Which place is cheaper, Tucson or Charlotte?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Charlotte or Tucson?
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 Tucson can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Charlotte or Tucson?
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.
Tucson
Tucson, Arizona is the second largest city in the state and sits at an elevation of 2,400 feet. It's temperature is slightly milder than Phoenix and it is a pleasant place to visit. Most people arrive in the city by car, but Amtrak does travel through Tucson, as does Greyhound. The area is also served by the Tucson International Airport. Once in the city, you'll likely want to have access to a car, as the city is not very pedestrian friendly and public transportation is very much lacking. Many popular and beautiful sights are also outside of town in the surrounding desert, so having access to a vehicle is paramount if you hope to visit any of the places.
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.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCharlotte $191Tucson $157
The average daily cost (per person) in Charlotte is $191, while the average daily cost in Tucson is $157. 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 Tucson in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCharlotte $118Tucson $93
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCharlotte $236Tucson $186
Compare Hotels in Charlotte and Tucson
Looking for a hotel in Charlotte or Tucson? 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 Tucson Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Charlotte $33Tucson $27
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
- Departure Transfer: Charlotte to Charlotte Douglas Airport CLT in Business Car: $132
- Charlotte Round Trip Chauffeur Driven Airport Transfer by Sedan: $150
- Charlotte Douglas Airport (CLT): 1-Way Transfer to Charlotte: $99
- Charlotte Douglas Airport (CLT) to Charlotte City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $134
- Charlotte Douglas Airport (CLT) to Charlotte City - Arrival Private Transfer: $67
- Arrival Transfer: Charlotte Douglas Airport CLT to Charlotte in Business Car: $132
Is it cheaper to fly into Charlotte or Tucson?
Prices for flights to both Tucson 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 dayCharlotte $46Tucson $36
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
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Charlotte $43Tucson $16
Tours and Activities in Charlotte
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Charlotte.
- 2.5 Hour Black History Van Tour-Perseverance, Power, and Progress: $59
- 90 Minute Historic Uptown Neighborhood Segway Tour of Charlotte: $75
- Carolina History and Haunts Charlotte Historical Ghost Walking Tour : $27
- Charlotte Ghost Walking Tour - Smartphone guided audio/gps Tour at your own pace: $6.75
- Charlotte Ghost Walking Tour: Smartphone Audio & GPS Tour: $6.50
- Charlotte Haunted Booze and Boos Ghost Walking Tour: $35
- Charlotte Historic : Queen Bee City Tour: $39
- Charlotte Historical City Tour: $45
- Charlotte Indoor Skydiving Experience with 2 Flights & Personalized Certificate: $90
- Charlotte Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour and Game: $25
- Charlotte's Only Southern Charm Haunted/True Crime Golf Cart Tour: $48
- Charlotte's Ultimate Southern Charm Historical City Cart Tour: $39
Tours and Activities in Tucson
For Tucson, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Saguaro National Park Self Guided Driving Audio Tour: $75
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayCharlotte $20Tucson $16
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Charlotte and Tucson, we can see that Charlotte is more expensive. And not only is Tucson much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Tucson would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tucson 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 Charlotte would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Charlotte than you might in Tucson.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Charlotte Expensive? and Is Tucson Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Charlotte or Tucson?
Charlotte has a larger population, and is about 15% larger than the population of Tucson. When comparing the sizes of Charlotte and Tucson, 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.
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.