Which place is cheaper, Detroit or Charleston?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Charleston or Detroit, 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.
Charleston is a southern, quaint, and historic coastal town. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. It also has a unique and quaint vibe that attracts lots of visitors. Visitors also love the live music, food, and beaches.
Detroit is a overlooked , under-rated, and hardworking city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include museums, nightlife, and live music.
Travelers will generally find more things to do in Charleston than Detroit. While Detroit is larger than Charleston, Charleston has more sights and attractions for tourists. Charleston is more popular for its food, resorts, beaches, historical sights, shopping, christmas markets, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Detroit is known for its nightlife, music, and big city activities. Charleston is more touristy than Detroit and is popular for its historic city market, low-country cuisine, Civil War history, and antebellum houses. It is also home to The Waterfront Park. Detroit is popular for its Motown music, blue collar atmosphere, and influential auto industry.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Detroit and Charleston. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
For an educational experience, head to a museum or a notable sight in either Charleston or Detroit.
If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Charleston. This city is famous for its many historic churches and plantations. The plantations are open to visit and will educate you on the city's past, which is heavily involved in slavery. You can also visit Fort Sumter National Monument by boat or take a tour of the USS Yorktown.
Detroit is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Popular museums around town include the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Detroit Historical Museum, and the Michigan Science Center.
Charleston is an unbeatable place for its restaurants. Also, Detroit is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.
Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Charleston is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. Food lovers will enjoy the city's low country classics. There are many local restaurants in town that serve southern specialties. You can also head a bit out of the town center if you want a waterfront restaurant. Local favorites include she-crab soup, shrimp and grits, cornbread, and fried green tomatoes.
There are many up and coming restaurants in the Detroit area. There's a local flavor to the food with a number of classic dishes that are popular like square pizza, Coney dogs, and corned beef egg rolls.
Detroit is notable for its evening party scene. Also, Charleston is not as famous, but is still a good coastal town to visit for nightlife.
Detroit has plenty to do after the sun goes down. It's long history in music still influences the nightlife scene. You'll find bars, clubs, and other activities around town. Greektown and Midtown are both popular neighborhoods during the evening.
With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Charleston. As a college town, there are plenty of bars and nightclubs around town. There's also a lively music scene. Head to the areas near the college for the most affordable and active nightlife. Popular clubs in town include Cure Night Club, Deco Nightclub, and Mynt.
Detroit is an amazing city to visit for its music scene. Also, Charleston is not as famous, but is still a good coastal town to visit for live music.
In Detroit you'll find nightly musicians performing at a variety of venues. Few cities have such an influential music industry. It's home to Motown and is well known for its soul music, jazz, blues, and rap.
You'll find some good live music in Charleston. You can hear a number of local bands or enjoy a more widely known group at larger venues in the area.
Charleston is a nice place to visit for its luxury resorts. However, Detroit is not a resort destination.
With a selection of resorts, Charleston makes a nice vacation spot. The town has mostly hotels and bed and breakfasts in the downtown area, but nearby Kiawah Island has a number of nice resorts to choose from. Kiawah Island is particularly kid-friendly if you're looking for a family beach vacation. If you have a bit more money to spend and want something more residential, check out nearby Seabrook Island.
Detroit is not a resort destination.
Charleston is a very popular place for the beache. However, Detroit is not a beach destination.
You'll have a great beach vacation in Charleston. The area has a number of beautiful and fun nearby beaches including Folly Beach, Kiawah Island, and Seabrook Island. Folly Beach is an active and quirky beach area, while Kiawah is more family-friendly. Seabrook is more residential and more expensive.
Detroit is not a beach destination.
Charleston is an unbeatable place for its old town. However, Detroit does not have a historic old town.
With a famous historical old-town, Charleston offers plenty to see. Charleston's downtown is one of the most charming and well preserved Old Town's in the United States. It's easy to see why it's become a world class destination.
Detroit does not have a historic old town.
Charleston is an unbeatable place for its shopping opportunities. Also, Detroit is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping areas.
