A Travel Price Comparison for North Carolina Asheville vs. Durham for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

North America / Comparisons /
Jump to  down-arrow

Should you visit Asheville or Durham?

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 Durham. 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 Durham?

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.

Durham

Durham is a city in central North Carolina with about 230,000 residents. Together with Raleigh and Chapel Hill, it forms the Research Triangle area. Durham is often referred to as the "City of Medicine" and is home to the famous Duke University.

Durham's history is rooted in tobacco. The Duke family established American Tobacco, which controlled 90% of all cigarette production in the US during the second half of the 19th century. The family donated money to Trinity College, which changed its name to Duke University in 1924.

Today much of Durham's economy is centered around the university and Research Triangle Park. The area has many technology and pharmaceutical jobs and the economy continues to grow.

Which city is cheaper, Durham 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 Durham is $130. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Asheville and Durham in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Asheville $71
    Durham $73
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Asheville $142
    Durham $146
Compare Hotels in Asheville and Durham

Looking for a hotel in Asheville or Durham? 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.

Hotels in Asheville


Hotels in Durham


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 Durham Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Asheville $11
    Durham $26

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Durham

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Durham:

  • Durham to Raleigh-Durham Airport (RDU) - Departure Private Transfer: $139
  • Private Transfer from Durham to Manchester Airport (MAN): $407

Is it cheaper to fly into Asheville or Durham?

Prices for flights to both Durham 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Asheville $26
    Durham $35
Typical Food prices in Asheville

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Asheville:


  • Biltmore Estate Entrance Fee
    $60

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Asheville $13
    Durham $21
Typical Entertainment prices in Asheville

Here are a few typical costs in Asheville for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Massage
    $40

Tours and Activities in Asheville

Here are a few actual costs in Asheville for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Asheville tip-based sightseeing Walking Tour with Donut & Spirits/Beer Tastings: $5.00
  • Asheville Scavenger Hunt: Downtown Asheville Adventure: $12
  • Asheville Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $21
  • Asheville Night-Time Walking Ghost Tour: $21
  • Asheville Night-Time Guided Walking Ghost Tour (1 or 1.5-Hour Options Available): $21
  • 1-Hour Haunted Walking Ghost Tour: $22
  • Asheville Literary Tour: $30
  • Asheville Insider Guided Walking Tour: $30
  • Asheville Private Guided Bird Watching Tour: $41
  • North Carolina Arboretum Running Tour in Asheville: $45
  • French Broad River Kayak Tour in Asheville: $55
  • 2-Hour Guided Segway Tour of Asheville: $68

Tours and Activities in Durham

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Durham are as follows:

  • Trolley Pub Public Tour of Durham: $41

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Asheville $13
    Durham $27

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

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Asheville and Durham, we can see that Durham 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 Durham would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Durham than you might in Asheville.


When is the best time to visit Asheville or Durham?

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 Durham in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Asheville and Durham. Many travelers come to Asheville for the hiking, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Asheville is around the same temperature as Durham. Typically, the summer temperatures in Asheville in July are around 82°F (28°C), and Durham is about 79°F (26°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Durham 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 Durham during summer. Asheville gets 268 hours of sunny skies, while Durham receives 259 hours of full sun in the summer.

Durham 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 Durham. Asheville gets 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Asheville 82°F (28°C) 
    Durham 79°F (26°C)

Should I visit Asheville or Durham in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Asheville as well as Durham. Many visitors come to Asheville in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Asheville is generally around the same temperature as Durham. Temperatures in Asheville average around 64°F (18°C), and Durham stays around 61°F (16°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Durham. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Asheville this time of the year. In the autumn, Asheville often gets more sunshine than Durham. Asheville gets 229 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Durham receives 211 hours of full sun.

Asheville usually gets more rain in October than Durham. Asheville gets 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Asheville 64°F (18°C) 
    Durham 61°F (16°C)

Should I visit Asheville or Durham in the Winter?

