Should you visit Gainesville or Atlanta?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Gainesville or Atlanta, 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.
Atlanta
Atlanta is a city rich in history but modern in its development and industry. It has a population of just under 500,000 with more than five million people living in the metropolitan area. It is also the ninth largest metropolitan area in the United States The city is rich in culture and was at the center of the civil rights movement. It is the capital of the state of Georgia, and was home to the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games. It has the world's busiest airport and arguably some of the country's worst traffic, but the residents are recognized for their friendly and welcoming nature and the city is lush with green trees and wonderful parks.
Which city is cheaper, Atlanta 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 Atlanta is $136. 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 Atlanta 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 Atlanta can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $72, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $144.
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 Atlanta costs travelers about $33 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
Atlanta $33
Typical Food prices in Gainesville
Some typical examples of dining costs in Gainesville are as follows:
Typical Food prices in Atlanta
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Atlanta:
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Fast Food Lunch (for 2)
$15
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Lunch
$20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Atlanta
For Atlanta, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Ponce City Market 2.5-Hour Weekend Food Tour:
$75
-
Grant Park Past & Future Food Tour:
$75
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2.5-Hour History and Food Tour in Atlanta:
$75
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Atlanta's Southern Food Tour:
$86
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Modern Southern Food Tour of Historic Inman Park:
$99
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Private Tour: Secret Food Tours Atlanta:
$116
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Secret Food Tours Atlanta w/ Private Tour Option:
$249
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.
Atlanta'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 $34 per person, per day on transportation in Atlanta.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gainesville
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Gainesville:
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Private Transfer from Gainesville to Orlando-Sanford (SFB) Airport:
$676
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Private Transfer from Gainesville to Port Canaveral:
$658
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Private Transfer from Gainesville to Orlando (MCO) Airport:
$453
Typical Local Transportation prices in Atlanta
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Atlanta:
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MARTA Subway Ticket
$4.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Atlanta
Also for Atlanta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Departure Transfer to Atlanta Airport (ATL):
$28
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Private Airport Transfer: from Atlanta International Airport (ATL) to Atlanta:
$38
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Private Airport Transfer: from Atlanta to Atlanta International Airport (ATL):
$38
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Atlanta to Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta Airport (ATL) - Departure Private Transfer:
$49
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Private Arrival Transfer from ATL Atlanta Airport to Atlanta City:
$50
-
Private Departure Transfer from Atlanta City to ATL Atlanta Airport:
$50
-
Transfer in executive private vehicle from Atlanta Airport to Atlanta Downtown:
$53
-
Transfer in executive private vehicle from Atlanta Downtown to Atlanta Airport:
$53
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Private Arrival Transfer from Atlanta Airport (ATL):
$56
-
Transfer in Executive Private Minivan from Atlanta Downtown to Atlanta Airport:
$67
-
Transfer in Executive Private Minivan from Atlanta Airport to Atlanta Downtown:
$67
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Private Arrival Transfer: (ATL) Airport to Hotel by Luxury Sedan:
$73
Is it cheaper to fly into Gainesville or Atlanta?
Prices for flights to both Atlanta 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 Atlanta can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $45 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:
-
Butterfly Rainforest at Florida Museum of Natural History Ticket:
$14
Tours and Activities in Atlanta
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Atlanta.
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Ultimate Atlanta Self-Walking Audio Tour:
$10
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Skip-The-Line: World of Coca-Cola Admission Ticket:
$20
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LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Atlanta Admission Ticket:
$22
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Atlanta Amazing Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$27
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Zoo Advance Purchase General Admission Ticket:
$27
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Dr. Martin Luther King's Tour:
$34
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Martin Luther King Historic District Walking Tour:
$35
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Martin Luther King Walking Tour with Optional Lunch:
$35
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Atlanta Electric Car City Tour:
$36
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Georgia Aquarium: Skip-the-Purchase-Line Tickets:
$37
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The Escape Game Atlanta Epic 60-Minute Private Adventure:
$37
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Atlanta Beltline Small Group Walking Tour:
$38
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.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Atlanta, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $14.
Sample the Local Flavors in Atlanta
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Atlanta:
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Atlanta Bar Hunt: All About Atlanta Bar Crawl:
$12
-
Krog Street Market Pub Crawl:
$36
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Atlanta Brewery Guided Tours:
$65
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Three Vineyard Classic Wine Tasting Tour:
$165
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Explore Rabun County - Three Vineyard Wine Tasting Tour:
$170
-
Georgia Horseback Ride with Wine Tasting:
$204
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Private Wine Tasting Tour of Three Vineyards:
$210
When comparing the travel costs between Gainesville and Atlanta, we can see that Atlanta 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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