A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Dayton vs. Philadelphia for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Dayton or Philadelphia?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Dayton or Philadelphia, 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 Philadelphia?

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.

Philadelphia

Philadelphia is the fourth largest urban area, and the fifth largest city in the United States. It's located in southeastern Pennsylvania and has a rich history, having once been the capital of the United States. The city has very impressive architecture, museums, universities, and entertainment venues. It's a cultural and artistic center for the country and it continues to climb as a top travel destination.

Which city is cheaper, Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia is $151. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Dayton and Philadelphia in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Dayton $200
    Philadelphia $95
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Dayton $400
    Philadelphia $190
Compare Hotels in Dayton and Philadelphia

Looking for a hotel in Dayton or Philadelphia? 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.

Hotels in Dayton


Hotels in Philadelphia


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 Philadelphia Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Dayton $20
    Philadelphia $22

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dayton

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dayton:

  • James M. Cox Dayton Airport (DAY) to Dayton - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $266
  • James M. Cox Dayton Airport (DAY) to Dayton - Departure Private Transfer: $133
  • James M. Cox Dayton Airport (DAY) to Dayton - Arrival Private Transfer: $133

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Philadelphia

Also for Philadelphia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Departure Transfer to Philadelphia Airport (PHL): $38
  • Private Arrival Transfer from Philadelphia Airport (PHL): $38
  • Private Airport Transfer: Philadelphia Int. Airport (PHL) to Philadelphia: $44
  • Private Airport Transfer: Philadelphia to Philadelphia Int. Airport (PHL): $44
  • Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel to Philadelphia Airport: $51
  • Shared Arrival Transfer: Philadelphia Airport to Hotel: $51
  • Philadelphia Airport (PHL) to Philadelphia - Arrival Private Transfer: $60
  • Philadelphia to Philadelphia Airport (PHL) - Departure Private Transfer: $60
  • Private Transfer to/from Airport (PHL): $66
  • Arrival Private Transfer Philadelphia Train Station to Philadelphia by Sedan: $68
  • Departure Private Transfer Philadelphia to Philadelphia Train Station by Sedan: $68
  • Departure Private Transfer Philadelphia to Philadelphia Airport PHL by Sedan: $68

Is it cheaper to fly into Dayton or Philadelphia?

Prices for flights to both Philadelphia 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Dayton $49
    Philadelphia $39
Typical Food prices in Dayton

Some typical examples of dining costs in Dayton are as follows:


  • Noodle Company Lunch (for 2)
    $17
  • Indian Food Dinner (for 2)
    $34

Typical Food prices in Philadelphia

For Philadelphia, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Casual Lunch (for 3)
    $27

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Philadelphia

For Philadelphia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Flavors of Philly Food Tour: $44
  • Decadent Gourmet Food Tour: $44
  • Flavors of Philly Food Tour: $52
  • Highlights of East Passyunk Food Tour: $54
  • South Philly Italian Family Dinner Tour: $75
  • Historic Food Tour: $78
  • Private Tour: Secret Food Tours Philadelphia: $90
  • Spirit of Philadelphia Dinner Cruise with Buffet: $107
  • Secret Food Tours Philadelphia w/ Private Tour Option: $193

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Dayton -
    Philadelphia $22

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

Typical Entertainment prices in Philadelphia

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Philadelphia's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Big Bus Tour (family of 3)
    $99

Tours and Activities in Philadelphia

For Philadelphia, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Philadelphia's Lost Waterfront: Explore the historic city on an audio tour: $5.00
  • Art and Controversy: An audio tour of Philadelphia's most infamous art scandals: $5.00
  • Ultimate Philadelphia Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.00
  • Philadelphia Architecture: Discover Every American Style on a GPS Audio Tour: $6.99
  • Philadelphia Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
  • Penn Museum Admission Ticket: $18
  • Philadelphia Walking Ghost Tour: $20
  • Franklin's Footsteps Walking Tour: $20
  • Skip the Line: Museum of the American Revolution Admission Ticket: $21
  • Philadelphia Historical Independence Walking Tour: $21
  • Philadelphia Hop-On Hop-Off City Tour: $23
  • The Franklin Institute Admission Ticket: $23

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Dayton -
    Philadelphia $17

Sample the Local Flavors in Philadelphia

Also in Philadelphia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Haunted Pub Crawl: $45
  • Philadelphia Prohibition Pub Crawl: $45
  • Charleston: Haunted Bar Crawl with Tarot Reading: $64
  • Sip of Philly Brewery Tour: $79

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dayton and Philadelphia, we can see that Dayton is more expensive. And not only is Philadelphia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Philadelphia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia.


