Should you visit Durham or Cincinnati?
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 Durham and Cincinnati can help you decide which place is right for you.
Durham
Durham is a city in central North Carolina with about 230,000 residents. Together with Raleigh and Chapel Hill, it forms the Research Triangle area. Durham is often referred to as the "City of Medicine" and is home to the famous Duke University.
Durham's history is rooted in tobacco. The Duke family established American Tobacco, which controlled 90% of all cigarette production in the US during the second half of the 19th century. The family donated money to Trinity College, which changed its name to Duke University in 1924.
Today much of Durham's economy is centered around the university and Research Triangle Park. The area has many technology and pharmaceutical jobs and the economy continues to grow.
Cincinnati
Located on the north banks of the Ohio River, Cincinnati is the third largest city in Ohio having grown from its industrial heritage. It is situated in the southwest part of the state, separated from the Kentucky border by the river. The city is best known for its striking skyline and unique chili.
Which city is cheaper, Cincinnati or Durham?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Durham is $130, while the average daily cost in Cincinnati is $146. 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 Durham and Cincinnati in more detail.
Accommodation
Durham's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $146. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $73.
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $82. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Cincinnati the cost is $164 on average.
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $26 per day to get around in Durham.
The average price of local transportation around Cincinnati is $20 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Durham
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Durham:
-
Durham to Raleigh-Durham Airport (RDU) - Departure Private Transfer:
$139
-
Private Transfer from Durham to Manchester Airport (MAN):
$407
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cincinnati
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cincinnati:
-
Cincinnati to Cincinnati Airport (CVG) - Departure Private Transfer:
$122
Is it cheaper to fly into Durham or Cincinnati?
Prices for flights to both Cincinnati and Durham 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
On average, meal and food prices in Durham cost around $35 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $14.
The average traveler spends about $44 per day in Cincinnati for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Durham $35
Cincinnati $44
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cincinnati
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cincinnati.
-
Cincy Vegan Streetcar Food Tour in Cincinnati:
$69
-
Cincinnati Streetcar Food Tour + Findlay Market:
$69
-
Cincinnati Walking Sightseeing Tour with Pizza and Ice-cream:
$180
Entertainment
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $21 per person, per day in Durham. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Cincinnati's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $21 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Tours and Activities in Durham
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Durham are as follows:
-
Trolley Pub Public Tour of Durham:
$41
Tours and Activities in Cincinnati
Here are a few actual costs in Cincinnati for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
Tour of Historic Wesleyan Cemetery:
$20
-
Downtown Cincinnati Self-Guided Walking Tour with Smartphone:
$24
-
Cellarman's Tour:
$26
-
Ohio River: Sunset Sightseeing Cruise:
$28
-
1919: The year that changed baseball tour:
$30
-
1-Hour Escape Room Adventure:
$36
-
The Escape Game Epic 60-Minute Adventures:
$36
-
The Original Findlay Market Tour:
$39
-
Best Bites and Sites City Streetcar Tour of Cincinnati:
$59
-
Cincinnati Wine & Dessert Tour:
$65
-
Cincinnati Ethnic Eats in Over the Rhine Food and Culture Tour:
$69
-
Cincy Let's Do Brunch Food, History + Streecar Tour:
$74
Alcohol
The average person spends about $27 on alcoholic beverages in Durham per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Cincinnati may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $9.11 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Cincinnati
Also in Cincinnati, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Cincinnati Bar Hunt: Cin-sational Cincinnati Bar Crawl:
$12
-
Craft Brewery 3 Stop Hop:
$64
-
Cincinnati Original Craft Brewery Tour:
$65
When comparing the travel costs between Durham and Cincinnati, we can see that Cincinnati 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.
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