Should you visit Fort Lauderdale or Raleigh?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Fort Lauderdale and Raleigh. 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.
Raleigh
Raleigh is the capital city of the state of North Carolina. The city has a population of about 450,000 and is home to many colleges and university including North Carolina State University, Shaw University, Saint Augustine's College, Meredith College and Peace University. The city has a wide range of museums, restaurants, theaters, and parks. There's also an extensive greenway system that is great for biking or running.
Which city is cheaper, Raleigh 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 Raleigh is $151. 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 Raleigh 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 $83. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Raleigh the cost is $166 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.
While meal prices in Raleigh can vary, the average travelers spends about $46 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Raleigh should cost around $18 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Raleigh is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
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Food
Meals for one day
Fort Lauderdale $39
Raleigh $46
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
Typical Food prices in Raleigh
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Raleigh:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Raleigh
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Raleigh.
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Raleigh, NC - Walking Food Tours:
$62
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 $30 per day to get around in Raleigh.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Fort Lauderdale
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Fort Lauderdale:
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Arrival Private Transfers from Fort Lauderdale Airport FLL to Hollywood:
$117
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Arrival Private Transfers from Fort Lauderdale Airport FLL to Hollywood:
$103
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Arrival Private Transfers from Fort Lauderdale Airport FLL to Hollywood:
$77
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Arrival Private Transfers from Fort Lauderdale Airport FLL to Hollywood:
$100
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Florida Transfers and Tours:
$150
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Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL) Private Arrival Transfer:
$77
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Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL) to Boca Raton - Arrival Private Transfer:
$98
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Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL) to Boca Raton - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$197
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Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL) to Boynton Beach - Arrival Private Transfer:
$137
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Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL) to Boynton Beach - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$274
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Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL) to Coral Gables - Arrival Private Transfer:
$71
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Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL) to Coral Gables - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$142
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Raleigh
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Raleigh:
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Raleigh to Raleigh-Durham Airport (RDU) - Departure Private Transfer:
$124
Is it cheaper to fly into Fort Lauderdale or Raleigh?
Prices for flights to both Raleigh 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.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $30 per person, per day in Raleigh. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
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 Raleigh
Here are a few actual costs in Raleigh for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Trolley Pub Public Tour of Raleigh:
$41
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.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Raleigh may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $22 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:
Sample the Local Flavors in Raleigh
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Raleigh:
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Raleigh Bar Hunt: Rowdy Raleigh Bar Crawl:
$12
When comparing the travel costs between Fort Lauderdale and Raleigh, we can see that Raleigh 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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