Which place is cheaper, Milwaukee or Hot Springs?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Hot Springs or Milwaukee?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Hot Springs or Milwaukee? 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 Milwaukee?
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.
Milwaukee
Milwaukee is a city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin on Lake Michigan's western shore. It's known for its breweries, many of which offer tours chronicling its role in the beer industry. Overlooking the Menomonee River, the Harley-Davidson Museum displays classic motorcycles, including one of Elvis Presley's. Nearby is the Milwaukee Public Museum, with its large-scale European Village and a recreation of old Milwaukee. In summertime, festivals let loose by the lake almost every weekend. These attractions along with stylish eating and shopping areas have turned Wisconsin's largest city into an interesting and attractive destination.
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 $182Milwaukee $176
The average daily cost (per person) in Hot Springs is $182, while the average daily cost in Milwaukee is $176. 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 Milwaukee in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHot Springs $100Milwaukee $99
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHot Springs $200Milwaukee $198
Compare Hotels in Hot Springs and Milwaukee
Looking for a hotel in Hot Springs or Milwaukee? 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 Milwaukee Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hot Springs $47Milwaukee $38
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Hot Springs or Milwaukee?
Prices for flights to both Milwaukee 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 $52Milwaukee $52
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Milwaukee
For Milwaukee, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Family Fun Food Tour: $80
- Local Food Tour: $97
- Milwaukee Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $99
- Original Milwaukee Guided Brewery Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $139
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hot Springs $30Milwaukee $26
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 Milwaukee
For Milwaukee, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Skip the Line: Museum Admission Ticket - Grohmann Museum: $5.00
- The Grand Milwaukee Walk: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- The Grand Walk: A Self-Guided Audio Tour through Milwaukee: $6.99
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Milwaukee by Operation City Quest: $10
- Geneva Lake Shore Path: Uncover 21 miles of stories on a self-guided audio tour: $10
- Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Game Ticket at American Family Field: $11
- Skip The Line: Harley-Davidson Museum Admission Ticket with Audio Guided Option: $22
- Macabre Milwaukee Walking Tour: $26
- Shakers Original Historical Ghost Tour: $27
- Downtown Kenosha Urban Art and Photography Walking Tour: $30
- Brew City Ghosts: Macabre Milwaukee By US Ghost Adventures: $30
- Milwaukee Private or Public Pedal Tavern Tour : $35
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayHot Springs $22Milwaukee $33
Sample the Local Flavors in Milwaukee
Also in Milwaukee, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Sip of Milwaukee Guided Brewery Tour with Snack: $99
When comparing the travel costs between Hot Springs and Milwaukee, we can see that Hot Springs 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.
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 Milwaukee Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hot Springs or Milwaukee?
Milwaukee has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Hot Springs. When comparing the sizes of Hot Springs and Milwaukee, 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 Milwaukee?
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 Milwaukee in the Summer?
Both Milwaukee and Hot Springs during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, most visitors come to Milwaukee for the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Hot Springs is a little warmer than Milwaukee. Typically, the summer temperatures in Hot Springs in July average around 83°F (28°C), and Milwaukee averages at about 74°F (23°C).
In Milwaukee, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Hot Springs. In the summer, Hot Springs often gets more sunshine than Milwaukee. Hot Springs gets 364 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Milwaukee receives 321 hours of full sun.
Hot Springs usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Milwaukee. Hot Springs gets 3.6 inches (92 mm) of rain, while Milwaukee receives 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyHot Springs 83°F (28°C)Milwaukee 74°F (23°C)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Milwaukee in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Hot Springs and Milwaukee. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Milwaukee because of the shopping scene.
In October, Hot Springs is generally much warmer than Milwaukee. Daily temperatures in Hot Springs average around 64°F (18°C), and Milwaukee fluctuates around 53°F (12°C).
In Hot Springs, it's very sunny this time of the year. Hot Springs usually receives more sunshine than Milwaukee during autumn. Hot Springs gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Milwaukee receives 174 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Hot Springs usually receives more rain than Milwaukee. Hot Springs gets 3.7 inches (93 mm) of rain, while Milwaukee receives 2 inches (50 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHot Springs 64°F (18°C)Milwaukee 53°F (12°C)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Milwaukee in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Hot Springs as well as Milwaukee. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Milwaukee this time of year.
It's quite cold in Milwaukee in the winter. The weather in Hot Springs can be very cold. Hot Springs is much warmer than Milwaukee in the winter. The daily temperature in Hot Springs averages around 40°F (4°C) in January, and Milwaukee fluctuates around 21°F (-6°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Hot Springs this time of the year. In the winter, Hot Springs often gets more sunshine than Milwaukee. Hot Springs gets 205 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Milwaukee receives 138 hours of full sun.
Hot Springs usually gets more rain in January than Milwaukee. Hot Springs gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Milwaukee receives 1.6 inches (41 mm) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHot Springs 40°F (4°C)Milwaukee 21°F (-6°C)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Milwaukee in the Spring?
Both Milwaukee and Hot Springs are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In the spring, Hot Springs is much warmer than Milwaukee. Typically, the spring temperatures in Hot Springs in April average around 65°F (18°C), and Milwaukee averages at about 47°F (8°C).
It's quite sunny in Milwaukee. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Hot Springs. Hot Springs usually receives more sunshine than Milwaukee during spring. Hot Springs gets 304 hours of sunny skies, while Milwaukee receives 211 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Hot Springs. In April, Hot Springs usually receives more rain than Milwaukee. Hot Springs gets 5.2 inches (133 mm) of rain, while Milwaukee receives 2.8 inches (70 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilHot Springs 65°F (18°C)Milwaukee 47°F (8°C)
Typical Weather for Milwaukee and Hot Springs
| Hot Springs | Milwaukee | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 40°F (4°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 21°F (-6°C) | 1.6 inches (41 mm) |
| Feb | 45°F (7°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) | 26°F (-4°C) | 1.1 inches (29 mm) |
| Mar | 54°F (12°C) | 4.8 inches (121 mm) | 36°F (2°C) | 2.2 inches (57 mm) |
| Apr | 65°F (18°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) | 47°F (8°C) | 2.8 inches (70 mm) |
| May | 71°F (22°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) | 58°F (14°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) |
| Jun | 79°F (26°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) | 68°F (20°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) |
| Jul | 83°F (28°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) | 74°F (23°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) |
| Aug | 81°F (27°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
| Sep | 75°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) | 65°F (18°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) |
| Oct | 64°F (18°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 53°F (12°C) | 2 inches (50 mm) |
| Nov | 53°F (12°C) | 5.1 inches (130 mm) | 41°F (5°C) | 2 inches (51 mm) |
| Dec | 44°F (6°C) | 4.6 inches (118 mm) | 27°F (-3°C) | 1.7 inches (44 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.