A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Charleston vs. Tucson for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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.

Which place is cheaper, Tucson or Charleston?

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 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
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Charleston $90
    Tucson $93
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Charleston $180
    Tucson $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.

Hotels in Charleston


Hotels in Tucson


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Charleston $33
    Tucson $27

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Charleston

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Charleston:

  • Private Transfer From/ to Charleston International Airport (CHS) : $50
  • Private Departure Transfer to Charleston Airport (CHS): $64
  • Private Arrival Transfer from Charleston Airport (CHS): $64
  • Charleston Airport: One-Way Transfer to Charleston: $153

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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Charleston $58
    Tucson $36
Typical Food prices in Charleston

Some typical examples of dining costs in Charleston are as follows:


  • Lunch in downtown Charleston for two
    $21
  • 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
  • Historic Downtown Food Tour with Tastings: $75
  • Charleston Food Tour: $75
  • Southern Charm Walking Food Tour with Tastings: $85
  • Luxury Harbor Dinner Cruise: $86
  • Charleston Harbor Luxury Dinner Cruise with Live Music: $93
  • Savor the Flavors Upper King Street Food Tour: $95
  • Small Group Food Tour – Savor the Flavors: $95
  • Charleston Upper King Street Food Tour: $95
  • Charleston's Savor the Flavors of Upper King Street Walking Food Tour: $95
  • Savor the Flavors of Charleston Walking Food Tour: $95
  • Downtown Charleston Food Tour: $95

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Charleston $22
    Tucson $16
Typical Entertainment prices in Charleston

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Charleston are as follows:


  • Patriots Point (for 2)
    $60

Tours and Activities in Charleston

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Charleston are as follows:

  • 1.5-Hour Charleston Harbor Cruise with Live Narration: $39
  • 2 Hours Shem Creek Safari Kayak Tour: $52
  • 2-Hour Guided Kayak Eco Tour in Charleston: $54
  • 2-Hour Historic Charleston Guided Walking Tour: $25
  • 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 : $31
  • African-American History Tour in Charleston: $45
  • Afternoon Schooner Sightseeing Dolphin Cruise on Charleston Harbor: $46
  • 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
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Charleston $36
    Tucson $16

Sample the Local Flavors in Charleston

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Charleston:

  • 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: $36
  • Haunted Pub Crawl of the Market: $37
  • Wadmalaw Island Wine Tasting and Tea Garden Trip: $122
  • Charleston Winery, Brewery & Sightseeing Tour: $125


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.

Which is Bigger, Charleston or Tucson?

Tucson is bigger, and its population is about 5.4 times larger than the population of Charleston. When comparing the population of Charleston vs. 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 and the activities 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.
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Charleston vs. Tucson Travel Comparison

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