Should you visit Durham or Eugene?
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 Eugene 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.
Eugene
At the southern end of the Willamette Valley, Eugene is most recognized as the home of the University of Oregon. It's a smaller city with a liberal population that is generally concerned about environmental issues. A popular experience in Eugene is to go to the Saturday Market, which has been around since 1970 and is the oldest open air market in the United States.
Which city is cheaper, Eugene 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 Eugene is $128. 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 Eugene 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.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $156 for a double occupancy room in Eugene.
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 Eugene is $30 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
Is it cheaper to fly into Durham or Eugene?
Prices for flights to both Eugene 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.
While meal prices in Eugene can vary, the average travelers spends about $33 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Eugene should cost around $13 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Eugene is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Durham $35
Eugene $33
Typical Food prices in Eugene
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Eugene:
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.
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 Eugene
Here are a few actual costs in Eugene for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
Urban Street Art Tour:
$60
-
Eugene City Tour:
$62
-
Oregon Coastal Tour: Florence to Yachats:
$104
-
Eugene Elevated Wine Experience:
$175
-
2 day Tour from Eugene to the Oregon Coast:
$446
-
2 day tour to from Eugene to Crater Lake:
$463
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.
Sample the Local Flavors in Eugene
Also in Eugene, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Eugene Brewery Tour:
$85
-
Eugene Distillery Trail:
$85
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Willamette Valley Wine Tasting Tour from Eugene:
$120
-
Eugene Highlights and Wine Tasting Combo:
$159
-
4–Hour Guided Distillery Tour:
$253
-
Private Wine Tour with Tastings from Eugene:
$350
When comparing the travel costs between Durham and Eugene, we can see that Durham 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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