Should you visit Austin or Juneau?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Austin or Juneau, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Austin
Located in the Texas Hill Country, Austin is the capital city of the state. It is a relatively small city with a compact downtown area and many sprawling suburbs stretching out along the interstate. Austin prides itself on its eclectic culture and alternative vibe which is epitomized by the city's unofficial slogan "Keep Austin Weird." The University of Texas at Austin is also located downtown. The school's large student population helps give the city a youthful feel with a lively nightlife and no shortage of activities on weekends. The city is also the self proclaimed live music capital of the country. As such, it has many music venues and bars, most of which are clustered around the 6th Street area downtown. There are also many free outdoor concerts, particularly during the summer months.
Juneau
Juneau, Alaska is the capital city of the state, and it is also one of the most beautiful cities. Juneau is surrounded by two large mountains and a channel, so it is the only state capital not accessible by train or car. It is lined with small streets, including what is locally known as “stair streets” which can only be accessed by foot and include walking up 100-300 stairs, depending on which level you're going to. Luckily, most of the sights and stores are on the lower level, though. The only real structures located on the stair streets are residential buildings. Juneau is the most visited city in Alaska, but its population is just over 33,000. Its economy is based mostly on government, tourism, fishing, and mining.
Which city is cheaper, Juneau or Austin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Austin is $114, while the average daily cost in Juneau is $128. 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 Austin and Juneau in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Austin is about $90 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $70. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Juneau the cost is $140 on average.
Food
The average traveler spends about $28 per day in Austin 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.
On average, meal and food prices in Juneau cost around $39 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $16.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Austin $28
Juneau $39
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Austin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Austin.
-
Austin Food Tour by Bus with Live Band On Board:
$93
-
Austin Beer and Food Tour by Bike:
$97
-
Private Secret Food Tour of Downtown Austin:
$103
-
East Austin Urban Farms & Brewery Food Tour by Bike:
$106
-
Wood Fired Dinner Series at the Austin Winery:
$159
-
Secret Food Tour of Downtown Austin w/ Private Tour Option:
$221
-
Secret Food Tour:
$288
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Austin is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $38 per person, per day, on local transportation in Austin.
The average price of local transportation around Juneau is $30 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 Austin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Austin:
-
Private Arrival Transfer from Austin Bergstrom Airport AUS:
$40
-
Private Departure Transfer to Austin Bergstrom Airport AUS:
$40
-
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport One Way Transfer:
$69
-
Private Airport and Hotel Transfer Services in Austin:
$86
-
Austin City to Austin-Bergstrom Airport (AUS) - Departure Private Transfer:
$93
-
Austin-Bergstrom Airport (AUS) to Austin City - Arrival Private Transfer:
$93
-
Transfer from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to Austin:
$109
-
Private Austin Transfer: Hotel to Airport:
$114
-
Private Austin Transfer: Airport to Hotel:
$128
-
Austin-Bergstrom Airport (AUS) to Austin City - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$187
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Juneau
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Juneau:
-
Airport Transfer via Private Mercedes Sprinter Limo:
$160
-
Helena Airport One Way Transfer:
$53
-
Private Arrival Transfer from Juneau Airport (JNU):
$48
-
Private Departure Transfer to Juneau Airport (JNU):
$48
Is it cheaper to fly into Austin or Juneau?
Prices for flights to both Juneau and Austin 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 Austin typically cost an average of $22 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Juneau's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $14 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.
Typical Entertainment prices in Austin
Here are a few typical costs in Austin for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in Austin
Here are a few actual costs in Austin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
Austin Digital Private Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$11
-
Austin Trails Amazing Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$20
-
Austin Capital Photo Tour:
$21
-
Haunted History Ghost Tour:
$21
-
Double Decker Austin Single Loop Sightseeing Tour:
$23
-
Spy Adventure: Operation Mindfall:
$25
-
Spy Adventure at the Domain in Austin:
$25
-
Operation Mindfall, A Spy Adventure in Austin:
$25
-
Austin Street Art Walking Tour:
$25
-
Haunted Austin Walking History Tour:
$26
-
Austin and Hill Country Sightseeing Tour:
$26
-
Downtown Austin Photo Tour:
$26
Typical Entertainment prices in Juneau
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Juneau are as follows:
Tours and Activities in Juneau
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Juneau are as follows:
-
Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$14
-
Juneau Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$15
-
Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure in Juneau:
$29
-
City Trolley and Macaulay Salmon Hatchery Tour:
$32
-
Juneau City and Mendenhall Glacier Combo Tour:
$63
-
Juneau City Sightseeing and Mendenhall Glacier Tour:
$63
-
Historic Gold Mining and Panning Adventure:
$75
-
Historic Gold Mining and Panning Adventure:
$75
-
Historic Gold Panning Adventure & Salmon Bake:
$103
-
Half-Day Tour to Mendenhall Glacier and King Crab from Juneau:
$114
-
Whale Watching Adventure:
$115
-
Juneau Whale Watching Tour:
$115
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Austin may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $23 per day on alcoholic beverages.
The average person spends about $13 on alcoholic beverages in Juneau per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in Austin
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Austin:
-
Austin Bar Hunt: Sixth Street Spree: Austin Bar Crawl:
$12
-
More than a Pub Crawl:
$24
-
Haunted Austin Ghost and Pub Walking Tour:
$27
-
Brewery Tours through East Austin via Motorized Pedicab:
$40
-
Austin Pedicab Brewery Tour with Beer Flights Included Option:
$46
-
The Brew Bus: Austin Brewery Tour with Live Band:
$81
-
Half-Day Craft Beer and Brewery Tour:
$82
-
Private Texas Hill Country Half-Day Wine Tour from Austin:
$140
-
Texas Hill Country Wine Tour by Limousine:
$175
-
Customizable Austin Distillery and Brewery Tour:
$206
-
Half-Day Brewery and Craft Beer Tour in Austin with Tastings:
$240
Sample the Local Flavors in Juneau
Also in Juneau, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Juneau Shore Excursion: Alaskan Brewery & Tasting Experience:
$63
When comparing the travel costs between Austin and Juneau, we can see that Juneau 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.
Related Articles for Austin
Related Articles for Juneau
