Which city is cheaper, West Palm Beach or Fort Lauderdale?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. 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.
Fort Lauderdale is a scenic, bustling, and spirited coastal city. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and shopping.
West Palm Beach is a fun-filled, diverse, and vibrant beach area. It's also known for nightlife, scuba diving and snorkeling, and beaches.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Both Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach offer a number of unique restaurants to choose from.
Fort Lauderdale offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. Seafood is the obvious option with popular dishes being fish tacos, sea bass, and scallop risotto.
You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in West Palm Beach. Oceanfront restaurants usually have a great view and offer local and fresh seafood.
It's hard to distinguish whether Fort Lauderdale or West Palm Beach has a better nightlife scene.
The people in Fort Lauderdale know how to have a good time. Most people head to the beach, Las Olas Blvd, River Front and The New Hard Rock Seminole Hotel Complex for the best bars and clubs.
The nightlife in West Palm Beach has something for everybody. With rooftop bars and clubs, oceanfront venues, and plenty of nightlife options downtown, this city rivals most places when it comes to nightlife.
There are resorts to choose from in both Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.
Vacationers flock to Fort Lauderdale for its luxury resorts. Luxury beachfront resorts are plentiful in the area. Several of the most impressive include the Ritz-Carlton, W Fort Lauderdale, and the Dalmar.
For the ultimate resort vacation, West Palm Beach is a great choice. All of the major names are present including the Hilton, Marriott, and Four Seasons.
You'll find places where you can go scuba diving or snorkeling in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.
Grab a mask and fins and explore the underwater scenery in Fort Lauderdale. Popular snorkeling spots nearby include the Vista Park Reef, Pompano Beach, and Hollywood North Beach Park.
Many visitors partake in scuba diving or snorkeing while visiting West Palm Beach. Check out Phil Foster Park in Rivera Beach. It's a man-made reef that is surprisingly clear.
Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach both offer beautiful beaches.
Fort Lauderdale offers stunning beaches that attract visitors from around the world. With seven miles of beautiful sandy beaches, a fun boardwalk, and impressive views, the beaches here are among the best in the area.
Travelers come from around the world to visit the beaches in West Palm Beach. From bustling beaches with a boardwalk to quieter, more relaxing beaches surrounded by parkland, there are are number of options in the area.
Both Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach are family-friendly destinations.
Fort Lauderdale is a very family-friendly place to visit. With seven miles of beautiful sandy beaches and a number of kid-oriented activities the kids will be entertained. Fun activities include Bluefoot Pirate Adventures, Butterfly World, and Funderdome.
Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, West Palm Beach is very family-friendly. Animal lovers will appreciate the zoos and aquariums in the area. Check out McCarthy's Wildlife Sanctuary, Manatee Lagoon, the Palm Beach Zoo, and the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium.
Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach both fun destinations for a couple.
Fort Lauderdale is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. Fine dining, beautiful beaches, and great shopping make for a great romantic getaway. Couples and honeymooners love relaxing at the beaches in Fort Lauderdale.
West Palm Beach is a great coastal city if you're traveling as a couple. Couples will enjoy kayaking, dining out, or simply relaxing on the beach.
Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach both are comparable when exploring on foot.
Fort Lauderdale is very walkable. It is one of the most walkable Florida communities with a boardwalk and several pedestrian areas that are fun to wander around.
West Palm Beach is a somewhat walkable place. West Palm Beach has a surprisingly walkable area and it's possible to explore the downtown area on foot.
Both Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach have a number of activities to choose from. You can spend a similar amount of time exploring either.
The ideal length of time for a trip to Fort Lauderdale is 3-7 days, and the ideal length of time for a trip to West Palm Beach is 3-7 days.
The high energy destination of Fort Lauderdale offers nightlife and food. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. It's no surprise that beaches is why people visit. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.
The vibrant destination of West Palm Beach offers nightlife and scuba diving and snorkeling. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. It's no surprise that beaches is why people visit. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.
The coastal city of Fort Lauderdale offers food and scuba diving and snorkeling. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.
The beach area of West Palm Beach offers scuba diving and snorkeling and nightlife. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.
Fort Lauderdale is a great place to explore. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. It's no surprise that beaches is why people visit. This coastal city offers something for everyone. It is common to spend five days here. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.
West Palm Beach is a great place to explore. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. It's no surprise that beaches is why people visit. This beach area offers something for everyone. It is common to spend five days here. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.
The high energy coastal city of Fort Lauderdale offers shopping and nightlife. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. For many, it makes a great getaway for one week. Because of this, one week is usually enough time for a trip here.
The fun-filled beach area of West Palm Beach offers scuba diving and snorkeling and nightlife. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. For many, it makes a great getaway for one week. Because of this, one week is usually enough time for a trip here.
