Should you visit Cincinnati or Philadelphia?
Should I visit Cincinnati or Philadelphia? 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.
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.
Philadelphia
Philadelphia is the fourth largest urban area, and the fifth largest city in the United States. It's located in southeastern Pennsylvania and has a rich history, having once been the capital of the United States. The city has very impressive architecture, museums, universities, and entertainment venues. It's a cultural and artistic center for the country and it continues to climb as a top travel destination.
Which city is cheaper, Philadelphia or Cincinnati?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Cincinnati is $146, while the average daily cost in Philadelphia is $151. 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 Cincinnati and Philadelphia in more detail.
Accommodation
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $82. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Cincinnati the cost is $164 on average.
The prices for places to stay in Philadelphia can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $95, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $190.
Food
The average traveler spends about $44 per day in Cincinnati 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.
Philadelphia food costs typically run travelers around $39 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
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Food
Meals for one day
Cincinnati $44
Philadelphia $39
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cincinnati
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cincinnati.
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Cincy Vegan Streetcar Food Tour in Cincinnati:
$69
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Cincinnati Streetcar Food Tour + Findlay Market:
$69
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Cincinnati Walking Sightseeing Tour with Pizza and Ice-cream:
$180
Typical Food prices in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Flavors of Philly Food Tour:
$44
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Decadent Gourmet Food Tour:
$44
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Flavors of Philly Food Tour:
$52
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Highlights of East Passyunk Food Tour:
$54
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South Philly Italian Family Dinner Tour:
$75
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Historic Food Tour:
$78
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Private Tour: Secret Food Tours Philadelphia:
$90
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Spirit of Philadelphia Dinner Cruise with Buffet:
$107
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Secret Food Tours Philadelphia w/ Private Tour Option:
$193
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Cincinnati is $20 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.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Philadelphia than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $22 on transportation in Philadelphia on average per day.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cincinnati
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cincinnati:
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Cincinnati to Cincinnati Airport (CVG) - Departure Private Transfer:
$122
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Philadelphia
Also for Philadelphia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Arrival Private Transfer Philadelphia Airport PHL to Philadelphia City by SUV:
$124
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Arrival Private Transfer Philadelphia Airport PHL to Philadelphia by Limousine:
$117
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Arrival Private Transfer Philadelphia Airport PHL to Philadelphia by Minibus:
$204
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Arrival Private Transfer Philadelphia Airport PHL to Philadelphia by Minivan:
$123
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Arrival Private Transfer Philadelphia Airport PHL to Philadelphia by Sedan:
$68
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Arrival Private Transfer Philadelphia Train Station to Philadelphia by SUV:
$124
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Arrival Private Transfer Philadelphia Train Station to Philadelphia by Sedan:
$68
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Departure Private Transfer Philadelphia City to Philadelphia Airport PHL by SUV:
$124
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Departure Private Transfer Philadelphia to Philadelphia Airport PHL by Limousine:
$117
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Departure Private Transfer Philadelphia to Philadelphia Airport PHL by Minibus:
$204
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Departure Private Transfer Philadelphia to Philadelphia Airport PHL by Minivan:
$123
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Departure Private Transfer Philadelphia to Philadelphia Airport PHL by Sedan:
$68
Is it cheaper to fly into Cincinnati or Philadelphia?
Prices for flights to both Philadelphia 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.
Entertainment
Cincinnati's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $21 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.
Sightseeing expenses in Philadelphia, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $22 per day, per person.
Tours and Activities in Cincinnati
Here are a few actual costs in Cincinnati for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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1919: The year that changed baseball tour:
$30
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Best Bites and Sites City Streetcar Tour of Cincinnati:
$59
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Cellarman's Tour:
$26
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Cincinnati Ethnic Eats in Over the Rhine Food and Culture Tour:
$69
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Cincinnati Wine & Dessert Tour:
$65
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Cincy Let's Do Brunch Food, History + Streecar Tour:
$74
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Downtown Cincinnati Self-Guided Walking Tour with Smartphone:
$24
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Explore Over-the-Rhine Cruise:
$358
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The Escape Game Epic 60-Minute Adventures:
$36
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The Original Findlay Market Tour:
$39
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Tour of Historic Wesleyan Cemetery:
$20
Typical Entertainment prices in Philadelphia
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Philadelphia's activities, tours, and tickets:
Tours and Activities in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Art and Controversy: An audio tour of Philadelphia's most infamous art scandals:
$5.00
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Philadelphia's Lost Waterfront: Explore the historic city on an audio tour:
$5.00
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Ultimate Philadelphia Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$6.00
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Philadelphia Architecture: Discover Every American Style on a GPS Audio Tour:
$6.99
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Philadelphia Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$14
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Penn Museum Admission Ticket:
$18
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Grim, Dark, and Twisted History Tour:
$19
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Franklin Footsteps Historic Walking Tour:
$19
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Philadelphia Walking Ghost Tour:
$20
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Franklin's Footsteps Walking Tour:
$20
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Skip the Line: Museum of the American Revolution Admission Ticket:
$21
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Philadelphia Historical Independence Walking Tour:
$21
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Cincinnati may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $9.11 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Typically, people visiting Philadelphia spend on average $17 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Cincinnati
Also in Cincinnati, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Cincinnati Bar Hunt: Cin-sational Cincinnati Bar Crawl:
$12
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Craft Brewery 3 Stop Hop:
$64
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Cincinnati Original Craft Brewery Tour:
$65
Sample the Local Flavors in Philadelphia
Also in Philadelphia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Haunted Pub Crawl:
$45
-
Philadelphia Prohibition Pub Crawl:
$45
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Haunted Pub Crawl:
$45
-
2-Hour Philly on Tap Pub Tour:
$65
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Sip of Philly Brewery Tour:
$79
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2-Hour Old City Wine Tasting Tour:
$96
When comparing the travel costs between Cincinnati and Philadelphia, we can see that Philadelphia 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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