Should you visit Cape Canaveral or Clearwater?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Cape Canaveral or Clearwater, 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.
Cape Canaveral
As a part of the region known as the "Space Coast," Cape Canaveral is best known as the home of America's launch pad, the Kennedy Space Center. The Space Center is located just to the west of the city on Merritt Island. Other features of the cape include the Cape Canaveral lighthouse and Port Canaveral, one of the busiest cruise ports in the world.
Clearwater
Clearwater is a city in Florida's Tampa Bay area known for its sunny weather and gulf coast beaches. Its most famous beach (Clearwater Beach) is located on a barrier island with white sands and crystal waters - a perfect setting for activities such as fishing, sailing, kayaking, jet skiing, dolphin and sunset tours, parasailing, and more.
Which city is cheaper, Clearwater or Cape Canaveral?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Cape Canaveral is $130, while the average daily cost in Clearwater is $241. 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 Cape Canaveral and Clearwater in more detail.
Accommodation
The prices for places to stay in Cape Canaveral can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $78, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $156.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $208 for a double occupancy room in Clearwater.
Food
In Cape Canaveral travelers spend around $34 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.
The average traveler spends about $38 per day in Clearwater 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.
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Food
Meals for one day
Cape Canaveral $34
Clearwater $38
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cape Canaveral
For Cape Canaveral, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Port Canaveral Food Tours:
$101
Local Transportation
Cape Canaveral'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 $28 per person, per day on transportation in Cape Canaveral.
The cost of a taxi ride in Clearwater is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $177 per person, per day, on local transportation in Clearwater.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Clearwater
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Clearwater:
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Private Transfer from Clearwater Beach to Port Canaveral:
$658
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Private Transfer from Clearwater Beach to Orlando-Sanford (SFB) Airport:
$588
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Private Transfer from Clearwater Beach to Orlando (MCO) Airport:
$453
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St. Pete–Clearwater Airport (PIE) to St. Petersburg - Roundtrip Private Transfer:
$147
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Clearwater Beach to Tampa Airport (TPA) - Departure Private Transfer:
$83
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St. Pete–Clearwater Airport (PIE) to Clearwater Beach - Arrival Private Transfer:
$75
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St.Pete–Clearwater Airport (PIE) to Clearwater Beach -Roundtrip Private Transfer:
$72
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Clearwater Beach to St.Pete–Clearwater Airport (PIE) -Departure Private Transfer:
$37
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St. Pete–Clearwater Airport (PIE) to St. Petersburg - Arrival Private Transfer:
$37
Is it cheaper to fly into Cape Canaveral or Clearwater?
Prices for flights to both Clearwater and Cape Canaveral 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 Cape Canaveral can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $14 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Tours and Activities in Cape Canaveral
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cape Canaveral.
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Cocoa Beach Aerial Adventures ticket:
$55
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Fully Guided Kayaking Backwater Manatee and Dolphin Tour:
$75
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Cocoa Beach Night Time Bioluminescence Kayak Tour:
$79
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SUP Paddleboard Lesson and Tour - Port Canaveral & Cocoa Beach:
$95
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Polaris Slingshot Local Adventure Tour For up to TWO People:
$130
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Full-Day (8 hour) Polaris Slingshot Adventure Rental for up to TWO people:
$200
Tours and Activities in Clearwater
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Clearwater are as follows:
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Adventure Boat in Clearwater Beach:
$23
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Beach Cruiser Bicycle:
$15
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Boeing 737 Flight Simulator Experience:
$154
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Calypso Queen Tropical Party Buffet Cruise:
$35
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Clearwater Beach Pier 60 Tour:
$199
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Clearwater Daytime Yacht Music Cruise with Optional Dining:
$22
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Clearwater Dolphin-Watching Tour:
$27
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Clearwater Encounters with Dolphins Tour:
$20
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Clearwater Evening Yacht Cruise with Optional Dining:
$22
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Clearwater Sunset Celebration Cruise:
$29
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Dolphin Adventure at Clearwater Beach:
$32
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Dolphin Sightseeing Tour of Clearwater Beach with Free Ice Cream:
$21
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 Cape Canaveral, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $10.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cape Canaveral and Clearwater, we can see that Clearwater is more expensive. And not only is Cape Canaveral much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cape Canaveral would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cape Canaveral 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 Clearwater would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Clearwater than you might in Cape Canaveral.
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