Should you visit Daytona Beach or Destin?
Should I visit Daytona Beach or Destin? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Daytona Beach
Daytona Beach, Florida, located on the Atlantic coast, is a wildly popular tourist destination for people from all over the world due to great beaches, spring break fun, and NASCAR races. Tourists come to enjoy the warm Florida weather, the beautiful beaches, the activities, the boardwalk, the nightlife, and many other things the city has to offer. The beaches around Daytona are famous for their hard-packed sand, which makes them easy for cars to drive on. For this reason, Daytona has a history of automobile racing, and is home to dozens of races that take place throughout the year, the most famous of which is the Daytona 500. Naturally, Daytona is also home to NASCAR headquarters. But it's so much more than just a race destination, as it's also a fun and family-friendly destination that attractions a wide range of visitors.
Destin
An upscale resort town located on the Florida Panhandle, Destin is best known for its white sand beaches and clear green waters, golfing opportunities, and world renowned fishing. The stretch of beach here (on a peninsula between the Gulf of Mexico and the Choctawhatchee Bay) is nicknamed Florida's Emerald Coast.
Which city is cheaper, Destin or Daytona Beach?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Daytona Beach is $169, while the average daily cost in Destin is $153. 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 Daytona Beach and Destin in more detail.
Accommodation
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $67. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Daytona Beach the cost is $134 on average.
Destin's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $178. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $89.
Food
Daytona Beach food costs typically run travelers around $64 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
Food in Destin costs travelers about $41 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
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Food
Meals for one day
Daytona Beach $64
Destin $41
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $42 per day to get around in Daytona Beach.
The cost of a taxi ride in Destin is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $40 per person, per day, on local transportation in Destin.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Daytona Beach
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Daytona Beach:
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Daytona Beach International Airport One Way Transfer:
$43
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Daytona Beach & surrounding areas Private 14 passenger Luxury Mini-bus transfer:
$62
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Private Transfer from Daytona to Orlando-Sanford (SFB) Airport:
$228
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Private Transfer from Daytona to Port Canaveral:
$360
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Private Transfer from Daytona to Orlando (MCO) Airport:
$377
Is it cheaper to fly into Daytona Beach or Destin?
Prices for flights to both Destin and Daytona Beach 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
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $22 per person, per day in Daytona Beach. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Entertainment and activities in Destin typically cost an average of $14 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Tours and Activities in Daytona Beach
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Daytona Beach are as follows:
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Zipline Adventure through Tuscawilla Park:
$41
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Small-Group Sailing Tour in Daytona Beach:
$49
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Historic Pub and Bar Pedal Bus Tour of Beach Street:
$54
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Hopcycles Pedal Bus 2 Hour South Tour:
$54
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Dolphin and Manatee Stand Up Paddleboard Tour in Daytona Beach:
$56
Typical Entertainment prices in Destin
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Destin are as follows:
Tours and Activities in Destin
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Destin are as follows:
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Summer Breeze 1 Hour Segway Tour 2:30 pm Daily:
$38
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Small Boat Sunset Cruise in Destin:
$45
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Seas The Day 1.5 Hour Segway Tour 11 am daily:
$49
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Harbor Lights Tiki Cruise through Destin Harbor:
$50
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Tiki Harbor Sightseeing Cruise:
$50
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Private Banana Boat Tour:
$53
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Tiki Sunset Cruise:
$61
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Crab Island Sandbar Adventure:
$82
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4 Hour Fishing Trip on a Catamaran with an Experienced Captain:
$799
Alcohol
The average person spends about $34 on alcoholic beverages in Daytona Beach per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
The average person spends about $39 on alcoholic beverages in Destin per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
When comparing the travel costs between Daytona Beach and Destin, we can see that Daytona Beach is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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