Should you visit Charlotte or Houston?
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 Houston can help you decide which place is right for you.
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.
Houston
The largest city in Texas and the fourth largest in the United States, Houston is a sprawling urban center that has grown from its wealth in the oil industry. Visitors today are drawn to its cultural diversity which has additionally made Houston a foodie destination. Other attractions to Houston include its proximity to NASA's Space Center Houston on the Gulf coast, and its Downtown which features a vibrant museum and arts scene, shopping, and dining.
Which city is cheaper, Houston or Charlotte?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Charlotte is $153, while the average daily cost in Houston is $210. 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. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Charlotte and Houston in more detail.
Accommodation
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $188 in Charlotte For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $226 for a double occupancy room in Houston.
Food
Food in Charlotte costs travelers about $37 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
The average traveler spends about $28 per day in Houston for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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Food
Meals for one day
Charlotte $37
Houston $28
Typical Food prices in Charlotte
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Charlotte:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Houston
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Houston.
-
Astroville Food Tour of Downtown Houston with Tunnel Access:
$65
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Culinary Food Tour of Downtown Houston with Tunnel Access:
$67
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Downtown Houston Food Tour:
$74
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The Heights Food Tour:
$74
Local Transportation
Charlotte's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $27 per person, per day on transportation in Charlotte.
The average price of local transportation around Houston is $58 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Charlotte
Also for Charlotte, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Arrival Private Transfer Charlotte Douglas Airport CLT to Charlotte by SUV:
$141
-
Arrival Private Transfer Charlotte Douglas Airport CLT to Charlotte by Sedan car:
$86
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Charlotte City to Charlotte Douglas Airport (CLT) - Departure Private Transfer:
$54
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Charlotte Douglas Airport (CLT) to Charlotte City - Arrival Private Transfer:
$54
-
Charlotte Douglas Airport (CLT) to Charlotte City - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$106
-
Departure Private Transfer Charlotte to Charlotte Douglas Airport CLT Sedan Car:
$85
-
Departure Private Transfer Charlotte to Charlotte Douglas Airport CLT by SUV:
$140
-
Private Arrival Transfer from Charlotte Douglas Airport CLT:
$38
-
Private Departure Transfer to Charlotte Douglas Airport (CLT):
$38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Houston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Houston:
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Private Transfer: Houston International Airport (HOU) to Houston:
$622
-
Private Transfer: Houston to Houston International Airport (HOU):
$622
-
Low Cost Private Transfer From George Bush Intercontinental Houston Airport to Houston City - One Way:
$471
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Sprinter Van IAH Transfer to Galveston:
$462
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Galveston Private Transfer - Houston Airport to Galveston Port/Hotel:
$408
-
Sprinter Van Airport Transfer in Houston:
$320
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SUV Airport Transfer to Galveston:
$299
-
Sedan Airport Transfer IAH to Galveston:
$256
-
Departure Private Transfer Houston City to Houston Airport HOU by Minibus:
$200
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Arrival Private Transfer Houston Airport HOU to Houston City by Sprinter Minibus:
$200
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Houston George Bush Airport (IAH) to Houston - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$187
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Arrival Private Transfer Houston George Bush Airport IAH to Houston by Minibus:
$175
Is it cheaper to fly into Charlotte or Houston?
Prices for flights to both Houston 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Charlotte can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $34 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Houston's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $11 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Tours and Activities in Charlotte
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Charlotte.
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Charlotte Beyond the Grave Haunted History Walking Ghost Tour:
$18
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Charlotte Ghost Walking Tour:
$23
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Charlotte Comedy City Tour:
$30
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Charlotte Comedy City PG-13 Tour:
$35
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Charlotte's Historical City Tour:
$38
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Belize Jungle Limo - Triple Activity Tour:
$50
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Historic Uptown Neighborhood Segway Tour of Charlotte:
$60
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Private and Custom Tours:
$75
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Discover Charlotte Historic City: Segway Tour:
$234
Tours and Activities in Houston
Here are a few actual costs in Houston for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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1-Day Houston City Tour ( Houston departure ) (HU1):
$60
-
1-Day Mexico Gulf+NASA Tour (Houston departure) (X1):
$60
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2-Day Austin+San Antonio Tour (Huston departure)(HS2):
$198
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2-Days New Orleans Tour (Houston departure)(HN2):
$238
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3D Printer Factory Tour plus 2 ft Tall Rocket!:
$31
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7-Day Texas Tour ( Houston departure ) ( APH7 ):
$788
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Astroville Light Rail Train Tour of Houston with Tunnel Access:
$40
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Astroville Rockets Basketball Game Day Tour with Tunnel Access:
$36
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Astroville Underground Tunnel Tour of Downtown Houston:
$26
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Astroville Weekend Downtown Houston Tour With Tunnel Access:
$35
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Audi R8 Supercar Experience at Grandsport Speedway:
$435
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Best City Tour 2 hours:
$51
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Charlotte, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $16.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Houston may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $11 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Charlotte
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Charlotte:
-
Haunted Charlotte Ghost and Pub Walking Tour:
$27
-
Trolley Pub Tour of Charlotte:
$41
-
3-Hour Charlotte Brewery Crawl Tour:
$54
Sample the Local Flavors in Houston
Also in Houston, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Skip the Line: Distillery Tour Ticket:
$21
-
Haunted Houston Ghost and Pub Walking Tour:
$27
-
Brewery Pass with Beer Tastings:
$29
-
Brewery Tour:
$53
-
Astroville Downtown Bar Crawl & Tunnel Access (2 Cocktails Beverages Included):
$58
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Bar Crawl with Tunnel Access and 2 Cocktails:
$67
-
2-Hour Downtown Brewery Tour by Electric Cart:
$70
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SUV St. Arnold Brewery Tour:
$487
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Charlotte and Houston, we can see that Houston 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 Houston would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Houston than you might in Charlotte.
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