Should you visit Daytona Beach or Saint Augustine?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Daytona Beach and Saint Augustine can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Daytona Beach
Daytona Beach, Florida is a small city located on the Atlantic Ocean side of the Floridia coast. It is a wildly popular tourist destination for people all over the world due to the beaches and NASCAR races. Tourists come to enjoy the sunny weather, the beautiful beaches, and many other things the city has to offer. The beaches in Daytona are famous for their hard-packed sand, which makes them excellent for vehicles for 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.
Saint Augustine
St. Augustine is the oldest European-established settlement in the United States. Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon landed nearby and claimed the land now known as Florida in the name of Spain in 1513. They had originally named the land La Florida, which means "Land of Flowers". The city was founded by Spanish explorer Pedro Menendez de Aviles in 1565. Sir Francis Drake and John Davis burnt the city to the ground in 1586 and 1665 respectively, but St. Augustine soon became strong enough to fend off such attacks. Florida was purchased by the United States from Spain in 1819; it seceded during the Civil War, during which St. Augustine was occupied by Union forces.
Which city is cheaper, Saint Augustine 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 Saint Augustine is $127. 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 Saint Augustine in more detail.
Accommodation
The average price for accommodation for two people in Daytona Beach is $134. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $138 for a double occupancy room in Saint Augustine.
Food
In Daytona Beach travelers spend around $64 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.
Food in Saint Augustine costs travelers about $39 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
Saint Augustine
$39
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Daytona Beach is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $42 per person, per day, on local transportation in Daytona Beach.
The cost of a taxi ride in Saint Augustine is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $31 per person, per day, on local transportation in Saint Augustine.
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
Entertainment
Entertainment and activities in Daytona Beach typically cost an average of $22 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Entertainment and activities in Saint Augustine 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
Here are a few actual costs in Daytona Beach for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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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
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 $20 on alcoholic beverages in Saint Augustine per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Daytona Beach and Saint Augustine, we can see that Daytona Beach is more expensive. And not only is Saint Augustine much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Saint Augustine would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Saint Augustine 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 Daytona Beach would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Daytona Beach than you might in Saint Augustine.
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