Should you visit Chattanooga or Sacramento?
Should I visit Chattanooga or Sacramento? 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.
Sacramento
Sacramento is the capital city and one of the oldest cities in the state of California. It was founded in 1849 in the midst of the Gold Rush, and has since grown to a population of over 500,000 people. The atmosphere is more laid back than most major cities, and its heritage is rooted in the Gold Rush and Transcontinental Railroad era.
Which city is cheaper, Sacramento 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 Sacramento is $225. 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 Sacramento 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.
The prices for places to stay in Sacramento can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $88, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $176.
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.
While meal prices in Sacramento can vary, the average travelers spends about $42 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Sacramento should cost around $17 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Sacramento is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
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Food
Meals for one day
Chattanooga $47
Sacramento $42
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 Sacramento
For Sacramento, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Downtown Sacramento Historical Food Tour:
$82
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Midtown Sacramento Arts and Food Tour:
$85
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.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Sacramento than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $41 on transportation in Sacramento on average per day.
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 Sacramento
Also for Sacramento, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Sacramento Executive Airport to Roseville City - One Way:
$144
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Sacramento Executive Airport to Sacramento City - One Way:
$73
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Private Sacramento Transfer Airport to Hotel:
$150
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Private Sacramento Transfer Hotel to Airport:
$150
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Private transfer from Sacramento to SFO:
$340
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Sacramento Airport (SMF) to Napa, CA - Arrival Private Transfer:
$228
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Sacramento Airport (SMF) to Napa, CA - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$455
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Sacramento Airport (SMF) to Sacramento hotel/address - Arrival Private Transfer:
$72
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Sacramento Airport (SMF) to Sacramento hotel/address- RoundTrip Private Transfer:
$144
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Sacramento City to Sacramento Airport (SMF) - Departure Private Transfer:
$72
Is it cheaper to fly into Chattanooga or Sacramento?
Prices for flights to both Sacramento 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.
Sightseeing expenses in Sacramento, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $15 per day, per person.
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 Sacramento
For Sacramento, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Sacramento Urban Murals: Cycle the streets of Sacramento with an audio tour:
$5.00
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California Gold Rush: The Sacramento Grid on a Self-Guided Bicycle Audio Tour:
$8.30
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Sacramento Historic River Cruise:
$20
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Sacramento Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$21
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Sacramento Sutter District History and Food Walking Tour:
$78
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 Sacramento spend on average $9.31 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
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Half-Day Private Wine Tour in Chattanooga:
$159
Sample the Local Flavors in Sacramento
Also in Sacramento, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Sacramento Bar Hunt: Sacramento Sprint Bar Crawl:
$12
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Bk Best Wine Tasting Tours Amador County 4 Hour Chevrolet Suburban Passengers 7:
$385
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4 Hour Private Amador County Wine Tasting Tours Mercedes Sprinter Passengers Van:
$409
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Amador Wine Tour from Sacramento:
$436
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6 Hour Wine Tasting Tours Napa Valley Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Passengers Van:
$625
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chattanooga and Sacramento, we can see that Sacramento is more expensive. And not only is Chattanooga much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Chattanooga would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chattanooga 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 Sacramento would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sacramento than you might in Chattanooga.
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