Should you visit Gainesville or Arlington?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Gainesville or Arlington, 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.
Arlington
Located just across the Potomac River from Washington DC, capital of the United States, Arlington is a city that also has many government sites and monuments that commemorate the nation's past. Two of its most famous features include Arlington National Cemetery and the Pentagon-the largest office building in the world.
Which city is cheaper, Arlington 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 Arlington is $211. 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 Arlington in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Gainesville is about $138 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
The prices for places to stay in Arlington can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $105, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $210.
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.
Food in Arlington costs travelers about $64 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
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Food
Meals for one day
Gainesville $46
Arlington $64
Typical Food prices in Gainesville
Some typical examples of dining costs in Gainesville are as follows:
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.
Arlington's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $39 per person, per day on transportation in Arlington.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gainesville
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Gainesville:
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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
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Private Transfer from Gainesville to Orlando (MCO) Airport:
$453
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arlington
Also for Arlington, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Arrival Transfer from Washington Reagan Airport DCA:
$29
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Private Airport Transfer: Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) to Washington:
$40
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Private Arrival Transfer DCA Ronald Regan Washington Airport to Washington City:
$46
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Washington - Ronald Reagan National Airport One Way Transfer:
$48
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Washington R. Reagan Airport (DCA) to Washington - Arrival Private Transfer:
$61
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Transfer in private car from Washington Ronald Reagan Airport to Washington City:
$64
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Washington Airport Transfers: National Airport DCA to Washington in Business Car:
$68
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Arrival Private Transfers: National Airport DCA to Washington in Business Car:
$72
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Private Transfer Ronald Reagan Airport DCA to Washington DC by Business Car:
$75
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Arrival Private Transfers: National Airport DCA to Washington in Luxury Van:
$78
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Arrival Private Transfers: National Airport DCA to Washington in Luxury SUV:
$78
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Transfer in private minivan from Washington Ronald Reagan Airport to City:
$80
Is it cheaper to fly into Gainesville or Arlington?
Prices for flights to both Arlington 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.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Arlington can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $8.50 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
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
Tours and Activities in Arlington
For Arlington, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Tasting & Tour:
$8.78
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Arlington National Cemetery Hop-On Hop-Off Tour:
$15
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Arlington National Cemetery Guided Walking Tour:
$36
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Arlington National Cemetery Guided Walking Tour - 8ppl Max:
$73
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Arlington National Cemetery Guided Walking Tour - Private Tour:
$73
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Arlington Cemetery & American History Museum Guided Tour - 8ppl Max:
$143
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Arlington Cemetery & American History Museum Guided Combo Tour - Private Tour:
$143
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Arlington Cemetery Private Tour:
$359
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Arlington National Cemetery Private Walking Tour:
$360
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4 Hours Private Chauffeured DC Sight Seeing Tour / SUV & Sedan:
$428
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Stuck at the Airport Washington DC Tour:
$450
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.
Typically, people visiting Arlington spend on average $13 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Gainesville and Arlington, we can see that Arlington is more expensive. And not only is Gainesville much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Gainesville would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Gainesville 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 Arlington would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Arlington than you might in Gainesville.
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