Should you visit Boston or Hershey?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Boston and Hershey. 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.
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.
Hershey
Often called "Chocolatetown, USA" and "The Sweetest Place on Earth," Hershey, Pennsylvania is most known for being home to the famous Hershey's chocolates. The Hershey Company was founded in 1894 by Milton S. Hershey, and has grown to sell products in over sixty countries worldwide. Before the town was named Hershey, it was called Derry Church and was the hometown of the chocolatier. While there are now manufacturing plants in many locations, Hershey, PA, remains the location that draws the crowds. It is the place where the Hershey Company originated and is home to attractions like Hershey Park, Hershey Gardens, and Hershey's Chocolate World.
Which city is cheaper, Hershey or Boston?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Boston is $203, while the average daily cost in Hershey is $170. 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 Boston and Hershey in more detail.
Accommodation
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $264 for a double occupancy room in Boston.
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $91. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Hershey the cost is $182 on average.
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.
While meal prices in Hershey can vary, the average travelers spends about $49 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Hershey should cost around $20 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Hershey is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
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Food
Meals for one day
Boston $40
Hershey $49
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
Typical Food prices in Hershey
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Hershey:
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Frozen Hot Chocolate
$4.19
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Plain and Fancy Farm
$46
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Homemade Apple Butter
$7.98
Local Transportation
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.
The cost of a taxi ride in Hershey is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $39 per person, per day, on local transportation in Hershey.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Boston
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Boston are as follows:
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Taxi
$35
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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 Boston or Hershey?
Prices for flights to both Hershey and Boston 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 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.
Entertainment and activities in Hershey typically cost an average of $43 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
Typical Entertainment prices in Hershey
Here are a few typical costs in Hershey for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in Hershey
Here are a few actual costs in Hershey for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Skip the Line: AACA Museum Admission Ticket:
$13
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
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.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Hershey may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $22 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Boston
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Boston:
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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 Boston and Hershey, we can see that Boston is more expensive. And not only is Hershey much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hershey would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hershey 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 Hershey.
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