A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Cincinnati vs. Milwaukee for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Cincinnati or Milwaukee?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Cincinnati or Milwaukee? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Cincinnati or Milwaukee?

Cincinnati

Located on the north banks of the Ohio River, Cincinnati is the third largest city in Ohio having grown from its industrial heritage. It is situated in the southwest part of the state, separated from the Kentucky border by the river. The city is best known for its striking skyline and unique chili.

Milwaukee

Milwaukee is a city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin on Lake Michigan's western shore. It's known for its breweries, many of which offer tours chronicling its role in the beer industry. Overlooking the Menomonee River, the Harley-Davidson Museum displays classic motorcycles, including one of Elvis Presley's. Nearby is the Milwaukee Public Museum, with its large-scale European Village and a recreation of old Milwaukee. In summertime, festivals let loose by the lake almost every weekend. These attractions along with stylish eating and shopping areas have turned Wisconsin's largest city into an interesting and attractive destination.

Which place is cheaper, Milwaukee or Cincinnati?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Cincinnati is $183, while the average daily cost in Milwaukee is $176. 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 Cincinnati and Milwaukee in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cincinnati $102
    Milwaukee $99
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cincinnati $204
    Milwaukee $198
Compare Hotels in Cincinnati and Milwaukee

Looking for a hotel in Cincinnati or Milwaukee? 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.

Hotels in Cincinnati


Hotels in Milwaukee


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: Cincinnati Hotel Prices and Milwaukee Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cincinnati $25
    Milwaukee $38

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Milwaukee

Also for Milwaukee, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Departure Private Transfer from Milwaukee to Milwaukee Airport MKE by Luxury Van: $73

Is it cheaper to fly into Cincinnati or Milwaukee?

Prices for flights to both Milwaukee and Cincinnati 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 day
    Cincinnati $55
    Milwaukee $52

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cincinnati

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cincinnati.

  • Ohio River Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $56
  • Mainstrasse Village Food Tour in Covington KY: $75
  • Cincinnati Streetcar Food Tour With Findlay Market : $79

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Milwaukee

For Milwaukee, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Milwaukee Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $98
  • Local Food Tour: $102
  • Original Milwaukee Guided Brewery Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $139

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cincinnati $26
    Milwaukee $26

Tours and Activities in Cincinnati

Here are a few actual costs in Cincinnati for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Cincinnati Ghosts By US Ghost Adventures: $30
  • 1919: The year that changed baseball tour: $31
  • Built on Beer Tour: $39
  • Buried Secrets Ghost Tour: $29
  • Cincinnati Ballparks & Breweries Bus Tour: $59
  • Cincinnati Brewing & Distilling Tasting Tour: $49
  • Cincinnati Ethnic Food and Culture Tour in Over the Rhine: $79
  • Cincinnati Indoor Skydiving Experience with 2 Flights & Personalized Certificate: $90
  • Cincinnati Reds Baseball Game Ticket at Great American Ballpark: $21
  • Cincinnati Wine & Dine In Over the Rhine evening tour: $84
  • Cincinnati Wine and Dessert Tour With Tastings: $65
  • Cincinnati's Original Findlay Market Tour With Tastings: $49

Tours and Activities in Milwaukee

For Milwaukee, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Skip the Line: Museum Admission Ticket - Grohmann Museum: $5.00
  • The Grand Walk: A Self-Guided Audio Tour through Milwaukee: $6.99
  • Skip the Line: North Point Lighthouse Admission Ticket: $8.21
  • Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Milwaukee by Operation City Quest: $10
  • Shakers Original Historical Ghost Tour: $20
  • Skip The Line: Harley-Davidson Museum Admission Ticket with Audio Guided Option: $22
  • Shakers Ghost Tour 2.0: $30
  • Brew City Ghosts: Macabre Milwaukee By US Ghost Adventures: $35
  • Milwaukee Tour: $40
  • Cream City Cannibal: Jeffery Dahmer Walking Tour: $40
  • Sightseeing Bus Tour: $40
  • Milwaukee Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $44

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cincinnati $11
    Milwaukee $33

Sample the Local Flavors in Cincinnati

Also in Cincinnati, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Haunted Cincinnati Ghost and Pub Walking Tour: $36
  • Hidden Brewery Caverns Tour in Cincinnati with Beer Tasting: $49
  • Craft Brewery 3 Stop Hop: $64

Sample the Local Flavors in Milwaukee

Also in Milwaukee, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Sip of Milwaukee Guided Brewery Tour with Snack: $99

How are these travel costs calculated?

When comparing the travel costs between Cincinnati and Milwaukee, we can see that Cincinnati 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.

Which is Bigger, Cincinnati or Milwaukee?

