Should you visit Fort Lauderdale or Sarasota?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Fort Lauderdale and Sarasota. 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.
Sarasota
Located on the Gulf Coast of southwest Florida, Sarasota is a popular city known for its thriving arts scene, selection of restaurants, plenty of shopping, and beautiful beaches. The metropolitan area is a hub of city culture, while the beaches offer escapes of fine white sand and aqua waters.
Which city is cheaper, Sarasota 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 Sarasota is $279. 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 Sarasota 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.
For a normal double-occupancy room in Sarasota, $332 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Sarasota, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $166, such as in a hostel.
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 Sarasota can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $110 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $44 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
Sarasota $110
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 Sarasota
For Sarasota, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Downtown Walking Food Tour in Sarasota:
$99
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.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Fort Lauderdale
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Fort Lauderdale:
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Private Transfer from Fort Lauderdale to Orlando-Sanford (SFB) Airport:
$851
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Private Transfer from Fort Lauderdale to Orlando (MCO) Airport:
$754
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Transfer from Fort Lauderdale Airport to Orlando:
$750
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Private Transfer from Fort Lauderdale to Port Canaveral:
$710
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Private Ft Lauderdale to Orlando Transfer up to 11-One Price-Mercedes Sprinter:
$699
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Party Bus Limo Sprinter Transfer Service things to do Miami Beach #dreamridellc:
$450
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Fort Lauderdale Transfer Luxury Suv:
$281
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Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL) to Boynton Beach - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$274
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Private transfer from or to MIA , FLL airports and Miami & Lauderdale FL:
$250
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Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL) to Delray Beach - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$246
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Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL) to Doral - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$229
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Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL) to Boca Raton - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$197
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sarasota
Also for Sarasota, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Arrival Transfer from Sarasota Airport SRQ:
$32
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Private Departure Transfer to Sarasota Airport SRQ:
$32
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Private Transfer from Sarasota to Orlando (MCO) Airport:
$453
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Private Transfer from Sarasota to Orlando-Sanford (SFB) Airport:
$615
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Private Transfer from Sarasota to Port Canaveral:
$658
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Sarasota Airport to Hotel Private Transfer:
$133
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Sarasota Private Transfer - Hotel to Airport:
$133
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Sarasota to Sarasota–Bradenton Intl. Airport (SRQ) - Departure Private Transfer:
$112
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Sarasota–Bradenton Intl. Airport (SRQ) to Sarasota - Arrival Private Transfer:
$112
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Sarasota–Bradenton Intl. Airport (SRQ) to Sarasota - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$224
Is it cheaper to fly into Fort Lauderdale or Sarasota?
Prices for flights to both Sarasota 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.
Sightseeing expenses in Sarasota, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $9.08 per day, per person.
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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1 Hour Central Park Guided Electric Bike Tour:
$49
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1-Hour Bike Tour of Hugh Taylor Birch State Park:
$47
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1-Hour Interactive Pirate Adventure Cruise in Fort Lauderdale (Family-Friendly):
$23
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2 Hour Fort Lauderdale Guided Electric Bike Tour:
$60
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2 Hour Venice Of America Jet Ski Adventure & Exploration Tour of Fort Lauderdale:
$225
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3 Hour All Inclusive 007 Millionaires Row Jet Ski Adventure Fort Lauderdale:
$307
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5-Day Miami+Key West+Palm Beach+Fort Lauderdale Tour (Miami Departure)(MIA5-A):
$579
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90-Minute Narrated Sightseeing Cruises:
$23
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90-Minute Snorkel & Seabob Underwater Guided Reef Tour in Fort Lauderdale:
$139
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Airport to Cruise Shuttle Private Group Transportation:
$580
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Beach Cruiser Bike Rentals in Fort Lauderdale:
$11
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Champagne Sunset Cruise Ft. Lauderdale:
$58
Tours and Activities in Sarasota
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sarasota.
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Public Art Tour:
$39
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Psychic Sunday Tour:
$40
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City Sightseeing Trolley Tour of Sarasota:
$43
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Tiki Trivia Trolley Tour with Local Performer and Guide:
$43
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Sightseeing Trolley Tour of Sarasota for Private Groups & Corporate Events:
$45
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Infamous Sarasota - Happy Hour City Trolley Tour:
$46
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90-Minute Narrated City Sightseeing Trolley Tour:
$49
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Circus History Tour:
$49
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Sarasota Bay & Lido Key BEST Mangrove Kayak Tour:
$50
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Mangrove Tunnel Kayak Ecotour:
$51
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Paddleboard or Kayak Tour Through Mangrove Tunnels:
$51
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Kayak Tour through Mangrove Tunnels:
$51
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 Sarasota, we can see that Sarasota 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 Sarasota would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sarasota than you might in Fort Lauderdale.
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