Seating: $77
- Electric Bike Brewery Crawl of Asheville: $79
- 3 Hour Brewery Bus Guided Tour in Asheville: $89
- Guided Craft Brewery Tour with a Snack: $99
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Asheville and Duck, we can see that Duck 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 Duck would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Duck than you might in Asheville.
Which is Bigger, Asheville or Duck?
Asheville is bigger, and its population is about 122.4 times larger than the population of Duck. When comparing the population of Asheville vs. Duck, 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 and the activities that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Asheville or Duck?
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 Duck in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Asheville and Duck. The hiking, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Asheville this time of year.
In July, Asheville is generally around the same temperature as Duck. Daily temperatures in Asheville average around 82°F (28°C), and Duck fluctuates around 78°F (26°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Duck this time of the year. In Asheville, it's very sunny this time of the year. Asheville usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Duck during summer. Asheville gets 268 hours of sunny skies, while Duck receives 279 hours of full sun in the summer.
Duck receives a lot of rain in the summer. Asheville gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Asheville usually receives around the same amount of rain as Duck. Asheville gets 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain, while Duck receives 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAsheville 82°F (28°C)Duck 78°F (26°C)
Should I visit Asheville or Duck in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Asheville as well as Duck. Many travelers come to Asheville for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Asheville is around the same temperature as Duck in the autumn. The daily temperature in Asheville averages around 64°F (18°C) in October, and Duck fluctuates around 62°F (16°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Duck. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Asheville this time of the year. In the autumn, Asheville often gets more sunshine than Duck. Asheville gets 229 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Duck receives 211 hours of full sun.
Asheville usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Duck. Asheville gets 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain, while Duck receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAsheville 64°F (18°C)Duck 62°F (16°C)
Should I visit Asheville or Duck in the Winter?
Both Duck and Asheville are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Asheville in the winter for the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Duck can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Asheville is a little warmer than Duck. Typically, the winter temperatures in Asheville in January average around 44°F (7°C), and Duck averages at about 41°F (5°C).
Asheville usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Duck during winter. Asheville gets 176 hours of sunny skies, while Duck receives 168 hours of full sun in the winter.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Duck. It's quite rainy in Asheville. In January, Asheville usually receives around the same amount of rain as Duck. Asheville gets 3.9 inches (100 mm) of rain, while Duck receives 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAsheville 44°F (7°C)Duck 41°F (5°C)
Should I visit Asheville or Duck in the Spring?
Both Duck and Asheville during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Asheville for the natural beauty during these months.
In April, Asheville is generally a little warmer than Duck. Daily temperatures in Asheville average around 64°F (18°C), and Duck fluctuates around 59°F (15°C).
In Duck, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Asheville. In the spring, Asheville often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Duck. Asheville gets 266 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Duck receives 253 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Asheville. Asheville usually gets more rain in April than Duck. Asheville gets 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain, while Duck receives 3 inches (75 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAsheville 64°F (18°C)Duck 59°F (15°C)
Typical Weather for Duck and Asheville
| Asheville | Duck | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 44°F (7°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) | 41°F (5°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) |
| Feb | 47°F (8°C) | 4.3 inches (109 mm) | 42°F (6°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) |
| Mar | 55°F (13°C) | 5.4 inches (137 mm) | 50°F (10°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) |
| Apr | 64°F (18°C) | 4.4 inches (112 mm) | 59°F (15°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) |
| May | 71°F (22°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) | 67°F (19°C) | 4.6 inches (117 mm) |
| Jun | 79°F (26°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) | 74°F (23°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) |
| Jul | 82°F (28°C) | 5.4 inches (137 mm) | 78°F (26°C) | 5.4 inches (137 mm) |
| Aug | 81°F (27°C) | 4.6 inches (118 mm) | 78°F (25°C) | 5 inches (127 mm) |
| Sep | 75°F (24°C) | 4 inches (101 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 4.7 inches (119 mm) |
| Oct | 64°F (18°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) | 62°F (16°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Nov | 55°F (13°C) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) | 53°F (12°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) |
| Dec | 47°F (8°C) | 4.1 inches (103 mm) | 45°F (7°C) | 3.4 inches (85 mm) |
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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.
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