Should you visit Chattanooga or Nashville?
Should I visit Chattanooga or Nashville? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Chattanooga
Located on the Tennessee River near the border of the U.S. state of Georgia, Chattanooga is Tennessee's fourth largest city and a major transportation hub. The city has received national recognition for the renaissance of its once dilapidated downtown and redevelopment of its riverfront, including the restoration of the historic Walnut Street Bridge.
Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee, known as Music City USA and home to the Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame, is waiting for vacationers and tourists. Even though musical attractions may be Nashville's main showcases, there are still plenty of other places and activities to check out, like hiking along shorelines, visit urban parks filled with entertainment, fishing, zoos, museums, take in shows in a variety of venues and so much more. Nashville tourism is also a discount, coupon friendly town for independent travelers and families. There are also many free attractions to enable you to enjoy all that this part of God's country has to offer.
Which city is cheaper, Nashville or Chattanooga?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Chattanooga is $145, while the average daily cost in Nashville is $138. 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 Chattanooga and Nashville in more detail.
Accommodation
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $73. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Chattanooga the cost is $146 on average.
Travelers usually pay around $158 for a double occupancy room in Nashville If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
In Chattanooga travelers spend around $47 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
The average traveler spends about $33 per day in Nashville 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
Chattanooga $47
Nashville $33
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chattanooga
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chattanooga.
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Small-Group Electric Bike Food Tour in Chattanooga:
$50
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2-Hour Small Group Southern Cuisine Food Tour in Chattanooga:
$65
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2-Hour Chattanooga Walking Food Tour:
$69
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nashville
For Nashville, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Virtual Cooking Class of Southern Soul Food in Nashville:
$46
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Taste of Nashville Walking Food Tour:
$64
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Nashville Pub Crawl: Nashville's #1 All-Inclusive Cocktail & Food Tour:
$70
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The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show - Nashville/Franklin:
$77
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Walking Food Tour: Heaven Of Foods:
$172
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Private Half-Day History and Food Tour of Nashville:
$441
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Private Hands-on Cooking Party for up to 10 guests:
$714
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $28 per day to get around in Chattanooga.
To get around in Nashville, the average visitor spends $17 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Chattanooga
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Chattanooga:
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Chattanooga Zoo (for 2)
$16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nashville
Also for Nashville, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Nashville Airport (BNA) to Nashville accomodation - Arrival Private Transfer:
$142
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Nashville Airport (BNA) to Nashville accomodation - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$284
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Nashville Car Service - One Way Private Transfer To/From Airport:
$117
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Nashville International Airport One Way Transfer:
$53
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Nashville accomodation to Nashville Airport (BNA) - Departure Private Transfer:
$142
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Private Arrival Transfer from Nashville Airport (BNA) to Downtown Nashville:
$40
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Private Departure Transfer from Downtown Nashville to Nashville Airport (BNA):
$40
-
Private Nashville Transfer from Hotel to Airport:
$112
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Private Nashville Transfer: Airport to Hotel:
$112
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Private transfer: Nashville Airport (BNA) to Nashville:
$622
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Private transfer: Nashville to Nashville Airport (BNA):
$622
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Transfer from Nashville International Airport to Nashville:
$118
Is it cheaper to fly into Chattanooga or Nashville?
Prices for flights to both Nashville and Chattanooga 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
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $42 per person, per day in Chattanooga. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
In Nashville, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $22 per person, per day.
Tours and Activities in Chattanooga
Here are a few actual costs in Chattanooga for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Chattanooga "Awakening" Escape Room Admission Ticket:
$29
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Chattanooga "C-Block Prison Break" Escape Room Admission Ticket:
$36
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Chattanooga "Locker Room Lockdown: Mascot Rescue" Escape Room Admission Ticket:
$32
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Chattanooga "Secret Agent" Escape Room Admission Ticket:
$32
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Chattanooga "Speakeasy" Escape Room Admission Ticket:
$32
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Chattanooga "The Hunted" Escape Room Admission Ticket:
$32
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Chattanooga "The Inheritance Mystery Room" Escape Room Admission Ticket:
$36
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Chattanooga "Vaccine: Search For The Zombie Cure" Escape Room Admission Ticket:
$36
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Chattanooga Guided Electric Bike City Tour:
$80
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Chattanooga Guided Party Bike Tour:
$26
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Chattanooga Guided Walking Tour:
$23
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Chattanooga Stand-Up Paddleboarding & Kayak Tour:
$75
Tours and Activities in Nashville
For Nashville, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Belmont Mansion Admission Ticket in Nashville:
$16
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Nashville Zoo General Admission Ticket:
$19
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The Ghosts of Nashville Walking Tour:
$20
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Hatch Show Print Shop Guided Tour:
$20
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Nashville's Hatch Show Print Guided Studio Tour with Souvenir Poster:
$20
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Nashville Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$21
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Madame Tussauds Nashville Admission Ticket:
$21
-
1-hour Haunted Ghost Tour:
$21
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Haunted Nashville All-Ages Ghost Walking Tour:
$21
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Night-Time Ghost & History Walking Tour of Downtown Nashville:
$23
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Fontanel Mansion Tour:
$25
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Belle Meade "Journey to Jubilee" Guided History Tour:
$25
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Chattanooga may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $19 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Typically, people visiting Nashville spend on average $12 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Chattanooga
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Chattanooga:
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Chattanooga Brewery Walking Tour with Beer Tastings:
$41
-
Half-Day Private Wine Tour in Chattanooga:
$159
Sample the Local Flavors in Nashville
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Nashville:
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Nashville Bar Hunt: Nonstop Nashville Bar Crawl:
$12
-
Nashville's Tenn South Distillery Guided Tour with Tastings:
$16
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Downtown Nashville Pub Crawl Walking Tour:
$21
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Nashville Seeking Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl:
$24
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Belle Meade Guided Mansion Tour with Complimentary Wine Tasting:
$25
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Haunted Nashville Ghost and Pub Walking Tour:
$27
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Nashville's Honky Tonk Sightseeing Pub Crawl:
$29
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Tractor Party Tour and Moonshine Distillery:
$30
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Nashville Brewery & Distillery Tour by Golf Cart:
$54
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Brewery and Distillery Cart Tour:
$56
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2-Hour Golf Cart Bar Crawl Tour:
$58
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The Ville All-Inclusive Pub Crawl:
$69
When comparing the travel costs between Chattanooga and Nashville, we can see that Chattanooga 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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