Which place is cheaper, Charleston or Duck Key?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Duck Key or Charleston?
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 Charleston can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Duck Key or Charleston?
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.
Charleston
Charleston is a beautiful, southern city and seaport town in South Carolina. It has a wonderful, historic downtown area that the city government works hard to maintain. Located on a peninsula that is created by two rivers, the city is a stunning setting with much character. It is a popular place to visit for its culture, architecture and cuisine. In recent years Charleston has gained popularity and it continues to grow as both a regional and international travel destination. With its rising popularity comes increasing costs. Travel costs continue to go up as restaurants and hotels raise their prices, particularly during the peak travel season and holiday periods.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDuck Key $143Charleston $170
The average daily cost (per person) in Duck Key is $143, while the average daily cost in Charleston is $170. 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 Duck Key and Charleston in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDuck Key $56Charleston $90
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDuck Key $112Charleston $180
Compare Hotels in Duck Key and Charleston
Looking for a hotel in Duck Key or Charleston? 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: Charleston Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Duck Key $69Charleston $33
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Charleston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Charleston:
- Private Transfer from Charleston Port to Charleston Airport (CHS): $59
- Private Transfer from Charleston Cruise Port to Charleston city: $55
- Private Transfer from Charleston City to Charleston Cruise Port: $55
- Isle of Palms/Sullivans Island to Charleston Airport –Departure Private Transfer: $104
- From Boone Hall Plantation Entry with Transfers: $71
- Folly Beach to Charleston Airport (CHS) - Departure Private Transfer: $104
- Charleston city to Charleston Airport (CHS) - Departure Private Transfer: $88
- Charleston Airport: One-Way Transfer to Charleston: $153
- Charleston Airport to Isle of Palms/Sullivans Island– Arrival Private Transfer: $104
- Charleston Airport to Isle of Palms/Sullivans Island -Roundtrip Private Transfer: $208
- Charleston Airport (CHS) to Kiawah/Seabrook Islands – Arrival Private Transfer: $118
- Charleston Airport (CHS) to Folly Beach - Arrival Private Transfer: $104
Is it cheaper to fly into Duck Key or Charleston?
Prices for flights to both Charleston and Duck Key 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 dayDuck Key $45Charleston $58
Typical Food Prices in Charleston
Some typical examples of dining costs in Charleston are as follows:
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Lunch in downtown Charleston for two$21
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Breakfast$26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Charleston
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Charleston.
- Charleston Sunset Blues & BBQ Dinner Cruise: $72
- Charleston Harbor Luxury Dinner Cruise with Live Music: $88
- Luxury Harbor Dinner Cruise: $93
- Savor the Flavors Upper King Street Food Tour: $95
- Charleston Food Tour: $99
- Historic Downtown Food Tour with Tastings: $99
- 3-Hour Secret Food Tour: $108
- Charleston Farm-to-Table Food Tour and Chef's Challenge: $109
- Charleston Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $110
- Downtown Charleston Food Tour: $110
- Savor the Flavors of Charleston Walking Food Tour: $110
- Charleston's Savor the Flavors of Upper King Street Walking Food Tour: $110
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Duck Key $30Charleston $22
Typical Entertainment Prices in Charleston
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Charleston are as follows:
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Patriots Point (for 2)$60
Tours and Activities in Charleston
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Charleston are as follows:
- 2 Hours Private Morris Island and River Cruise: $295
- 1.5-Hour Charleston Harbor Cruise with Live Narration: $42
- 2 Hours Shem Creek Safari Kayak Tour: $52
- 2-Hour Guided Kayak Eco Tour in Charleston: $54
- 300 Years of War and Peacetime in A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
- 90-Minute Charleston City Sightseeing Bus Tour : $37
- Access Tour to the Cameron House from Outer Banks: $225
- Afternoon Schooner Sightseeing Dolphin Cruise on Charleston Harbor: $56
- An Amazing Guided Ghost Tour: $30
- Behind the Scenes of Shem Creek Shrimp Walking Tour: $25
- Boone Hall Plantation Admission & Tour with Transportation from Charleston: $78
- Boone Hall Plantation All-Access Admission Ticket: $28
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDuck Key $7.99Charleston $36
Sample the Local Flavors in Charleston
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Charleston:
- Charleston Women and Wine Tour: $20
- Women and Wine Tour: $20
- Charleston Terrors Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $27
- Guided Pub Crawl and Haunted History Tour: $30
- Bay Street Bastards Pub Crawl Shared Tour in Charleston : $35
- Speakeasy Sagas Prohibition Pub Crawl: $35
- Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl Walking Tour: $35
- Historic District Haunted Pub Crawl Tour: $40
- Charleston Brewery District Cruise (Public Tour): $95
- Wadmalaw Island Wine Tasting and Tea Garden Trip: $135
- Half Day Party Bus Brewery Tour of Charleston: $140
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Duck Key and Charleston, we can see that Charleston is more expensive. And not only is Duck Key much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Duck Key would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Duck Key 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 Charleston would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Charleston than you might in Duck Key.
