Which city is cheaper, Wisconsin Dells or Charleston?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Charleston vs. Wisconsin Dells for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Charleston or Wisconsin Dells?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Charleston or Wisconsin Dells, 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 Wisconsin Dells?
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.
Wisconsin Dells
Located in central Wisconsin, Wisconsin Dells offers natural beauty, fun rivers, and some of the area's most famous theme parks. Wisconsin Dells is one of the two towns that make up "The Dells." The other town, Lake Delton, is another popular Midwestern tourist spot.
Wisconsin Dells is about an hour north of Madison and two hours from Milwaukee. It's famous for its striking rock formations and scenic bluffs. The town's name comes from the Dells of the Wisconsin River, which is an impressive gorge that was originally formed by a glacier.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCharleston $136Wisconsin Dells $114
The average daily cost (per person) in Charleston is $136, while the average daily cost in Wisconsin Dells is $114. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Charleston and Wisconsin Dells in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCharleston $72Wisconsin Dells $56
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCharleston $144Wisconsin Dells $112
Compare Hotels in Charleston and Wisconsin Dells
Looking for a hotel in Charleston or Wisconsin Dells? 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 Wisconsin Dells Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Charleston $26Wisconsin Dells $28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Charleston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Charleston:
- Charleston city to Charleston Airport (CHS) - Departure Private Transfer: $124
- Private Departure Transfer to Charleston Airport (CHS): $52
- Private transfer: Charleston to Charleston Airport (CHS): $622
Is it cheaper to fly into Charleston or Wisconsin Dells?
Prices for flights to both Wisconsin Dells 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 $46Wisconsin Dells $34
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.
- Downtown Charleston Culinary Walking Food Tour: $73
- Savor the Flavors of Charleston Walking Food Tour: $75
- Charleston's Savor the Flavors of Upper King Street Walking Food Tour: $75
- Charleston Chef's Kitchen Guided Walking Food Tour: $75
- Charleston Harbor: Luxury Dinner Cruise: $77
- Savor the Flavors Upper King Street Food Tour: $95
- Private Tour: Secret Food Tours Charleston: $129
- Undiscovered 1/2 Day Food, Wine & History Tour with Cooking Class: $154
- 3-Hour Secret Food Tour in Charleston w/ Private Tour Option: $277
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Charleston $17Wisconsin Dells $37
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:
- Charleston's Haunted Ghost Tour - Smart Phone Guided Tour: $5.00
- Charleston Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $16
- Charleston's Pleasing Terrors Night-Time Walking Ghost Tour: $21
- Downtown Charleston Walking Tour with Certified Local Guide: $21
- Historic Charleston Guided Sightseeing Walking Tour: $21
- Highlights of Charleston Guided Walking Tour: $22
- Charleston French Quarter Historic Guided Walking Tour: $22
- Drayton Hall Plantation Admission Ticket in Charleston: $22
- Small-Group Tour: Charleston Old Walled City Historical Walking Tour: $23
- Charleston Terrors Walking Ghost Tour: $23
- Charleston Ghosts of Liberty Guided Walking Tour: $25
- 90-Minute Historic Walking Tour of Charleston: $25
Tours and Activities in Wisconsin Dells
Here are a few actual costs in Wisconsin Dells for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- City and History Trolley Tour in Wisconsin Dells: $24
- Haunted History Trolley Tour in Wisconsin Dells: $25
- Wisconsin Dells 1 Hour Land & Water Duck Tour: $31
- 1-Hour Guided WildThing Jet Boat Tour in Wisconsin Dells: $31
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCharleston $28Wisconsin Dells $7.31
Sample the Local Flavors in Charleston
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Charleston:
- Charleston Bar Hunt: Charleston Chase Bar Crawl: $12
- Ghost Walking Tour and Pub Crawl in Haunted Charleston: $27
- Haunted Pub Crawl of the Market: $37
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Charleston and Wisconsin Dells, we can see that Charleston is more expensive. And not only is Wisconsin Dells much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Wisconsin Dells would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Wisconsin Dells 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 Wisconsin Dells.
