Which place is cheaper, Cocoa Beach or Hot Springs?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Hot Springs or Cocoa Beach?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Hot Springs or Cocoa Beach? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Hot Springs or Cocoa Beach?
Hot Springs
Hot Springs is a popular resort city in central Arkansas. It's location in the Ouachita Mountains make it a convenient base for exploring the area's natural hot springs, from which the city gets its name. The city is also home to Hot Springs National Park, which have long been believed to have healing properties. Today many spas have popped up around the hot springs.
Cocoa Beach
Cocoa Beach, Florida has long been a favorite vacation spot for travelers looking for sun, sand, and waves. The location was also made famous as the setting for the 1960's television show, "I Dream of Jeannie". The town of just over 11,000 is located in Brevard County along the Atlantic coast. Many people visit the area because of its excellent surfing. There are many surfing festivals and competitions held here yearly and the famous Ron Jon's surf shop receives about 2 million visitors a year. The city is also home to the East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America, The Best Walking Tours in United States of America, and The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHot Springs $182Cocoa Beach $145
The average daily cost (per person) in Hot Springs is $182, while the average daily cost in Cocoa Beach is $145. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Hot Springs and Cocoa Beach in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHot Springs $100Cocoa Beach $85
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHot Springs $200Cocoa Beach $170
Compare Hotels in Hot Springs and Cocoa Beach
Looking for a hotel in Hot Springs or Cocoa Beach? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Hot Springs Hotel Prices and Cocoa Beach Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hot Springs $47Cocoa Beach $26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hot Springs
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hot Springs:
- Private Departure Transfer from Hot Springs Resort to Little Rock: $71
- Hot Springs Resorts to Memphis Airport (MEM) Departure Transfer: $143
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cocoa Beach
Also for Cocoa Beach, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Cocoa Beach/Cape Canaveral Hotel transfers : $47
- Private Transfer from Cocoa to Orlando (MCO) Airport: $277
- Private Transfer from Melbourne to Orlando (MCO) Airport: $279
- Private Transfer from Melbourne to Orlando-Sanford (SFB) Airport: $293
Is it cheaper to fly into Hot Springs or Cocoa Beach?
Prices for flights to both Cocoa Beach and Hot Springs 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 dayHot Springs $52Cocoa Beach $43
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cocoa Beach
For Cocoa Beach, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Guided Walking Food Tour in Cocoa Beach: $79
- 3-Hour Indian River Queen Cruise with Dinner: $79
- Guided Walking Food Tour in Cocoa Beach: $79
- Village Food Tours Lunch & History Tour: $100
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hot Springs $30Cocoa Beach $16
Tours and Activities in Hot Springs
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Hot Springs are as follows:
- Hot Springs, AR: Magic Springs Theme & Water Park Ticket: $44
- Small-Group Zipline Tour in Hot Springs: $67
Tours and Activities in Cocoa Beach
For Cocoa Beach, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Palm Bay by 3Quest Challenge: $10
- 1 Hour Historic Riverboat Shared Cruise in Cocoa City: $25
- Banana River Sunset Cruise w/ Dolphin Watching: $40
- Sunset Cruise on the Beautiful Banana River: $40
- Cocoa Beach Dolphin Tours on the Banana River: $40
- Thousand Islands Banana River Boat Cruise: $40
- Dolphin Tours along and near the beautiful Indian River Lagoon : $40
- Manatee and Dolphin Kayak Tour: $45
- Dolphin Tour with Local Expert: $45
- 2 hour Dolphin Sightseeing Tour in Melbourne Florida : $45
- Wildlife Refuge Dolphin, Manatee & Mangrove Kayak or Paddleboarding Tour!: $48
- Wildlife Refuge Manatee, Dolphin & Mangrove Kayak or Paddleboarding Tour!: $48
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayHot Springs $22Cocoa Beach $20
Sample the Local Flavors in Cocoa Beach
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Cocoa Beach:
- Waterfront Happy Hour Bar Crawl: $39
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hot Springs and Cocoa Beach, we can see that Hot Springs is more expensive. And not only is Cocoa Beach much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cocoa Beach would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cocoa Beach 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 Hot Springs would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hot Springs than you might in Cocoa Beach.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hot Springs Expensive? and Is Cocoa Beach Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hot Springs or Cocoa Beach?