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 Charleston Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Duck Key or Charleston?
Charleston has a larger population, and is about 200 times larger than the population of Duck Key. When comparing the sizes of Duck Key and Charleston, 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 Charleston?
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 Charleston in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Duck Key as well as Charleston. Additionally, many travelers come to Charleston for the beaches, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Duck Key is around the same temperature as Charleston. Typically, the summer temperatures in Duck Key in July average around 84°F (29°C), and Charleston averages at about 82°F (28°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Charleston. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Duck Key this time of the year. In the summer, Duck Key often gets more sunshine than Charleston. Duck Key gets 328 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Charleston receives 293 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Charleston. Duck Key usually gets less rain in July than Charleston. Duck Key gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Charleston receives 6.9 inches (176 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyDuck Key 84°F (29°C)Charleston 82°F (28°C)
Should I visit Duck Key or Charleston in the Autumn?
Both Charleston and Duck Key are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Charleston in the autumn for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Duck Key is generally a little warmer than Charleston. Daily temperatures in Duck Key average around 80°F (27°C), and Charleston fluctuates around 67°F (19°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Duck Key. Duck Key usually receives more sunshine than Charleston during autumn. Duck Key gets 258 hours of sunny skies, while Charleston receives 197 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Duck Key. In October, Duck Key usually receives more rain than Charleston. Duck Key gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Charleston receives 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberDuck Key 80°F (27°C)Charleston 67°F (19°C)
Should I visit Duck Key or Charleston in the Winter?
Both Charleston and Duck Key during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, most visitors come to Charleston for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Duck Key is much warmer than Charleston in the winter. The daily temperature in Duck Key averages around 70°F (21°C) in January, and Charleston fluctuates around 47°F (9°C).
It's quite sunny in Duck Key. In the winter, Duck Key often gets more sunshine than Charleston. Duck Key gets 252 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Charleston receives 188 hours of full sun.
Duck Key usually gets less rain in January than Charleston. Duck Key gets 1.7 inches (43 mm) of rain, while Charleston receives 3.3 inches (85 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryDuck Key 70°F (21°C)Charleston 47°F (9°C)
Should I visit Duck Key or Charleston in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Duck Key and Charleston. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Charleston because of the beaches and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Duck Key is a little warmer than Charleston. Typically, the spring temperatures in Duck Key in April average around 77°F (25°C), and Charleston averages at about 64°F (18°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Charleston this time of the year. In Duck Key, it's very sunny this time of the year. Duck Key usually receives more sunshine than Charleston during spring. Duck Key gets 326 hours of sunny skies, while Charleston receives 275 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Duck Key usually receives less rain than Charleston. Duck Key gets 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain, while Charleston receives 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilDuck Key 77°F (25°C)Charleston 64°F (18°C)
Typical Weather for Charleston and Duck Key
| Duck Key | Charleston | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 70°F (21°C) | 1.7 inches (43 mm) | 47°F (9°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Feb | 71°F (21°C) | 1.4 inches (36 mm) | 50°F (10°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Mar | 74°F (23°C) | 1.7 inches (42 mm) | 58°F (14°C) | 4.3 inches (110 mm) |
| Apr | 77°F (25°C) | 0.8 inches (21 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| May | 81°F (27°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 4.2 inches (106 mm) |
| Jun | 83°F (28°C) | 4.5 inches (114 mm) | 78°F (26°C) | 6.4 inches (163 mm) |
| Jul | 84°F (29°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 82°F (28°C) | 6.9 inches (176 mm) |
| Aug | 84°F (29°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) | 81°F (27°C) | 7.1 inches (181 mm) |
| Sep | 83°F (29°C) | 5.7 inches (144 mm) | 76°F (25°C) | 4.8 inches (121 mm) |
| Oct | 80°F (27°C) | 5.1 inches (129 mm) | 67°F (19°C) | 2.9 inches (74 mm) |
| Nov | 76°F (24°C) | 2 inches (50 mm) | 58°F (15°C) | 2.5 inches (63 mm) |
| Dec | 72°F (22°C) | 1.4 inches (35 mm) | 51°F (10°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) |
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.