Which place is cheaper, Sacramento or Durham?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Durham vs. Sacramento for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Durham or Sacramento?
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 Sacramento can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Durham or Sacramento?
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.
Sacramento
Sacramento is the capital city and one of the oldest cities in the state of California. It was founded in 1849 in the midst of the Gold Rush, and has since grown to a population of over 500,000 people. The atmosphere is more laid back than most major cities, and its heritage is rooted in the Gold Rush and Transcontinental Railroad era.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDurham $162Sacramento $281
The average daily cost (per person) in Durham is $162, while the average daily cost in Sacramento is $281. 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 Sacramento in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDurham $92Sacramento $111
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDurham $184Sacramento $222
Compare Hotels in Durham and Sacramento
Looking for a hotel in Durham or Sacramento? 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 Sacramento Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Durham $33Sacramento $51
Is it cheaper to fly into Durham or Sacramento?
Prices for flights to both Sacramento 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 $44Sacramento $53
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sacramento
For Sacramento, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Historic Old Sacramento Walking Food Tour: $95
- Midtown Sacramento Arts and Food Tour: $98
- Downtown Sacramento Historical Food Tour: $98
- Midtown Sacramento Walking Food Tour: $125
- Midtown Walking Food Tour: $145
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Durham $26Sacramento $19
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 Sacramento
For Sacramento, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Gold Rush & Ghosts SmartPhone App Walking Tour: $6.50
- Historic Folsom: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Old A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Old A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure Self-Guided City Game: $10
- A Highway 49 Drive: A Self-Guided Audio Tour from Placerville to Jackson: $12
- Driving in Delta’s Wine Country: Private Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
- Delta's History and Wine: A Self-Guided Driving Tour: $12
- A Highway 49 Drive: A Self-Guided Audio Tour from Auburn to Placerville: $12
- 90 minutes Bicycle tours through Folsom CA: $25
- Historic Gold Rush River Cruise: $26
- Sacramento Historic River Cruise: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDurham $34Sacramento $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Sacramento
Also in Sacramento, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Cider and Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch - near Sacramento: $125
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Durham and Sacramento, we can see that Sacramento 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 Sacramento would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sacramento than you might in Durham.
Which is Bigger, Durham or Sacramento?
Sacramento is bigger, and its population is about 2.3 times larger than the population of Durham. When comparing the population of Durham vs. Sacramento, 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 Sacramento?
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 Sacramento in the Summer?
Both Sacramento and Durham during the summer are popular places to visit.
In July, Durham is generally around the same temperature as Sacramento. Daily temperatures in Durham average around 79°F (26°C), and Sacramento fluctuates around 76°F (24°C).
In Sacramento, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Durham. In the summer, Durham often gets less sunshine than Sacramento. Durham gets 259 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sacramento receives 439 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Durham. Durham usually gets more rain in July than Sacramento. Durham gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyDurham 79°F (26°C)Sacramento 76°F (24°C)
Should I visit Durham or Sacramento in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Durham and Sacramento.
Durham is around the same temperature as Sacramento in the autumn. The daily temperature in Durham averages around 61°F (16°C) in October, and Sacramento fluctuates around 64°F (18°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sacramento this time of the year. In Durham, it's very sunny this time of the year. Durham usually receives less sunshine than Sacramento during autumn. Durham gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while Sacramento receives 300 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Durham usually receives more rain than Sacramento. Durham gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberDurham 61°F (16°C)Sacramento 64°F (18°C)
Should I visit Durham or Sacramento in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Durham as well as Sacramento.
Durham can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Durham is much colder than Sacramento. Typically, the winter temperatures in Durham in January average around 40°F (5°C), and Sacramento averages at about 45°F (7°C).
In the winter, Durham often gets more sunshine than Sacramento. Durham gets 162 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sacramento receives 149 hours of full sun.
Durham usually gets less rain in January than Sacramento. Durham gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 3.8 inches (97 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryDurham 40°F (5°C)Sacramento 45°F (7°C)
Should I visit Durham or Sacramento in the Spring?
Both Sacramento and Durham are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In April, Durham is generally around the same temperature as Sacramento. Daily temperatures in Durham average around 60°F (16°C), and Sacramento fluctuates around 58°F (15°C).
It's quite sunny in Sacramento. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Durham. Durham usually receives less sunshine than Sacramento during spring. Durham gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Sacramento receives 328 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Durham usually receives more rain than Sacramento. Durham gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 1.3 inches (32 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilDurham 60°F (16°C)Sacramento 58°F (15°C)
Typical Weather for Sacramento and Durham
| Durham | Sacramento | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 40°F (5°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 45°F (7°C) | 3.8 inches (97 mm) |
| Feb | 43°F (6°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) | 51°F (10°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) |
| Mar | 52°F (11°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
| Apr | 60°F (16°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) | 58°F (15°C) | 1.3 inches (32 mm) |
| May | 68°F (20°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) | 65°F (18°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) |
| Jun | 76°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
| Jul | 79°F (26°C) | 5.1 inches (129 mm) | 76°F (24°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) |
| Aug | 78°F (26°C) | 4.9 inches (125 mm) | 75°F (24°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Sep | 73°F (23°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 0.5 inches (12 mm) |
| Oct | 61°F (16°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 1.1 inches (27 mm) |
| Nov | 53°F (11°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) | 53°F (12°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
| Dec | 44°F (7°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) | 45°F (7°C) | 2.6 inches (65 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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