Both Durham and Asheville are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Asheville for the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

The weather in Durham can be very cold. Asheville is a little warmer than Durham in the winter. The temperature in Asheville is usually 44°F (7°C) in January, and Durham stays around 40°F (5°C).

Asheville usually receives more sunshine than Durham during winter. Asheville gets 176 hours of sunny skies, while Durham receives 162 hours of full sun in the winter.

It's quite rainy in Asheville. In January, Asheville usually receives more rain than Durham. Asheville gets 3.9 inches (100 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Asheville 44°F (7°C) 
    Durham 40°F (5°C)

Should I visit Asheville or Durham in the Spring?

Both Durham and Asheville during the spring are popular places to visit. The spring months attract visitors to Asheville because of the natural beauty.

In the spring, Asheville is a little warmer than Durham. Typically, the spring temperatures in Asheville in April are around 64°F (18°C), and Durham is about 60°F (16°C).

In Durham, 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 Durham. Asheville gets 266 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Durham receives 251 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Asheville. Asheville usually gets more rain in April than Durham. Asheville gets 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Asheville 64°F (18°C) 
    Durham 60°F (16°C)

Typical Weather for Durham and Asheville

Asheville Durham
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 44°F (7°C) 3.9 inches (100 mm) 40°F (5°C) 3.2 inches (82 mm)
Feb 47°F (8°C) 4.3 inches (109 mm) 43°F (6°C) 3.3 inches (84 mm)
Mar 55°F (13°C) 5.4 inches (137 mm) 52°F (11°C) 3.4 inches (87 mm)
Apr 64°F (18°C) 4.4 inches (112 mm) 60°F (16°C) 3.1 inches (78 mm)
May 71°F (22°C) 3.1 inches (79 mm) 68°F (20°C) 3.3 inches (84 mm)
Jun 79°F (26°C) 3.8 inches (96 mm) 76°F (24°C) 3.7 inches (93 mm)
Jul 82°F (28°C) 5.4 inches (137 mm) 79°F (26°C) 5.1 inches (129 mm)
Aug 81°F (27°C) 4.6 inches (118 mm) 78°F (26°C) 4.9 inches (125 mm)
Sep 75°F (24°C) 4 inches (101 mm) 73°F (23°C) 3.8 inches (96 mm)
Oct 64°F (18°C) 3.4 inches (86 mm) 61°F (16°C) 2.8 inches (71 mm)
Nov 55°F (13°C) 3.2 inches (81 mm) 53°F (11°C) 2.8 inches (72 mm)
Dec 47°F (8°C) 4.1 inches (103 mm) 44°F (7°C) 3.1 inches (78 mm)


Budget Your Trip

Budget Your Trip has average travel costs for thousands of cities around the world, all provided by other travelers. You can also register to organize your spending by category and location with graphs, maps, charts, and tables.
Sign Up

More City Comparisons
Washington vs. Asheville
Washington vs. Durham
Clearwater vs. Asheville
Clearwater vs. Durham
Fort Lauderdale vs. Asheville
Fort Lauderdale vs. Durham
Gainesville vs. Asheville
Gainesville vs. Durham
Jacksonville vs. Asheville
Jacksonville vs. Durham
Miami vs. Asheville
Miami vs. Durham
Orlando vs. Asheville
Orlando vs. Durham
Saint Petersburg vs. Asheville
Saint Petersburg vs. Durham
Tallahassee vs. Asheville
Tallahassee vs. Durham
Tampa vs. Asheville
Tampa vs. Durham
Atlanta vs. Asheville
Atlanta vs. Durham
Savannah vs. Asheville
Savannah vs. Durham
New Orleans vs. Asheville
New Orleans vs. Durham
Baltimore vs. Asheville
Baltimore vs. Durham
Share This Page
Pin This Page
Asheville vs. Durham Travel Comparison

Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.