Should you visit Atlantic City or Boston?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Atlantic City and Boston. 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.
Atlantic City
Atlantic City, on the southeastern coast of New Jersey, is a popular destination for gambling, partying, and generally having fun. The beach is lined with casinos, many with famous names, and there's a boardwalk that offers a diverse experience. Most people don't head to Atlantic City for the beaches - it's the casinos and partying that draws a crowd. This is a popular spot for bachelor and bachelorette parties, or anybody looking for an affordable place to gamble.
Boston
Boston is one of the oldest and most historic cities in New England. It is also the capital of the state of Massachusetts and the largest city in the region. The city proper covers 48 square miles and has a population of more than 600,000. The Greater Boston area has 4.5 million people and is the tenth largest metropolitan area in the country.
Which city is cheaper, Boston or Atlantic City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Atlantic City is $123, while the average daily cost in Boston is $203. 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 Atlantic City and Boston in more detail.
Accommodation
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $116 for a double occupancy room in Atlantic City.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $264 for a double occupancy room in Boston.
Food
The average traveler spends about $40 per day in Atlantic City for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
In Boston travelers spend around $40 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.
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Food
Meals for one day
Atlantic City $40
Boston $40
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Boston
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Boston.
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Boston North End Pizza Tour:
$49
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Historic Taverns and Pizza Tour:
$49
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Boston's North End "Little Italy" Pizza, Cannoli, and Freedom Trail Walking Tour:
$49
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Haunted Pizza Tour:
$66
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Italian Food Tour with Pizza, Meats, Cheese, & Bread:
$69
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Boston's North End Small-Group Walking Food Tour:
$71
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Fenway Neighborhood Food Tour (Boston):
$79
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Boston Buffet Dinner Cruise:
$99
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Private Tour: Secret Food Tours Boston North End:
$103
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Spirit of Boston Sunset Dinner Cruise with Buffet:
$105
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Boston Dinner Cruise On The Odyssey:
$111
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Boston Odyssey Dinner Cruise:
$118
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Atlantic City is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $32 per person, per day, on local transportation in Atlantic City.
The cost of a taxi ride in Boston is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $28 per person, per day, on local transportation in Boston.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Atlantic City
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Atlantic City:
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Private Transfer: Atlantic City to JFK or Laguardia Airports:
$665
Typical Local Transportation prices in Boston
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Boston are as follows:
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Taxi
$35
-
Subway Daily Pass
$9.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Boston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Boston:
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Airport Transfer by Private Car Service:
$55
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Arrival Private Transfer Boston Airport BOS to Boston Business or Luxury Vehicle:
$67
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Boston Airport Private Sedan Transfer:
$143
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Boston Airport Shared Transfer Service:
$29
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Boston Airport Transfer Arrival And Departure:
$340
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Boston Logan Airport (BOS) to Boston - Arrival Private Transfer:
$71
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Boston Logan Airport (BOS) to Boston - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$142
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Boston Private Transfer to Logan Airport (BOS):
$117
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Boston to Boston Logan Airport (BOS) - Departure Private Transfer:
$71
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Boston’s Logan International Airport to Providence - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$361
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Boston’s Logan International Airport to Providence – Arrival Private Transfer:
$180
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Departure Private Transfer Boston to Boston Airport BOS Business-Luxury Vehicle:
$67
Is it cheaper to fly into Atlantic City or Boston?
Prices for flights to both Boston and Atlantic City 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
Entertainment and activities in Atlantic City typically cost an average of $35 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Entertainment and activities in Boston typically cost an average of $26 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Typical Entertainment prices in Boston
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Boston are as follows:
Tours and Activities in Boston
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Boston are as follows:
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Self-Guided Smartphone Ghost Walking Tour in Boston:
$3.95
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Self-Guided Boston Christmas Tour:
$4.50
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Boston's Freedom Trail - Smart Phone guided (GPS) walking tour - go anytime:
$5.00
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The Great Cannoli Tour:
$5.00
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Boston Harborwalk & Tea Party Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$5.00
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The Ghosts of Boston's Past Haunted Self-guided Tour:
$5.00
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Freedom Trail Self-Guided Tour:
$6.33
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Boston's Freedom Trail, 3 tours in 1, Smart Phone Guided Tour (GPS) - go anytime:
$7.99
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Harvard: 70-Minute Hahvahd Tour:
$12
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Public Tour of MIT:
$12
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Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$14
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Freedom Trail Lantern Tour:
$14
For more ideas for your next trip, check out Free Things to Do in Boston, Must-See Monuments and Memorials In Boston, and The Best Things To Do in Boston with Kids.
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Atlantic City may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $31 per day on alcoholic beverages.
The average person spends about $22 on alcoholic beverages in Boston per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in Atlantic City
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Atlantic City:
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All Bets Are Off: Atlantic City Bar Crawl:
$12
Sample the Local Flavors in Boston
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Boston:
-
Haunted Boston Ghost and Pub Walking Tour:
$27
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Historic Pub Crawl Tour along the Freedom Trail:
$40
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Craft Brewery Beer Tour:
$82
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Sip of Boston Guided Brewery Tour:
$90
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North End Wine Tasting Tour:
$96
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Back Bay Wine Tasting Tour:
$96
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South End Wine Tasting Tour:
$96
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Atlantic City and Boston, we can see that Boston is more expensive. And not only is Atlantic City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Atlantic City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Atlantic City 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 Boston would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Boston than you might in Atlantic City.
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