Which place is cheaper, Santa Fe or Dayton?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Dayton or Santa Fe?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Dayton or Santa Fe, 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 Santa Fe?
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.
Santa Fe
Santa Fe is the state capital of New Mexico as well as the oldest state capital in the United States, founded in 1607. It has become a popular travel destination due to the surrounding scenic beauty, its long history, cultural diversity especially with its proximity to American Indian pueblos and culture, and a rich concentration of arts, music, and food.
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 $323Santa Fe $159
The average daily cost (per person) in Dayton is $323, while the average daily cost in Santa Fe is $159. 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 Santa Fe in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDayton $250Santa Fe $81
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDayton $500Santa Fe $162
Compare Hotels in Dayton and Santa Fe
Looking for a hotel in Dayton or Santa Fe? 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 Santa Fe Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dayton $25Santa Fe $61
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Fe
Also for Santa Fe, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Arrival Transfer from Santa Fe Airport (SAF): $62
- Private Departure Transfer to Santa Fe Airport SAF: $125
Is it cheaper to fly into Dayton or Santa Fe?
Prices for flights to both Santa Fe 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 $61Santa Fe $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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Fe
For Santa Fe, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- New Mexican Flavors Food Tour of the Santa Fe Plaza: $184
- Wander New Mexico Food Tour - Railyard Arts District: $189
- Wander New Mexico Food Tour - Downtown Plaza 'Sip & Savor': $209
- Downtown Plaza "Sip and Savor" Half-day Food Tour: $209
- Savor Wine Pairing Dinner: $228
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dayton -Santa Fe $17
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 Santa Fe
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santa Fe.
- Historic Downtown Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $6.75
- Santa Fe Historic Downtown Smart Phone Audio App Self Guided GPS Walking Tour : $9.75
- Santa Fe's Historic Gems: A Self-Guided Walking Tour: $9.99
- Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour of Historic Santa Fe: $15
- Murder Mystery Detective Experience Santa Fe, NM: $15
- Santa Fe Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $21
- Santa Fe Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour and Game: $25
- Santa Fe Puzzling Adventure: $35
- Adventurers Ready To Jump Into the Void Santa Fe Style Wanted: $39
- Santa Fe Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour and Game: $49
- Canyon Road Arts District Walking Tour: $69
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Walking Tour in Santa Fe: $70
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDayton -Santa Fe $9.68
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 Santa Fe
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Santa Fe:
- Tumbleroot Brewery and Distillery Tour and Tasting: $18
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dayton and Santa Fe, we can see that Dayton is more expensive. And not only is Santa Fe much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Santa Fe would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Fe 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 Santa Fe.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dayton Expensive? and Is Santa Fe Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dayton or Santa Fe?
Dayton has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Santa Fe. When comparing the sizes of Dayton and Santa Fe, 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.
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.