Hot Springs has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Cocoa Beach. When comparing the sizes of Hot Springs and Cocoa Beach, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Hot Springs or Cocoa Beach?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Hot Springs or Cocoa Beach in the Summer?
Both Cocoa Beach and Hot Springs during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Cocoa Beach because of the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Hot Springs is generally around the same temperature as Cocoa Beach. Daily temperatures in Hot Springs average around 83°F (28°C), and Cocoa Beach fluctuates around 81°F (27°C).
Cocoa Beach gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Hot Springs usually gets less rain in July than Cocoa Beach. Hot Springs gets 3.6 inches (92 mm) of rain, while Cocoa Beach receives 8.3 inches (211 mm) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyHot Springs 83°F (28°C)Cocoa Beach 81°F (27°C)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Cocoa Beach in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Hot Springs and Cocoa Beach. Furthermore, the shopping scene are the main draw to Cocoa Beach this time of year.
Hot Springs is cooler than Cocoa Beach in the autumn. The daily temperature in Hot Springs averages around 64°F (18°C) in October, and Cocoa Beach fluctuates around 77°F (25°C).
Cocoa Beach receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Hot Springs usually receives less rain than Cocoa Beach. Hot Springs gets 3.7 inches (93 mm) of rain, while Cocoa Beach receives 4.1 inches (103 mm) of rain each month for the autumn. The hurricane season in Cocoa Beach is June to November.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHot Springs 64°F (18°C)Cocoa Beach 77°F (25°C)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Cocoa Beach in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Hot Springs as well as Cocoa Beach. Additionally, many travelers come to Cocoa Beach for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
It's quite cold in Hot Springs in the winter. In the winter, Hot Springs is much colder than Cocoa Beach. Typically, the winter temperatures in Hot Springs in January average around 40°F (4°C), and Cocoa Beach averages at about 63°F (17°C).
Hot Springs usually gets more rain in January than Cocoa Beach. Hot Springs gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Cocoa Beach receives 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHot Springs 40°F (4°C)Cocoa Beach 63°F (17°C)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Cocoa Beach in the Spring?
Both Cocoa Beach and Hot Springs are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Cocoa Beach in the spring for the beaches.
In April, Hot Springs is generally cooler than Cocoa Beach. Daily temperatures in Hot Springs average around 65°F (18°C), and Cocoa Beach fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).
It's quite rainy in Hot Springs. In April, Hot Springs usually receives more rain than Cocoa Beach. Hot Springs gets 5.2 inches (133 mm) of rain, while Cocoa Beach receives 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain each month for the spring. June to November is the hurricane season in Cocoa Beach.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilHot Springs 65°F (18°C)Cocoa Beach 73°F (23°C)
Typical Weather for Cocoa Beach and Hot Springs
| Hot Springs | Cocoa Beach | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 40°F (4°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 2.3 inches (58 mm) |
| Feb | 45°F (7°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) | 62°F (17°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) |
| Mar | 54°F (12°C) | 4.8 inches (121 mm) | 67°F (20°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) |
| Apr | 65°F (18°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) | 73°F (23°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| May | 71°F (22°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) | 77°F (25°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) |
| Jun | 79°F (26°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) | 80°F (26°C) | 7.1 inches (181 mm) |
| Jul | 83°F (28°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) | 81°F (27°C) | 8.3 inches (211 mm) |
| Aug | 81°F (27°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) | 81°F (27°C) | 6.7 inches (171 mm) |
| Sep | 75°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) | 81°F (27°C) | 7.2 inches (183 mm) |
| Oct | 64°F (18°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 77°F (25°C) | 4.1 inches (103 mm) |
| Nov | 53°F (12°C) | 5.1 inches (130 mm) | 69°F (21°C) | 1.6 inches (40 mm) |
| Dec | 44°F (6°C) | 4.6 inches (118 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 1.9 inches (48 mm) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.