Should you visit Cape Canaveral or Pensacola?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Cape Canaveral or Pensacola, 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.
Pensacola
With sands as white as sugar grain and a sky devoid of grey clouds and innumerable downpours, Pensacola is known by many as the "Western Gate to the Sunshine State." Located in northern Florida, Pensacola is a waterfront city known for its pristine beaches and rich Floridian history. As one of the earliest European settlements in the U.S., Pensacola is riddled with museums and landmarks that commemorate the state's history, making the city quite appetizing for history buffs and students alike. However, if you are simply looking to get the most out of the all-around good weather of Florida, Pensacola's protected beaches complemented with high-class restaurants and stores make this a vacation capital for many.
Which city is cheaper, Pensacola 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 Pensacola is $157. 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 Pensacola 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.
Pensacola's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $178. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $89.
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 $40 per day in Pensacola 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
Pensacola $40
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
Typical Food prices in Pensacola
Some typical examples of dining costs in Pensacola are as follows:
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 average price of local transportation around Pensacola is $51 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Pensacola
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Pensacola:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pensacola
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pensacola:
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Pensacola International Airport (PNS) to Pensacola - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$271
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Pensacola to Pensacola International Airport (PNS) - Departure Private Transfer:
$136
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Pensacola International Airport (PNS) to Pensacola - Arrival Private Transfer:
$136
Is it cheaper to fly into Cape Canaveral or Pensacola?
Prices for flights to both Pensacola 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.
Pensacola's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $11 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
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
Typical Entertainment prices in Pensacola
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Pensacola are as follows:
Tours and Activities in Pensacola
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Pensacola are as follows:
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1hr Segway Tour Downtown:
$53
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2hr Segway Tour of Downtown:
$72
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3-Day Pensacola Sightseeing Pass:
$90
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Ghosts and Graveyard Tour of Pensacola:
$22
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Hop-on Hop-off Tour in Pensacola:
$30
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Pensacola Scavenger Hunt: Pensacola Adventure:
$12
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Red Light District Tour of Pensacola:
$25
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Tour of Pensacola's Landmarks:
$22
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Uninhabited Island Kayaking Adventure:
$62
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.
The average person spends about $35 on alcoholic beverages in Pensacola per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in Pensacola
Also in Pensacola, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cape Canaveral and Pensacola, we can see that Pensacola 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 Pensacola would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pensacola than you might in Cape Canaveral.
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