Which place is cheaper, Gainesville or Daytona Beach?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for Florida Daytona Beach vs. Gainesville for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Daytona Beach or Gainesville?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Daytona Beach or Gainesville? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Daytona Beach or Gainesville?
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.
Gainesville
Home to the University of Florida as well as Santa Fe College, the town of Gainesville has all of the shopping, entertainment, and restaurants that you could want in a college town - plus easy access to a number of outdoor adventures from canoeing, diving, and kayaking to birding, fishing, hiking, and biking. Some of the top features include the Butterfly Rainforest, the Florida Museum of Natural History, the Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, and Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDaytona Beach $211Gainesville $221
The average daily cost (per person) in Daytona Beach is $211, while the average daily cost in Gainesville is $221. 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 Daytona Beach and Gainesville in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDaytona Beach $84Gainesville $119
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDaytona Beach $168Gainesville $238
Compare Hotels in Daytona Beach and Gainesville
Looking for a hotel in Daytona Beach or Gainesville? 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: Daytona Beach Hotel Prices and Gainesville Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Daytona Beach $53Gainesville $40
Is it cheaper to fly into Daytona Beach or Gainesville?
Prices for flights to both Gainesville 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayDaytona Beach $80Gainesville $70
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Daytona Beach
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Daytona Beach.
- Polynesian Fire and Dinner Show Ticket in Daytona Beach: $53
Typical Food prices in Gainesville
Some typical examples of dining costs in Gainesville are as follows:
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Diner Breakfast for Two$17
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Lunch at Chop Stix (for 2)$24
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Daytona Beach $28Gainesville $44
Tours and Activities in Daytona Beach
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Daytona Beach are as follows:
- Wildlife Tour of Indian River Lagoon with Experienced Captain: $32
- The Great Daytona Wine Bar Tour: $40
- Guided Wildlife Eco Kayak Tour in New Smyrna Beach: $45
- Zipline Adventure through Tuscawilla Park: $59
- Dolphin and Manatee Stand Up Paddleboard Tour in Daytona Beach: $65
- New Smyrna Dolphin and Manatee Adventure Tour: $65
- Orlando Manatee and Natural Spring Adventure Tour at Blue Springs: $65
- Dolphin and Manatee Kayak Tour of Daytona Beach: $65
- Guided Kayaking or Standup Paddling Tour: $65
- Small-Group Sailing Tour in Daytona Beach: $79
Typical Entertainment prices in Gainesville
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Gainesville are as follows:
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Manatee Tour for Two$98
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Tour Guide Tip$5.00
Tours and Activities in Gainesville
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Gainesville are as follows:
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Gainesville by Operation City Quest: $10
- Butterfly Rainforest at Florida Museum of Natural History Ticket: $15
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDaytona Beach $43Gainesville $49
Sample the Local Flavors in Daytona Beach
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Daytona Beach:
- Dive Bar Bus Crawl from Daytona Beach: $40
When comparing the travel costs between Daytona Beach and Gainesville, we can see that Gainesville 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.
Which is Bigger, Daytona Beach or Gainesville?
Gainesville is bigger, and its population is about 94% larger than the population of Daytona Beach. When comparing the population of Daytona Beach vs. Gainesville, 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 and the activities that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Daytona Beach or Gainesville?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Daytona Beach or Gainesville in the Summer?
Both Gainesville and Daytona Beach are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Daytona Beach for the beaches, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Daytona Beach is around the same temperature as Gainesville. Typically, the summer temperatures in Daytona Beach in July average around 81°F (27°C), and Gainesville averages at about 81°F (27°C).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Gainesville. It's quite rainy in Daytona Beach. In July, Daytona Beach usually receives less rain than Gainesville. Daytona Beach gets 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain, while Gainesville receives 6.8 inches (174 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyDaytona Beach 81°F (27°C)Gainesville 81°F (27°C)
Should I visit Daytona Beach or Gainesville in the Autumn?
Both Gainesville and Daytona Beach during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Daytona Beach in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.
In October, Daytona Beach is generally around the same temperature as Gainesville. Daily temperatures in Daytona Beach average around 74°F (23°C), and Gainesville fluctuates around 71°F (22°C).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Daytona Beach. Daytona Beach usually gets more rain in October than Gainesville. Daytona Beach gets 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain, while Gainesville receives 2 inches (51 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberDaytona Beach 74°F (23°C)Gainesville 71°F (22°C)
Should I visit Daytona Beach or Gainesville in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Daytona Beach and Gainesville. Most visitors come to Daytona Beach for the shopping scene and the cuisine during these months.
Daytona Beach is a little warmer than Gainesville in the winter. The daily temperature in Daytona Beach averages around 58°F (14°C) in January, and Gainesville fluctuates around 54°F (12°C).
In January, Daytona Beach usually receives around the same amount of rain as Gainesville. Daytona Beach gets 2.8 inches (70 mm) of rain, while Gainesville receives 2.9 inches (75 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryDaytona Beach 58°F (14°C)Gainesville 54°F (12°C)
Should I visit Daytona Beach or Gainesville in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Daytona Beach as well as Gainesville. The spring months attract visitors to Daytona Beach because of the beaches and the activities around the city.
In the spring, Daytona Beach is around the same temperature as Gainesville. Typically, the spring temperatures in Daytona Beach in April average around 69°F (21°C), and Gainesville averages at about 69°F (20°C).
Daytona Beach usually gets more rain in April than Gainesville. Daytona Beach gets 2.2 inches (57 mm) of rain, while Gainesville receives 2 inches (50 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilDaytona Beach 69°F (21°C)Gainesville 69°F (20°C)
Typical Weather for Gainesville and Daytona Beach
| Daytona Beach | Gainesville | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 58°F (14°C) | 2.8 inches (70 mm) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.9 inches (75 mm) |
| Feb | 59°F (15°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 4.5 inches (115 mm) |
| Mar | 65°F (18°C) | 2.9 inches (74 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
| Apr | 69°F (21°C) | 2.2 inches (57 mm) | 69°F (20°C) | 2 inches (50 mm) |
| May | 75°F (24°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) | 75°F (24°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) |
| Jun | 80°F (26°C) | 6 inches (152 mm) | 80°F (26°C) | 6.8 inches (174 mm) |
| Jul | 81°F (27°C) | 5.4 inches (137 mm) | 81°F (27°C) | 6.8 inches (174 mm) |
| Aug | 81°F (27°C) | 6.2 inches (157 mm) | 81°F (27°C) | 8.3 inches (211 mm) |
| Sep | 80°F (26°C) | 6.3 inches (161 mm) | 78°F (26°C) | 5.5 inches (139 mm) |
| Oct | 74°F (23°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) | 71°F (22°C) | 2 inches (51 mm) |
| Nov | 66°F (19°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 2.4 inches (61 mm) |
| Dec | 60°F (16°C) | 2.6 inches (66 mm) | 56°F (14°C) | 2.9 inches (74 mm) |
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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.
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