Should you visit Durham or Galveston?
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 Galveston 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.
Galveston
Located on Galveston Island off the Texas Gulf Coast, Galveston is a popular destination for Texans and a departure point for cruise ships. It also makes a great beach destination for anyone looking to enjoy a week or weekend.
Galveston is a popular destination during the summer months, but the warm climate makes it comfortable year round. Even during the winter months you can enjoy mild temperatures, although on occasion it can have a cold spell.
Which city is cheaper, Galveston 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 Galveston is $147. 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 Galveston 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.
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $128 in Galveston For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
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.
On average, meal and food prices in Galveston cost around $42 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 $17.
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Food
Meals for one day
Durham $35
Galveston $42
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.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Galveston than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $28 on transportation in Galveston on average per day.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Durham
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Durham:
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Private Transfer from Durham to Manchester Airport (MAN):
$407
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Durham to Raleigh-Durham Airport (RDU) - Departure Private Transfer:
$139
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Galveston
Also for Galveston, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Galveston Port to Houston Airport Transfer:
$432
Is it cheaper to fly into Durham or Galveston?
Prices for flights to both Galveston 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.
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.
Sightseeing expenses in Galveston, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $12 per day, per person.
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 Galveston
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Galveston.
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Galveston Ghosts Walking Tour:
$8.00
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Spooky Strand Ghost Tour:
$8.00
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Al's Galveston Ghost Tour:
$9.99
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Galveston Ghost Tour:
$10
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Ghost On the Strand Ghost Tour:
$10
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Historic Galveston Ghost Tour:
$10
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Storm on the Strand Ghost Tour:
$13
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Galveston Island Ghost Tour:
$13
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Dolphin Sightseeing Tour in Galveston with a Guide:
$15
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Great! Galveston Ghost Tour:
$16
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Historic Galveston Red Light District Tour:
$19
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Galveston's Haunted Cemetery Walking Tour:
$20
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.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Galveston, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $30.
When comparing the travel costs between Durham and Galveston, we can see that Galveston 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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