Should you visit Durham or Sacramento?
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.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Sacramento 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 Sacramento is $225. 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 Sacramento 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 Sacramento can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $88, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $176.
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 Sacramento than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $41 on transportation in Sacramento on average per day.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Durham
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Durham:
-
Private Transfer from Durham to Manchester Airport (MAN):
$407
-
Durham to Raleigh-Durham Airport (RDU) - Departure Private Transfer:
$139
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sacramento
Also for Sacramento, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Sacramento Airport (SMF) to Sacramento hotel/address - Arrival Private Transfer:
$72
-
Sacramento City to Sacramento Airport (SMF) - Departure Private Transfer:
$72
-
Low Cost Private Transfer From Sacramento Executive Airport to Sacramento City - One Way:
$73
-
Sacramento Airport (SMF) to Sacramento hotel/address- RoundTrip Private Transfer:
$144
-
Low Cost Private Transfer From Sacramento Executive Airport to Roseville City - One Way:
$144
-
Private Sacramento Transfer Hotel to Airport:
$150
-
Private Sacramento Transfer Airport to Hotel:
$150
-
Sacramento Airport (SMF) to Napa, CA - Arrival Private Transfer:
$228
-
Private transfer from Sacramento to SFO:
$340
-
Sacramento Airport (SMF) to Napa, CA - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$455
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
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.
While meal prices in Sacramento can vary, the average travelers spends about $42 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Sacramento should cost around $17 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Sacramento is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Durham $35
Sacramento $42
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sacramento
For Sacramento, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Downtown Sacramento Historical Food Tour:
$82
-
Midtown Sacramento Arts and Food Tour:
$85
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 Sacramento, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $15 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 Sacramento
For Sacramento, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
Sacramento Urban Murals: Cycle the streets of Sacramento with an audio tour:
$5.00
-
California Gold Rush: The Sacramento Grid on a Self-Guided Bicycle Audio Tour:
$8.30
-
Sacramento Historic River Cruise:
$20
-
Sacramento Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$21
-
Sacramento Historic River Cruise:
$30
-
Rock The Yacht River Cruise:
$33
-
Sacramento Sutter District History and Food Walking Tour:
$78
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.
Typically, people visiting Sacramento spend on average $9.31 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Sacramento
Also in Sacramento, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Sacramento Bar Hunt: Sacramento Sprint Bar Crawl:
$12
-
Bk Best Wine Tasting Tours Amador County 4 Hour Chevrolet Suburban Passengers 7:
$385
-
4 Hour Private Amador County Wine Tasting Tours Mercedes Sprinter Passengers Van:
$409
-
Amador Wine Tour from Sacramento:
$436
-
6 Hour Wine Tasting Tours Napa Valley Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Passengers Van:
$625
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.
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