Which city is cheaper, Charleston or Duck?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Duck vs. Charleston for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Duck or Charleston?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Duck or Charleston? 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: Duck or Charleston?
Duck
Duck is a resort town in Dare County, North Carolina. The town is quite small, with a year around population of just 369, but during the peak summer months the tourist crowds can climb to over 20,000. Duck is also the northernmost incorporated town in the county, and also the newest town in the Outer Banks, having been incorporated on May 1st, 2002.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDuck $151Charleston $136
The average daily cost (per person) in Duck is $151, while the average daily cost in Charleston is $136. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Duck and Charleston in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDuck $85Charleston $72
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDuck $170Charleston $144
Compare Hotels in Duck and Charleston
Looking for a hotel in Duck 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: Duck Hotel Prices and Charleston Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Duck $53Charleston $26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Charleston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Charleston:
- Private Departure Transfer to Charleston Airport (CHS): $52
- Charleston city to Charleston Airport (CHS) - Departure Private Transfer: $124
- Private transfer: Charleston to Charleston Airport (CHS): $622
Is it cheaper to fly into Duck or Charleston?
Prices for flights to both Charleston and Duck 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 $36Charleston $46
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.
- Downtown Charleston Culinary Walking Food Tour: $73
- Savor the Flavors of Charleston Walking Food Tour: $75
- Charleston's Savor the Flavors of Upper King Street Walking Food Tour: $75
- Charleston Chef's Kitchen Guided Walking Food Tour: $75
- Charleston Harbor: Luxury Dinner Cruise: $77
- Savor the Flavors Upper King Street Food Tour: $95
- Private Tour: Secret Food Tours Charleston: $129
- Undiscovered 1/2 Day Food, Wine & History Tour with Cooking Class: $154
- 3-Hour Secret Food Tour in Charleston w/ Private Tour Option: $277
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Duck $11Charleston $17
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:
- Charleston's Haunted Ghost Tour - Smart Phone Guided Tour: $5.00
- Charleston Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $16
- Charleston's Pleasing Terrors Night-Time Walking Ghost Tour: $21
- Downtown Charleston Walking Tour with Certified Local Guide: $21
- Historic Charleston Guided Sightseeing Walking Tour: $21
- Highlights of Charleston Guided Walking Tour: $22
- Charleston French Quarter Historic Guided Walking Tour: $22
- Drayton Hall Plantation Admission Ticket in Charleston: $22
- Small-Group Tour: Charleston Old Walled City Historical Walking Tour: $23
- Charleston Terrors Walking Ghost Tour: $23
- Charleston Ghosts of Liberty Guided Walking Tour: $25
- 90-Minute Historic Walking Tour of Charleston: $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDuck $36Charleston $28
Sample the Local Flavors in Charleston
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Charleston:
- Charleston Bar Hunt: Charleston Chase Bar Crawl: $12
- Ghost Walking Tour and Pub Crawl in Haunted Charleston: $27
- Haunted Pub Crawl of the Market: $37
When comparing the travel costs between Duck and Charleston, we can see that Duck 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.
When is the best time to visit Duck or Charleston?
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 Duck or Charleston in the Summer?
Both Charleston and Duck are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Charleston in the summer for the beaches, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Duck is generally around the same temperature as Charleston. Temperatures in Duck average around 78°F (26°C), and Charleston stays around 82°F (28°C).
It's quite sunny in Charleston. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Duck. Duck usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Charleston during summer. Duck gets 279 hours of sunny skies, while Charleston receives 293 hours of full sun in the summer.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Charleston. It's quite rainy in Duck. In July, Duck usually receives less rain than Charleston. Duck gets 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain, while Charleston receives 6.9 inches (176 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyDuck 78°F (26°C)Charleston 82°F (28°C)
Should I visit Duck or Charleston in the Autumn?
Both Charleston and Duck during the autumn are popular places to visit. Furthermore, most visitors come to Charleston for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
Duck is cooler than Charleston in the autumn. The temperature in Duck is usually 62°F (16°C) in October, and Charleston stays around 67°F (19°C).
It's quite sunny in Duck. In the autumn, Duck often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Charleston. Duck gets 211 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Charleston receives 197 hours of full sun.
Duck usually gets more rain in October than Charleston. Duck gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Charleston receives 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberDuck 62°F (16°C)Charleston 67°F (19°C)
Should I visit Duck or Charleston in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Duck and Charleston. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Charleston because of the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Duck can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Duck is much colder than Charleston. Typically, the winter temperatures in Duck in January are around 41°F (5°C), and Charleston is about 47°F (9°C).
Duck usually receives less sunshine than Charleston during winter. Duck gets 168 hours of sunny skies, while Charleston receives 188 hours of full sun in the winter.
Duck gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Duck usually receives more rain than Charleston. Duck gets 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain, while Charleston receives 3.3 inches (85 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryDuck 41°F (5°C)Charleston 47°F (9°C)
Should I visit Duck or Charleston in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Duck as well as Charleston. Additionally, the beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Charleston this time of year.
In April, Duck is generally cooler than Charleston. Temperatures in Duck average around 59°F (15°C), and Charleston stays around 64°F (18°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Charleston. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Duck this time of the year. In the spring, Duck often gets less sunshine than Charleston. Duck gets 253 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Charleston receives 275 hours of full sun.
Duck usually gets more rain in April than Charleston. Duck gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Charleston receives 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilDuck 59°F (15°C)Charleston 64°F (18°C)
Typical Weather for Charleston and Duck
| Duck | Charleston | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 41°F (5°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) | 47°F (9°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Feb | 42°F (6°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) | 50°F (10°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Mar | 50°F (10°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) | 58°F (14°C) | 4.3 inches (110 mm) |
| Apr | 59°F (15°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| May | 67°F (19°C) | 4.6 inches (117 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 4.2 inches (106 mm) |
| Jun | 74°F (23°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) | 78°F (26°C) | 6.4 inches (163 mm) |
| Jul | 78°F (26°C) | 5.4 inches (137 mm) | 82°F (28°C) | 6.9 inches (176 mm) |
| Aug | 78°F (25°C) | 5 inches (127 mm) | 81°F (27°C) | 7.1 inches (181 mm) |
| Sep | 72°F (22°C) | 4.7 inches (119 mm) | 76°F (25°C) | 4.8 inches (121 mm) |
| Oct | 62°F (16°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 67°F (19°C) | 2.9 inches (74 mm) |
| Nov | 53°F (12°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) | 58°F (15°C) | 2.5 inches (63 mm) |
| Dec | 45°F (7°C) | 3.4 inches (85 mm) | 51°F (10°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) |
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