Should you visit Atlantic City or Pocono Mountains?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Atlantic City and Pocono Mountains. 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.
Pocono Mountains
The Poconos are a region of mountains, small towns, and natural areas in Eastern Pennsylvania. Located just a few hours from both New York City and Philadelphia, this region of 4 counties (Wayne, Pike, Monroe, & Carbon) consists of plenty of mountain scenery, gorgeous lakes, historic small towns, ski resorts, state parks, water parks, and more.
Which city is cheaper, Pocono Mountains or Atlantic City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Atlantic City is $99, while the average daily cost in Pocono Mountains is $139. 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 Pocono Mountains in more detail.
Accommodation
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $100 for a double occupancy room in Atlantic City.
The average price for accommodation for two people in Pocono Mountains is $142. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
Food
The average traveler spends about $29 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.
Pocono Mountains food costs typically run travelers around $42 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
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Food
Meals for one day
Atlantic City $29
Pocono Mountains $42
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Atlantic City is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $25 per person, per day, on local transportation in Atlantic City.
The average price of local transportation around Pocono Mountains is $39 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.
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
Entertainment
Entertainment and activities in Atlantic City typically cost an average of $31 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Pocono Mountains's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $24 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.
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Atlantic City may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $32 per day on alcoholic beverages.
The average person spends about $11 on alcoholic beverages in Pocono Mountains 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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Atlantic City and Pocono Mountains, we can see that Pocono Mountains 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 Pocono Mountains would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pocono Mountains than you might in Atlantic City.
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