When is the best time to visit Charleston or Wisconsin Dells?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Charleston or Wisconsin Dells in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Charleston and Wisconsin Dells. Many visitors come to Charleston in the summer for the beaches, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Charleston is generally a little warmer than Wisconsin Dells. Temperatures in Charleston average around 82°F (28°C), and Wisconsin Dells stays around 74°F (24°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Wisconsin Dells this time of the year. In Charleston, it's very sunny this time of the year. Charleston usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Wisconsin Dells during summer. Charleston gets 293 hours of sunny skies, while Wisconsin Dells receives 309 hours of full sun in the summer.
Charleston gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Charleston usually receives more rain than Wisconsin Dells. Charleston gets 6.9 inches (176 mm) of rain, while Wisconsin Dells receives 3 inches (76 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyCharleston 82°F (28°C)Wisconsin Dells 74°F (24°C)
Should I visit Charleston or Wisconsin Dells in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Charleston as well as Wisconsin Dells. Most visitors come to Charleston for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
Charleston is much warmer than Wisconsin Dells in the autumn. The temperature in Charleston is usually 67°F (19°C) in October, and Wisconsin Dells stays around 52°F (11°C).
In the autumn, Charleston often gets more sunshine than Wisconsin Dells. Charleston gets 197 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Wisconsin Dells receives 171 hours of full sun.
Charleston usually gets more rain in October than Wisconsin Dells. Charleston gets 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain, while Wisconsin Dells receives 1.9 inches (48 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCharleston 67°F (19°C)Wisconsin Dells 52°F (11°C)
Should I visit Charleston or Wisconsin Dells in the Winter?
Both Wisconsin Dells and Charleston are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The winter months attract visitors to Charleston because of the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
It's quite cold in Wisconsin Dells in the winter. In the winter, Charleston is much warmer than Wisconsin Dells. Typically, the winter temperatures in Charleston in January are around 47°F (9°C), and Wisconsin Dells is about 19°F (-7°C).
Charleston usually receives more sunshine than Wisconsin Dells during winter. Charleston gets 188 hours of sunny skies, while Wisconsin Dells receives 141 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Charleston usually receives more rain than Wisconsin Dells. Charleston gets 3.3 inches (85 mm) of rain, while Wisconsin Dells receives 1 inches (25 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCharleston 47°F (9°C)Wisconsin Dells 19°F (-7°C)
Should I visit Charleston or Wisconsin Dells in the Spring?
Both Wisconsin Dells and Charleston during the spring are popular places to visit. The beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Charleston this time of year.
In April, Charleston is generally much warmer than Wisconsin Dells. Temperatures in Charleston average around 64°F (18°C), and Wisconsin Dells stays around 49°F (10°C).
In Wisconsin Dells, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Charleston. In the spring, Charleston often gets more sunshine than Wisconsin Dells. Charleston gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Wisconsin Dells receives 208 hours of full sun.
Charleston usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Wisconsin Dells. Charleston gets 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain, while Wisconsin Dells receives 2.6 inches (65 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilCharleston 64°F (18°C)Wisconsin Dells 49°F (10°C)
Typical Weather for Wisconsin Dells and Charleston
| Charleston | Wisconsin Dells | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 47°F (9°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) | 19°F (-7°C) | 1 inches (25 mm) |
| Feb | 50°F (10°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) | 24°F (-5°C) | 0.8 inches (21 mm) |
| Mar | 58°F (14°C) | 4.3 inches (110 mm) | 36°F (2°C) | 2.2 inches (55 mm) |
| Apr | 64°F (18°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) | 49°F (10°C) | 2.6 inches (65 mm) |
| May | 72°F (22°C) | 4.2 inches (106 mm) | 60°F (16°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) |
| Jun | 78°F (26°C) | 6.4 inches (163 mm) | 70°F (21°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) |
| Jul | 82°F (28°C) | 6.9 inches (176 mm) | 74°F (24°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) |
| Aug | 81°F (27°C) | 7.1 inches (181 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) |
| Sep | 76°F (25°C) | 4.8 inches (121 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 2.8 inches (70 mm) |
| Oct | 67°F (19°C) | 2.9 inches (74 mm) | 52°F (11°C) | 1.9 inches (48 mm) |
| Nov | 58°F (15°C) | 2.5 inches (63 mm) | 39°F (4°C) | 1.7 inches (42 mm) |
| Dec | 51°F (10°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) | 25°F (-4°C) | 1.6 inches (41 mm) |
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