Which place is cheaper, Dayton or Charlotte?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Charlotte or Dayton?
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 Dayton can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Charlotte or Dayton?
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.
Dayton
Located in southwest Ohio, Dayton is known as the "Gem City." It's the original home of Orville and Wilbur Wright, the brothers who designed the first airplane. You'll also find the Dayton Aviation Heritage Park here, which is one of the only multi-site National Parks in the United States. The cities climate has four different seasons, winter, spring, summer and fall. The winter months are quite cold and you can expect a decent amount of snow in the area. Spring remains cool and there are infrequent showers. This is also the peak time for tornadoes in the area. Summer is hot and humid and can be unpleasant at times, but fall is crisp and refreshing with occasional storms and infrequent tornadoes.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, and The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCharlotte $191Dayton $323
The average daily cost (per person) in Charlotte is $191, while the average daily cost in Dayton is $323. 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 Dayton in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCharlotte $118Dayton $250
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCharlotte $236Dayton $500
Compare Hotels in Charlotte and Dayton
Looking for a hotel in Charlotte or Dayton? 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: Charlotte Hotel Prices and Dayton Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Charlotte $33Dayton $25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Charlotte
Also for Charlotte, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Departure Transfer to Charlotte Douglas Airport (CLT): $54
- Charlotte Douglas Airport (CLT) to Charlotte City - Arrival Private Transfer: $67
- Charlotte Douglas Airport (CLT): 1-Way Transfer to Charlotte: $99
- Arrival Transfer: Charlotte Douglas Airport CLT to Charlotte in Business Car: $132
- Departure Transfer: Charlotte to Charlotte Douglas Airport CLT in Business Car: $132
- Charlotte Douglas Airport (CLT) to Charlotte City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $134
- Charlotte Round Trip Chauffeur Driven Airport Transfer by Sedan: $150
Is it cheaper to fly into Charlotte or Dayton?
Prices for flights to both Dayton 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
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Food Meals for one dayCharlotte $46Dayton $61
Typical Food Prices in Charlotte
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Charlotte:
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Pizza at Airport$4.03
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Cracker Barrel Lunch (family of 4)$29
Typical Food Prices in Dayton
Some typical examples of dining costs in Dayton are as follows:
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Noodle Company Lunch (for 2)$17
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Indian Food Dinner (for 2)$34
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Charlotte $43Dayton -
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
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Charlotte by 3Quest Challenge: $10
- 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 Walking Tour of Charlotte: $15
- UPTOWN AT SUNDOWN: 1 Hour Guided Arts Walking Tour in Charlotte: $15
- UPTOWN FUNK: 1 Hour Guided Historical Walking Tour in Charlotte: $15
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Charlotte by Zombie Scavengers: $20
- Charlotte Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour and Game: $25
- Sea Life Charlotte Concord Aquarium Admission Ticket: $25
- Queen City Ghosts Haunted Walking Tour: $26
Tours and Activities in Dayton
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Dayton are as follows:
- Daytona Beach: Guided Kayaking or Standup Paddling Tour: $65
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCharlotte $20Dayton -
Sample the Local Flavors in Charlotte
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Charlotte:
- Charlotte Brewery Crawl Tour: $48
- 3-Hour Brewery Crawl on 7 passenger Cart: $48
- Original Charlotte Brewery Tour - Craft Beer Experience : $125
- Bar Crawl on a Rollin Disco Ball Golf Cart in Charlotte: $240
Sample the Local Flavors in Dayton
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dayton:
- Dive Bar Bus Crawl: $38
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Charlotte and Dayton, we can see that Dayton is more expensive. And not only is Charlotte much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Charlotte would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Charlotte 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 Dayton would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dayton than you might in Charlotte.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Charlotte Expensive? and Is Dayton Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Charlotte or Dayton?
Charlotte has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Dayton. When comparing the sizes of Charlotte and Dayton, 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.
When is the best time to visit Charlotte or Dayton?
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 Dayton in the Summer?
Both Dayton and Charlotte during the summer are popular places to visit. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Charlotte this time of year.
Charlotte is around the same temperature as Dayton in the summer. The daily temperature in Charlotte averages around 81°F (27°C) in July, and Dayton fluctuates around 78°F (26°C).
In Dayton, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Charlotte. In the summer, Charlotte often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Dayton. Charlotte gets 289 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dayton receives 298 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Charlotte. Charlotte usually gets more rain in July than Dayton. Charlotte gets 4.6 inches (116 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyCharlotte 81°F (27°C)Dayton 78°F (26°C)
Should I visit Charlotte or Dayton in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Charlotte and Dayton. Many travelers come to Charlotte for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Charlotte is a little warmer than Dayton. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Charlotte in October average around 63°F (17°C), and Dayton averages at about 57°F (14°C).
In Charlotte, it's very sunny this time of the year. Charlotte usually receives more sunshine than Dayton during autumn. Charlotte gets 223 hours of sunny skies, while Dayton receives 188 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Charlotte usually receives around the same amount of rain as Dayton. Charlotte gets 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 2.5 inches (64 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCharlotte 63°F (17°C)Dayton 57°F (14°C)
Should I visit Charlotte or Dayton in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Charlotte as well as Dayton. Many visitors come to Charlotte in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Dayton can be very cold during winter. In January, Charlotte is generally much warmer than Dayton. Daily temperatures in Charlotte average around 42°F (6°C), and Dayton fluctuates around 30°F (-1°C).
In the winter, Charlotte often gets more sunshine than Dayton. Charlotte gets 173 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dayton receives 129 hours of full sun.
Charlotte usually gets more rain in January than Dayton. Charlotte gets 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 2.1 inches (54 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCharlotte 42°F (6°C)Dayton 30°F (-1°C)
Should I visit Charlotte or Dayton in the Spring?
Both Dayton and Charlotte are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Charlotte for the activities around the city during these months.
Charlotte is a little warmer than Dayton in the spring. The daily temperature in Charlotte averages around 63°F (17°C) in April, and Dayton fluctuates around 55°F (13°C).
It's quite sunny in Dayton. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Charlotte. Charlotte usually receives more sunshine than Dayton during spring. Charlotte gets 273 hours of sunny skies, while Dayton receives 215 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Charlotte usually receives around the same amount of rain as Dayton. Charlotte gets 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 3.5 inches (88 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilCharlotte 63°F (17°C)Dayton 55°F (13°C)
Typical Weather for Dayton and Charlotte
| Charlotte | Dayton | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 42°F (6°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) | 30°F (-1°C) | 2.1 inches (54 mm) |
| Feb | 46°F (8°C) | 3.8 inches (97 mm) | 33°F (1°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
| Mar | 54°F (12°C) | 4.5 inches (115 mm) | 44°F (7°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Apr | 63°F (17°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) | 55°F (13°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) |
| May | 71°F (21°C) | 2.9 inches (74 mm) | 65°F (18°C) | 4 inches (102 mm) |
| Jun | 78°F (25°C) | 3.7 inches (94 mm) | 74°F (23°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) |
| Jul | 81°F (27°C) | 4.6 inches (116 mm) | 78°F (26°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) |
| Aug | 80°F (27°C) | 4 inches (101 mm) | 76°F (25°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
| Sep | 74°F (24°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) | 69°F (21°C) | 2.6 inches (65 mm) |
| Oct | 63°F (17°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.5 inches (64 mm) |
| Nov | 54°F (12°C) | 2.8 inches (70 mm) | 47°F (8°C) | 3.1 inches (80 mm) |
| Dec | 46°F (8°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) | 35°F (2°C) | 3 inches (75 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.