Known for shopping, Charleston draws large crowds to its stores. The city is famous for its historic market in the center of town. Local goods, foods, and crafts are sold daily here. There are also many clothing and local shops throughout town, particularly along King Street, which has boutiques and high end outlets. Outside of town, stop by Tanger Outlet Mall if you want name brands at a discount price.
Many visitors go to Detroit to go shopping. There are several shopping streets like Woodward Avenue. There are also outlet malls, shopping centers, and Eastern Market.
Charleston is a very popular place for its Christmas holiday experiences. However, Detroit does not offer Christmas activities.
Since it has plenty to do, Charleston is a very popular place to visit during Christmas. During the Christmas season there are a number of festivals, light shows, and even a boat parade that everyone can enjoy.
Detroit does not offer Christmas activities.
Charleston is a nice place to visit for visiting Christmas markets. However, Detroit does not offer Christmas markets.
Charleston has Christmas markets worth visiting. Marion Square hosts Christmas Markets on weekends throughout the holiday season.
Detroit does not offer Christmas markets.
Charleston and Detroit are both good destinations for the whole family.
Charleston is a family-friendly place to visit. The city has a number of family-friendly activities like carriage rides and boat rides. There's also an aquarium, a waterfront park, and many kid-friendly museums. The nearby beaches also make it a wonderful place to visit with kids.
Detroit is a family-friendly coastal town. Head to the Detroit Zoo or check out one of the amusement parks in the area. Kids will enjoy a visit to Legoland and there's also the Sea Life Michigan Aquarium. You could also spend some time visiting the unique museums in the area.
Charleston is an unbeatable place for its romantic activities. However, Detroit is lacking in good options for couples.
Charleston has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. This beautiful city is one of the most popular wedding destinations in America. It's a very romantic setting with beautiful hotels and bed and breakfasts that are perfect for couples on their honeymoon or looking for a romantic setting.
Detroit is not always the best place to visit for a couple. It's not a city that usually brings to mind romance, but if you find yourself here for a couple of days, there's a RiverWalk area and some interesting local neighborhoods.
Charleston is a nice place to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Detroit is not popular with students.
Plenty of students visit Charleston. The city is a college town with a young vibe that is perfect for students. There's a nice university area where you'll find cheaper places to eat and a good nightlife scene.
Detroit is not popular with students.
Both Charleston and Detroit offer decent public transit options.
Public transit is generally limited in Charleston. While there are some buses, you really must have a car to fully experience the entire area.
Public transit is mostly limited in Detroit. There's a streetcar and bus system, but the car is still king in Motor City.
Charleston is a very popular place for its high level of walkability. Also, Detroit is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its ease of walking around.
Charleston is a very walkable coastal town. The downtown area is very walkable, but once you leave the historic heart, it's best to have a car.
Detroit is a somewhat walkable coastal town. There are parts of downtown Detroit that are walkable, but most people need a car to get around.
For even more information, also check out Is Charleston Worth Visiting? and Is Detroit Worth Visiting?.
Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Charleston and Detroit. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Charleston than in Detroit. Usually, 2-7 days is a good amount of time for Charleston, and 1-3 days is enough time in Detroit.
Families should spend more time in Charleston than Detroit. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Charleston, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Charleston than Detroit. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Charleston that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Charleston than Detroit if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Charleston.
In Charleston, you'll find shopping and museums. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. This coastal town offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.
With live music and food around the under-rated city of Detroit, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. One of the main draws to the area is the live music. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Detroit, one day is sufficent for most.
In Charleston, you'll find museums and nightlife. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Visiting the old town is also a must. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Charleston has to offer.
With food and shopping around the destination of Detroit, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. One of the main draws to the area is the live music. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.
Charleston is a great place to explore. It is common to spend five days here. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Five days is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Charleston has to offer. Anyone can find something fun to do here.
Detroit, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Charleston. In Charleston, you'll find live music and food. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one week here.
