Should you visit Chicago or Juneau?
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 Chicago and Juneau can help you decide which place is right for you.
Chicago
Located in the Midwest, Chicago is the third largest city in the United States. It has a population of almost 3 million and a metropolitan area that covers more than 10,000 square kilometers. It is also a hub for music, comedy and theater. It's skyline is beautiful with modern skyscrapers and Lake Michigan as a backdrop. It is easy to stay entertained in Chicago for weeks. There are world class museums, upscale or eclectic shopping opportunities, and impressive architecture.
Juneau
Juneau, Alaska is the capital city of the state, and it is also one of the most beautiful cities. Juneau is surrounded by two large mountains and a channel, so it is the only state capital not accessible by train or car. It is lined with small streets, including what is locally known as "stair streets" which can only be accessed by foot and include walking up 100-300 stairs, depending on which level you're going to. Luckily, most of the sights and stores are on the lower level, though. The only real structures located on the stair streets are residential buildings. Juneau is the most visited city in Alaska, but its population is just over 33,000. Its economy is based mostly on government, tourism, fishing, and mining.
Which city is cheaper, Juneau or Chicago?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Chicago is $221, while the average daily cost in Juneau is $128. 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 Chicago and Juneau in more detail.
Accommodation
Chicago's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $304. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $152.
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $70. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Juneau the cost is $140 on average.
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $29 per day to get around in Chicago.
The average price of local transportation around Juneau is $30 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.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Chicago
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Chicago:
-
Parking
$19
-
Taxi Ride
$10
-
Taxi from Airport
$45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chicago
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chicago:
-
Private Airport Transfer: O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to Chicago:
$43
-
Private Airport Transfer: from Chicago to O’Hare International Airport (ORD):
$43
-
Private Airport Transfer: Midway International Airport (MDW) to Chicago:
$55
-
Private Airport Transfer: from Chicago to Midway International Airport (MDW):
$55
-
Private Arrival Transfer from Chicago Midway Airport to Chicago City:
$66
-
Private Departure Transfer from Chicago City to Midway International Airport:
$66
-
Private Arrival Transfer from Chicago O'Hare Airport to Chicago City:
$78
-
Private Departure Transfer from Chicago City to O'Hare International Airport:
$78
-
Arrival Private Transfer Chicago O'Hare Airport ORD to Chicago by Sedan Car:
$79
-
Departure Private Transfer Chicago City to O'Hare Airport ORD by Sedan Car:
$79
-
Private Departure Transfer to Chicago Airports (ORD)(MDW):
$80
-
Private Arrival Transfer from Chicago Airports (ORD) (MDW):
$80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Juneau
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Juneau:
-
Airport Transfer via Private Mercedes Sprinter Limo:
$160
-
Helena Airport One Way Transfer:
$53
-
Private Arrival Transfer from Juneau Airport (JNU):
$48
-
Private Departure Transfer to Juneau Airport (JNU):
$48
Is it cheaper to fly into Chicago or Juneau?
Prices for flights to both Juneau and Chicago 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
The price of a meal in Chicago can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $37 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $15 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
On average, meal and food prices in Juneau cost around $39 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $16.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Chicago $37
Juneau $39
Typical Food prices in Chicago
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Chicago:
-
Dinner for 1
$24
-
Dinner for 3
$118
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chicago
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chicago.
-
Traveling Spoon Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza Private Online Cooking Class:
$27
-
Learn to Make Chicago Deep-Dish Pizza with a Local:
$49
-
Lonely Planet Experiences: River North Historical Food Tour:
$61
-
Private Fusion Cooking Class in Downtown Chicago:
$64
-
Best in Chow: Chicago River North Food Tour:
$64
-
Signature Food Tour at Chicago's Navy Pier:
$64
-
Skip the Line: Tommy Gun's Garage Dinner and Show Ticket:
$67
-
Small-Group Chicago Food Tour: Gold Coast and Old Town:
$75
-
Best of Chicago Tour Including a Deep-Dish Pizza:
$75
-
River North Walking Food Tour:
$75
-
Chicago's Wicker Park Food Tour:
$75
-
Private Indian-Mexican Fusion Cooking Class with a Modern Cook:
$78
Entertainment
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $34 per person, per day in Chicago. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Juneau's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $14 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.
Typical Entertainment prices in Chicago
Here are a few typical costs in Chicago for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in Chicago
Here are a few actual costs in Chicago for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
A Storied Neighborhood: Dance the dialectic with Bill Ayers on an audio tour:
$5.00
-
Discovering Vintage The Loop Walking Audio Tour by VoiceMap:
$5.34
-
Riverwalk Self-Guided Walking Tour:
$6.00
-
Millennium Park Self-Guided Walking Tour:
$6.00
-
Chicago Riverwalk Self-Guided Walking Tour:
$6.00
-
Skip the Line: American Writers Museum Admission Ticket:
$14
-
Pilsen Walking Tour of Local Publicly Displayed Art:
$15
-
Behind-the-Scenes Tour of Historic Chicago Theatre:
$18
-
Chicago Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$21
-
Windy City Ghost Tour:
$24
-
Street Art & Mural Tours By Native 312- Wabash Arts Corridor:
$25
-
In the Streets: Milwaukee Ave Guided Bike Tour:
$25
Typical Entertainment prices in Juneau
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Juneau are as follows:
Tours and Activities in Juneau
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Juneau are as follows:
-
Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$14
-
Juneau Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$15
-
Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure in Juneau:
$29
-
Juneau City Sightseeing and Mendenhall Glacier Tour:
$63
-
Historic Gold Mining and Panning Adventure:
$75
-
Historic Gold Mining and Panning Adventure:
$75
-
Historic Gold Panning Adventure & Salmon Bake:
$103
-
Half-Day Tour to Mendenhall Glacier and King Crab from Juneau:
$114
-
Juneau Whale Watching Tour:
$115
-
Whale Watching Adventure:
$115
-
City Highlights Tour:
$120
-
Rainforest Photography Segway Experience:
$125
For more ideas for your next trip, check out The Best Free Things to Do in Chicago, Chicago Bucket List: The Best Places to See, and The Best Museums in Chicago.
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Chicago may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $20 per day on alcoholic beverages.
The average person spends about $13 on alcoholic beverages in Juneau per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in Chicago
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Chicago:
-
Haunted Chicago Ghost and Pub Walking Tour:
$25
-
Walking tour to Chicago dive bars:
$41
-
Chicago Barrel Bus Craft Distillery Tour:
$90
-
Chicago Craft Brewery Barrel Bus Tour:
$90
-
Ultimate Girl's Night Out in Sparkling Wine, Photo Shoot, Burlesque:
$900
Sample the Local Flavors in Juneau
Also in Juneau, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Juneau Shore Excursion: Alaskan Brewery & Tasting Experience:
$63
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chicago and Juneau, we can see that Chicago is more expensive. And not only is Juneau much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Juneau would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Juneau 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 Chicago would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Chicago than you might in Juneau.
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