Should you visit Fort Lauderdale or Key West?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Fort Lauderdale and Key West. 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.
Key West
Key West is both a city and an island as well as the southern most Florida Key. It is also the southern most city in the continental United States. The island is only about four miles long and one mile wide. The total land mass covers just 4.2 square miles. The most famous street in town is Duval Street, which runs just 1.1 miles from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean. There are 14 blocks. The size of the island doubled during the 1950s when many of the salt ponds along the eastern side of the island were filled in.
Which city is cheaper, Key West 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 Key West 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. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Fort Lauderdale and Key West 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.
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $106. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Key West the cost is $212 on average.
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.
The price of a meal in Key West can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $38 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $15 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
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Food
Meals for one day
Fort Lauderdale $39
Key West $38
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.
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Mai-Kai Dinner and Polynesian Show:
$47
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All You Can Eat BBQ Dinner and Show at Tropical Isle with Sightseeing Cruise:
$60
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Key West
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Key West.
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Key West Sunset Dinner Cruise with Tropical Buffet:
$68
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Sunset Cruise with Buffet Dinner and Open Bar:
$90
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Private Secret Food Tour of Key West:
$103
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Secret Food Tour of Key West w/ Private Tour Option:
$221
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 average price of local transportation around Key West is $41 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
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
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Private Airport Transfer: Fort Lauderdale Int. Airport (FLL) to Fort Lauderdale:
$28
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Private Airport Transfer: Fort Lauderdale to Fort Lauderdale Int. Airport (FLL):
$28
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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
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Private Departure Transfer from Fort Lauderdale City to Fort Lauderdale Airport:
$41
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Private Arrival Transfer: Fort Lauderdale Airport to Miami City or Miami Beach:
$55
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Transfer in Executive Private Vehicle from Fort Lauderdale Airport to City:
$57
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Transfer in Executive Private Vehicle from Fort Lauderdale City to Airport:
$57
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Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL) to Port Everglades - Arrival Private Transfer:
$62
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Port Everglades to Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL) - Departure Private Transfer:
$62
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Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL) to Fort Lauderdale - Arrival Private Transfer:
$62
Typical Local Transportation prices in Key West
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Key West:
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Rental Car for One Day
$38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Key West
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Key West:
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Key West International Airport One Way Transfer:
$53
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Miami & One-Way Transfer by Motor Coach Bus:
$54
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Private Airport Transfer in Key West, Florida:
$209
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Private Arrival Transfer: Key West Airport to Hotel:
$116
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Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Key West Airport:
$116
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Round-Trip Transfer: Fort Lauderdale to Key West:
$198
Is it cheaper to fly into Fort Lauderdale or Key West?
Prices for flights to both Key West 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.
Key West's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $26 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
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
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Fort Lauderdale Historical Walking Tour:
$12
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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
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Everglades Eco Adventure: 2-Hour Sawgrass Recreation Park:
$28
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Jungle Queen Sightseeing Cruise:
$29
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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
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1-Hour Bike Tour of Hugh Taylor Birch State Park:
$47
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SUP PUP Paddleboard Tour:
$47
Tours and Activities in Key West
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Key West are as follows:
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Self-Guided Bike Tour to Key West Beaches and Back Roads:
$7.19
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Easy Stroll Audio Tour Downtown Key West:
$7.99
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The Ghosts of Key West Walking Tour:
$20
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Key West Scavenger Hunt Adventure Mobile Experience:
$21
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Key West Ghost Tour:
$24
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6th Sense Haunted Tour of Key West:
$25
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The Dark Side of Key West Ghost Tour:
$28
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Southernmost Key West History and Culture Small-Group Walking Tour:
$28
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History and Culture Southernmost Walking Tour:
$30
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Old Town Key West Literary Walking Tour:
$30
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Key West Ghost and Mysteries Guided Tour:
$32
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Southernmost Key West Historical Tour in Small Group:
$33
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 $13 on alcoholic beverages in Key West 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 Key West
Also in Key West, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Key West Haunted Pub Crawl and Ghost Tour:
$23
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Yes, Queen! Drag Queen Pub Crawl of Key West:
$34
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Key West Pub Crawl:
$35
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Fort Lauderdale and Key West, we can see that Key West is more expensive. And not only is Fort Lauderdale much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Fort Lauderdale would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Fort Lauderdale 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 Key West would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Key West than you might in Fort Lauderdale.
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