Should you visit Florida or Virginia?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Florida and Virginia. We’ll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget. So, let's dig into it.
Florida
The state of Florida, known for sunshine, warm weather, beaches, and Disney World, has much to offer. Orlando and its world-famous parks such as Disney, Epcot, Universal Studios, MGM, Sea World, and more draw massive amounts of visitors every year, and for a good reason. Florida is more than just Disney, however, the state has many other attractions and cities worth visiting.
Virginia
One of the original thirteen British colonies, Virginia is a place of rich history and varied environments. You might explore the historic settlement of Colonial Williamsburg, dive into the current culture of its major cities, or get lost in nature along the coast or in the scenic landscape of the Appalachian Mountains. There's a little something for everyone.
Which city is cheaper, Virginia or Florida?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Florida is $187, while the average daily cost in Virginia is $134. 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 Florida and Virginia in more detail.
Accommodation
For a normal double-occupancy room in Florida, $192 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Florida, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $96, such as in a hostel.
Virginia's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $138. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $69.
Food
The price of a meal in Florida can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $46 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $18 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
The average traveler spends about $29 per day in Virginia for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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Food
Meals for one day
Florida $46
Virginia $29
Local Transportation
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Florida than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $37 on transportation in Florida on average per day.
The cost of a taxi ride in Virginia is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $39 per person, per day, on local transportation in Virginia.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Florida
Also for Florida, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Departure Transfer from Everglades National Park to Port Everglades:
$78
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Private Departure Transfer to Key West Airport EYW:
$120
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Private Arrival Transfer from Key West Airport EYW:
$120
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Key Lime Transportation Luxury SUV Private Transfer:
$125
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Private Sanibel Island Transfer: Hotel to Airport RSW:
$169
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Transfer from Key West to Miami Beach:
$780
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Virginia
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Virginia:
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Virginia Park Lodge to Dublin Airport or Dublin City Private Chauffeur Transfer:
$398
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Virginia Park Lodge To Dublin Airport Or Dublin City Private Chauffeur Transfer:
$360
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Virginia Park Lodge to Dublin Airport or Dublin City Private Chauffeur Transfer.:
$312
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Virginia Park Lodge to Dublin Airport or Dublin City Private Chauffeur Transfer:
$256
Entertainment
Sightseeing expenses in Florida, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $48 per day, per person.
Entertainment and activities in Virginia typically cost an average of $19 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Tours and Activities in Florida
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Florida.
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Sails to Rails Museum Admission Ticket (formerly Flagler Station):
$11
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Mel Fisher Maritime Museum Admission Ticket:
$16
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Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum Admission Ticket:
$16
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Skip the Line: Mel Fisher Maritime Museum Admission Ticket and Audio Tour:
$17
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Key West Aquarium Admission Ticket:
$17
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Fort Lauderdale: 1-Hour Family Pirate Adventure Cruise:
$22
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Harry S. Truman Little White House Admission Ticket:
$23
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The Maximum Magic Show Admission Ticket:
$32
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Key West Shore Excursion: Conch Tour Train:
$37
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Miami: Everglades Airboat and Wildlife Experience AM or PM options:
$44
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Shore Thing Half-hour Segway Tour at 4 PM Daily:
$49
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Sunset 1.5 Hour Segway Tour 6pm Daily:
$54
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Florida, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $25.
The average person spends about $15 on alcoholic beverages in Virginia per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Florida and Virginia, we can see that Florida is more expensive. And not only is Virginia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Virginia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Virginia 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 Florida would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Florida than you might in Virginia.
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