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

Should you visit Charlotte or Cincinnati?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Charlotte and Cincinnati can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Charlotte or Cincinnati?

Charlotte

With a population of almost 800,000, Charlotte is the largest city in the state of North Carolina. The city has grown rapidly in recent years and the thriving economy has led to major revitalization efforts in the city's central district. The city is a center for finance, industry, technology, and entertainment within the state. It is the location of the corporate headquarters of Bank of America as well as the east coast operations of Wells Fargo, making it the second largest banking center in the United States. Although Charlotte has never been considered a significant tourist destination, recent efforts to enhance the urban core and develop entertainment venues have begun to appeal to outside visitors.

Cincinnati

Located on the north banks of the Ohio River, Cincinnati is the third largest city in Ohio having grown from its industrial heritage. It is situated in the southwest part of the state, separated from the Kentucky border by the river. The city is best known for its striking skyline and unique chili.

Which place is cheaper, Cincinnati or Charlotte?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Charlotte is $191, while the average daily cost in Cincinnati is $183. 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 Charlotte and Cincinnati in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Charlotte $118
    Cincinnati $102
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Charlotte $236
    Cincinnati $204
Compare Hotels in Charlotte and Cincinnati

Looking for a hotel in Charlotte or Cincinnati? 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 Charlotte


Hotels in Cincinnati


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: Charlotte Hotel Prices and Cincinnati Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Charlotte $33
    Cincinnati $25

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Charlotte

Also for Charlotte, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Charlotte Douglas Airport (CLT): 1-Way Transfer to Charlotte: $99
  • Private Arrival Transfer from Charlotte Douglas Airport CLT: $54
  • Private Departure Transfer to Charlotte Douglas Airport (CLT): $54

Is it cheaper to fly into Charlotte or Cincinnati?

Prices for flights to both Cincinnati and Charlotte 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
    Charlotte $46
    Cincinnati $55
Typical Food prices in Charlotte

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Charlotte:


  • Pizza at Airport
    $4.03
  • Cracker Barrel Lunch (family of 4)
    $29

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cincinnati

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cincinnati.

  • Ohio River Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $56
  • Mainstrasse Village Food Tour in Covington KY: $75
  • Cincinnati Streetcar Food Tour With Findlay Market : $79

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Charlotte $43
    Cincinnati $26

Tours and Activities in Charlotte

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Charlotte.

  • Charlotte Ghost Walking Tour: Smartphone Audio & GPS Tour: $6.50
  • Charlotte Ghost Walking Tour - Smartphone guided audio/gps Tour at your own pace: $6.75
  • Self-Guided City Highlights Audio Tour: $12
  • Uptown A Self-Guided Audio Tour to the Heart of Queen City: $12
  • UPTOWN FUNK: 1 Hour Guided Historical Walking Tour in Charlotte: $15
  • Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Charlotte by Zombie Scavengers: $20
  • Carolina Panthers Football Game Ticket at Bank of America Stadium: $21
  • Charlotte Hornets Basketball Game Ticket at Spectrum Center: $21
  • Charlotte Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour and Game: $25
  • Carolina History and Haunts Charlotte Historical Ghost Walking Tour : $25
  • Sea Life Charlotte Concord Aquarium Admission Ticket: $25
  • Charlottesville: Ghosts of Court Square Walking Tour: $26

Tours and Activities in Cincinnati

Here are a few actual costs in Cincinnati for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Cincinnati Ghosts By US Ghost Adventures: $30
  • 1919: The year that changed baseball tour: $31
  • Brewers & Barons Trail Tour: $39
  • Built on Beer Tour: $39
  • Buried Secrets Ghost Tour: $29
  • Cincinnati Ballparks & Breweries Bus Tour: $59
  • Cincinnati Bengals Football Game Ticket at Paul Brown Stadium: $101
  • Cincinnati Brewing & Distilling Tasting Tour: $49
  • Cincinnati Ethnic Food and Culture Tour in Over the Rhine: $79
  • Cincinnati Indoor Skydiving Experience with 2 Flights & Personalized Certificate: $90
  • Cincinnati Reds Baseball Game Ticket at Great American Ballpark: $21
  • Cincinnati Wine & Dine In Over the Rhine evening tour: $84

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Charlotte $20
    Cincinnati $11

Sample the Local Flavors in Charlotte

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

  • Trolley Pub Tour of Charlotte: $42
  • Charlotte Brewery Crawl Tour: $48
  • Original Charlotte Brewery Tour - Craft Beer Experience : $125

Sample the Local Flavors in Cincinnati

Also in Cincinnati, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Haunted Cincinnati Ghost and Pub Walking Tour: $36
  • Hidden Brewery Caverns Tour in Cincinnati with Beer Tasting: $49
  • Craft Brewery 3 Stop Hop: $64
  • Cincinnati Original Craft Brewery Small-Group Tour: $68


When comparing the travel costs between Charlotte and Cincinnati, we can see that Charlotte 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, Charlotte or Cincinnati?

