Which city is cheaper, Charleston or Fort Lauderdale?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Fort Lauderdale and Charleston. 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, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Fort Lauderdale is a spirited, luxury, and high energy coastal city. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include shopping, nightlife, and food.
Charleston is a charming, southern, and quaint coastal town. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It also has that perfectly quaint feel that is like no other place. It's also known for nightlife, live music, and food.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Charleston and Fort Lauderdale. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Charleston has a longer list of notable local restaurants than Fort Lauderdale.
Eat your way through Charleston, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. Food lovers will enjoy the city's low country classics. Local favorites include she crab soup, shrimp and grits, cornbread, and fried green tomatoes.
Fort Lauderdale has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. Seafood is the obvious option with popular dishes being fish tacos, sea bass, and scallop risotto.
It's hard to distinguish whether Fort Lauderdale or Charleston has a better nightlife scene.
The people in Fort Lauderdale know how to have a good time. Most people head to the beach, Las Olas Blvd, River Front and The New Hard Rock Seminole Hotel Complex for the best bars and clubs.
If you're looking for night time activities Charleston has a few options to choose from. As a college town, there are plenty of bars and nightclubs around town. There's also a lively music scene.
With generally more resort options, Fort Lauderdale attracts a high number of vacationers.
Vacationers flock to Fort Lauderdale for its luxury resorts. Luxury beachfront resorts are plentiful in the area. Several of the most impressive include the Ritz-Carlton, W Fort Lauderdale, and the Dalmar.
Not known for its high-end resorts, Charleston offers a few options. The town has mostly hotels and bed and breakfasts in the downtown area, but nearby Kiawah Island has a number of nice resorts to choose from.
Fort Lauderdale and Charleston both offer beautiful beaches.
Fort Lauderdale offers stunning beaches that attract visitors from around the world. With seven miles of beautiful sandy beaches, a fun boardwalk, and impressive views, the beaches here are among the best in the area.
Charleston is considered a top beach destination. The area has a number of beautiful and fun nearby beaches including Folly Beach, Kiawah Island, and Seabrook Island.
Charleston is generally considered to be a more popular shopping destination.
Charleston is a famous shopping destination with plenty of stores. The city is famous for its historic market in the center of town. Local goods, foods, and crafts are sold daily here. There are also many clothing and local shops throughout town.
Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Fort Lauderdale. For interesting local boutiques head to Las Olas Boulevard and for name brand stores you'll want to visit Sawgrass Mills Mall.
Both Fort Lauderdale and Charleston are family-friendly destinations.
Fort Lauderdale is a very family-friendly place to visit. With seven miles of beautiful sandy beaches and a number of kid-oriented activities the kids will be entertained. Fun activities include Bluefoot Pirate Adventures, Butterfly World, and Funderdome.
Charleston offers lots of family activities. The area has a number of family friendly activities like carriage rides and boat rides. The nearby beaches also make it a wonderful place to visit with kids.
Fort Lauderdale and Charleston both fun destinations for a couple.
Fort Lauderdale is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. Fine dining, beautiful beaches, and great shopping make for a great romantic getaway. Couples and honeymooners love relaxing at the beaches in Fort Lauderdale.
Charleston makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. This beautiful city is one of the most popular wedding destinations in America. It's a very romantic setting with beautiful hotels and bed and breakfasts that are perfect for couples on their honeymoon or looking for a romantic setting.
Fort Lauderdale and Charleston both are comparable when exploring on foot.
Fort Lauderdale is very walkable. It is one of the most walkable Florida communities with a boardwalk and several pedestrian areas that are fun to wander around.
Charleston is a very walkable coastal city. The downtown area is very walkable, but once you leave the historic heart, it's best to have a car.
Both Fort Lauderdale and Charleston have a number of activities to choose from. You can spend a similar amount of time exploring either.
The ideal length of time for a trip to Fort Lauderdale is 3-7 days, and the ideal length of time for a trip to Charleston is 2-7 days.
With shopping and nightlife around the bustling coastal city of Fort Lauderdale, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. One of the main draws to the area is the beaches. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.
The historic destination of Charleston offers live music and food. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.
With nightlife and food around the destination of Fort Lauderdale, there's plenty to do. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. It offers something for everyone. One of the main draws to the area is the beaches. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything.
The quaint coastal town of Charleston offers food and shopping. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. A weekend here is typical. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities.
Fort Lauderdale, a popular coastal city, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for five days. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. In five days, you should have a good grasp of this coastal city. Your budget might influence how long you stay.
Charleston is a great place to explore. It's also a great beach destination, too. This coastal town offers something for everyone. It is common to spend five days here. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.