When is the best time to visit Dayton or Philadelphia?

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 Philadelphia in the Summer?

Both Philadelphia and Dayton during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Philadelphia this time of year.

In July, Dayton is generally around the same temperature as Philadelphia. Temperatures in Dayton average around 78°F (26°C), and Philadelphia stays around 77°F (25°C).

In Philadelphia, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Dayton. In the summer, Dayton often gets more sunshine than Philadelphia. Dayton gets 298 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Philadelphia receives 273 hours of full sun.

Philadelphia gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Dayton usually gets less rain in July than Philadelphia. Dayton gets 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain, while Philadelphia receives 3.9 inches (100 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Dayton 78°F (26°C) 
    Philadelphia 77°F (25°C)

Should I visit Dayton or Philadelphia in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Dayton and Philadelphia. Also, many travelers come to Philadelphia for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

Dayton is around the same temperature as Philadelphia in the autumn. The temperature in Dayton is usually 57°F (14°C) in October, and Philadelphia stays around 56°F (14°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Philadelphia this time of the year. Dayton usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Philadelphia during autumn. Dayton gets 188 hours of sunny skies, while Philadelphia receives 202 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Dayton usually receives more rain than Philadelphia. Dayton gets 2.5 inches (64 mm) of rain, while Philadelphia receives 1.9 inches (48 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Dayton 57°F (14°C) 
    Philadelphia 56°F (14°C)

Should I visit Dayton or Philadelphia in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Dayton as well as Philadelphia. Also, many visitors come to Philadelphia in the winter for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.

Philadelphia can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Dayton. In the winter, Dayton is cooler than Philadelphia. Typically, the winter temperatures in Dayton in January are around 30°F (-1°C), and Philadelphia is about 30°F (-1°C).

In the winter, Dayton often gets less sunshine than Philadelphia. Dayton gets 129 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Philadelphia receives 152 hours of full sun.

Dayton usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Philadelphia. Dayton gets 2.1 inches (54 mm) of rain, while Philadelphia receives 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Dayton 30°F (-1°C) 
    Philadelphia 30°F (-1°C)

Should I visit Dayton or Philadelphia in the Spring?

Both Philadelphia and Dayton are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Philadelphia for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.

In April, Dayton is generally a little warmer than Philadelphia. Temperatures in Dayton average around 55°F (13°C), and Philadelphia stays around 52°F (11°C).

It's quite sunny in Philadelphia. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Dayton. Dayton usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Philadelphia during spring. Dayton gets 215 hours of sunny skies, while Philadelphia receives 216 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Dayton usually receives more rain than Philadelphia. Dayton gets 3.5 inches (88 mm) of rain, while Philadelphia receives 2.8 inches (70 mm) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Dayton 55°F (13°C) 
    Philadelphia 52°F (11°C)

Typical Weather for Philadelphia and Dayton

Dayton Philadelphia
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 30°F (-1°C) 2.1 inches (54 mm) 30°F (-1°C) 2.3 inches (58 mm)
Feb 33°F (1°C) 2.1 inches (53 mm) 33°F (1°C) 2.1 inches (54 mm)
Mar 44°F (7°C) 3.3 inches (85 mm) 42°F (6°C) 2.7 inches (68 mm)
Apr 55°F (13°C) 3.5 inches (88 mm) 52°F (11°C) 2.8 inches (70 mm)
May 65°F (18°C) 4 inches (102 mm) 63°F (17°C) 2.8 inches (70 mm)
Jun 74°F (23°C) 3.9 inches (100 mm) 72°F (22°C) 3 inches (76 mm)
Jul 78°F (26°C) 3.4 inches (86 mm) 77°F (25°C) 3.9 inches (100 mm)
Aug 76°F (25°C) 3.3 inches (83 mm) 76°F (24°C) 3 inches (75 mm)
Sep 69°F (21°C) 2.6 inches (65 mm) 68°F (20°C) 2.8 inches (71 mm)
Oct 57°F (14°C) 2.5 inches (64 mm) 56°F (14°C) 1.9 inches (48 mm)
Nov 47°F (8°C) 3.1 inches (80 mm) 46°F (8°C) 2.5 inches (64 mm)
Dec 35°F (2°C) 3 inches (75 mm) 36°F (2°C) 2.7 inches (69 mm)


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Dayton vs. Philadelphia Travel Comparison

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