Which city is cheaper, Gainesville or Cape Canaveral?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for Florida Cape Canaveral vs. Gainesville for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Cape Canaveral or Gainesville?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Cape Canaveral or Gainesville, 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 Gainesville?
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.
Gainesville
Home to the University of Florida as well as Santa Fe College, the town of Gainesville has all of the shopping, entertainment, and restaurants that you could want in a college town - plus easy access to a number of outdoor adventures from canoeing, diving, and kayaking to birding, fishing, hiking, and biking. Some of the top features include the Butterfly Rainforest, the Florida Museum of Natural History, the Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, and Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCape Canaveral $130Gainesville $172
The average daily cost (per person) in Cape Canaveral is $130, while the average daily cost in Gainesville is $172. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Cape Canaveral and Gainesville in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCape Canaveral $78Gainesville $95
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCape Canaveral $156Gainesville $190
Compare Hotels in Cape Canaveral and Gainesville
Looking for a hotel in Cape Canaveral or Gainesville? 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Cape Canaveral Hotel Prices and Gainesville Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cape Canaveral $28Gainesville $32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gainesville
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Gainesville:
- Private Transfer from Gainesville to Orlando-Sanford (SFB) Airport: $676
- Private Transfer from Gainesville to Port Canaveral: $658
- Private Transfer from Gainesville to Orlando (MCO) Airport: $453
Is it cheaper to fly into Cape Canaveral or Gainesville?
Prices for flights to both Gainesville 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 $34Gainesville $56
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:
- Port Canaveral Food Tours: $101
Typical Food prices in Gainesville
Some typical examples of dining costs in Gainesville are as follows:
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Diner Breakfast for Two$17
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Lunch at Chop Stix (for 2)$24
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cape Canaveral $14Gainesville $16
Tours and Activities in Cape Canaveral
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cape Canaveral.
- Cocoa Beach Aerial Adventures ticket: $55
- Fully Guided Kayaking Backwater Manatee and Dolphin Tour: $75
- Cocoa Beach Night Time Bioluminescence Kayak Tour: $79
- SUP Paddleboard Lesson and Tour - Port Canaveral & Cocoa Beach: $95
- Polaris Slingshot Local Adventure Tour For up to TWO People: $130
- Kennedy Space Center: Small Group Experience: $189
- Full-Day (8 hour) Polaris Slingshot Adventure Rental for up to TWO people: $200
Typical Entertainment prices in Gainesville
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Gainesville are as follows:
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Manatee Tour for Two$98
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Tour Guide Tip$5.00
Tours and Activities in Gainesville
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Gainesville are as follows:
- Butterfly Rainforest at Florida Museum of Natural History Ticket: $14
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCape Canaveral $10Gainesville $39
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cape Canaveral and Gainesville, we can see that Gainesville 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 Gainesville would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Gainesville than you might in Cape Canaveral.
When is the best time to visit Cape Canaveral or Gainesville?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Cape Canaveral or Gainesville in the Summer?
Both Gainesville and Cape Canaveral during the summer are popular places to visit.
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In the summer, Cape Canaveral is around the same temperature as Gainesville. Typically, the summer temperatures in Cape Canaveral in July are around 80°F (27°C), and Gainesville is about 81°F (27°C).
Gainesville gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Cape Canaveral. Cape Canaveral usually gets more rain in July than Gainesville. Cape Canaveral gets 8.3 inches (211 mm) of rain, while Gainesville receives 6.8 inches (174 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyCape Canaveral 80°F (27°C)Gainesville 81°F (27°C)
Should I visit Cape Canaveral or Gainesville in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Cape Canaveral and Gainesville.
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In October, Cape Canaveral is generally around the same temperature as Gainesville. Temperatures in Cape Canaveral average around 74°F (24°C), and Gainesville stays around 71°F (22°C).
Cape Canaveral gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Cape Canaveral usually receives more rain than Gainesville. Cape Canaveral gets 4.1 inches (103 mm) of rain, while Gainesville receives 2 inches (51 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCape Canaveral 74°F (24°C)Gainesville 71°F (22°C)
Should I visit Cape Canaveral or Gainesville in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Cape Canaveral as well as Gainesville.
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Cape Canaveral is a little warmer than Gainesville in the winter. The temperature in Cape Canaveral is usually 60°F (15°C) in January, and Gainesville stays around 54°F (12°C).
Cape Canaveral usually gets less rain in January than Gainesville. Cape Canaveral gets 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain, while Gainesville receives 2.9 inches (75 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCape Canaveral 60°F (15°C)Gainesville 54°F (12°C)
Should I visit Cape Canaveral or Gainesville in the Spring?
Both Gainesville and Cape Canaveral are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
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In the spring, Cape Canaveral is around the same temperature as Gainesville. Typically, the spring temperatures in Cape Canaveral in April are around 70°F (21°C), and Gainesville is about 69°F (20°C).
In April, Cape Canaveral usually receives more rain than Gainesville. Cape Canaveral gets 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain, while Gainesville receives 2 inches (50 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilCape Canaveral 70°F (21°C)Gainesville 69°F (20°C)
Typical Weather for Gainesville and Cape Canaveral
| Cape Canaveral | Gainesville | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 60°F (15°C) | 2.3 inches (58 mm) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.9 inches (75 mm) |
| Feb | 59°F (15°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 4.5 inches (115 mm) |
| Mar | 65°F (19°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
| Apr | 70°F (21°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) | 69°F (20°C) | 2 inches (50 mm) |
| May | 74°F (24°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) | 75°F (24°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) |
| Jun | 78°F (26°C) | 7.1 inches (181 mm) | 80°F (26°C) | 6.8 inches (174 mm) |
| Jul | 80°F (27°C) | 8.3 inches (211 mm) | 81°F (27°C) | 6.8 inches (174 mm) |
| Aug | 80°F (27°C) | 6.7 inches (171 mm) | 81°F (27°C) | 8.3 inches (211 mm) |
| Sep | 79°F (26°C) | 7.2 inches (183 mm) | 78°F (26°C) | 5.5 inches (139 mm) |
| Oct | 74°F (24°C) | 4.1 inches (103 mm) | 71°F (22°C) | 2 inches (51 mm) |
| Nov | 64°F (18°C) | 1.6 inches (40 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 2.4 inches (61 mm) |
| Dec | 62°F (16°C) | 1.9 inches (48 mm) | 56°F (14°C) | 2.9 inches (74 mm) |
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