Detroit is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One of the main draws to the area is the live music. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America, The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Charleston is $170, while the average daily cost in Detroit is $133. 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 Charleston and Detroit in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Charleston or Detroit? 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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Charleston:
Also for Detroit, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Detroit and Charleston 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.
Some typical examples of dining costs in Charleston are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Charleston.
For Detroit, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Charleston are as follows:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Charleston are as follows:
For Detroit, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Charleston:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Charleston and Detroit, we can see that Charleston is more expensive. And not only is Detroit much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Detroit would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Detroit 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 Charleston would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Charleston than you might in Detroit.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Charleston Expensive? and Is Detroit Expensive?.
Detroit has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Charleston. When comparing the sizes of Charleston and Detroit, 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.
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.
Both Detroit and Charleston during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Charleston because of the beaches, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Detroit this time of year.
In July, Charleston is generally a little warmer than Detroit. Daily temperatures in Charleston average around 82°F (28°C), and Detroit fluctuates around 74°F (24°C).
In Detroit, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Charleston. In the summer, Charleston often gets less sunshine than Detroit. Charleston gets 293 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Detroit receives 319 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Charleston. Charleston usually gets more rain in July than Detroit. Charleston gets 6.9 inches (176 mm) of rain, while Detroit receives 3.4 inches (85 mm) of rain this time of the year.
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Charleston and Detroit. The shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Charleston this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Detroit for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.
Charleston is much warmer than Detroit in the autumn. The daily temperature in Charleston averages around 67°F (19°C) in October, and Detroit fluctuates around 54°F (12°C).
Charleston usually receives more sunshine than Detroit during autumn. Charleston gets 197 hours of sunny skies, while Detroit receives 172 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Charleston usually receives more rain than Detroit. Charleston gets 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain, while Detroit receives 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
The winter brings many poeple to Charleston as well as Detroit. Many travelers come to Charleston for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Additionally, many visitors come to Detroit in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Detroit can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Charleston is much warmer than Detroit. Typically, the winter temperatures in Charleston in January average around 47°F (9°C), and Detroit averages at about 25°F (-4°C).
In the winter, Charleston often gets more sunshine than Detroit. Charleston gets 188 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Detroit receives 120 hours of full sun.
Charleston usually gets more rain in January than Detroit. Charleston gets 3.3 inches (85 mm) of rain, while Detroit receives 2 inches (50 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Both Detroit and Charleston are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Charleston in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty. Also, most visitors come to Detroit for the activities around the city during these months.
In April, Charleston is generally much warmer than Detroit. Daily temperatures in Charleston average around 64°F (18°C), and Detroit fluctuates around 49°F (9°C).
It's quite sunny in Detroit. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Charleston. Charleston usually receives more sunshine than Detroit during spring. Charleston gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Detroit receives 223 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Charleston usually receives less rain than Detroit. Charleston gets 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain, while Detroit receives 3.2 inches (80 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
Charleston | Detroit | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 47°F (9°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) | 25°F (-4°C) | 2 inches (50 mm) |
Feb | 50°F (10°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) | 27°F (-3°C) | 2.1 inches (54 mm) |
Mar | 58°F (14°C) | 4.3 inches (110 mm) | 37°F (3°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) |
Apr | 64°F (18°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) | 49°F (9°C) | 3.2 inches (80 mm) |
May | 72°F (22°C) | 4.2 inches (106 mm) | 60°F (16°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) |
Jun | 78°F (26°C) | 6.4 inches (163 mm) | 70°F (21°C) | 3.8 inches (97 mm) |
Jul | 82°F (28°C) | 6.9 inches (176 mm) | 74°F (24°C) | 3.4 inches (85 mm) |
Aug | 81°F (27°C) | 7.1 inches (181 mm) | 73°F (23°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) |
Sep | 76°F (25°C) | 4.8 inches (121 mm) | 65°F (19°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) |
Oct | 67°F (19°C) | 2.9 inches (74 mm) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.3 inches (58 mm) |
Nov | 58°F (15°C) | 2.5 inches (63 mm) | 43°F (6°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) |
Dec | 51°F (10°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) | 31°F (-1°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |