Should you visit Durham or Memphis?
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 Memphis 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.
Memphis
Located on the banks of the Mississippi River in southwest Tennessee, Memphis is a city famous for the blues, soul, and Rock 'n' Roll music that originated there. There are a number of museums and historic landmarks like Elvis Presley's Graceland dedicated to that history, while areas of the city like Beale Street keep the musical culture alive today with a vibrant scene of bars, restaurants, and live music.
Which city is cheaper, Memphis 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 Memphis is $129. 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 Memphis 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.
The prices for places to stay in Memphis can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $67, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $134.
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 $39 per day in Memphis 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.
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Food
Meals for one day
Durham $35
Memphis $39
Typical Food prices in Memphis
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Memphis:
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Baskin Robins (for 2)
$6.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Memphis
For Memphis, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Taste of Downtown Memphis Food Tour:
$64
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.
Memphis's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $27 per person, per day on transportation in Memphis.
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 Memphis
Also for Memphis, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Arrival Transfer from Memphis Airport MEM:
$72
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Private Departure Transfer to Memphis Airport MEM:
$72
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Private Transfers: Memphis Airport:
$109
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Memphis Airport (MEM) to Memphis City - Arrival Private Transfer:
$112
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Memphis City to Memphis Airport (MEM) - Departure Private Transfer:
$112
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Memphis Airport (MEM) to Memphis City - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$224
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Private transfer: Memphis to Memphis Airport (MEM):
$622
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Private transfer: Memphis Airport (MEM) to Memphis:
$622
Is it cheaper to fly into Durham or Memphis?
Prices for flights to both Memphis 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, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Memphis can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $36 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Tours and Activities in Durham
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Durham are as follows:
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Trolley Pub Public Tour of Durham:
$41
Tours and Activities in Memphis
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Memphis.
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Memphis Music Hall of Fame Admission Ticket:
$8.00
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Memphis Music Hall of Fame Admission Ticket:
$8.00
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Memphis Cotton Museum Admission Ticket:
$10
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Rock 'n' Soul Museum with Audio Tour:
$11
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Beale Street Guided Walking Tour:
$12
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Skip the Line: Woodruff-Fontaine House Museum Admission Ticket:
$15
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1-Hour Beale Street Guided Walking Tour:
$16
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Haunted Memphis Walking Ghost Tour:
$16
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Memphis Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$21
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Historic Memphis Guided Walking Tour:
$21
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2-Hour Haunted Walking Tour:
$21
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Memphis Mojo Bus Tour:
$25
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 Memphis, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $21.
Sample the Local Flavors in Memphis
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Memphis:
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2-Hour Private Pedal Tavern Pub Crawl in Downtown Memphis:
$800
When comparing the travel costs between Durham and Memphis, 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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