Which place is cheaper, Minneapolis or Durham?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Durham vs. Minneapolis for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Durham or Minneapolis?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
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 Minneapolis can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Durham or Minneapolis?
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.
Minneapolis
Known as one of the Twin Cities with its neighbor, Saint Paul, the Minneapolis area is the second largest economic center in the Midwest, behind Chicago. Originally a city of lumber and flour milling, the city has grown to prosper in commerce, rail and trucking, health care, industry, education, publishing, milling, and food processing amongst others. In addition to housing the headquarters for five Fortune 500 Companies, Minneapolis is a city of thriving culture. From visual arts, music, and theater to sporting events and award-winning restaurants, the entertainment is never lacking.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDurham $162Minneapolis $206
The average daily cost (per person) in Durham is $162, while the average daily cost in Minneapolis is $206. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Durham and Minneapolis in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDurham $92Minneapolis $110
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDurham $184Minneapolis $220
Compare Hotels in Durham and Minneapolis
Looking for a hotel in Durham or Minneapolis? 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: Durham Hotel Prices and Minneapolis Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Durham $33Minneapolis $43
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Minneapolis
Also for Minneapolis, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Minneapolis Airport (MSP) to Minneapolis - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $55
- Private Departure Transfer to Minneapolis Airport MSP: $88
- Private Arrival Transfer from Minneapolis Airport MSP: $88
Is it cheaper to fly into Durham or Minneapolis?
Prices for flights to both Minneapolis 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
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Food Meals for one dayDurham $44Minneapolis $40
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Minneapolis
For Minneapolis, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Minneapolis Food Tour - Walking: $115
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Durham $26Minneapolis $27
Tours and Activities in Durham
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Durham are as follows:
- Durham NC: Art Walking Tour: $20
Tours and Activities in Minneapolis
For Minneapolis, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Minnehaha Falls: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Minneapolis: $7.99
- Minneapolis River Walk: Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Minneapolis River Walk: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- In the Footsteps of Prince: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Downtown Minneapolis: $7.99
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Saint Paul by Operation City Quest: $10
- Minnesota Twins Baseball Game Ticket at Target Field: $12
- St. Paul Historic Cave Tour: $15
- Lost Souls Tour: $20
- Ghost Walking Tour in Minneapolis: $29
- Twin City Ghosts Tour By US Ghost Adventures: $30
- Mall of America: Crayola Experience Flexible Date Ticket: $31
- Twin Cities Highlights Tour: $40
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDurham $34Minneapolis $24
Sample the Local Flavors in Minneapolis
Also in Minneapolis, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Brews Cruise Hop-On Hop-Off Brewery Loop Full-Day Tour: $25
- History and 4-Bar Crawl Guided Walking Tour: $69
- All-Inclusive Minneapolis Craft Brewery Tour: $85
- 3-Hour Craft Brewery Tour: $100
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Durham and Minneapolis, we can see that Minneapolis is more expensive. And not only is Durham much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Durham would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Durham and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Minneapolis would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Minneapolis than you might in Durham.
Which is Bigger, Durham or Minneapolis?
Minneapolis is bigger, and its population is about 80% larger than the population of Durham. When comparing the population of Durham vs. Minneapolis, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit and the activities that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Durham or Minneapolis?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Durham or Minneapolis in the Summer?
Both Minneapolis and Durham during the summer are popular places to visit.
In July, Durham is generally around the same temperature as Minneapolis. Daily temperatures in Durham average around 79°F (26°C), and Minneapolis fluctuates around 76°F (25°C).
In Minneapolis, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Durham. In the summer, Durham often gets less sunshine than Minneapolis. Durham gets 259 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Minneapolis receives 357 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Durham. Durham usually gets more rain in July than Minneapolis. Durham gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Minneapolis receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyDurham 79°F (26°C)Minneapolis 76°F (25°C)
Should I visit Durham or Minneapolis in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Durham and Minneapolis.
Durham is a little warmer than Minneapolis in the autumn. The daily temperature in Durham averages around 61°F (16°C) in October, and Minneapolis fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).
In Durham, it's very sunny this time of the year. Durham usually receives more sunshine than Minneapolis during autumn. Durham gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while Minneapolis receives 178 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Durham usually receives more rain than Minneapolis. Durham gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Minneapolis receives 1.8 inches (45 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberDurham 61°F (16°C)Minneapolis 52°F (11°C)
Should I visit Durham or Minneapolis in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Durham as well as Minneapolis.
Minneapolis can be very cold during winter. Durham can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Durham is much warmer than Minneapolis. Typically, the winter temperatures in Durham in January average around 40°F (5°C), and Minneapolis averages at about 15°F (-10°C).
In the winter, Durham often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Minneapolis. Durham gets 162 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Minneapolis receives 157 hours of full sun.
Durham usually gets more rain in January than Minneapolis. Durham gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Minneapolis receives 0.9 inches (22 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryDurham 40°F (5°C)Minneapolis 15°F (-10°C)
Should I visit Durham or Minneapolis in the Spring?
Both Minneapolis and Durham are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In April, Durham is generally much warmer than Minneapolis. Daily temperatures in Durham average around 60°F (16°C), and Minneapolis fluctuates around 49°F (10°C).
It's quite sunny in Minneapolis. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Durham. Durham usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Minneapolis during spring. Durham gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Minneapolis receives 244 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Durham usually receives more rain than Minneapolis. Durham gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Minneapolis receives 2.1 inches (53 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilDurham 60°F (16°C)Minneapolis 49°F (10°C)
Typical Weather for Minneapolis and Durham
| Durham | Minneapolis | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 40°F (5°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 15°F (-10°C) | 0.9 inches (22 mm) |
| Feb | 43°F (6°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) | 21°F (-6°C) | 0.7 inches (19 mm) |
| Mar | 52°F (11°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) | 34°F (1°C) | 1.7 inches (43 mm) |
| Apr | 60°F (16°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) | 49°F (10°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
| May | 68°F (20°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) | 62°F (16°C) | 2.9 inches (74 mm) |
| Jun | 76°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 71°F (22°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Jul | 79°F (26°C) | 5.1 inches (129 mm) | 76°F (25°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) |
| Aug | 78°F (26°C) | 4.9 inches (125 mm) | 73°F (23°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Sep | 73°F (23°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 2.2 inches (57 mm) |
| Oct | 61°F (16°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) | 52°F (11°C) | 1.8 inches (45 mm) |
| Nov | 53°F (11°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) | 36°F (2°C) | 1.3 inches (33 mm) |
| Dec | 44°F (7°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) | 21°F (-6°C) | 0.9 inches (22 mm) |
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Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
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