Which place is cheaper, South Lake Tahoe or Duck Key?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Duck Key or South Lake Tahoe?
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 South Lake Tahoe can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Duck Key or South Lake Tahoe?
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.
South Lake Tahoe
South Lake Tahoe is the largest town on the famous Lake Tahoe that straddles the California-Nevada border in the Sierra Mountain Range. Located just south of Reno, Nevada and about 2 hours east of Sacramento, the Lake Tahoe area is easily accessible to many visitors.
Lake Tahoe is known for skiing and other winter sports, as well as plenty of warm weather activities such as hiking, swimming, boating, mountain biking, and more.
South Lake Tahoe has plenty of accommodations, restaurants, bars, and shopping. This is a good town to base yourself if you're looking to explore the area, as it has a large number of amenities.
Located on the Nevada side of South Lake Tahoe is the town of Stateline. Here you can find some casinos, as gambling is legal in Nevada.
If you're looking to go skiing or snowboarding, the Heavenly Ski Resort can be found on the southern edge of the town of South Lake Tahoe. Naturally, more ski resorts are located around the lake as well.
As swimming is also popular, several beach areas are on the southern section of the lake including the Regan Memorial City Beach, Lakeside Beach, Pope Beach, Emerald Bay State Park, and the Edgewood Resort area (on the Nevada side).
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.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDuck Key $143South Lake Tahoe $118
The average daily cost (per person) in Duck Key is $143, while the average daily cost in South Lake Tahoe is $118. 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 South Lake Tahoe in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDuck Key $56South Lake Tahoe $54
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDuck Key $112South Lake Tahoe $108
Compare Hotels in Duck Key and South Lake Tahoe
Looking for a hotel in Duck Key or South Lake Tahoe? 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: South Lake Tahoe Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Duck Key $69South Lake Tahoe $24
Is it cheaper to fly into Duck Key or South Lake Tahoe?
Prices for flights to both South Lake Tahoe 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
-
Food Meals for one dayDuck Key $45South Lake Tahoe $38
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Duck Key $30South Lake Tahoe $56
Tours and Activities in South Lake Tahoe
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for South Lake Tahoe are as follows:
- 2 Hour Sailing Cruise on Lake Tahoe: $140
- Clear Kayak Paddle Tour at Sand Harbor: $150
- Clear Kayak Tour of Lake Tahoe: $165
- Driving Lake Tahoe: A Self-Guided Audio Tour From Tahoe City to Incline Village: $9.99
- Driving Lake Tahoe: A Self-Guided Tour From Incline Village to South Lake Tahoe: $12
- Driving Lake Tahoe: A Self-Guided Tour from South Lake Tahoe to Tahoe City: $12
- Electric Dirtbike Adventure in Lake Tahoe: $200
- Emerald Bay Helicopter Tour of Lake Tahoe: $110
- Emerald Bay Private Luxury Boat Tours: $750
- Full-Day Lake Tahoe Circle Tour including Squaw Valley: $80
- Guided Tour of Historic Virginia City and Carson City from South Lake Tahoe: $70
- Introductory Snowshoe Shared Experience: $75
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayDuck Key $7.99South Lake Tahoe $34
Sample the Local Flavors in South Lake Tahoe
Also in South Lake Tahoe, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Lake Tahoe: Emerald Bay Sunset Wine Tasting Yacht Cruise: $150
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Duck Key and South Lake Tahoe, we can see that Duck Key is more expensive. And not only is South Lake Tahoe much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to South Lake Tahoe would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in South Lake Tahoe 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 South Lake Tahoe.
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 South Lake Tahoe Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Duck Key or South Lake Tahoe?
South Lake Tahoe has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Duck Key. When comparing the sizes of Duck Key and South Lake Tahoe, 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.
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.