Should you visit Dayton or Houston?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Dayton or Houston, 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.
Houston
The largest city in Texas and the fourth largest in the United States, Houston is a sprawling urban center that has grown from its wealth in the oil industry. Visitors today are drawn to its cultural diversity which has additionally made Houston a foodie destination. Other attractions to Houston include its proximity to NASA's Space Center Houston on the Gulf coast, and its Downtown which features a vibrant museum and arts scene, shopping, and dining.
Which city is cheaper, Houston 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 Houston is $210. 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 Houston 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 $226 for a double occupancy room in Houston.
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 Houston is $58 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:
-
James M. Cox Dayton Airport (DAY) to Dayton - Arrival Private Transfer:
$133
-
James M. Cox Dayton Airport (DAY) to Dayton - Departure Private Transfer:
$133
-
James M. Cox Dayton Airport (DAY) to Dayton - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$266
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Houston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Houston:
-
Private Arrival Transfer from Houston William P. Hobby Airport HOU:
$36
-
Private Departure Transfer to Houston William P. Hobby Airport HOU:
$36
-
Private Airport Transfer: Houston to George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH):
$40
-
Private Arrival Transfer from Houston George Bush Airport (IAH):
$44
-
Private Departure Transfer to Houston George Bush Airport IAH:
$44
-
Transfer in private vehicle from Houston George Bush Airport to Houston Downtown:
$47
-
Transfer in private vehicle from Houston Downtown to George Bush Airport:
$47
-
Transfer in private minivan from Houston George Bush Airport to Houston Downtown:
$47
-
Transfer in private minivan from Houston City Center to George Bush Airport:
$47
-
Private Airport Transfer: George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to Houston:
$52
-
Private Arrival Transfer from IAH Airport to Johnson Space Center:
$61
-
Arrival Private Transfer Houston George Bush Airport IAH to Houston by Sedan Car:
$62
Is it cheaper to fly into Dayton or Houston?
Prices for flights to both Houston 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.
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.
The average traveler spends about $28 per day in Houston 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
Dayton $49
Houston $28
Typical Food prices in Dayton
Some typical examples of dining costs in Dayton are as follows:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Houston
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Houston.
-
Astroville Food Tour of Downtown Houston with Tunnel Access:
$65
-
Downtown Houston Food Tour:
$74
-
The Heights Food Tour:
$74
-
Culinary Food Tour of Downtown Houston with Tunnel Access:
$77
Entertainment
Houston'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 Dayton
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Dayton are as follows:
-
Daytona Beach: Daytona 500 NASCAR Race Ticket:
$249
Tours and Activities in Houston
Here are a few actual costs in Houston for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
Ultimate Houston Self-Driving Audio Tour:
$8.00
-
Houston Museum of Natural Sciences: Planetarium Ticket:
$9.00
-
Haunted Houston Ghost Walking Tour (All Ages):
$21
-
Space Center Houston Admission Ticket:
$25
-
Museum of Natural Sciences Ticket:
$25
-
Astroville Underground Tunnel Tour of Downtown Houston:
$26
-
Houston Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$30
-
3D Printer Factory Tour plus 2 ft Tall Rocket!:
$31
-
Houston's Official Hop on-Hop off Tour:
$32
-
Astroville Weekend Downtown Houston Tour With Tunnel Access:
$35
-
Underground Tunnel Tour of Downtown Houston:
$35
-
Astroville Rockets Basketball Game Day Tour with Tunnel Access:
$36
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Houston may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $11 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Houston
Also in Houston, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Skip the Line: Distillery Tour Ticket:
$21
-
Haunted Houston Ghost and Pub Walking Tour:
$27
-
Brewery Tour:
$53
-
Astroville Downtown Bar Crawl & Tunnel Access (2 Cocktails Beverages Included):
$58
-
SUV St. Arnold Brewery Tour:
$487
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dayton and Houston, we can see that Dayton is more expensive. And not only is Houston much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Houston would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Houston 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 Houston.
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