A Travel Price Comparison for North Carolina Durham vs. Winston-Salem for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Durham or Winston-Salem?

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 Winston-Salem can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Durham or Winston-Salem?

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.

Winston-Salem

Winston-Salem is a moderately sized city in Forsyth Country, North Carolina. The city has a population of about 360,000 and is located in the central part of the state in the Piedmont Triad. Winston-Salem goes by several nicknames including the "Twin City", the "City of Arts and Innovation" and "Camel City", a reference to the city's history in the tobacco industry. Like several towns in central North Carolina, the city's economy was also once influenced by the furniture industry, although this sector continues to shrink.

Which place is cheaper, Winston-Salem or Durham?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Durham is $162, while the average daily cost in Winston-Salem is $150. 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 Winston-Salem in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Durham $92
    Winston-Salem $91
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Durham $184
    Winston-Salem $182
Compare Hotels in Durham and Winston-Salem

Looking for a hotel in Durham or Winston-Salem? 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.

Hotels in Durham


Hotels in Winston-Salem


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 Winston-Salem Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Durham $33
    Winston-Salem $23

Is it cheaper to fly into Durham or Winston-Salem?

Prices for flights to both Winston-Salem 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Durham $44
    Winston-Salem $42

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Durham $26
    Winston-Salem $20

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 Winston-Salem

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Winston-Salem are as follows:

  • Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Winston-Salem by Wacky Walks: $10
  • Carolina History & Haunts Winston-Salem Historical Ghost Tour: $26

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Durham $34
    Winston-Salem $24


When comparing the travel costs between Durham and Winston-Salem, 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 Winston-Salem?

Durham is bigger, and its population is about 6% larger than the population of Winston-Salem. When comparing the population of Durham vs. Winston-Salem, 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 Winston-Salem?

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 Winston-Salem in the Summer?

Both Winston-Salem and Durham are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities.

Durham is around the same temperature as Winston-Salem in the summer. The daily temperature in Durham averages around 79°F (26°C) in July, and Winston-Salem fluctuates around 81°F (27°C).

It's quite sunny in Winston-Salem. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Durham. Durham usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Winston-Salem during summer. Durham gets 259 hours of sunny skies, while Winston-Salem receives 273 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Winston-Salem. It's quite rainy in Durham. In July, Durham usually receives more rain than Winston-Salem. Durham gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Winston-Salem receives 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Durham 79°F (26°C) 
    Winston-Salem 81°F (27°C)

Should I visit Durham or Winston-Salem in the Autumn?

Both Winston-Salem and Durham during the autumn are popular places to visit.

In the autumn, Durham is around the same temperature as Winston-Salem. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Durham in October average around 61°F (16°C), and Winston-Salem averages at about 62°F (17°C).

In Winston-Salem, 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 Winston-Salem. Durham gets 211 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Winston-Salem receives 212 hours of full sun.

Durham usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Winston-Salem. Durham gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Winston-Salem receives 3 inches (75 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Durham 61°F (16°C) 
    Winston-Salem 62°F (17°C)

Should I visit Durham or Winston-Salem in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Durham and Winston-Salem.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Winston-Salem. It's quite cold in Durham in the winter. In January, Durham is generally around the same temperature as Winston-Salem. Daily temperatures in Durham average around 40°F (5°C), and Winston-Salem fluctuates around 40°F (4°C).

Durham usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Winston-Salem during winter. Durham gets 162 hours of sunny skies, while Winston-Salem receives 169 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Durham usually receives around the same amount of rain as Winston-Salem. Durham gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Winston-Salem receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Durham 40°F (5°C) 
    Winston-Salem 40°F (4°C)

Should I visit Durham or Winston-Salem in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Durham as well as Winston-Salem.

Durham is around the same temperature as Winston-Salem in the spring. The daily temperature in Durham averages around 60°F (16°C) in April, and Winston-Salem fluctuates around 61°F (16°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Winston-Salem. 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 Winston-Salem. Durham gets 251 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Winston-Salem receives 248 hours of full sun.

Durham usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Winston-Salem. Durham gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Winston-Salem receives 3.1 inches (80 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Durham 60°F (16°C) 
    Winston-Salem 61°F (16°C)

Typical Weather for Winston-Salem and Durham

Durham Winston-Salem
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 40°F (5°C) 3.2 inches (82 mm) 40°F (4°C) 3.2 inches (82 mm)
Feb 43°F (6°C) 3.3 inches (84 mm) 43°F (6°C) 3.4 inches (86 mm)
Mar 52°F (11°C) 3.4 inches (87 mm) 52°F (11°C) 3.7 inches (94 mm)
Apr 60°F (16°C) 3.1 inches (78 mm) 61°F (16°C) 3.1 inches (80 mm)
May 68°F (20°C) 3.3 inches (84 mm) 69°F (21°C) 3 inches (77 mm)
Jun 76°F (24°C) 3.7 inches (93 mm) 77°F (25°C) 3.9 inches (99 mm)
Jul 79°F (26°C) 5.1 inches (129 mm) 81°F (27°C) 4.4 inches (112 mm)
Aug 78°F (26°C) 4.9 inches (125 mm) 80°F (26°C) 4.3 inches (109 mm)
Sep 73°F (23°C) 3.8 inches (96 mm) 73°F (23°C) 3.5 inches (90 mm)
Oct 61°F (16°C) 2.8 inches (71 mm) 62°F (17°C) 3 inches (75 mm)
Nov 53°F (11°C) 2.8 inches (72 mm) 53°F (12°C) 2.6 inches (67 mm)
Dec 44°F (7°C) 3.1 inches (78 mm) 44°F (7°C) 3.1 inches (80 mm)


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.
Share This Page
Pin This Page
Durham vs. Winston-Salem Travel Comparison

Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.