Charlotte is bigger, and its population is about 95% larger than the population of Cincinnati. When comparing the population of Charlotte vs. Cincinnati, 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.


When is the best time to visit Charlotte or Cincinnati?

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.

Should I visit Charlotte or Cincinnati in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Charlotte as well as Cincinnati.

In July, Charlotte is generally around the same temperature as Cincinnati. Daily temperatures in Charlotte average around 81°F (27°C), and Cincinnati fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cincinnati. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Charlotte this time of the year. In the summer, Charlotte often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Cincinnati. Charlotte gets 289 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cincinnati receives 298 hours of full sun.

Charlotte receives a lot of rain in the summer. Charlotte usually gets more rain in July than Cincinnati. Charlotte gets 4.6 inches (116 mm) of rain, while Cincinnati receives 3.5 inches (90 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Charlotte 81°F (27°C) 
    Cincinnati 79°F (26°C)

Should I visit Charlotte or Cincinnati in the Autumn?

Both Cincinnati and Charlotte are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.

Charlotte is a little warmer than Cincinnati in the autumn. The daily temperature in Charlotte averages around 63°F (17°C) in October, and Cincinnati fluctuates around 58°F (15°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Charlotte. Charlotte usually receives more sunshine than Cincinnati during autumn. Charlotte gets 223 hours of sunny skies, while Cincinnati receives 188 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Charlotte usually receives more rain than Cincinnati. Charlotte gets 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain, while Cincinnati receives 2.2 inches (56 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Charlotte 63°F (17°C) 
    Cincinnati 58°F (15°C)

Should I visit Charlotte or Cincinnati in the Winter?

Both Cincinnati and Charlotte during the winter are popular places to visit.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Cincinnati. In the winter, Charlotte is much warmer than Cincinnati. Typically, the winter temperatures in Charlotte in January average around 42°F (6°C), and Cincinnati averages at about 31°F (-0°C).

In the winter, Charlotte often gets more sunshine than Cincinnati. Charlotte gets 173 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cincinnati receives 129 hours of full sun.

Charlotte usually gets more rain in January than Cincinnati. Charlotte gets 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain, while Cincinnati receives 2.2 inches (57 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Charlotte 42°F (6°C) 
    Cincinnati 31°F (-0°C)

Should I visit Charlotte or Cincinnati in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Charlotte and Cincinnati.

In April, Charlotte is generally a little warmer than Cincinnati. Daily temperatures in Charlotte average around 63°F (17°C), and Cincinnati fluctuates around 56°F (14°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cincinnati this time of the year. In Charlotte, it's very sunny this time of the year. Charlotte usually receives more sunshine than Cincinnati during spring. Charlotte gets 273 hours of sunny skies, while Cincinnati receives 215 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Charlotte usually receives around the same amount of rain as Cincinnati. Charlotte gets 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain, while Cincinnati receives 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Charlotte 63°F (17°C) 
    Cincinnati 56°F (14°C)

Typical Weather for Cincinnati and Charlotte

Charlotte Cincinnati
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 42°F (6°C) 3.5 inches (89 mm) 31°F (-0°C) 2.2 inches (57 mm)
Feb 46°F (8°C) 3.8 inches (97 mm) 35°F (2°C) 2.5 inches (64 mm)
Mar 54°F (12°C) 4.5 inches (115 mm) 46°F (8°C) 3.9 inches (100 mm)
Apr 63°F (17°C) 3.4 inches (86 mm) 56°F (14°C) 3.5 inches (89 mm)
May 71°F (21°C) 2.9 inches (74 mm) 66°F (19°C) 3.7 inches (93 mm)
Jun 78°F (25°C) 3.7 inches (94 mm) 74°F (24°C) 3.1 inches (80 mm)
Jul 81°F (27°C) 4.6 inches (116 mm) 79°F (26°C) 3.5 inches (90 mm)
Aug 80°F (27°C) 4 inches (101 mm) 77°F (25°C) 2.9 inches (73 mm)
Sep 74°F (24°C) 3.5 inches (88 mm) 71°F (21°C) 2.9 inches (73 mm)
Oct 63°F (17°C) 2.7 inches (68 mm) 58°F (15°C) 2.2 inches (56 mm)
Nov 54°F (12°C) 2.8 inches (70 mm) 48°F (9°C) 2.7 inches (68 mm)
Dec 46°F (8°C) 3.4 inches (87 mm) 37°F (3°C) 2.7 inches (69 mm)


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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Charlotte vs. Cincinnati Travel Comparison

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