A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Duck Key vs. Carmel-by-the-Sea for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Duck Key or Carmel-by-the-Sea?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Duck Key and Carmel-by-the-Sea can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Duck Key or Carmel-by-the-Sea?

Duck Key

If you are thirsty for the taste of tropical splendor, Duck Key, Florida will surely quench your desires. Located in Monroe County, Florida, right beside its neighbor Conch Key, Duck Key stands. The community is chock full of everyone's favorite seaside activities, including fishing, jetskiing, scuba diving, canoeing, and kayaking. Though a quaint town, Duck Key attracts tourists from all over due to its quiet beaches and friendly locals. Whether you are looking to meet and greet with the dolphins or simply lie upon the sandy white beaches as the fire orange sun sets before you, Duck Key is truly a sweet and small subtropical diversion.

Carmel-by-the-Sea

A small, beach town on the Monterey Peninsula, Carmel-by-the-Sea is known for its idyllic natural scenery and artistic history. Carmel's village, just one square mile in size, is unlike any other in California with its picturesque views, European style and unusual laws.

Clint Eastwood served as mayor of Carmel from 1986-88. Without a single fast food or chain restaurants, visitors can easily feel that Carmel still preserves its slow and easy lifestyle, with all private-owned restaurants, coffee shops and pubs. This town is undoubtedly charming, even with its anti-high heel laws (though they aren't strictly enforced and permits are free at the City Hall), lack of street addresses and has been named the top destination for dog-friendly towns in the country. Grab your furry friends, leave your heels at home and get ready to explore this quaint and lovely town by the sea.

If you want to avoid the heat, Carmel is the perfect place to go, with year-round mild temperatures. Even during the summer seasons, you may not feel the heat through the fog and cool coastal weather. Peak seasons for travel are during summer months in August and September, (especially popular for weddings) and even then, the highs are still in the low 70s. Winter season lows dip only down to low 50s, with the Pacific Oceans maintaining moderate temperatures.

If you're driving to the city, keep in mind that the businesses do not have numbers in their addresses. To get directions or arrange a meeting, be sure to remember the name of the business and grab a map from the Carmel Chamber of Commerce.

Some famous artists who have resided in Carmel are Upton Sinclair, Jack London and Mary Austin. Carmel is known to be particularly dog-friendly, as almost all hotels allow guests to bring their dogs.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in United States of America, The Best Photography Tours in United States of America, The Best Camping Tours in United States of America, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Duck Key and Carmel-by-the-Sea, we can see that Duck Key is more expensive. And not only is Carmel-by-the-Sea much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Carmel-by-the-Sea would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Carmel-by-the-Sea 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 Duck Key would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Duck Key than you might in Carmel-by-the-Sea.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Duck Key Expensive? and Is Carmel-by-the-Sea Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Duck Key or Carmel-by-the-Sea?

Carmel-by-the-Sea has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Duck Key. When comparing the sizes of Duck Key and Carmel-by-the-Sea, 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.

When is the best time to visit Duck Key or Carmel-by-the-Sea?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Duck Key or Carmel-by-the-Sea in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Duck Key as well as Carmel-by-the-Sea. Also, many visitors come to Carmel-by-the-Sea in the summer for the beaches, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Duck Key is much warmer than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Typically, the summer temperatures in Duck Key in July average around 84°F (29°C), and Carmel-by-the-Sea averages at about 63°F (17°C).

Duck Key usually gets more rain in July than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Duck Key gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Carmel-by-the-Sea receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Duck Key or Carmel-by-the-Sea in the Autumn?

Both Carmel-by-the-Sea and Duck Key are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Carmel-by-the-Sea for the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In October, Duck Key is generally much warmer than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Daily temperatures in Duck Key average around 80°F (27°C), and Carmel-by-the-Sea fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).

It's quite rainy in Duck Key. In October, Duck Key usually receives more rain than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Duck Key gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Carmel-by-the-Sea receives 0.6 inches (14 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Duck Key or Carmel-by-the-Sea in the Winter?

Both Carmel-by-the-Sea and Duck Key during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Carmel-by-the-Sea because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Duck Key is much warmer than Carmel-by-the-Sea in the winter. The daily temperature in Duck Key averages around 70°F (21°C) in January, and Carmel-by-the-Sea fluctuates around 51°F (11°C).

Duck Key usually gets less rain in January than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Duck Key gets 1.7 inches (43 mm) of rain, while Carmel-by-the-Sea receives 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Duck Key or Carmel-by-the-Sea in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Duck Key and Carmel-by-the-Sea. Furthermore, the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty are the main draw to Carmel-by-the-Sea this time of year.

In the spring, Duck Key is much warmer than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Typically, the spring temperatures in Duck Key in April average around 77°F (25°C), and Carmel-by-the-Sea averages at about 56°F (13°C).

In April, Duck Key usually receives less rain than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Duck Key gets 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain, while Carmel-by-the-Sea receives 1.1 inches (29 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Carmel-by-the-Sea and Duck Key