Should you visit Charleston or Richmond?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Charleston or Richmond, 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.
Charleston
Charleston is a beautiful, southern city and seaport town in South Carolina. It has a wonderful, historic downtown area that the city government works hard to maintain. Located on a peninsula that is created by two rivers, the city is a stunning setting with much character. It is a popular place to visit for its culture, architecture and cuisine. In recent years Charleston has gained popularity and it continues to grow as both a regional and international travel destination. With its rising popularity comes increasing costs. Travel costs continue to go up as restaurants and hotels raise their prices, particularly during the peak travel season and holiday periods.
Richmond
One of the oldest American cities, Richmond was established in 1607 by English settlers led by Captain Christopher Newport and Captain John Smith. During the Civil War it existed as the capital of the Confederacy, and today it remains the capital of the U.S. state of Virginia. There are many historic sights to see and museums to explore, as well as plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment.
Which city is cheaper, Richmond or Charleston?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Charleston is $136, while the average daily cost in Richmond is $129. 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 Charleston and Richmond in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Charleston is about $144 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
Richmond's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $162. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $81.
Food
On average, meal and food prices in Charleston cost around $46 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $18.
The average traveler spends about $17 per day in Richmond 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
Charleston $46
Richmond $17
Typical Food prices in Charleston
Some typical examples of dining costs in Charleston are as follows:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Charleston
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Charleston.
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Charleston Harbor: Luxury Dinner Cruise & Live Music:
$66
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Downtown Charleston Culinary Walking Food Tour:
$73
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Savor the Flavors of Charleston Walking Food Tour:
$75
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Charleston's Savor the Flavors of Upper King Street Walking Food Tour:
$75
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Charleston Chef's Kitchen Guided Walking Food Tour:
$75
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Private Tour: Secret Food Tours Charleston:
$129
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Undiscovered 1/2 Day Food, Wine & History Tour with Cooking Class:
$154
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3-Hour Secret Food Tour in Charleston w/ Private Tour Option:
$277
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Richmond
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Richmond.
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Church Hill Food Tour:
$60
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Arts District Food Tour in Richmond:
$65
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Church Hill Food Tour in Richmond, VA:
$70
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Pizza Making Party:
$99
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Thai Cooking Class:
$130
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Chinese Cooking Class Master:
$130
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Street Food of Asia Cooking Class:
$134
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Indian Cooking Master Class:
$134
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Arts District 3 Hours Guided Walking Food Tour:
$173
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $26 per day to get around in Charleston.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $58 per day to get around in Richmond.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Charleston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Charleston:
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Private Departure Transfer to Charleston Airport (CHS):
$52
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Charleston city to Charleston Airport (CHS) - Departure Private Transfer:
$124
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Private transfer: Charleston to Charleston Airport (CHS):
$622
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Richmond
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Richmond:
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Private Arrival Transfer from Vancouver Airport (YVR):
$34
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Private Airport Transfer: Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to Vancouver:
$39
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Transfer in Private Vehicle from Vancouver Airport to Vancouver Downtown:
$60
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Transfer in private vehicle from Vancouver Airport to North West Vancouver:
$70
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Vancouver Airport (YVR) to Canada Place Cruise Port - Arrival Private Transfer:
$72
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Vancouver Airport (YVR) to Vancouver hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer:
$72
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Transfer in Private Minivan from Vancouver Airport to Vancouver Downtown:
$73
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Arrival Private Transfer Vancouver YVR / Port to Vancouver by Business Car:
$81
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Arrival Private Transfer Vancouver YVR or Cruise Port to Vancouver by Luxury SUV:
$88
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Private Arrival Transfer from YVR Vancouver Airport to Vancouver City:
$96
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Arrival Private Transfers: Vancouver Airport YVR to Vancouver in Business Car:
$105
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Private Transfer from Vancouver International Airport to Ferry Terminal:
$107
Entertainment
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $17 per person, per day in Charleston. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $11 per person, per day in Richmond. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Typical Entertainment prices in Charleston
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Charleston are as follows:
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Patriots Point (for 2)
$60
Tours and Activities in Charleston
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Charleston are as follows:
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Charleston's Haunted Ghost Tour - Smart Phone Guided Tour:
$5.00
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Charleston Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$16
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Charleston's French Quarter Guided Walking Tour:
$20
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Shem Creek Culture Tour:
$20
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Downtown Charleston Walking Tour with Certified Local Guide:
$21
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Charleston's Pleasing Terrors Night-Time Walking Ghost Tour:
$21
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Historic Charleston Guided Sightseeing Walking Tour:
$21
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Highlights of Charleston Guided Walking Tour:
$22
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Charleston Historical Walking Tour:
$22
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Charleston French Quarter Historic Guided Walking Tour:
$22
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Drayton Hall Plantation Admission Ticket in Charleston:
$22
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Small-Group Tour: Charleston Old Walled City Historical Walking Tour:
$23
Tours and Activities in Richmond
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Richmond are as follows:
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City Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Richmond:
$11
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Blue Bee Cider 1-Hour Tour and Tasting:
$17
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Richmond Ghosts Walking Ghost Tour:
$20
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On Foot RVA Running Tours of Richmond, Virginia:
$36
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Hollywood Cemetery Electric Car Tour in Richmond:
$38
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Amazing Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Richmond:
$44
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Richmond Landmark Segway Tour:
$44
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Vancouver City Tour:
$66
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Whale-Watching Tour from Vancouver:
$124
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Vancouver Airport (YVR) to Canada Place Cruise Port - Round-Trip Private Transfe:
$144
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RVATukTuk Sightseeing Tour of Richmond:
$150
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Mountain Biking Adventure on Narrowback Mountain:
$150
Alcohol
The average person spends about $28 on alcoholic beverages in Charleston per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in Charleston
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Charleston:
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Charleston Bar Hunt: Charleston Chase Bar Crawl:
$12
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Ghost Walking Tour and Pub Crawl in Haunted Charleston:
$27
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Haunted Pub Crawl of the Market:
$37
Sample the Local Flavors in Richmond
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Richmond:
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Brewery Tour of Richmond, VA:
$320
When comparing the travel costs between Charleston and Richmond, we can see that Charleston is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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