Which place is cheaper, Nashville or Dayton?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Dayton or Nashville?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Dayton or Nashville, 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 Nashville?
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.
Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee, known as Music City USA and home to the Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame, is waiting for vacationers and tourists. Even though musical attractions may be Nashville's main showcases, there are still plenty of other places and activities to check out, like hiking along shorelines, visit urban parks filled with entertainment, fishing, zoos, museums, take in shows in a variety of venues and so much more. Nashville tourism is also a discount, coupon friendly town for independent travelers and families. There are also many free attractions to enable you to enjoy all that this part of God's country has to offer.
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 $323Nashville $172
The average daily cost (per person) in Dayton is $323, while the average daily cost in Nashville is $172. 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 Nashville in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDayton $250Nashville $99
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDayton $500Nashville $198
Compare Hotels in Dayton and Nashville
Looking for a hotel in Dayton or Nashville? 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 Nashville Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dayton $25Nashville $21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nashville
Also for Nashville, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Arrival Transfer in Nashville International Airport (BNA) : $50
- Private Departure Transfer from Downtown Nashville to Nashville Airport (BNA): $84
- Private Arrival Transfer from Nashville Airport (BNA) to Downtown Nashville: $84
- Nashville Airport: One-Way Private Transfer to Nashville: $111
- Private transfer to Nashville Airport and Hotel: $128
Is it cheaper to fly into Dayton or Nashville?
Prices for flights to both Nashville 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 $61Nashville $41
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nashville
For Nashville, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Show - Franklin, TN: $94
- The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show - Nashville, TN: $94
- Nashville 12South Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $99
- Nashville Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $99
- General Jackson Showboat Lunch or Dinner Cruise in Nashville: $113
- General Jackson Showboat Dinner Cruise: $138
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dayton -Nashville $27
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 Nashville
For Nashville, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Music City Self-Guided Walking Tour w/ Audio App: $6.75
- Nashville Music City Smart Phone Self-Guided Audio/App Walking Tour: $6.75
- Downtown A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Music History Guided Walking Tour: $10
- Wander Nashville- Guided Historic Walking Tour: $10
- Willie Nelson and Friends Museum Entry Ticket: $11
- Downtown Nashville Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $13
- Nashville Scavenger Hunt and Sightseeing Self-Guided Tour: $13
- Nashville Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Private Tour: $13
- Explore Haunted Downtown Walking Tour in Nashville : $20
- Nashville Unveiled: History, Highlights, and Hacks Walking Tour: $24
- Cruising Nashville Narrated Sightseeing Tour by Open-Air Vehicle: $24
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDayton -Nashville $15
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 Nashville
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Nashville:
- Nashville's Annual Saint Patrick's Day Pub Crawl: $25
- Nashville's Annual Crawl-O-Ween Pub Crawl: $25
- Music City Pub Crawl: $25
- Nashville's Annual New Year's Eve Pub Crawl: $25
- Belle Meade Guided Mansion Tour with Complimentary Wine Tasting: $29
- Seeking Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
- Nashville's Honky-Tonk Walking Sightseeing Pub Crawl: $31
- Drinkers & Thinkers Pub Crawl: $33
- Nashville's Lost Spirits: Murder and True Crime Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- Nashville Lost Spirits: Murder True Crime Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- Ghosts, Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- Nashville Brewery & Distillery Tour by Golf Cart: $58
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dayton and Nashville, we can see that Dayton is more expensive. And not only is Nashville much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Nashville would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Nashville 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 Nashville.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dayton Expensive? and Is Nashville Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dayton or Nashville?
Nashville has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Dayton. When comparing the sizes of Dayton and Nashville, 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 Nashville?
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 Nashville in the Summer?
Both Nashville and Dayton during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many travelers come to Nashville for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Dayton is around the same temperature as Nashville. Typically, the summer temperatures in Dayton in July average around 78°F (26°C), and Nashville averages at about 81°F (27°C).
In Nashville, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Dayton. In the summer, Dayton often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Nashville. Dayton gets 298 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nashville receives 276 hours of full sun.
Dayton usually gets less rain in July than Nashville. Dayton gets 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain, while Nashville receives 3.9 inches (99 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyDayton 78°F (26°C)Nashville 81°F (27°C)
Should I visit Dayton or Nashville in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Dayton and Nashville. Furthermore, many visitors come to Nashville in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.
In October, Dayton is generally cooler than Nashville. Daily temperatures in Dayton average around 57°F (14°C), and Nashville fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Nashville this time of the year. Dayton usually receives less sunshine than Nashville during autumn. Dayton gets 188 hours of sunny skies, while Nashville receives 212 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Dayton usually receives around the same amount of rain as Nashville. Dayton gets 2.5 inches (64 mm) of rain, while Nashville receives 2.6 inches (67 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberDayton 57°F (14°C)Nashville 62°F (17°C)
Should I visit Dayton or Nashville in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Dayton as well as Nashville. Additionally, most visitors come to Nashville for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Nashville can be very cold during winter. Dayton can get quite cold in the winter. Dayton is much colder than Nashville in the winter. The daily temperature in Dayton averages around 30°F (-1°C) in January, and Nashville fluctuates around 38°F (4°C).
In the winter, Dayton often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Nashville. Dayton gets 129 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nashville receives 134 hours of full sun.
Dayton usually gets less rain in January than Nashville. Dayton gets 2.1 inches (54 mm) of rain, while Nashville receives 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryDayton 30°F (-1°C)Nashville 38°F (4°C)
Should I visit Dayton or Nashville in the Spring?
Both Nashville and Dayton are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Nashville because of the activities around the city.
In the spring, Dayton is cooler than Nashville. Typically, the spring temperatures in Dayton in April average around 55°F (13°C), and Nashville averages at about 62°F (16°C).
It's quite sunny in Nashville. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Dayton. Dayton usually receives less sunshine than Nashville during spring. Dayton gets 215 hours of sunny skies, while Nashville receives 234 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Nashville. In April, Dayton usually receives less rain than Nashville. Dayton gets 3.5 inches (88 mm) of rain, while Nashville receives 4.3 inches (110 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilDayton 55°F (13°C)Nashville 62°F (16°C)
Typical Weather for Nashville and Dayton
| Dayton | Nashville | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 30°F (-1°C) | 2.1 inches (54 mm) | 38°F (4°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) |
| Feb | 33°F (1°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) | 42°F (6°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
| Mar | 44°F (7°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) | 52°F (11°C) | 4.8 inches (123 mm) |
| Apr | 55°F (13°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) | 62°F (16°C) | 4.3 inches (110 mm) |
| May | 65°F (18°C) | 4 inches (102 mm) | 70°F (21°C) | 4.8 inches (123 mm) |
| Jun | 74°F (23°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) | 78°F (25°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) |
| Jul | 78°F (26°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) | 81°F (27°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
| Aug | 76°F (25°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 80°F (27°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) |
| Sep | 69°F (21°C) | 2.6 inches (65 mm) | 74°F (23°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) |
| Oct | 57°F (14°C) | 2.5 inches (64 mm) | 62°F (17°C) | 2.6 inches (67 mm) |
| Nov | 47°F (8°C) | 3.1 inches (80 mm) | 52°F (11°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) |
| Dec | 35°F (2°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) | 43°F (6°C) | 4.6 inches (117 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.