Should you visit Gainesville or Norfolk?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Gainesville or Norfolk, 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.
Norfolk
The city of Norfolk in the U.S. state of Virginia is a port city holding a large Navy and shipping presence in its harbor. With a long history as a strategic military point, Norfolk is home to the largest Navy base in the world, Naval Station Norfolk. Other attractions include opportunities for dining, shopping, and entertainment as well as many parks and memorials.
Which city is cheaper, Norfolk 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 Norfolk is $133. 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 Norfolk 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 $68. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Norfolk the cost is $136 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.
Norfolk food costs typically run travelers around $39 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
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Food
Meals for one day
Gainesville $46
Norfolk $39
Typical Food prices in Gainesville
Some typical examples of dining costs in Gainesville are as follows:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Norfolk
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Norfolk.
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Spirit of Norfolk Dinner Cruise on the Elizabeth River:
$84
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 Norfolk is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $44 per person, per day, on local transportation in Norfolk.
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 Orlando-Sanford (SFB) Airport:
$676
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Private Transfer from Gainesville to Port Canaveral:
$658
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Norfolk
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Norfolk:
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Private Arrival Transfer: PFH to Outer Banks North Carolina by Luxury Vehicle:
$283
Is it cheaper to fly into Gainesville or Norfolk?
Prices for flights to both Norfolk 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 Norfolk typically cost an average of $11 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
Tours and Activities in Norfolk
Here are a few actual costs in Norfolk for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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City Sightseeing Norwich Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour:
$19
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Neon District Contemporary Art Walking Tour:
$32
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Norfolk Chronicles History Walking Tour:
$36
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Self-Guided E-Bike Tour Elizabeth River Trail 2-Hour/3rd Hour Free:
$50
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Norfolk Passport to Fun City Sightseeing and Discount Book:
$52
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E-Bike Cannonball Trail Guided History Tour of Norfolk:
$59
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Best of Norfolk Guided E-Bike Tour:
$60
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Spirit of Norfolk Lunch Cruise on the Elizabeth River:
$61
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Candle Making Experience:
$69
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1/2 Day E-Bike Tour of Norfolk's History and Art:
$78
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1/2 Day E-Bike Tour of Norfolk's History and Art:
$79
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.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Norfolk may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $8.39 per day on alcoholic beverages.
When comparing the travel costs between Gainesville and Norfolk, 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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