Which place is cheaper, Memphis or Dayton?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Dayton or Memphis?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Dayton or Memphis, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Dayton or Memphis?
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.
Memphis
Located on the banks of the Mississippi River in southwest Tennessee, Memphis is a city famous for the blues, soul, and Rock 'n' Roll music that originated there. There are a number of museums and historic landmarks like Elvis Presley's Graceland dedicated to that history, while areas of the city like Beale Street keep the musical culture alive today with a vibrant scene of bars, restaurants, and live music.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America, and The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDayton $323Memphis $167
The average daily cost (per person) in Dayton is $323, while the average daily cost in Memphis is $167. 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 Dayton and Memphis in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDayton $250Memphis $84
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDayton $500Memphis $168
Compare Hotels in Dayton and Memphis
Looking for a hotel in Dayton or Memphis? 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Dayton Hotel Prices and Memphis Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dayton $25Memphis $59
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Memphis
Also for Memphis, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Memphis Airport Transfers: $60
- Private Departure Transfer to Memphis Airport MEM: $72
- Private Arrival Transfer from Memphis Airport MEM: $72
- Memphis Airport (MEM) to Memphis City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $133
- Memphis Airport MEM to Hot Springs Resorts Round-Trip Transfer: $282
- Guided Tour with Riverboat Cruise & Hotel Transfers: $339
Is it cheaper to fly into Dayton or Memphis?
Prices for flights to both Memphis 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
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Food Meals for one dayDayton $61Memphis $43
Typical Food Prices in Dayton
Some typical examples of dining costs in Dayton are as follows:
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Noodle Company Lunch (for 2)$17
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Indian Food Dinner (for 2)$34
Typical Food Prices in Memphis
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Memphis:
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Baskin Robins (for 2)$6.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Memphis
For Memphis, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Taste of Downtown Memphis Food Tour: $75
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dayton -Memphis $45
Tours and Activities in Dayton
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Dayton are as follows:
- Daytona Beach: Guided Kayaking or Standup Paddling Tour: $65
Tours and Activities in Memphis
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Memphis.
- Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour of Beale Street: $6.50
- Beale Street Experience Audio App Self Guided Walking Tour: $7.75
- Memphis Music Hall of Fame Admission Ticket: $8.00
- Memphis Music Hall of Fame Admission Ticket: $8.00
- Downtown In-App Audio Tour: $9.00
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure City Game on Your Phone: $10
- Entry Ticket to the Edge Motor Museum: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Memphis by Operation City Quest: $10
- Rock 'n' Soul Museum with Audio Tour: $11
- Woodruff-Fontaine House Museum Admission Ticket in Memphis: $15
- 1-Hour Beale Street Guided Walking Tour: $16
- Memphis Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $21
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDayton -Memphis $26
Sample the Local Flavors in Dayton
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dayton:
- Dive Bar Bus Crawl: $38
Sample the Local Flavors in Memphis
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Memphis:
- Drinking Spirits with Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl: $27
- Haunted Pub Crawl in Memphis: $27
- Memphis Signature Guided Brewery Tour: $59
- Signature Guided Brewery Tour: $62
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dayton and Memphis, we can see that Dayton is more expensive. And not only is Memphis much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Memphis would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Memphis 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 Memphis.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dayton Expensive? and Is Memphis Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dayton or Memphis?
Memphis has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Dayton. When comparing the sizes of Dayton and Memphis, 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.
When is the best time to visit Dayton or Memphis?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Dayton or Memphis in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Dayton as well as Memphis. Also, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Memphis this time of year.
Dayton is cooler than Memphis in the summer. The daily temperature in Dayton averages around 78°F (26°C) in July, and Memphis fluctuates around 83°F (29°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Memphis. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Dayton this time of the year. In the summer, Dayton often gets less sunshine than Memphis. Dayton gets 298 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Memphis receives 328 hours of full sun.
Dayton usually gets more rain in July than Memphis. Dayton gets 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain, while Memphis receives 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyDayton 78°F (26°C)Memphis 83°F (29°C)
Should I visit Dayton or Memphis in the Autumn?
Both Memphis and Dayton are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Memphis for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.
In the autumn, Dayton is cooler than Memphis. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Dayton in October average around 57°F (14°C), and Memphis averages at about 64°F (18°C).
It's quite sunny in Memphis. Dayton usually receives less sunshine than Memphis during autumn. Dayton gets 188 hours of sunny skies, while Memphis receives 240 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Dayton usually receives more rain than Memphis. Dayton gets 2.5 inches (64 mm) of rain, while Memphis receives 1.6 inches (41 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberDayton 57°F (14°C)Memphis 64°F (18°C)
Should I visit Dayton or Memphis in the Winter?
Both Memphis and Dayton during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many visitors come to Memphis in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Memphis can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Dayton. In January, Dayton is generally much colder than Memphis. Daily temperatures in Dayton average around 30°F (-1°C), and Memphis fluctuates around 40°F (5°C).
In the winter, Dayton often gets less sunshine than Memphis. Dayton gets 129 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Memphis receives 163 hours of full sun.
Dayton usually gets less rain in January than Memphis. Dayton gets 2.1 inches (54 mm) of rain, while Memphis receives 2.4 inches (62 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryDayton 30°F (-1°C)Memphis 40°F (5°C)
Should I visit Dayton or Memphis in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Dayton and Memphis. Furthermore, most visitors come to Memphis for the activities around the city during these months.
Dayton is cooler than Memphis in the spring. The daily temperature in Dayton averages around 55°F (13°C) in April, and Memphis fluctuates around 64°F (18°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Memphis this time of the year. In Dayton, it's very sunny this time of the year. Dayton usually receives less sunshine than Memphis during spring. Dayton gets 215 hours of sunny skies, while Memphis receives 254 hours of full sun in the spring.
Memphis receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Dayton usually receives less rain than Memphis. Dayton gets 3.5 inches (88 mm) of rain, while Memphis receives 4.3 inches (109 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilDayton 55°F (13°C)Memphis 64°F (18°C)
Typical Weather for Memphis and Dayton
| Dayton | Memphis | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 30°F (-1°C) | 2.1 inches (54 mm) | 40°F (5°C) | 2.4 inches (62 mm) |
| Feb | 33°F (1°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) | 45°F (7°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Mar | 44°F (7°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) | 54°F (12°C) | 4.2 inches (106 mm) |
| Apr | 55°F (13°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 4.3 inches (109 mm) |
| May | 65°F (18°C) | 4 inches (102 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) |
| Jun | 74°F (23°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) | 80°F (27°C) | 2.3 inches (58 mm) |
| Jul | 78°F (26°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) | 83°F (29°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) |
| Aug | 76°F (25°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 82°F (28°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) |
| Sep | 69°F (21°C) | 2.6 inches (65 mm) | 76°F (24°C) | 2.6 inches (66 mm) |
| Oct | 57°F (14°C) | 2.5 inches (64 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 1.6 inches (41 mm) |
| Nov | 47°F (8°C) | 3.1 inches (80 mm) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.6 inches (65 mm) |
| Dec | 35°F (2°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) | 44°F (7°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.