Which place is cheaper, Duck Key or Cape Canaveral?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cape Canaveral or Duck Key?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Cape Canaveral or Duck Key, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Cape Canaveral or Duck Key?
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.
Duck Key
If you are thirsty for the taste of tropical splendor, Duck Key, Florida will surely quench your desires. Located in Monroe County, Florida, right beside its neighbor Conch Key, Duck Key stands. The community is chock full of everyone's favorite seaside activities, including fishing, jetskiing, scuba diving, canoeing, and kayaking. Though a quaint town, Duck Key attracts tourists from all over due to its quiet beaches and friendly locals. Whether you are looking to meet and greet with the dolphins or simply lie upon the sandy white beaches as the fire orange sun sets before you, Duck Key is truly a sweet and small subtropical diversion.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America, The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCape Canaveral $220Duck Key $143
The average daily cost (per person) in Cape Canaveral is $220, while the average daily cost in Duck Key is $143. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Cape Canaveral and Duck Key in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCape Canaveral $155Duck Key $56
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCape Canaveral $310Duck Key $112
Compare Hotels in Cape Canaveral and Duck Key
Looking for a hotel in Cape Canaveral or Duck Key? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cape Canaveral $35Duck Key $69
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cape Canaveral
Also for Cape Canaveral, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer: Port Canaveral to Orlando Airport MCO in Luxury SUV: $121
- Private Transfer from Port Canaveral to SeaWorld: $243
- Private Transfer from Port Canaveral to Reunion: $274
- Private Transfer from Port Canaveral to Orlando Airport: $286
- Private Transfer from Port Canaveral to Melbourne: $220
- Port Canaveral to MCO Orlando Airport Private Transfer (Two way): $85
- Orlando Airport to/from Port Canaveral Sedan Transfer up to 3 pax: $145
- NASA Space Center/Port Canaveral Private Transfer (round trip): $67
- MCO Orlando Airport to Port Canaveral Private Transfer (two way): $170
- MCO Orlando Airport to Port Canaveral Private Transfer (One way): $85
- Canaveral Cruise Port to Orlando Airport (MCO)-Departure Transfer: $85
- Canaveral Cruise Port to Orlando Airport (MCO) - Departure Private Transfer: $85
Is it cheaper to fly into Cape Canaveral or Duck Key?
Prices for flights to both Duck Key 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayCape Canaveral $43Duck Key $45
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cape Canaveral $17Duck Key $30
Tours and Activities in Cape Canaveral
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cape Canaveral.
- Cape Canaveral Private Surf Lesson with Experienced Instructor: $70
- Wizard of Oz Museum Entry Ticket: $32
- Cocoa Beach Aerial Adventures ticket: $58
- Cocoa Beach Night Time Bioluminescence Kayak Tour: $79
- Dolphin & Manatee Kayaking Tour in Orlando Area: $65
- Fully Guided Kayaking Backwater Manatee and Dolphin Tour: $75
- SUP Paddleboard Lesson and Tour - Port Canaveral & Cocoa Beach: $95
- Self-Guided Kayaking Manatee and Dolphin Tour: $55
- Two Hour Bioluminescence Kayak Tour Near Orlando: $60
- Wizard of OZ Museum Ticket with Guided Tour by the Owner: $125
- Wizard of OZ Museum tour: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCape Canaveral $13Duck Key $7.99
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cape Canaveral and Duck Key, we can see that Cape Canaveral is more expensive. And not only is Duck Key much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Duck Key would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Duck Key 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 Cape Canaveral would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cape Canaveral than you might in Duck Key.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cape Canaveral Expensive? and Is Duck Key Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cape Canaveral or Duck Key?
Cape Canaveral has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Duck Key. When comparing the sizes of Cape Canaveral and Duck Key, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Cape Canaveral or Duck Key?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Cape Canaveral or Duck Key in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Cape Canaveral and Duck Key. Most visitors come to Cape Canaveral for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In July, Cape Canaveral is generally around the same temperature as Duck Key. Daily temperatures in Cape Canaveral average around 80°F (27°C), and Duck Key fluctuates around 84°F (29°C).
Cape Canaveral gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Cape Canaveral usually receives more rain than Duck Key. Cape Canaveral gets 8.3 inches (211 mm) of rain, while Duck Key receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyCape Canaveral 80°F (27°C)Duck Key 84°F (29°C)
Should I visit Cape Canaveral or Duck Key in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Cape Canaveral as well as Duck Key. The autumn months attract visitors to Cape Canaveral because of the shopping scene.
Cape Canaveral is cooler than Duck Key in the autumn. The daily temperature in Cape Canaveral averages around 74°F (24°C) in October, and Duck Key fluctuates around 80°F (27°C).
It's quite rainy in Duck Key. Cape Canaveral receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Cape Canaveral usually gets less rain in October than Duck Key. Cape Canaveral gets 4.1 inches (103 mm) of rain, while Duck Key receives 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain this time of the year. Keep in mind that June to November is the hurricane season in Cape Canaveral.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCape Canaveral 74°F (24°C)Duck Key 80°F (27°C)
Should I visit Cape Canaveral or Duck Key in the Winter?
Both Duck Key and Cape Canaveral are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Cape Canaveral this time of year.
In the winter, Cape Canaveral is cooler than Duck Key. Typically, the winter temperatures in Cape Canaveral in January average around 60°F (15°C), and Duck Key averages at about 70°F (21°C).
In January, Cape Canaveral usually receives more rain than Duck Key. Cape Canaveral gets 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain, while Duck Key receives 1.7 inches (43 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCape Canaveral 60°F (15°C)Duck Key 70°F (21°C)
Should I visit Cape Canaveral or Duck Key in the Spring?
Both Duck Key and Cape Canaveral during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Cape Canaveral for the beaches.
In April, Cape Canaveral is generally cooler than Duck Key. Daily temperatures in Cape Canaveral average around 70°F (21°C), and Duck Key fluctuates around 77°F (25°C).
Cape Canaveral usually gets more rain in April than Duck Key. Cape Canaveral gets 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain, while Duck Key receives 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain this time of the year. Also, June to November in Cape Canaveral is the hurricane season.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilCape Canaveral 70°F (21°C)Duck Key 77°F (25°C)
Typical Weather for Duck Key and Cape Canaveral
| Cape Canaveral | Duck Key | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 60°F (15°C) | 2.3 inches (58 mm) | 70°F (21°C) | 1.7 inches (43 mm) |
| Feb | 59°F (15°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) | 71°F (21°C) | 1.4 inches (36 mm) |
| Mar | 65°F (19°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) | 74°F (23°C) | 1.7 inches (42 mm) |
| Apr | 70°F (21°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) | 77°F (25°C) | 0.8 inches (21 mm) |
| May | 74°F (24°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) | 81°F (27°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
| Jun | 78°F (26°C) | 7.1 inches (181 mm) | 83°F (28°C) | 4.5 inches (114 mm) |
| Jul | 80°F (27°C) | 8.3 inches (211 mm) | 84°F (29°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
| Aug | 80°F (27°C) | 6.7 inches (171 mm) | 84°F (29°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) |
| Sep | 79°F (26°C) | 7.2 inches (183 mm) | 83°F (29°C) | 5.7 inches (144 mm) |
| Oct | 74°F (24°C) | 4.1 inches (103 mm) | 80°F (27°C) | 5.1 inches (129 mm) |
| Nov | 64°F (18°C) | 1.6 inches (40 mm) | 76°F (24°C) | 2 inches (50 mm) |
| Dec | 62°F (16°C) | 1.9 inches (48 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 1.4 inches (35 mm) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.