Should you visit Gainesville or Juneau?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Gainesville or Juneau, 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.
Juneau
Juneau, Alaska is the capital city of the state, and it is also one of the most beautiful cities. Juneau is surrounded by two large mountains and a channel, so it is the only state capital not accessible by train or car. It is lined with small streets, including what is locally known as “stair streets” which can only be accessed by foot and include walking up 100-300 stairs, depending on which level you're going to. Luckily, most of the sights and stores are on the lower level, though. The only real structures located on the stair streets are residential buildings. Juneau is the most visited city in Alaska, but its population is just over 33,000. Its economy is based mostly on government, tourism, fishing, and mining.
Which city is cheaper, Juneau 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 Juneau is $128. 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 Juneau in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Gainesville is about $138 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $70. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Juneau the cost is $140 on average.
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.
On average, meal and food prices in Juneau cost around $39 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $16.
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Food
Meals for one day
Gainesville $46
Juneau $39
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.
The average price of local transportation around Juneau is $30 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
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 Juneau
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Juneau:
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Private Departure Transfer to Juneau Airport (JNU):
$48
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Private Arrival Transfer from Juneau Airport (JNU):
$48
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Helena Airport One Way Transfer:
$53
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Airport Transfer via Private Mercedes Sprinter Limo:
$160
Is it cheaper to fly into Gainesville or Juneau?
Prices for flights to both Juneau 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.
Juneau's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $14 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
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 Juneau
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Juneau are as follows:
Tours and Activities in Juneau
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Juneau are as follows:
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Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$14
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Juneau Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$15
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Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure in Juneau:
$29
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City Trolley and Macaulay Salmon Hatchery Tour:
$32
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Juneau City and Mendenhall Glacier Combo Tour:
$63
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Juneau City Sightseeing and Mendenhall Glacier Tour:
$63
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Historic Gold Mining and Panning Adventure:
$75
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Historic Gold Mining and Panning Adventure:
$75
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Historic Gold Panning Adventure & Salmon Bake:
$103
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Half-Day Tour to Mendenhall Glacier and King Crab from Juneau:
$114
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Whale Watching Adventure:
$115
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Juneau Whale Watching Tour:
$115
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 $13 on alcoholic beverages in Juneau per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in Juneau
Also in Juneau, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Juneau Shore Excursion: Alaskan Brewery & Tasting Experience:
$63
When comparing the travel costs between Gainesville and Juneau, we can see that Gainesville 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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