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 West Palm Beach is $264. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Fort Lauderdale or West Palm Beach? 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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Fort Lauderdale:
Also for West Palm Beach, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both West Palm Beach 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.
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Fort Lauderdale:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Fort Lauderdale.
For West Palm Beach, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Here are a few actual costs in Fort Lauderdale for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for West Palm Beach.
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Fort Lauderdale are as follows:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Fort Lauderdale:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in West Palm Beach:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, we can see that West Palm Beach 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 West Palm Beach would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in West Palm Beach than you might in Fort Lauderdale.
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Both West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale during the summer are popular places to visit. The beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Fort Lauderdale this time of year. Also, many travelers come to West Palm Beach for the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences.
Fort Lauderdale is around the same temperature as West Palm Beach in the summer. The temperature in Fort Lauderdale is usually 83°F (28°C) in July, and West Palm Beach stays around 82°F (28°C).
In West Palm Beach, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Fort Lauderdale. In the summer, Fort Lauderdale often gets around the same amount of sunshine as West Palm Beach. Fort Lauderdale gets 316 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while West Palm Beach receives 316 hours of full sun.
West Palm Beach gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Fort Lauderdale. Fort Lauderdale usually gets less rain in July than West Palm Beach. Fort Lauderdale gets 5.9 inches (149 mm) of rain, while West Palm Beach receives 6.5 inches (166 mm) of rain this time of the year.
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. Many travelers come to Fort Lauderdale for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Fort Lauderdale is around the same temperature as West Palm Beach. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Fort Lauderdale in October are around 78°F (26°C), and West Palm Beach is about 78°F (25°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in West Palm Beach this time of the year. In Fort Lauderdale, it's very sunny this time of the year. Fort Lauderdale usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as West Palm Beach during autumn. Fort Lauderdale gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while West Palm Beach receives 275 hours of full sun in the autumn.
West Palm Beach receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Fort Lauderdale gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Fort Lauderdale usually receives less rain than West Palm Beach. Fort Lauderdale gets 5.6 inches (143 mm) of rain, while West Palm Beach receives 8.7 inches (222 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
The winter brings many poeple to Fort Lauderdale as well as West Palm Beach. Many visitors come to Fort Lauderdale in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to West Palm Beach for the cuisine during these months.
In January, Fort Lauderdale is generally around the same temperature as West Palm Beach. Temperatures in Fort Lauderdale average around 67°F (20°C), and West Palm Beach stays around 65°F (19°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in West Palm Beach. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Fort Lauderdale this time of the year. In the winter, Fort Lauderdale often gets around the same amount of sunshine as West Palm Beach. Fort Lauderdale gets 243 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while West Palm Beach receives 243 hours of full sun.
Fort Lauderdale usually gets less rain in January than West Palm Beach. Fort Lauderdale gets 2.2 inches (55 mm) of rain, while West Palm Beach receives 2.6 inches (66 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Both West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Fort Lauderdale for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to West Palm Beach because of the beaches.
Fort Lauderdale is around the same temperature as West Palm Beach in the spring. The temperature in Fort Lauderdale is usually 75°F (24°C) in April, and West Palm Beach stays around 74°F (23°C).
It's quite sunny in West Palm Beach. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Fort Lauderdale. Fort Lauderdale usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as West Palm Beach during spring. Fort Lauderdale gets 300 hours of sunny skies, while West Palm Beach receives 300 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Fort Lauderdale usually receives less rain than West Palm Beach. Fort Lauderdale gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while West Palm Beach receives 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
Fort Lauderdale | West Palm Beach | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 67°F (20°C) | 2.2 inches (55 mm) | 65°F (19°C) | 2.6 inches (66 mm) |
Feb | 68°F (20°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) | 66°F (19°C) | 2.6 inches (66 mm) |
Mar | 72°F (22°C) | 2.4 inches (61 mm) | 70°F (21°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) |
Apr | 75°F (24°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) | 74°F (23°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) |
May | 79°F (26°C) | 6.4 inches (162 mm) | 78°F (25°C) | 5.2 inches (131 mm) |
Jun | 81°F (27°C) | 9.4 inches (238 mm) | 81°F (27°C) | 8.1 inches (207 mm) |
Jul | 83°F (28°C) | 5.9 inches (149 mm) | 82°F (28°C) | 6.5 inches (166 mm) |
Aug | 83°F (28°C) | 7.5 inches (191 mm) | 83°F (28°C) | 6.9 inches (176 mm) |
Sep | 82°F (28°C) | 7.6 inches (194 mm) | 81°F (27°C) | 9.8 inches (250 mm) |
Oct | 78°F (26°C) | 5.6 inches (143 mm) | 78°F (25°C) | 8.7 inches (222 mm) |
Nov | 73°F (23°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 2.5 inches (63 mm) |
Dec | 69°F (21°C) | 1.9 inches (48 mm) | 67°F (20°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) |
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