Milwaukee is bigger, and its population is about 89% larger than the population of Cincinnati. When comparing the population of Cincinnati vs. Milwaukee, 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 and the activities that interest you.


When is the best time to visit Cincinnati or Milwaukee?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Cincinnati or Milwaukee in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Cincinnati as well as Milwaukee.

Cincinnati is a little warmer than Milwaukee in the summer. The daily temperature in Cincinnati averages around 79°F (26°C) in July, and Milwaukee fluctuates around 74°F (23°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Milwaukee. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cincinnati this time of the year. In the summer, Cincinnati often gets less sunshine than Milwaukee. Cincinnati gets 298 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Milwaukee receives 321 hours of full sun.

Cincinnati usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Milwaukee. Cincinnati gets 3.5 inches (90 mm) of rain, while Milwaukee receives 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Cincinnati 79°F (26°C) 
    Milwaukee 74°F (23°C)

Should I visit Cincinnati or Milwaukee in the Autumn?

Both Milwaukee and Cincinnati are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.

In the autumn, Cincinnati is a little warmer than Milwaukee. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Cincinnati in October average around 58°F (15°C), and Milwaukee averages at about 53°F (12°C).

Cincinnati usually receives more sunshine than Milwaukee during autumn. Cincinnati gets 188 hours of sunny skies, while Milwaukee receives 174 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Cincinnati usually receives more rain than Milwaukee. Cincinnati gets 2.2 inches (56 mm) of rain, while Milwaukee receives 2 inches (50 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Cincinnati 58°F (15°C) 
    Milwaukee 53°F (12°C)

Should I visit Cincinnati or Milwaukee in the Winter?

Both Milwaukee and Cincinnati during the winter are popular places to visit.

It's quite cold in Milwaukee in the winter. The weather in Cincinnati can be very cold. In January, Cincinnati is generally much warmer than Milwaukee. Daily temperatures in Cincinnati average around 31°F (-0°C), and Milwaukee fluctuates around 21°F (-6°C).

In the winter, Cincinnati often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Milwaukee. Cincinnati gets 129 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Milwaukee receives 138 hours of full sun.

Cincinnati usually gets more rain in January than Milwaukee. Cincinnati gets 2.2 inches (57 mm) of rain, while Milwaukee receives 1.6 inches (41 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Cincinnati 31°F (-0°C) 
    Milwaukee 21°F (-6°C)

Should I visit Cincinnati or Milwaukee in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Cincinnati and Milwaukee.

Cincinnati is much warmer than Milwaukee in the spring. The daily temperature in Cincinnati averages around 56°F (14°C) in April, and Milwaukee fluctuates around 47°F (8°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Milwaukee this time of the year. In Cincinnati, it's very sunny this time of the year. Cincinnati usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Milwaukee during spring. Cincinnati gets 215 hours of sunny skies, while Milwaukee receives 211 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Cincinnati usually receives more rain than Milwaukee. Cincinnati gets 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain, while Milwaukee receives 2.8 inches (70 mm) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Cincinnati 56°F (14°C) 
    Milwaukee 47°F (8°C)

Typical Weather for Milwaukee and Cincinnati

Cincinnati Milwaukee
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 31°F (-0°C) 2.2 inches (57 mm) 21°F (-6°C) 1.6 inches (41 mm)
Feb 35°F (2°C) 2.5 inches (64 mm) 26°F (-4°C) 1.1 inches (29 mm)
Mar 46°F (8°C) 3.9 inches (100 mm) 36°F (2°C) 2.2 inches (57 mm)
Apr 56°F (14°C) 3.5 inches (89 mm) 47°F (8°C) 2.8 inches (70 mm)
May 66°F (19°C) 3.7 inches (93 mm) 58°F (14°C) 2.9 inches (73 mm)
Jun 74°F (24°C) 3.1 inches (80 mm) 68°F (20°C) 3.6 inches (91 mm)
Jul 79°F (26°C) 3.5 inches (90 mm) 74°F (23°C) 3.4 inches (87 mm)
Aug 77°F (25°C) 2.9 inches (73 mm) 72°F (22°C) 2.7 inches (68 mm)
Sep 71°F (21°C) 2.9 inches (73 mm) 65°F (18°C) 3 inches (77 mm)
Oct 58°F (15°C) 2.2 inches (56 mm) 53°F (12°C) 2 inches (50 mm)
Nov 48°F (9°C) 2.7 inches (68 mm) 41°F (5°C) 2 inches (51 mm)
Dec 37°F (3°C) 2.7 inches (69 mm) 27°F (-3°C) 1.7 inches (44 mm)


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.
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Cincinnati vs. Milwaukee Travel Comparison

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