Which place is cheaper, Tucson or Fort Lauderdale?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Fort Lauderdale or Tucson?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Fort Lauderdale and Tucson. 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.
Where Should I go: Fort Lauderdale or Tucson?
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.
Tucson
Tucson, Arizona is the second largest city in the state and sits at an elevation of 2,400 feet. It's temperature is slightly milder than Phoenix and it is a pleasant place to visit. Most people arrive in the city by car, but Amtrak does travel through Tucson, as does Greyhound. The area is also served by the Tucson International Airport. Once in the city, you'll likely want to have access to a car, as the city is not very pedestrian friendly and public transportation is very much lacking. Many popular and beautiful sights are also outside of town in the surrounding desert, so having access to a vehicle is paramount if you hope to visit any of the places.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Coach Bus Tours in United States of America, The Best Adventure Tours to United States of America, The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFort Lauderdale $182Tucson $157
The average daily cost (per person) in Fort Lauderdale is $182, while the average daily cost in Tucson is $157. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Fort Lauderdale and Tucson in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFort Lauderdale $96Tucson $93
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFort Lauderdale $192Tucson $186
Compare Hotels in Fort Lauderdale and Tucson
Looking for a hotel in Fort Lauderdale or Tucson? 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Fort Lauderdale Hotel Prices and Tucson Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Fort Lauderdale $51Tucson $27
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Fort Lauderdale
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Fort Lauderdale:
- Transfer: FLL Airport to Fort Lauderdale Area Vice Versa: $120
- Transfer Private Vehicle from City -Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL): $40
- Private transfer from Port of Miami to Fort Lauderdale: $220
- Private Transfer to Fort Lauderdale Airport FLL Departures: $95
- Private Transfer from Fort Lauderdale Airport to Islamorada : $261
- Private Transfer from Fort Lauderdale Airport to Coral Gables: $131
- Private Transfer from Fort Lauderdale Airport to Boynton Beach : $120
- Private Transfer from Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL) to Fort Lauderdale: $130
- Private Transfer from FLL to Port Everglades / Fort Lauderdale: $130
- Private Transfer To or From Fort Lauderdale Airport & CruisePort : $94
- Private Sedan Departure Transfer to Fort Lauderdale Airport FLL: $67
- Private Sedan Arrival Transfer from Fort Lauderdale Airport FLL: $67
Is it cheaper to fly into Fort Lauderdale or Tucson?
Prices for flights to both Tucson 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayFort Lauderdale $49Tucson $36
Typical Food Prices in Fort Lauderdale
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Fort Lauderdale:
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Quick Lunch$12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Fort Lauderdale
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Fort Lauderdale.
- Food Tour in Lauderdale By The Sea: $60
- Hollywood Florida Walking Food Tour : $99
- Downtown Fort Lauderdale Dinner & Drinks Tour: $109
- Fort Lauderdale Beach Food Tour: $114
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Fort Lauderdale $15Tucson $16
Tours and Activities in Fort Lauderdale
Here are a few actual costs in Fort Lauderdale for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1-Hour Interactive Pirate Cruise in Ft. Lauderdale (arrive 30 minutes early): $25
- 2 Hour Intimate Cruise for 2ppl w/ Catering - Pompano Beach: $270
- 4 Hour Waterway and Sandbar Cruise: $803
- 90-Minute Parasailing Adventure Above Fort Lauderdale, FL: $80
- 90-Minute Snorkel & Seabob Underwater Guided Reef Tour in Fort Lauderdale: $161
- Air Boat Tour of Palm Beach in The Swamp Monster: $150
- Atlantic Ocean Snorkeling Experience: $79
- Bahamas Day Cruise to Bimni: $299
- Carrie B Cruises! Beautiful and Fun THE VENICE OF AMERICA TOUR!!!: $32
- Champagne Sunset Cruise in Ft. Lauderdale: $89
- Chocolate and Dessert Tasting Tour in Fort Lauderdale Florida: $40
- Comedy Segway Tour Music Edition: $85
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayFort Lauderdale $33Tucson $16
Typical Alcohol Prices in Fort Lauderdale
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Fort Lauderdale are as follows:
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Beer$7.30
Sample the Local Flavors in Fort Lauderdale
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Fort Lauderdale:
- Ft Lauderdale Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $37
- Guided Happy Hour Bar Crawl by Beer Bike: $64
- Pedibus Pub Crawl in Fort Lauderdale: $74
- Party Bike Bar Crawl: $74
When comparing the travel costs between Fort Lauderdale and Tucson, 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.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Fort Lauderdale Expensive? and Is Tucson Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Fort Lauderdale or Tucson?
Tucson has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Fort Lauderdale. When comparing the sizes of Fort Lauderdale and Tucson, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.