Should you visit Dayton or Phoenix?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Dayton or Phoenix, 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.
Phoenix
The most populous city in the American Southwest, Phoenix is the capital city of Arizona and busiest hub of activity in the general area. Geographically it is located in the Sonoran Desert, making for long hot summers and mild winters. This climate has ensured a thriving tourism industry with plenty of attractions both in and around Phoenix.
Which city is cheaper, Phoenix 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 Phoenix is $114. 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 Phoenix in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Dayton is about $400 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
Travelers usually pay around $92 for a double occupancy room in Phoenix If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
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.
In Phoenix travelers spend around $42 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
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Food
Meals for one day
Dayton $49
Phoenix $42
Typical Food prices in Dayton
Some typical examples of dining costs in Dayton are as follows:
Typical Food prices in Phoenix
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Phoenix:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Phoenix
For Phoenix, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Awesome French Crêpes Cooking Class:
$65
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.
Phoenix's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $16 per person, per day on transportation in Phoenix.
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 - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$266
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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 - Arrival Private Transfer:
$133
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phoenix
Also for Phoenix, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Arrival Transfer from Phoenix Airport (PHX):
$26
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Private Departure Transfer to Phoenix Airport (PHX):
$26
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Private Phoenix International Airport Transfer to Pittsburgh:
$48
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Transfer from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport to Phoenix:
$56
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Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (PHX) to Phoenix - Arrival Private Transfer:
$60
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Phoenix to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (PHX) - Departure Private Transfer:
$60
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Arrival Private Transfers: Sky Harbor Airport PHX to Phoenix in Business Car:
$76
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Departure Private Transfers: Phoenix to Sky Harbor Airport PHX in Business Car:
$76
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Departure Private Transfer to Phoenix Airport PHX by Business or Luxury Vehicle:
$78
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Arrival Private Transfer Phoenix Airport PHX to Phoenix Business-Luxury Vehicle:
$78
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Airport Sedan Phoenix One Way Transfer Scottsdale Address:
$91
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Airport Sedan Phoenix One Way Transfer to Phoenix Address:
$91
Is it cheaper to fly into Dayton or Phoenix?
Prices for flights to both Phoenix 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
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Phoenix can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $29 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Tours and Activities in Phoenix
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Phoenix.
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Skip the Line: Heard Museum Admission Ticket:
$18
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Phoenix Walking Ghost Tour:
$20
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Phoenix Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$21
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RoRo Street Art Tour:
$27
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Lockdown- Samurai Escape Room Experience:
$28
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Phoenix Legends Bike Tour:
$43
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Urban Adventure Quest Scavenger Hunt in Phoenix:
$44
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Tabletop Adventure - Gaming in Nature:
$46
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BYOB Pedal Bar Experience In Old Town Scottsdale:
$53
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Scottsdale: Half-Day Casual Bike Tour with Guide:
$56
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Scottsdale: Half-Day Road Bike Tour:
$60
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Scottsdale: Half-Day Sonoran Desert Hiking Tour:
$60
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Phoenix, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $13.
Sample the Local Flavors in Phoenix
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Phoenix:
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Wine Tours, Airport Transportation and more!:
$100
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Custom Arizona Brewery Tour:
$245
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Private Southern Arizona Wine Tour Phoenix to Sonoita-Elgin Vineyards:
$997
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Private Wine Tour from Phoenix to Sonoita-Elgin Vineyards:
$1,650
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dayton and Phoenix, we can see that Dayton is more expensive. And not only is Phoenix much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Phoenix would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Phoenix 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 Phoenix.
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