Should you visit Clearwater or Pensacola?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Clearwater and Pensacola. We’ll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget. So, let's dig into it.
Clearwater
Clearwater is a city in Florida's Tampa Bay area known for its sunny weather and gulf coast beaches. Its most famous beach (Clearwater Beach) is located on a barrier island with white sands and crystal waters - a perfect setting for activities such as fishing, sailing, kayaking, jet skiing, dolphin and sunset tours, parasailing, and more.
Pensacola
With sands as white as sugar grain and a sky devoid of grey clouds and innumerable downpours, Pensacola is known by many as the "Western Gate to the Sunshine State." Located in northern Florida, Pensacola is a waterfront city known for its pristine beaches and rich Floridian history. As one of the earliest European settlements in the U.S., Pensacola is riddled with museums and landmarks that commemorate the state's history, making the city quite appetizing for history buffs and students alike. However, if you are simply looking to get the most out of the all-around good weather of Florida, Pensacola's protected beaches complemented with high-class restaurants and stores make this a vacation capital for many.
Which city is cheaper, Pensacola or Clearwater?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Clearwater is $241, while the average daily cost in Pensacola is $157. 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 Clearwater and Pensacola in more detail.
Accommodation
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $208 for a double occupancy room in Clearwater.
Pensacola's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $178. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $89.
Food
The average traveler spends about $38 per day in Clearwater 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 average traveler spends about $40 per day in Pensacola 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.
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Food
Meals for one day
Clearwater $38
Pensacola $40
Typical Food prices in Pensacola
Some typical examples of dining costs in Pensacola are as follows:
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Clearwater is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $177 per person, per day, on local transportation in Clearwater.
The average price of local transportation around Pensacola is $51 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.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Clearwater
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Clearwater:
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Clearwater Beach to St.Pete–Clearwater Airport (PIE) -Departure Private Transfer:
$37
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St. Pete–Clearwater Airport (PIE) to St. Petersburg - Arrival Private Transfer:
$37
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St.Pete–Clearwater Airport (PIE) to Clearwater Beach -Roundtrip Private Transfer:
$72
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St. Pete–Clearwater Airport (PIE) to Clearwater Beach - Arrival Private Transfer:
$75
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Clearwater Beach to Tampa Airport (TPA) - Departure Private Transfer:
$83
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St. Pete–Clearwater Airport (PIE) to St. Petersburg - Roundtrip Private Transfer:
$147
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Private Transfer from Clearwater Beach to Orlando (MCO) Airport:
$453
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Private Transfer from Clearwater Beach to Orlando-Sanford (SFB) Airport:
$588
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Private Transfer from Clearwater Beach to Port Canaveral:
$658
Typical Local Transportation prices in Pensacola
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Pensacola:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pensacola
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pensacola:
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Pensacola to Pensacola International Airport (PNS) - Departure Private Transfer:
$136
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Pensacola International Airport (PNS) to Pensacola - Arrival Private Transfer:
$136
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Pensacola International Airport (PNS) to Pensacola - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$271
Is it cheaper to fly into Clearwater or Pensacola?
Prices for flights to both Pensacola and Clearwater 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
Pensacola's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $11 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.
Tours and Activities in Clearwater
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Clearwater are as follows:
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Beach Cruiser Bicycle:
$15
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Journey through Space Simulator Experience:
$15
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Clearwater Encounters with Dolphins Tour:
$20
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Dolphin Sightseeing Tour of Clearwater Beach with Free Ice Cream:
$21
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Clearwater Daytime Yacht Music Cruise with Optional Dining:
$22
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Clearwater Evening Yacht Cruise with Optional Dining:
$22
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Adventure Boat in Clearwater Beach:
$23
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Sea Screamer Dolphin Tour Boat Ride Ticket:
$25
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Sunset Cruise from Clearwater:
$27
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Clearwater Dolphin-Watching Tour:
$27
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Clearwater Sunset Celebration Cruise:
$29
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Dolphin Adventure at Clearwater Beach:
$32
Typical Entertainment prices in Pensacola
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Pensacola are as follows:
Tours and Activities in Pensacola
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Pensacola are as follows:
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Pensacola Scavenger Hunt: Pensacola Adventure:
$12
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Tour of Pensacola's Landmarks:
$22
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Ghosts and Graveyard Tour of Pensacola:
$22
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Red Light District Tour of Pensacola:
$25
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Hop-on Hop-off Tour in Pensacola:
$30
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1hr Segway Tour Downtown:
$53
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Uninhabited Island Kayaking Adventure:
$62
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2hr Segway Tour of Downtown:
$72
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3-Day Pensacola Sightseeing Pass:
$90
Alcohol
The average person spends about $35 on alcoholic beverages in Pensacola per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in Pensacola
Also in Pensacola, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Clearwater and Pensacola, we can see that Clearwater is more expensive. And not only is Pensacola much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pensacola would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pensacola 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 Clearwater would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Clearwater than you might in Pensacola.
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