Which place is cheaper, Pittsburgh or Clearwater?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Clearwater and Pittsburgh. 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, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Clearwater is a adventure-filled, relaxing, and beautiful coastal city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.
Pittsburgh is a industrial, authentic, and under-rated city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.
Travelers will generally find more things to do in Clearwater than Pittsburgh. While Pittsburgh is larger than Clearwater, Clearwater has more sights and attractions for tourists. Clearwater is better known for its food, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, and beaches, while Pittsburgh is more popular for its nightlife and big city activities. Clearwater is more touristy than Pittsburgh and is popular for its beautiful white sand beaches, laid back atmosphere, and watersports. Also, Clearwater is famous for Clearwater Beach. Pittsburgh is well known for its many bridges, its steel industry, and being the home of "Mr. Roger's Neighborhood".
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Pittsburgh and Clearwater. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Both Clearwater and Pittsburgh have great landmarks and museums for visitors.
Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Clearwater. Perhaps most well known is the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, but there are also a surprising number of museums nearby such as the Dalí Museum, the impressive Chihuly Glass Museum, and the Museum of Fine Arts.
Pittsburgh offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The museums range from science and nature focused, like the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Garden, to quirky and artsy, like the Mattress Factory. The Warhol Museum is dedicated to the works of Andy Warhol and it's not to be missed. Also worth a visit is the Heinz History Center, Randyland, and the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History.
Clearwater is great for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Pittsburgh is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its local cuisine and restaurants.
Clearwater has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. Head to the waterfront for some of the best seafood. Unfortunately this is also where you'll find the highest prices. Shrimp, crab, and a fresh catch of the day are common on many menus.
Pittsburgh offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. The city is known for its working class roots, and the food is hearty and filling, which is great for those on a budget. Popular local dishes include pierogis, deli sandwiches, Pittsburgh salads (complete with French fries), and hotcakes.
Pittsburgh is notable for nightlife. Also, Clearwater is not as famous, but is still a good coastal city to visit for nightlife and partying.
Pittsburgh has plenty to do after the sun goes down. There's an active music and dance scene in town. For the best bars and clubs, head to the Strip and South Side and for live entertainment and casinos check out the North Shore.
With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Clearwater. You'll find laid back beach clubs, glitzy wine bars, and relaxed bars where you can spend a nice night out.
Clearwater is great for its luxury resorts. However, Pittsburgh is not a resort destination.
Clearwater is a popular resort destination that attracts visitors from everywhere. You'll find a number of nice resorts along the coastline. Some of the most popular are the Sandpearl Resort, the Opal Sands Resort, and the Clearwater Beach Marriott.
Pittsburgh is not a resort destination.
Clearwater is a nice place to visit for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Pittsburgh is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.
Clearwater has a few areas where visitors often go scuba diving or snorkeling. There's both snorkeling and diving nearby. Some of the best dive spots are within and hour of the shore and you'll find diving shops that offer trips.
Pittsburgh is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.
Clearwater is a must-visit destination for the beach. However, Pittsburgh is not a beach destination.
The beaches in Clearwater are among the best in the world. Clearwater Beach is on many lists as one of the best beaches in America. It's the most popular beach in the area and it spreads out over 2.5 miles. Sand Key Beach is another popular destination as is the pristine Caladesi Island State Park.
Pittsburgh is not a beach destination.
Both Clearwater and Pittsburgh are notable shopping destinations.
Clearwater is a great destination for shopping. You'll find all of the standard shopping options in the area such as malls, shopping centers, and outlets. Westfield Countryside Mall is a popular destination as is the Cleveland Street District.
Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Pittsburgh. You'll find local fashion boutiques and shopping centers in the city's downtown. Other great shopping neighborhoods include Shadyside, Station Square, and Fifth Avenue Place.
Clearwater is great for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Pittsburgh is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.
You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Clearwater. Check out the playground and activities around Pier 60. Less crowded and family-friendly Sand Key Park is another favorite spot and the playgrounds at New Coachman Park and Crest Lake Park are also fun. Clearwater Marine Aquarium is another popular attraction for visitors with kids.
Pittsburgh is a family-friendly place to visit. There's a surprising number of kid-friendly activities packed into this city. Check out the National Aviary or visit the popular Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium. There are also kid-focused museums and science centers as well as parks and playgrounds. Also make sure you take the cable car up Duquesne Incline or enjoy a boat ride on one of the rivers as well.
Clearwater is great for couples. However, Pittsburgh is not a good destination for romance.
Clearwater is a great coastal city if you're traveling as a couple. There are beautiful parks and beaches as well as romantic activities like sunset cruises and dolphin spotting tours. Couples will also enjoy dining on local seafood and shopping at the local venues.
Pittsburgh is not the best destination for a couple to visit. There are a few good date night activities like taking river cruises, enjoying dinner and show, or going to a Pirate's game.
Pittsburgh is a good destination for its public transit. However, Clearwater is a mediocre coastal city for times when you don't have a car.
Pittsburgh has a few public transit options. There are bus and lightrail options through the city's downtown. There's also the unique incline, which is an experience worth doing.
Public transit is mostly limited in Clearwater. The Clearwater Jolley Trolley connects some of the area's highlights. There are also public buses that run several routes through town.
Clearwater and Pittsburgh both are notable when exploring on foot.
Clearwater is somewhat walkable. The waterfront and downtown areas are surprisingly walkable.
Pittsburgh is a somewhat walkable place. Some of the attractions are spread out, but if you're willing to do a bit of walking, it's possible to get around on foot.
For even more information, also check out Is Clearwater Worth Visiting? and Is Pittsburgh Worth Visiting?.
Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Clearwater and Pittsburgh. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Clearwater than in Pittsburgh. Usually, 3-5 days is a good amount of time for Clearwater, and 2-3 days is enough time in Pittsburgh.
Families should spend more time in Clearwater than Pittsburgh. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Clearwater, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Clearwater than Pittsburgh. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Clearwater that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Clearwater than Pittsburgh if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Clearwater.
With food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the adventure-filled coastal city of Clearwater, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. One of the main draws to the area is the beaches. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.
With museums and nightlife around the under-rated city of Pittsburgh, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.
With scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping around the destination of Clearwater, there's plenty to do. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. It offers something for everyone. One of the main draws to the area is the beaches. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything.
With nightlife and food around the destination of Pittsburgh, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.
Clearwater, a popular coastal city, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for five days. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. In five days, you should have a good grasp of this coastal city. Your budget might influence how long you stay.
Pittsburgh, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.
Clearwater is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One of the main draws to the area is the beaches. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
Pittsburgh is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America, The Best Walking Tours in United States of America, and The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Clearwater is $309, while the average daily cost in Pittsburgh is $181. 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 Clearwater and Pittsburgh in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Clearwater or Pittsburgh? 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.
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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Clearwater:
Also for Pittsburgh, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Pittsburgh 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Clearwater.
For Pittsburgh, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Clearwater are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Pittsburgh.
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Clearwater:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Pittsburgh:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Clearwater and Pittsburgh, we can see that Clearwater is more expensive. And not only is Pittsburgh much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pittsburgh would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Clearwater Expensive? and Is Pittsburgh Expensive?.
Pittsburgh has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Clearwater. When comparing the sizes of Clearwater and Pittsburgh, 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 along with the activities and attractions that interest you.