Should you visit Baltimore or Houston?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Baltimore and Houston can help you decide which place is right for you.
Baltimore
Baltimore is a large, industrial city and popular tourist destination in the state of Maryland. It is about an hour outside of Washington, D.C. and is a hub of tourism and entertainment for the area. It has a vibrant nightlife, comfortable climate, and is a great place to visit when you're in the area. The city proper has a population of about 600,000 and the metropolitan area has 2.7 million. Its economy is centered around science, technology, engineering and math and it has many undergraduate and graduate schools including the world renowned Johns Hopkins University.
Houston
The largest city in Texas and the fourth largest in the United States, Houston is a sprawling urban center that has grown from its wealth in the oil industry. Visitors today are drawn to its cultural diversity which has additionally made Houston a foodie destination. Other attractions to Houston include its proximity to NASA's Space Center Houston on the Gulf coast, and its Downtown which features a vibrant museum and arts scene, shopping, and dining.
Which city is cheaper, Houston or Baltimore?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Baltimore is $143, while the average daily cost in Houston is $210. 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 Baltimore and Houston in more detail.
Accommodation
Baltimore's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $150. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $75.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $226 for a double occupancy room in Houston.
Food
The average traveler spends about $37 per day in Baltimore 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.
The average traveler spends about $28 per day in Houston 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.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Baltimore $37
Houston $28
Typical Food prices in Baltimore
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Baltimore:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Baltimore
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Baltimore.
-
Federal Hill Food Tour:
$71
-
Little Italy and Jonestown Food Tour:
$71
-
Fells Point Food Tour in Baltimore:
$73
-
Spirit of Baltimore Dinner Cruise with Buffet:
$100
-
Baltimore Helicopter Sightseeing Tour Plus Dinner:
$288
-
Platinum Package - Helicopter Tour with Dinner at Ruth's Chris or Capital Grille:
$315
-
Baltimore Helicopter Tour plus Lunch or Dinner Cruise:
$321
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Houston
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Houston.
-
Astroville Food Tour of Downtown Houston with Tunnel Access:
$65
-
Culinary Food Tour of Downtown Houston with Tunnel Access:
$67
-
Downtown Houston Food Tour:
$74
-
The Heights Food Tour:
$74
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Baltimore is $15 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.
The average price of local transportation around Houston is $58 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 Baltimore
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Baltimore:
-
Arrival Private Transfer Washington Airport BWI to Washington DC by SUV:
$129
-
Baltimore City to New York City - Private Car Transfer:
$454
-
Baltimore City to New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA) - Departure Private Transfer:
$448
-
Baltimore City to Newark International Airport (EWR)- Departure Private Transfer:
$411
-
Baltimore City to Philadelphia City - Private Car Transfer:
$311
-
Baltimore City to Washington City - Private Car Transfer:
$168
-
Baltimore Washington Airport (BWI) to Washington - Arrival Private Transfer:
$109
-
Baltimore Washington Airport (BWI) to Washington - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$219
-
Baltimore Washington International Airport Transfer to Downtown Baltimore:
$120
-
Baltimore to New York J.F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) - Departure Private Transfer:
$448
-
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport One Way Transfer:
$69
-
Departure Private Transfer Baltimore to Baltimore Airport BWI - Business Vehicle:
$74
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Houston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Houston:
-
Arrival Private Transfer Houston Airport HOU to Houston City by Executive SUV:
$92
-
Arrival Private Transfer Houston Airport HOU to Houston City by Sedan Car:
$67
-
Arrival Private Transfer Houston Airport HOU to Houston City by Sprinter Minibus:
$200
-
Arrival Private Transfer Houston George Bush Airport IAH to Houston by Minibus:
$175
-
Arrival Private Transfer Houston George Bush Airport IAH to Houston by SUV:
$92
-
Arrival Private Transfer Houston George Bush Airport IAH to Houston by Sedan Car:
$62
-
Departure Private Transfer Houston City to Houston Airport HOU by Executive SUV:
$92
-
Departure Private Transfer Houston City to Houston Airport HOU by Minibus:
$200
-
Departure Private Transfer Houston City to Houston Airport HOU by Sedan Car:
$67
-
Departure Private Transfer Houston to Houston George Bush Airport IAH by Minibus:
$175
-
Departure Private Transfer Houston to Houston George Bush Airport IAH by SUV:
$92
-
Departure Private Transfer Houston to Houston George Bush Airport IAH by Sedan:
$62
Is it cheaper to fly into Baltimore or Houston?
Prices for flights to both Houston and Baltimore 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
Baltimore'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.
Houston's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $11 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.
Tours and Activities in Baltimore
Here are a few actual costs in Baltimore for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
Baltimore Monuments Walking Tour:
$12
-
2 Hour Chesapeake Signature Cruise:
$15
-
Baltimore Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$21
-
Baltimore Inner Harbor Sightseeing Tour:
$23
-
History & Culture Small-Group Tour with a Local:
$41
-
History of Chesapeake Bay Sailing Tour:
$49
-
Baltimore Inner Harbor Sailing Experience:
$49
-
West Bank Tour:
$60
-
Inner Harbor Small-Group Culture Tour with a Local:
$69
-
Small-Group Food and Drink Tour with Local Snacks:
$73
-
Private Baltimore Historical Sightseeing Tours:
$75
-
Wine Beer and Spirit Tour in Frederick:
$97
Tours and Activities in Houston
Here are a few actual costs in Houston for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
Ultimate Houston Self-Driving Audio Tour:
$8.00
-
Haunted Houston Ghost Walking Tour (All Ages):
$21
-
Space Center Houston Admission Ticket:
$25
-
Astroville Underground Tunnel Tour of Downtown Houston:
$26
-
Houston Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$30
-
3D Printer Factory Tour plus 2 ft Tall Rocket!:
$31
-
Houston's Official Hop on-Hop off Tour:
$32
-
Houston Hop on-City Tour: 2-Day Pass:
$35
-
Hop-on Houston City Tour:
$35
-
Astroville Weekend Downtown Houston Tour With Tunnel Access:
$35
-
Astroville Rockets Basketball Game Day Tour with Tunnel Access:
$36
-
The Escape Game Epic 60-Minute Adventures:
$37
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Baltimore may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $14 per day on alcoholic beverages.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Houston may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $11 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Baltimore
Also in Baltimore, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Sip of Baltimore Brewery Tour:
$90
-
Westminster Region Wine Tour:
$97
-
Chesapeake Region Wine Tour:
$97
-
Heritage Region Wine Tour:
$97
-
Chocolate and Wine Tour:
$106
Sample the Local Flavors in Houston
Also in Houston, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Skip the Line: Distillery Tour Ticket:
$21
-
Haunted Houston Ghost and Pub Walking Tour:
$27
-
Brewery Pass with Beer Tastings:
$29
-
Brewery Tour:
$53
-
Astroville Downtown Bar Crawl & Tunnel Access (2 Cocktails Beverages Included):
$58
-
Bar Crawl with Tunnel Access and 2 Cocktails:
$67
-
2-Hour Downtown Brewery Tour by Electric Cart:
$70
-
SUV St. Arnold Brewery Tour:
$487
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Baltimore and Houston, we can see that Houston is more expensive. And not only is Baltimore much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Baltimore would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Baltimore 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 Houston would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Houston than you might in Baltimore.
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