Fort Lauderdale is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have one week, this coastal city makes for a great vacation. One of the main draws to the area is the beaches. One week should give you a good understanding of everything this coastal city has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
The southern coastal town of Charleston offers museums and nightlife. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. For many, it makes a great getaway for one week. Because of this, one week is usually enough time for a trip here.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Fort Lauderdale is $182, while the average daily cost in Charleston is $170. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Fort Lauderdale and Charleston in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Fort Lauderdale or Charleston? 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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Fort Lauderdale:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Charleston:
Prices for flights to both Charleston 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.
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Fort Lauderdale:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Fort Lauderdale.
Some typical examples of dining costs in Charleston are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Charleston.
Here are a few actual costs in Fort Lauderdale for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Charleston are as follows:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Charleston are as follows:
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Fort Lauderdale are as follows:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Fort Lauderdale:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Charleston:
When comparing the travel costs between Fort Lauderdale and Charleston, we can see that Fort Lauderdale 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.
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.
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Fort Lauderdale and Charleston. Many visitors come to Fort Lauderdale in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, most visitors come to Charleston for the beaches, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In July, Fort Lauderdale is generally around the same temperature as Charleston. Temperatures in Fort Lauderdale average around 83°F (28°C), and Charleston stays around 82°F (28°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Charleston this time of the year. In Fort Lauderdale, it's very sunny this time of the year. Fort Lauderdale usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Charleston during summer. Fort Lauderdale gets 316 hours of sunny skies, while Charleston receives 293 hours of full sun in the summer.
Charleston receives a lot of rain in the summer. Fort Lauderdale gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Fort Lauderdale usually receives less rain than Charleston. Fort Lauderdale gets 5.9 inches (149 mm) of rain, while Charleston receives 6.9 inches (176 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
The autumn brings many poeple to Fort Lauderdale as well as Charleston. Most visitors come to Fort Lauderdale for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Additionally, the autumn months attract visitors to Charleston because of the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Fort Lauderdale is a little warmer than Charleston in the autumn. The temperature in Fort Lauderdale is usually 78°F (26°C) in October, and Charleston stays around 67°F (19°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Fort Lauderdale this time of the year. In the autumn, Fort Lauderdale often gets more sunshine than Charleston. Fort Lauderdale gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Charleston receives 197 hours of full sun.
Fort Lauderdale receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Fort Lauderdale usually gets more rain in October than Charleston. Fort Lauderdale gets 5.6 inches (143 mm) of rain, while Charleston receives 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Both Charleston and Fort Lauderdale are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The winter months attract visitors to Fort Lauderdale because of the shopping scene and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Charleston this time of year.
In the winter, Fort Lauderdale is much warmer than Charleston. Typically, the winter temperatures in Fort Lauderdale in January are around 67°F (20°C), and Charleston is about 47°F (9°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Fort Lauderdale. Fort Lauderdale usually receives more sunshine than Charleston during winter. Fort Lauderdale gets 243 hours of sunny skies, while Charleston receives 188 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Fort Lauderdale usually receives less rain than Charleston. Fort Lauderdale gets 2.2 inches (55 mm) of rain, while Charleston receives 3.3 inches (85 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
Both Charleston and Fort Lauderdale during the spring are popular places to visit. The beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Fort Lauderdale this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Charleston for the beaches and the natural beauty.
In April, Fort Lauderdale is generally a little warmer than Charleston. Temperatures in Fort Lauderdale average around 75°F (24°C), and Charleston stays around 64°F (18°C).
In Charleston, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Fort Lauderdale. In the spring, Fort Lauderdale often gets more sunshine than Charleston. Fort Lauderdale gets 300 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Charleston receives 275 hours of full sun.
Fort Lauderdale usually gets more rain in April than Charleston. Fort Lauderdale gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Charleston receives 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Fort Lauderdale | Charleston | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 67°F (20°C) | 2.2 inches (55 mm) | 47°F (9°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
Feb | 68°F (20°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) | 50°F (10°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
Mar | 72°F (22°C) | 2.4 inches (61 mm) | 58°F (14°C) | 4.3 inches (110 mm) |
Apr | 75°F (24°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
May | 79°F (26°C) | 6.4 inches (162 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 4.2 inches (106 mm) |
Jun | 81°F (27°C) | 9.4 inches (238 mm) | 78°F (26°C) | 6.4 inches (163 mm) |
Jul | 83°F (28°C) | 5.9 inches (149 mm) | 82°F (28°C) | 6.9 inches (176 mm) |
Aug | 83°F (28°C) | 7.5 inches (191 mm) | 81°F (27°C) | 7.1 inches (181 mm) |
Sep | 82°F (28°C) | 7.6 inches (194 mm) | 76°F (25°C) | 4.8 inches (121 mm) |
Oct | 78°F (26°C) | 5.6 inches (143 mm) | 67°F (19°C) | 2.9 inches (74 mm) |
Nov | 73°F (23°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) | 58°F (15°C) | 2.5 inches (63 mm) |
Dec | 69°F (21°C) | 1.9 inches (48 mm) | 51°F (10°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) |
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.