Should you visit Boca Raton or Tampa?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Boca Raton and Tampa. 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.
Boca Raton
An affluent city with a reputation for catering to the well-to-do, Boca Raton is a beautiful city in Southern Florida with plenty to offer for all tastes and budgets. Boca's warm weather climate has visitors flocking to its many beaches and parks each day, while others take advantage of the golf courses, spas, annual events, festivals, live shows, museums, shopping, dining, and more.
Tampa
On the north shore of Tampa Bay, across the water from Saint Peterburg, is the city of Tampa. The city has a population of almost 350,000. The metropolitan area includes Tampa, St. Peterburg, and Clearwater. It has about 2.9 million residents and is the second largest metropolitan area in the state. The city is a popular destination for outdoor activities and in 2008 it was ranked the 5th best outdoor city by Forbes.
Which city is cheaper, Tampa or Boca Raton?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Boca Raton is $226, while the average daily cost in Tampa is $119. 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 Boca Raton and Tampa in more detail.
Accommodation
For a normal double-occupancy room in Boca Raton, $272 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Boca Raton, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $136, such as in a hostel.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $120 in Tampa For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
The average traveler spends about $54 per day in Boca Raton 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 Tampa cost around $35 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 $14.
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Food
Meals for one day
Boca Raton $54
Tampa $35
Local Transportation
Boca Raton's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $61 per person, per day on transportation in Boca Raton.
Tampa's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $38 per person, per day on transportation in Tampa.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Boca Raton
Also for Boca Raton, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Boca Raton to Miami Airport (MIA) - Departure Private Transfer:
$153
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Boca Raton to Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL)- Departure Private Transfer:
$98
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tampa
Also for Tampa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Transfer from Tampa to Port Canaveral:
$526
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Private Transfer from Tampa to Orlando-Sanford (SFB) Airport:
$457
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Private Transfer from Tampa to Orlando (MCO) Airport:
$393
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Private Tampa Area to Orlando Area Transfer up to 11 One Price Mercedes Sprinter:
$300
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Tampa Airport (TPA) to St Petersburg - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$167
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Tampa Airport (TPA) to Clearwater Beach - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$167
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Tampa Airport (TPA) to Tampa hotel or address - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$164
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Private Transfer from Tampa Airport to Anna Maria Island:
$120
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Private Transfer from Tampa Airport to Sarasota:
$120
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Private Tampa Transfer: Hotel to Airport or Cruise Port:
$113
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Private Tampa Transfer: Cruise Port to Airport or Hotel:
$113
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Private Tampa Transfer: Airport to Hotel or Cruise Port:
$113
Is it cheaper to fly into Boca Raton or Tampa?
Prices for flights to both Tampa and Boca Raton 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
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Boca Raton can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $22 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Tampa can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $15 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Tours and Activities in Tampa
For Tampa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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1.5-hour Dolphin Sightseeing Cruise from Tampa:
$31
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2-hour Tiki Boat BYOB Cruise in Tampa:
$60
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Adventure Island Water Park Ticket:
$63
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Bayshore Drive Motorbike Tour:
$199
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Bicycle Tour Orlando, Over Tampa Bay Ride:
$150
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Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Admission Ticket:
$110
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Historic Ybor City Food and Drink Walking Tour:
$59
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Motorcycle Tour of Sunshine Skyway Bridge:
$299
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Nature Coast Private Day Tour From Tampa with Photographer , Max Group of 4:
$250
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Nature Lovers Combo Tour:
$136
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Skip the Line: The Florida Aquarium in Tampa Bay Ticket:
$26
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Skip the Line: ZooTampa at Lowry Park Admission Ticket:
$45
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Boca Raton, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $32.
Typically, people visiting Tampa spend on average $20 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Tampa
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Tampa:
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Tampa Bar Hunt: Tampa Takeover Bar Crawl:
$12
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Haunted Tampa Ghost and Pub Walking Tour - Ybor City:
$26
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Private Tampa Brewery Tour - Party Bus:
$600
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Boca Raton and Tampa, we can see that Boca Raton is more expensive. And not only is Tampa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Tampa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tampa 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 Boca Raton would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Boca Raton than you might in Tampa.
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