Which place is cheaper, Richmond or Durham?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Durham vs. Richmond for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Durham or Richmond?
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 Richmond can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Durham or Richmond?
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.
Richmond
One of the oldest American cities, Richmond was established in 1607 by English settlers led by Captain Christopher Newport and Captain John Smith. During the Civil War it existed as the capital of the Confederacy, and today it remains the capital of the U.S. state of Virginia. There are many historic sights to see and museums to explore, as well as plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDurham $162Richmond $161
The average daily cost (per person) in Durham is $162, while the average daily cost in Richmond is $161. 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 Richmond in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDurham $92Richmond $101
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDurham $184Richmond $202
Compare Hotels in Durham and Richmond
Looking for a hotel in Durham or Richmond? 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 Richmond Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Durham $33Richmond $72
Is it cheaper to fly into Durham or Richmond?
Prices for flights to both Richmond 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 $44Richmond $21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Richmond
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Richmond.
- The Carytown Food Tour in Richmond: $80
- Church Hill Food Tour in Richmond, VA: $80
- Church Hill Food Tour: $80
- Trendy Carytown Food Tour: $80
- Arts District Food Tour in Richmond: $85
- Arts District Walking Food Tour: $85
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Durham $26Richmond $13
Tours and Activities in Durham
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Durham are as follows:
- Durham NC: A downtown art tour on foot: $20
Tours and Activities in Richmond
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Richmond are as follows:
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Richmond by Wacky Walks: $10
- Hollywood Cemetery Tour Richmond Lore and Civil War: $24
- Capitol Hill Ghost Walking Tour with A Guide: $25
- Shockoe Bottom Ghost Walking Tour: $25
- Phantoms of Franklin Walking Ghost Tour: $25
- Monroe Park Campus Walking Ghost Tour: $25
- Church Hill Guided Ghost Tour: $25
- Shadows of Shockoe Ghost Tour: $25
- Church Hill Chillers Ghost Tour: $25
- RVA Ghosts Shockoe Bottom Sinister Scares by US Ghost Adventures : $30
- Downtown & Capitol Square Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $30
- Self-Guided City Murals Smartphone Tour: $32
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDurham $34Richmond -
Sample the Local Flavors in Richmond
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Richmond:
- Richmond Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- Brewery Tour of Richmond, VA: $90
When comparing the travel costs between Durham and Richmond, 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.
Which is Bigger, Durham or Richmond?
Durham is bigger, and its population is about 7% larger than the population of Richmond. When comparing the population of Durham vs. Richmond, 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 Richmond?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Durham or Richmond in the Summer?
Both Richmond and Durham are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities.
Durham is around the same temperature as Richmond in the summer. The daily temperature in Durham averages around 79°F (26°C) in July, and Richmond fluctuates around 78°F (26°C).
It's quite sunny in Richmond. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Durham. Durham usually receives less sunshine than Richmond during summer. Durham gets 259 hours of sunny skies, while Richmond receives 305 hours of full sun in the summer.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Richmond. It's quite rainy in Durham. In July, Durham usually receives around the same amount of rain as Richmond. Durham gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Richmond receives 5 inches (128 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyDurham 79°F (26°C)Richmond 78°F (26°C)
Should I visit Durham or Richmond in the Autumn?
Both Richmond and Durham during the autumn are popular places to visit.
In the autumn, Durham is around the same temperature as Richmond. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Durham in October average around 61°F (16°C), and Richmond averages at about 59°F (15°C).
In Richmond, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Durham. In the autumn, Durham often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Richmond. Durham gets 211 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Richmond receives 221 hours of full sun.
Durham usually gets less rain in October than Richmond. Durham gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Richmond receives 3.5 inches (90 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberDurham 61°F (16°C)Richmond 59°F (15°C)
Should I visit Durham or Richmond in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Durham and Richmond.
Richmond can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Durham. In January, Durham is generally much warmer than Richmond. Daily temperatures in Durham average around 40°F (5°C), and Richmond fluctuates around 36°F (2°C).
Durham usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Richmond during winter. Durham gets 162 hours of sunny skies, while Richmond receives 169 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Durham usually receives around the same amount of rain as Richmond. Durham gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Richmond receives 3.2 inches (83 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryDurham 40°F (5°C)Richmond 36°F (2°C)
Should I visit Durham or Richmond in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Durham as well as Richmond.
Durham is around the same temperature as Richmond in the spring. The daily temperature in Durham averages around 60°F (16°C) in April, and Richmond fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Richmond. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Durham this time of the year. In the spring, Durham often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Richmond. Durham gets 251 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Richmond receives 265 hours of full sun.
Durham usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Richmond. Durham gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Richmond receives 3 inches (75 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilDurham 60°F (16°C)Richmond 58°F (14°C)
Typical Weather for Richmond and Durham
| Durham | Richmond | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 40°F (5°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 36°F (2°C) | 3.2 inches (83 mm) |
| Feb | 43°F (6°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) | 39°F (4°C) | 3.2 inches (80 mm) |
| Mar | 52°F (11°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) | 49°F (9°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) |
| Apr | 60°F (16°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) | 58°F (14°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) |
| May | 68°F (20°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) | 67°F (19°C) | 3.8 inches (98 mm) |
| Jun | 76°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 74°F (24°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) |
| Jul | 79°F (26°C) | 5.1 inches (129 mm) | 78°F (26°C) | 5 inches (128 mm) |
| Aug | 78°F (26°C) | 4.9 inches (125 mm) | 77°F (25°C) | 4.4 inches (113 mm) |
| Sep | 73°F (23°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) | 71°F (21°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Oct | 61°F (16°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) | 59°F (15°C) | 3.5 inches (90 mm) |
| Nov | 53°F (11°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) | 50°F (10°C) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) |
| Dec | 44°F (7°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) | 41°F (5°C) | 3.3 inches (83 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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