Should you visit Dayton or Eugene?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Dayton or Eugene, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Dayton
Located in southwest Ohio, Dayton is known as the "Gem City." It's the original home of Orville and Wilbur Wright, the brothers who designed the first airplane. You'll also find the Dayton Aviation Heritage Park here, which is one of the only multi-site National Parks in the United States. The cities climate has four different seasons, winter, spring, summer and fall. The winter months are quite cold and you can expect a decent amount of snow in the area. Spring remains cool and there are infrequent showers. This is also the peak time for tornadoes in the area. Summer is hot and humid and can be unpleasant at times, but fall is crisp and refreshing with occasional storms and infrequent tornadoes.
Eugene
At the southern end of the Willamette Valley, Eugene is most recognized as the home of the University of Oregon. It's a smaller city with a liberal population that is generally concerned about environmental issues. A popular experience in Eugene is to go to the Saturday Market, which has been around since 1970 and is the oldest open air market in the United States.
Which city is cheaper, Eugene or Dayton?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Dayton is $259, while the average daily cost in Eugene is $128. 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 Dayton and Eugene in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Dayton is about $400 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $156 for a double occupancy room in Eugene.
Food
The average traveler spends about $49 per day in Dayton 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.
While meal prices in Eugene can vary, the average travelers spends about $33 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Eugene should cost around $13 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Eugene is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
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Food
Meals for one day
Dayton $49
Eugene $33
Typical Food prices in Dayton
Some typical examples of dining costs in Dayton are as follows:
Typical Food prices in Eugene
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Eugene:
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $20 per day to get around in Dayton.
The average price of local transportation around Eugene is $30 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 Dayton
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dayton:
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James M. Cox Dayton Airport (DAY) to Dayton - Arrival Private Transfer:
$133
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James M. Cox Dayton Airport (DAY) to Dayton - Departure Private Transfer:
$133
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James M. Cox Dayton Airport (DAY) to Dayton - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$266
Is it cheaper to fly into Dayton or Eugene?
Prices for flights to both Eugene and Dayton 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
Tours and Activities in Eugene
Here are a few actual costs in Eugene for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Urban Street Art Tour:
$60
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Eugene City Tour:
$62
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Oregon Coastal Tour: Florence to Yachats:
$104
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Eugene Elevated Wine Experience:
$175
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2 day Tour from Eugene to the Oregon Coast:
$446
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2 day tour to from Eugene to Crater Lake:
$463
Alcohol
Sample the Local Flavors in Eugene
Also in Eugene, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Eugene Brewery Tour:
$85
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Eugene Distillery Trail:
$85
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Willamette Valley Wine Tasting Tour from Eugene:
$120
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Eugene Highlights and Wine Tasting Combo:
$155
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Eugene Highlights and Wine Tasting Combo:
$159
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4–Hour Guided Distillery Tour:
$253
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Private Wine Tour with Tastings from Eugene:
$350
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dayton and Eugene, we can see that Dayton is more expensive. And not only is Eugene much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Eugene would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Eugene 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 Dayton would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dayton than you might in Eugene.
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