Should you visit Cocoa Beach or Orlando?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Cocoa Beach and Orlando. 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.
Cocoa Beach
Cocoa Beach, Florida has long been a favorite vacation spot for travelers looking for sun, sand, and waves. The location was also made famous as the setting for the 1960's television show, "I Dream of Jeannie". The town of just over 11,000 is located in Brevard County along the Atlantic coast. Many people visit the area because of its excellent surfing. There are many surfing festivals and competitions held here yearly and the famous Ron Jon's surf shop receives about 2 million visitors a year. The city is also home to the East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame.
Orlando
Orlando is a haven for tourists from the entire United States and abroad. The most famous sight in Orlando, Walt Disney World, is not actually located in the city at all, but in nearby Lake Buena Vista. The area attracts over 50 million visitors a year and the city's sprawling development has created amenities and entertainment options for tourists of all ages.
Which city is cheaper, Orlando or Cocoa Beach?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Cocoa Beach is $116, while the average daily cost in Orlando is $240. 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 Cocoa Beach and Orlando in more detail.
Accommodation
For a normal double-occupancy room in Cocoa Beach, $136 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Cocoa Beach, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $68, such as in a hostel.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $224 in Orlando For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
While meal prices in Cocoa Beach can vary, the average travelers spends about $35 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Cocoa Beach should cost around $14 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Cocoa Beach is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
The price of a meal in Orlando can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $50 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $20 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
Cocoa Beach $35
Orlando $50
Typical Food prices in Orlando
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Orlando:
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Lunch for Two at Epcot
$29
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Orlando
For Orlando, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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The Outta Control Magic Comedy Dinner Show, Orlando:
$34
-
The Outta Control Magic Comedy Dinner Show:
$34
-
Mango's Tropical Cafe Dinner & Show Tickets:
$50
-
Mango's Tropical Cafe Orlando Dinner and Show Ticket:
$50
-
The Rock Dinner Show in Orlando:
$51
-
Food Tour of Celebration:
$55
-
Pirates Dinner Adventure Orlando:
$57
-
Downtown Food Tour:
$60
-
WonderWorks and Outta Control Dinner Show VIP Combo:
$64
-
Audubon Park Garden District Food Tour:
$85
-
Cowboy Rodeo Adventure Tour & BBQ Dinner from Orlando:
$89
-
Dinner with Disney Characters by Limousine:
$119
Local Transportation
Cocoa Beach's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $20 per person, per day on transportation in Cocoa Beach.
To get around in Orlando, the average visitor spends $48 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cocoa Beach
Also for Cocoa Beach, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Private Transfer from Cocoa Beach to Orlando (MCO) Airport:
$267
-
Private Transfer from Cocoa Beach to Orlando-Sanford (SFB) Airport:
$264
-
Private Van Service Transfer to or from Orlando International Airport:
$101
-
Shared Port Canaveral Round-trip Transfer:
$43
Typical Local Transportation prices in Orlando
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Orlando are as follows:
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Parking
$14
-
Taxi Ride
$45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Orlando
Also for Orlando, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Universal/North I-Drive Hotels to Orlando Airport Private Transfer:
$69
-
Universal Studios to Cruise Port Canaveral. Private Transfer Up to 10 pax:
$128
-
Universal Studios Resorts to Orlando Airport MCO. Private Transfer Up to 10 pax:
$58
-
Universal Studios Resort to Cruise Port Canaveral. Private Transfer up to 4 pax:
$112
-
Transfer to / from Miami Area and Ports:
$325
-
Transfer in private vehicle from Orlando downtown to Orlando Airport:
$55
-
Transfer in private vehicle from Orlando Airport to Orlando downtown:
$55
-
Transfer in private minivan from Orlando downtown to Orlando Airport:
$67
-
Transfer in private minivan from Orlando Airport to Orlando downtown:
$67
-
Transfer from Orlando to Cape Canaveral/Cruises/Cocoa Beach:
$98
-
Transfer from Orlando International Airport to Orlando:
$87
-
Transfer from Orlando International Airport to Central Florida:
$80
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Cocoa Beach can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $13 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
In Orlando, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $163 per person, per day.
Tours and Activities in Cocoa Beach
For Cocoa Beach, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Bicycle Tours and Rentals Throughout the Space Coast:
$50
-
Bioluminescent Kayak Tour with Cocoa Kayaking in Cocoa Beach, Florida!!:
$65
-
Cocoa Beach Mural Tour (Self-Guided):
$25
-
Dinoflagellate Bioluminescence Kayak Tour:
$55
-
Electric Bike Group Tour - Port Canaveral & Cocoa Beach:
$85
-
Group Kayak Tour to Search for Wildlife and Explore the Mangrove Tunnels:
$44
-
Mangrove Tunnel & Dolphin Sunset Kayak Tours with Cocoa Kayaking in Cocoa Beach!:
$50
-
Mangrove Tunnel/Manatee & Dolphin Kayak Tour with Cocoa Kayaking in Cocoa Beach!:
$50
-
Mangrove Tunnels, Manatee, and Dolphin Sunset kayak tour with Fin Expeditions:
$49
-
Mini Photography Session with Experienced Photographer:
$250
-
One Hour Surf Lesson with Experienced Instructor:
$70
-
Private Surf Lesson with Experienced Instructors:
$65
Typical Entertainment prices in Orlando
For Orlando, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Tours and Activities in Orlando
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Orlando.
-
1-Hour Airboat Sunset Tour (Seasonal):
$72
-
1-Hour Private Ski Boat Experience in Florida:
$69
-
2-Park 1-Day Universal Orlando™ Theme Park Tickets:
$174
-
2-Park 2-Day Universal Orlando™ Theme Park Tickets:
$275
-
8-Hour Automatic Polaris Slingshot SL Adventure Rental:
$193
-
A Walk Around Lake Eola Audio Tour:
$6.65
-
Central Florida Everglades Airboat Tour from Orlando:
$59
-
Central Florida Everglades and Safari Park Tour:
$129
-
Chef Nite Dining Experience:
$150
-
City Tour of Orlando with Gospel Brunch:
$109
-
Clearwater Beach Deep Sea Fishing Adventure with Lunch:
$149
-
Clearwater Beach Pirate Cruise Adventure with Lunch:
$115
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Cocoa Beach spend on average $16 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Orlando, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $24.
Sample the Local Flavors in Orlando
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Orlando:
-
Florida Craft Beer & Brewery Tour:
$65
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cocoa Beach and Orlando, we can see that Orlando is more expensive. And not only is Cocoa Beach much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cocoa Beach would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cocoa Beach 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 Orlando would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Orlando than you might in Cocoa Beach.
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