A Travel Price Comparison for Florida Gainesville vs. Sarasota for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Gainesville or Sarasota?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Gainesville or Sarasota, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down 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.

Sarasota

Located on the Gulf Coast of southwest Florida, Sarasota is a popular city known for its thriving arts scene, selection of restaurants, plenty of shopping, and beautiful beaches. The metropolitan area is a hub of city culture, while the beaches offer escapes of fine white sand and aqua waters.

Which city is cheaper, Sarasota 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 Sarasota is $279. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Gainesville and Sarasota in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Gainesville $69
    Sarasota $166
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Gainesville $138
    Sarasota $332

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Gainesville $33
    Sarasota -

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gainesville

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Gainesville:

  • Private Transfer from Gainesville to Orlando-Sanford (SFB) Airport: $676
  • Private Transfer from Gainesville to Port Canaveral: $658
  • Private Transfer from Gainesville to Orlando (MCO) Airport: $453

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sarasota

Also for Sarasota, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Arrival Transfer from Sarasota Airport SRQ: $32
  • Private Departure Transfer to Sarasota Airport SRQ: $32
  • Sarasota to Sarasota–Bradenton Intl. Airport (SRQ) - Departure Private Transfer: $112
  • Sarasota–Bradenton Intl. Airport (SRQ) to Sarasota - Arrival Private Transfer: $112
  • Sarasota Airport to Hotel Private Transfer: $133
  • Sarasota Private Transfer - Hotel to Airport: $133
  • Sarasota–Bradenton Intl. Airport (SRQ) to Sarasota - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $224
  • Private Transfer from Sarasota to Orlando (MCO) Airport: $453
  • Private Transfer from Sarasota to Orlando-Sanford (SFB) Airport: $615
  • Private Transfer from Sarasota to Port Canaveral: $658

Is it cheaper to fly into Gainesville or Sarasota?

Prices for flights to both Sarasota 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.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Gainesville $46
    Sarasota $110
Typical Food prices in Gainesville

Some typical examples of dining costs in Gainesville are as follows:


  • Diner Breakfast for Two
    $17
  • Lunch at Chop Stix (for 2)
    $24

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sarasota

For Sarasota, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Downtown Walking Food Tour in Sarasota: $99

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Gainesville $14
    Sarasota $9.08
Typical Entertainment prices in Gainesville

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Gainesville are as follows:


  • Manatee Tour for Two
    $98
  • 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 Sarasota

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sarasota.

  • Public Art Tour: $39
  • Psychic Sunday Tour: $40
  • City Sightseeing Trolley Tour of Sarasota: $43
  • Tiki Trivia Trolley Tour with Local Performer and Guide: $43
  • Sightseeing Trolley Tour of Sarasota for Private Groups & Corporate Events: $45
  • Infamous Sarasota - Happy Hour City Trolley Tour: $46
  • Circus History Tour: $49
  • 90-Minute Narrated City Sightseeing Trolley Tour: $49
  • Sarasota Bay & Lido Key BEST Mangrove Kayak Tour: $50
  • Mangrove Tunnel Kayak Ecotour: $51
  • Paddleboard or Kayak Tour Through Mangrove Tunnels: $51
  • Kayak Tour through Mangrove Tunnels: $51

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Gainesville $39
    Sarasota -

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Gainesville and Sarasota, we can see that Sarasota 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 Sarasota would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sarasota than you might in Gainesville.

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Gainesville vs. Sarasota Travel Comparison

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