Which place is cheaper, Tucson or Charleston?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Charleston or Tucson?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Charleston or Tucson, 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: Charleston or Tucson?
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.
Tucson
Tucson, Arizona is the second largest city in the state and sits at an elevation of 2,400 feet. It's temperature is slightly milder than Phoenix and it is a pleasant place to visit. Most people arrive in the city by car, but Amtrak does travel through Tucson, as does Greyhound. The area is also served by the Tucson International Airport. Once in the city, you'll likely want to have access to a car, as the city is not very pedestrian friendly and public transportation is very much lacking. Many popular and beautiful sights are also outside of town in the surrounding desert, so having access to a vehicle is paramount if you hope to visit any of the places.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco, The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America, and The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCharleston $170Tucson $157
The average daily cost (per person) in Charleston is $170, while the average daily cost in Tucson 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Charleston and Tucson in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCharleston $90Tucson $93
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCharleston $180Tucson $186
Compare Hotels in Charleston and Tucson
Looking for a hotel in Charleston or Tucson? 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: Charleston Hotel Prices and Tucson Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Charleston $33Tucson $27
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Charleston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Charleston:
- Private Transfer from Charleston Cruise Port to Charleston city: $55
- Private Transfer from Charleston City to Charleston Cruise Port: $55
- Isle of Palms/Sullivans Island to Charleston Airport –Departure Private Transfer: $104
- From Boone Hall Plantation Entry with Transfers: $71
- Folly Beach to Charleston Airport (CHS) - Departure Private Transfer: $103
- Charleston city to Charleston Airport (CHS) - Departure Private Transfer: $87
- Charleston Airport: One-Way Transfer to Charleston: $153
- Charleston Airport to Isle of Palms/Sullivans Island– Arrival Private Transfer: $103
- Charleston Airport to Isle of Palms/Sullivans Island -Roundtrip Private Transfer: $207
- Charleston Airport (CHS) to Kiawah/Seabrook Islands – Arrival Private Transfer: $117
- Charleston Airport (CHS) to Folly Beach - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $207
- Charleston Airport (CHS) to Folly Beach - Arrival Private Transfer: $104
Is it cheaper to fly into Charleston or Tucson?
Prices for flights to both Tucson 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayCharleston $58Tucson $36
Typical Food Prices in Charleston
Some typical examples of dining costs in Charleston are as follows:
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Lunch in downtown Charleston for two$21
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Breakfast$26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Charleston
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Charleston.
- Charleston Sunset Blues & BBQ Dinner Cruise: $63
- Charleston Harbor Luxury Dinner Cruise with Live Music: $88
- Luxury Harbor Dinner Cruise: $93
- Savor the Flavors Upper King Street Food Tour: $95
- Charleston Food Tour: $99
- Historic Downtown Food Tour with Tastings: $99
- 3-Hour Secret Food Tour: $107
- Charleston Farm-to-Table Food Tour and Chef's Challenge: $109
- Small Group Food Tour – Savor the Flavors: $110
- Charleston Upper King Street Food Tour: $110
- Charleston Walking Brunch Tour With Secret Food Tours: $110
- Charleston's Savor the Flavors of Upper King Street Walking Food Tour: $110
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Charleston $22Tucson $16
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:
- 2 Hours Private Morris Island and River Cruise: $255
- 1.5-Hour Charleston Harbor Cruise with Live Narration: $42
- 2 Hours Shem Creek Safari Kayak Tour: $52
- 2-Hour Guided Kayak Eco Tour in Charleston: $54
- 2-Hours Roaring 20s Premium Cocktail Walking Tour: $110
- 300 Years of War and Peacetime in A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
- 90-Minute Charleston City Sightseeing Bus Tour : $37
- Afternoon Schooner Sightseeing Dolphin Cruise on Charleston Harbor: $56
- An Amazing Guided Ghost Tour: $30
- Behind the Scenes of Shem Creek Shrimp Walking Tour: $25
- Boone Hall Plantation Admission & Tour with Transportation from Charleston: $78
- Boone Hall Plantation All-Access Admission Ticket: $28
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCharleston $36Tucson $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Charleston
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Charleston:
- Women and Wine Tour: $18
- Charleston Women and Wine Tour: $20
- Charleston Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
- Guided Pub Crawl and Haunted History Tour: $30
- Bay Street Bastards Pub Crawl Shared Tour in Charleston : $35
- Speakeasy Sagas - Charleston Prohibition Pub Crawl: $35
- Speakeasy Sagas Prohibition Pub Crawl: $35
- Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl Walking Tour: $35
- Historic District Haunted Pub Crawl Tour: $40
- Charleston Brewery District Cruise (Public Tour): $95
- Wadmalaw Island Wine Tasting and Tea Garden Trip: $135
- Half Day Party Bus Brewery Tour of Charleston: $140
When comparing the travel costs between Charleston and Tucson, 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.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Charleston Expensive? and Is Tucson Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Charleston or Tucson?
Tucson has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Charleston. When comparing the sizes of Charleston and Tucson, 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.
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.