Should you visit Fort Lauderdale or Pasadena?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Fort Lauderdale and Pasadena. 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.
Pasadena
Pasadena, California is adjacent to Los Angeles and is probably most famous as the host for the New Year's Day Rose Parade and Rose Bowl football game. As such, it has become known as the City of Roses. Year around Pasadena is known to have a vibrant night life. It has a great Old Town area that has impressive shopping and many excellent restaurants. It's also home to the California Institute of Technology and has many museums, theaters, and independent films that make it a cultural haven for the area. Also make sure you visit the Huntington Library which has an impressive art collection and over 150 acres of botanical gardens. It's been featured in several Hollywood Films.
Which city is cheaper, Pasadena 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 Pasadena is $50. 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 Pasadena 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.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $40 for a double occupancy room in Pasadena.
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.
On average, meal and food prices in Pasadena cost around $15 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $6.00.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Fort Lauderdale $39
Pasadena $15
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 Pasadena
Some typical examples of dining costs in Pasadena are as follows:
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.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $17 per day to get around in Pasadena.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Fort Lauderdale
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Fort Lauderdale:
-
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
-
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Fort Lauderdale or Pasadena?
Prices for flights to both Pasadena 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.
Tours and Activities in Fort Lauderdale
Here are a few actual costs in Fort Lauderdale for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
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
-
90-Minute Narrated Sightseeing Cruises:
$23
-
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
-
Ft Lauderdale Cocktail Cruise:
$45
-
Island Time Boat Cruise:
$45
-
1-Hour Bike Tour of Hugh Taylor Birch State Park:
$47
-
SUP PUP Paddleboard Tour:
$47
Tours and Activities in Pasadena
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Pasadena are as follows:
-
Private Self-Guided Tour of Pasadena in Los Angeles:
$19
-
Private Christmas Tour with Christmas Afternoon Tea Ceremony in Old Pasadena:
$220
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.
Typical Alcohol prices in Fort Lauderdale
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Fort Lauderdale are as follows:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Fort Lauderdale and Pasadena, we can see that Fort Lauderdale is more expensive. And not only is Pasadena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pasadena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pasadena 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 Fort Lauderdale would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Fort Lauderdale than you might in Pasadena.
Related Articles for Fort Lauderdale
Related Articles for Pasadena
