Should you visit Charlotte or Philadelphia?
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 Philadelphia 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.
Philadelphia
Philadelphia is the fourth largest urban area, and the fifth largest city in the United States. It's located in southeastern Pennsylvania and has a rich history, having once been the capital of the United States. The city has very impressive architecture, museums, universities, and entertainment venues. It's a cultural and artistic center for the country and it continues to climb as a top travel destination.
Which city is cheaper, Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia is $151. 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 Philadelphia 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.
The prices for places to stay in Philadelphia can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $95, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $190.
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.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Philadelphia than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $22 on transportation in Philadelphia on average per day.
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):
$38
-
Private Arrival Transfer from Charlotte Douglas Airport CLT:
$38
-
Departure Private Transfer Charlotte to Charlotte Douglas Airport CLT by SUV:
$140
-
Departure Private Transfer Charlotte to Charlotte Douglas Airport CLT Sedan Car:
$85
-
Charlotte Douglas Airport (CLT) to Charlotte City - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$106
-
Charlotte Douglas Airport (CLT) to Charlotte City - Arrival Private Transfer:
$54
-
Charlotte City to Charlotte Douglas Airport (CLT) - Departure Private Transfer:
$54
-
Arrival Private Transfer Charlotte Douglas Airport CLT to Charlotte by Sedan car:
$86
-
Arrival Private Transfer Charlotte Douglas Airport CLT to Charlotte by SUV:
$141
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Philadelphia
Also for Philadelphia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Private Transfer: Philadelphia to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL):
$622
-
Private Transfer: Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) to Philadelphia:
$622
-
Philadelphia City to Washington City - Private Car Transfer:
$392
-
Philadelphia City to Baltimore City - Private Car Transfer:
$311
-
Philadelphia to New York J.F. Kennedy Airport(JFK) - Departure Private Transfer:
$286
-
Philadelphia to New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA) - Departure Private Transfer:
$280
-
Philadelphia City to New York City - Private Car Transfer:
$267
-
Philadelphia to Newark International Airport (EWR) - Departure Private Transfer:
$243
-
Arrival Private Transfer Philadelphia Airport PHL to Philadelphia by Minibus:
$204
-
Departure Private Transfer Philadelphia to Philadelphia Airport PHL by Minibus:
$204
-
Private transfer from or to MDT , PHL airports , Philadelphia and Harrisburg, PA:
$200
-
RoundTrip transfer in executive private minivan from-to Airpt-Philadelphia City:
$191
Is it cheaper to fly into Charlotte or Philadelphia?
Prices for flights to both Philadelphia 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 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.
Philadelphia food costs typically run travelers around $39 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Charlotte $37
Philadelphia $39
Typical Food prices in Charlotte
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Charlotte:
Typical Food prices in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Flavors of Philly Food Tour:
$44
-
Decadent Gourmet Food Tour:
$44
-
Flavors of Philly Food Tour:
$52
-
Highlights of East Passyunk Food Tour:
$54
-
South Philly Italian Family Dinner Tour:
$75
-
Historic Food Tour:
$78
-
Private Tour: Secret Food Tours Philadelphia:
$90
-
Spirit of Philadelphia Dinner Cruise with Buffet:
$107
-
Secret Food Tours Philadelphia w/ Private Tour Option:
$193
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.
Sightseeing expenses in Philadelphia, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $22 per day, per person.
Tours and Activities in Charlotte
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Charlotte.
-
Belize Jungle Limo - Triple Activity Tour:
$50
-
Charlotte Beyond the Grave Haunted History Walking Ghost Tour:
$18
-
Charlotte Comedy City PG-13 Tour:
$35
-
Charlotte Comedy City Tour:
$30
-
Charlotte Ghost Walking Tour:
$23
-
Charlotte's Historical City Tour:
$38
-
90-Minute Electric Cart City Sightseeing Tour:
$40
-
Historic Uptown 90-Minute Segway Tour:
$60
-
Queen City Ghost Tour:
$22
-
Discover Charlotte Historic City: Segway Tour:
$234
-
Historic Uptown Neighborhood Segway Tour of Charlotte:
$60
-
Private and Custom Tours:
$75
Typical Entertainment prices in Philadelphia
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Philadelphia's activities, tours, and tickets:
Tours and Activities in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
1776 History and Cheesesteak Tour:
$28
-
Art and Controversy: An audio tour of Philadelphia's most infamous art scandals:
$5.00
-
Badass Women's History Tour of Philadelphia:
$40
-
Beyond the [Liberty] Bell History Tour:
$40
-
Brandywine Valley Tour with Private Driver:
$581
-
Cemetery and Serial Killers Walking Tour of Philadelphia:
$35
-
City Sightseeing Philadelphia Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour:
$36
-
Colonial Era Philadelphia Waterfront Walking Tour:
$215
-
Dark Philly Adult Night Tour:
$25
-
Discovering Colonial Philadelphia to now Walking Tour:
$250
-
Double Decker Bus Tour of Philadelphia:
$37
-
Double Decker Night-Time Tour of Philadelphia:
$34
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.
Typically, people visiting Philadelphia spend on average $17 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
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 Philadelphia
Also in Philadelphia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Haunted Pub Crawl:
$45
-
Philadelphia Prohibition Pub Crawl:
$45
-
Charleston: Haunted Bar Crawl with Tarot Reading:
$64
-
Sip of Philly Brewery Tour:
$79
When comparing the travel costs between Charlotte and Philadelphia, 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.
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