Should you visit Gainesville or Anchorage?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Gainesville or Anchorage, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Gainesville
Home to the University of Florida as well as Santa Fe College, the town of Gainesville has all of the shopping, entertainment, and restaurants that you could want in a college town - plus easy access to a number of outdoor adventures from canoeing, diving, and kayaking to birding, fishing, hiking, and biking. Some of the top features include the Butterfly Rainforest, the Florida Museum of Natural History, the Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, and Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park.
Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska's largest city, is in the south-central part of the state on the Cook Inlet. It's known for its cultural sites and also as a gateway to nearby wilderness areas and mountains. From the sparkling waters of Cook Inlet to the tallest peaks of the Chugach Mountains, Anchorage encompasses incredible adventures and metropolitan appeals that are larger than life. With 1,500 moose, incredible national parks nearby and 60 glaciers a short drive away, it's a dream destination in Alaska.
Which city is cheaper, Anchorage or Gainesville?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Gainesville is $135, while the average daily cost in Anchorage is $153. 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 Gainesville and Anchorage in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Gainesville is about $138 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
The average price for accommodation for two people in Anchorage is $186. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
Food
While meal prices in Gainesville 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 Gainesville 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 Gainesville is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
In Anchorage travelers spend around $40 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
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Food
Meals for one day
Gainesville $46
Anchorage $40
Typical Food prices in Gainesville
Some typical examples of dining costs in Gainesville are as follows:
Typical Food prices in Anchorage
Some typical examples of dining costs in Anchorage are as follows:
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Bread
$4.25
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Breakfast for Two
$17
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Gainesville is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $33 per person, per day, on local transportation in Gainesville.
The cost of a taxi ride in Anchorage is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $22 per person, per day, on local transportation in Anchorage.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gainesville
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Gainesville:
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Private Transfer from Gainesville to Orlando (MCO) Airport:
$453
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Private Transfer from Gainesville to Port Canaveral:
$658
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Private Transfer from Gainesville to Orlando-Sanford (SFB) Airport:
$676
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Anchorage
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Anchorage:
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Anchorage Airport (ANC) to Anchorage accommodation - Arrival Private Transfer:
$34
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Anchorage accommodation to Anchorage Airport (ANC) - Departure Private Transfer:
$34
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Private Departure Transfer - to Anchorage Airport (ANC):
$54
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Private Arrival Transfer from Anchorage Airport ANC:
$54
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Anchorage Airport (ANC) to Anchorage accommodation - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$67
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Private Transfer Anchorage Airport (ANC) to Whittier Cruise Port:
$209
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Private Transfer Anchorage Airport ANC to Seward Cruise Port:
$292
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Private Transfer: Seward Cruise Port to Anchorage Airport (ANC):
$292
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Anchorage Airport (ANC) to Seward Cruise Port - Arrival Private Transfer:
$386
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Private Transfer: Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) to Anchorage:
$622
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Private Transfer: Anchorage to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC):
$622
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Anchorage Airport (ANC) to Seward Cruise Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$771
Is it cheaper to fly into Gainesville or Anchorage?
Prices for flights to both Anchorage and Gainesville 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 Gainesville typically cost an average of $14 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Entertainment and activities in Anchorage typically cost an average of $24 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Typical Entertainment prices in Gainesville
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Gainesville are as follows:
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Manatee Tour for Two
$98
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Tour Guide Tip
$5.00
Tours and Activities in Gainesville
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Gainesville are as follows:
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Butterfly Rainforest at Florida Museum of Natural History Ticket:
$14
Typical Entertainment prices in Anchorage
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Anchorage are as follows:
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1 Day Bike Rental
$33
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1/2 Day Rafting Trip
$105
Tours and Activities in Anchorage
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Anchorage are as follows:
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Seward: Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$14
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Anchorage Museum General Admission Ticket:
$20
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1-Hour Trolley Tour:
$20
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Anchorage Trolley Tour:
$21
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Anchorage City Tour w/ Taste of Wild Smoked Salmon & Reindeer Sausage:
$39
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Winter - Anchorage All Around City Tour:
$49
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Alaska Native Historic Cultural City Tour of Anchorage:
$59
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Gold Panning Self-Guided Tour:
$69
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Turnagain Arm Tour: "A Must See Destination":
$69
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Beginner’s Snowshoeing Adventure:
$81
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Coastal Trail 3-Hour City Bike Tour:
$85
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Explore Portage Valley a Self-Guided Tour:
$99
Alcohol
The average person spends about $39 on alcoholic beverages in Gainesville per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
The average person spends about $16 on alcoholic beverages in Anchorage per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in Anchorage
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Anchorage:
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Half-Day Anchorage Craft Brewery Tour and Tastings:
$115
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Anchorage Bike and Brewery Tour:
$219
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Alaska Brewery and Railroad Experience from Anchorage:
$349
When comparing the travel costs between Gainesville and Anchorage, we can see that Anchorage 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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