Should you visit Cincinnati or Seattle?
Should I visit Cincinnati or Seattle? 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.
Seattle
Situated on the Puget Sound in the state of Washington, Seattle is the largest city in the United States Pacific Northwest. It's a beautiful city surrounded by the water and mountains and filled with evergreen trees. It's also the home of some famous American institutions including Starbucks Coffee, Amazon, and Microsoft. The population of almost 700,000 continues to grow. As of 2014, the city was considered the fastest growing major city in the United States. The entire metropolitan area has about 3.6 million residents, making it the 15th largest metro area in the US. The natural beauty, growing economy, and educational base give Seattle a youthful vibe that keep the city young and energetic.
Which city is cheaper, Seattle 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 Seattle is $156. 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 Seattle 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.
A hotel room in Seattle is about $188 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
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.
The price of a meal in Seattle can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $38 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.
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Food
Meals for one day
Cincinnati $44
Seattle $38
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 Seattle
Some typical examples of dining costs in Seattle are as follows:
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Expresso & cookie at Pier 70
$7.00
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Cashews at Pike Place Market
$6.00
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6 Mini Donuts at Pike Place Market
$3.25
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Chinese Lunch in International District (for 2)
$21
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Breakfast at Lowel's in Pike Place Market (for 2)
$32
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Breakfast at French Cafe (for 2)
$37
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Seattle
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Seattle.
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Chef Guided Food Tour of Pike Place Market- 1 Hour:
$34
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Pike Place Market: Walking Food Tour:
$48
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Pike Place Market Chef-Guided Food Tour:
$56
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Chef Guided Food Tour of Pike Place Market- 2 Hours:
$58
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Pacific Northwest-Style Dinner and Pairing in Seattle:
$61
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Exclusive: Early-Access Food Tour of Pike Place Market:
$73
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Street Theater and Dinner in Seattle's Fremont District:
$86
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Seattle Dinner Cruise:
$115
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.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $18 per day to get around in Seattle.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cincinnati
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cincinnati:
-
Cincinnati to Cincinnati Airport (CVG) - Departure Private Transfer:
$122
Typical Local Transportation prices in Seattle
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Seattle:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Seattle
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Seattle:
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Arrival Private Transfer Seattle Airport SEA to Seattle or Cruise Port - Minibus:
$195
-
Arrival Private Transfer from Seattle Airport SEA to Seattle by Business Car:
$108
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Chauffeured Airport Transfer to/from or Sea-Tac International Airport - One Way:
$91
-
Cruise Port to Seattle Tacoma Airport (SEA) - Departure Private Transfer:
$71
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Departure Private Transfer Seattle or Cruise Port to Seattle Airport SEA Minibus:
$195
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Departure Private Transfer from Seattle to Seattle Airport SEA by Business Car:
$108
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Seattle Tacoma International Airport to Kent City - One Way:
$62
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Seattle Tacoma International Airport to Seattle City - One Way:
$149
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Seattle Tacoma International Airport to Tacoma City - One Way:
$139
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One-Way Seattle Private Transfer up to 12 Pax: Cruises, Sea-Tac, Hotels:
$319
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Private Airport Transfer: Seattle to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA):
$40
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Private Departure Transfer from Seattle City to SEA Seattle Airport:
$46
Is it cheaper to fly into Cincinnati or Seattle?
Prices for flights to both Seattle 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.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $12 per person, per day in Seattle. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Tours and Activities in Cincinnati
Here are a few actual costs in Cincinnati for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Tour of Historic Wesleyan Cemetery:
$20
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Downtown Cincinnati Self-Guided Walking Tour with Smartphone:
$24
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Cellarman's Tour:
$26
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1919: The year that changed baseball tour:
$30
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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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Best Bites and Sites City Streetcar Tour of Cincinnati:
$59
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Cincinnati Wine & Dessert Tour:
$65
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Cincinnati Ethnic Eats in Over the Rhine Food and Culture Tour:
$69
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Cincy Let's Do Brunch Food, History + Streecar Tour:
$74
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Explore Over-the-Rhine Cruise:
$358
Tours and Activities in Seattle
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Seattle are as follows:
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Private Auto-guided Tour of Seattle:
$4.96
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Historic Ballard audio tour: A slice of Seattle's quirky history:
$5.00
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Skip the Line: Sky View Observatory Admission Tickets:
$10
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Smith Tower Straight Up Observatory Access Ticket:
$12
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Seattle Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$14
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Seattle Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$15
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Sky View Observatory General Admission Ticket:
$20
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Seattle Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$21
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Haunted Walking Ghost Tour:
$21
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Seattle Walking Ghost Tour:
$23
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The Museum of Flight Admission Ticket:
$25
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City Harbor Cruise:
$26
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.
The average person spends about $13 on alcoholic beverages in Seattle per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
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 Seattle
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Seattle:
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Seattle Bar Hunt: Sleepless in Seattle Bar Crawl:
$12
-
Haunted Seattle Ghost and Pub Walking Tour:
$27
-
Georgetown Brewery Tour:
$72
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Bon Vivant Woodinville Wine Tasting Tour:
$98
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Half-Day Coffee, Chocolate, and Wine Tour:
$99
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Seattle Coffee, Chocolate and Wine Tour:
$112
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Seattle Wine Tour (Hourly):
$135
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7-Hour Wenatchee White Water Rafting and Wine Tour:
$145
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From Snoqualmie Falls & Woodinville Wine Tasting:
$209
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Seattle All-Inclusive: Hike Mt. Rainier and Wine Tasting:
$263
When comparing the travel costs between Cincinnati and Seattle, we can see that Seattle 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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