Should you visit Fort Lauderdale or Anchorage?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Fort Lauderdale and Anchorage. 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.
Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale is located on the Atlantic coast of Florida, not far from Miami, and is famous for its beaches and boating culture. An elaborate system of canals runs through the city, adding to the charm and coastal lifestyle. Plenty of restaurants, shops, watersports, and other things to do can be found here in addition to the beautiful beaches. The city is family-friendly and also caters to older travelers as well as younger generations. While it's not an inexpensive place to visit, the prices are on par with other cities in southeastern Florida. The beach is lined with high-rise condos and hotels that tend to be expensive, while a few blocks back from the shore you'll find plenty of nice houses along with shops, restaurants, and fun activities for all ages. And since Fort Lauderdale is part of the Miami metro area, you can easily get to all of the other beach areas, cities, and activities in the nearby metropolitan areas as well.
Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska's largest city, is in the south-central part of the state on the Cook Inlet. It's known for its cultural sites and also as a gateway to nearby wilderness areas and mountains. From the sparkling waters of Cook Inlet to the tallest peaks of the Chugach Mountains, Anchorage encompasses incredible adventures and metropolitan appeals that are larger than life. With 1,500 moose, incredible national parks nearby and 60 glaciers a short drive away, it's a dream destination in Alaska.
Which city is cheaper, Anchorage or Fort Lauderdale?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Fort Lauderdale is $146, while the average daily cost in Anchorage is $153. 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 Fort Lauderdale and Anchorage in more detail.
Accommodation
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $154 for a double occupancy room in Fort Lauderdale.
The average price for accommodation for two people in Anchorage is $186. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
Food
Fort Lauderdale food costs typically run travelers around $39 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
In Anchorage travelers spend around $40 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
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Food
Meals for one day
Fort Lauderdale $39
Anchorage $40
Typical Food prices in Fort Lauderdale
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Fort Lauderdale:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Fort Lauderdale
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Fort Lauderdale.
-
Mai-Kai Dinner and Polynesian Show:
$47
-
All You Can Eat BBQ Dinner and Show at Tropical Isle with Sightseeing Cruise:
$60
Typical Food prices in Anchorage
Some typical examples of dining costs in Anchorage are as follows:
-
Bread
$4.25
-
Breakfast for Two
$17
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Fort Lauderdale is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $41 per person, per day, on local transportation in Fort Lauderdale.
The cost of a taxi ride in Anchorage is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $22 per person, per day, on local transportation in Anchorage.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Fort Lauderdale
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Fort Lauderdale:
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Transfer From Fort Lauderdale to Airport/Port:
$25
-
Private Airport Transfer: Fort Lauderdale Int. Airport (FLL) to Fort Lauderdale:
$28
-
Private Airport Transfer: Fort Lauderdale to Fort Lauderdale Int. Airport (FLL):
$28
-
Fort Lauderdale Airport to Miami Cruise Port Transfer:
$34
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Private Arrival Transfer: FLL Fort Lauderdale Airport to Fort Lauderdale City:
$41
-
Private Departure Transfer from Fort Lauderdale City to Fort Lauderdale Airport:
$41
-
Private Arrival Transfer: Fort Lauderdale Airport to Miami City or Miami Beach:
$55
-
Transfer in Executive Private Vehicle from Fort Lauderdale Airport to City:
$57
-
Transfer in Executive Private Vehicle from Fort Lauderdale City to Airport:
$57
-
Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL) to Port Everglades - Arrival Private Transfer:
$62
-
Port Everglades to Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL) - Departure Private Transfer:
$62
-
Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL) to Fort Lauderdale - Arrival Private Transfer:
$62
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Anchorage
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Anchorage:
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Anchorage Airport (ANC) to Anchorage accommodation - Arrival Private Transfer:
$34
-
Anchorage Airport (ANC) to Anchorage accommodation - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$67
-
Anchorage Airport (ANC) to Seward Cruise Port - Arrival Private Transfer:
$386
-
Anchorage Airport (ANC) to Seward Cruise Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$771
-
Anchorage accommodation to Anchorage Airport (ANC) - Departure Private Transfer:
$34
-
Private Arrival Transfer from Anchorage Airport ANC:
$54
-
Private Departure Transfer - to Anchorage Airport (ANC):
$54
-
Private Transfer Anchorage Airport (ANC) to Whittier Cruise Port:
$209
-
Private Transfer Anchorage Airport ANC to Seward Cruise Port:
$292
-
Private Transfer: Anchorage to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC):
$622
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Private Transfer: Seward Cruise Port to Anchorage Airport (ANC):
$292
-
Private Transfer: Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) to Anchorage:
$622
Is it cheaper to fly into Fort Lauderdale or Anchorage?
Prices for flights to both Anchorage and Fort Lauderdale 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.
Entertainment
Entertainment and activities in Fort Lauderdale typically cost an average of $12 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Entertainment and activities in Anchorage typically cost an average of $24 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 Fort Lauderdale
Here are a few actual costs in Fort Lauderdale for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Beach Cruiser Bike Rentals in Fort Lauderdale:
$11
-
Fort Lauderdale Historical Walking Tour:
$12
-
1-Hour Interactive Pirate Adventure Cruise in Fort Lauderdale (Family-Friendly):
$23
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90-Minute Narrated Sightseeing Cruises:
$23
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Fort Lauderdale Daily Sightseeing Cruise - On the Venice of America:
$27
-
Everglades Eco Adventure: 2-Hour Sawgrass Recreation Park:
$28
-
Jungle Queen Sightseeing Cruise:
$29
-
Everglades Airboat Tour & Gator Boys Alligator Rescue Show from Fort Lauderdale:
$37
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Ft Lauderdale Cocktail Cruise:
$45
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Island Time Boat Cruise:
$45
-
1-Hour Bike Tour of Hugh Taylor Birch State Park:
$47
-
SUP PUP Paddleboard Tour:
$47
Typical Entertainment prices in Anchorage
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Anchorage are as follows:
-
1 Day Bike Rental
$33
-
1/2 Day Rafting Trip
$105
Tours and Activities in Anchorage
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Anchorage are as follows:
-
Seward: Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$14
-
Anchorage Museum General Admission Ticket:
$20
-
1-Hour Trolley Tour:
$20
-
Anchorage Trolley Tour:
$21
-
Anchorage City Tour w/ Taste of Wild Smoked Salmon & Reindeer Sausage:
$39
-
Winter - Anchorage All Around City Tour:
$49
-
Alaska Native Historic Cultural City Tour of Anchorage:
$59
-
Gold Panning Self-Guided Tour:
$69
-
Turnagain Arm Tour: "A Must See Destination":
$69
-
Beginner’s Snowshoeing Adventure:
$81
-
Coastal Trail 3-Hour City Bike Tour:
$85
-
Explore Portage Valley a Self-Guided Tour:
$99
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Fort Lauderdale may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $27 per day on alcoholic beverages.
The average person spends about $16 on alcoholic beverages in Anchorage per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Typical Alcohol prices in Fort Lauderdale
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Fort Lauderdale are as follows:
Sample the Local Flavors in Anchorage
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Anchorage:
-
Half-Day Anchorage Craft Brewery Tour and Tastings:
$115
-
Anchorage Bike and Brewery Tour:
$219
-
Alaska Brewery and Railroad Experience from Anchorage:
$349
When comparing the travel costs between Fort Lauderdale and Anchorage, we can see that Anchorage 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.
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