Which place is cheaper, Tucson or Houston?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Houston or Tucson?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Houston and Tucson. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Houston or Tucson?
Houston
The largest city in Texas and the fourth largest in the United States, Houston is a sprawling urban center that has grown from its wealth in the oil industry. Visitors today are drawn to its cultural diversity which has additionally made Houston a foodie destination. Other attractions to Houston include its proximity to NASA's Space Center Houston on the Gulf coast, and its Downtown which features a vibrant museum and arts scene, shopping, and dining.
Tucson
Tucson, Arizona is the second largest city in the state and sits at an elevation of 2,400 feet. It's temperature is slightly milder than Phoenix and it is a pleasant place to visit. Most people arrive in the city by car, but Amtrak does travel through Tucson, as does Greyhound. The area is also served by the Tucson International Airport. Once in the city, you'll likely want to have access to a car, as the city is not very pedestrian friendly and public transportation is very much lacking. Many popular and beautiful sights are also outside of town in the surrounding desert, so having access to a vehicle is paramount if you hope to visit any of the places.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHouston $262Tucson $157
The average daily cost (per person) in Houston is $262, while the average daily cost in Tucson is $157. 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 Houston and Tucson in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHouston $142Tucson $93
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHouston $284Tucson $186
Compare Hotels in Houston and Tucson
Looking for a hotel in Houston or Tucson? 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: Houston Hotel Prices and Tucson Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Houston $72Tucson $27
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Houston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Houston:
- William P.Hobby Airport (HOU): Transfer to Port of Galveston: $538
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Houston APT-HTL (IAH): $151
- Transfer in private vehicle from Houston George Bush Airport to Houston Downtown: $60
- Transfer in private minivan from Houston George Bush Airport to Houston Downtown: $88
- Transfer in private minivan from Houston City Center to George Bush Airport: $88
- Sedan Airport Transfer in Houston: $165
- SUV Airport Transfer in Houston: $200
- RoundTrip transfer in private minivan from-to HoustonAirport in Houston Downtown: $176
- Round trip transfer in private car from-to Houston Airport in Houston Downtown: $120
- Private One-way George Bush Airport Transfer To/From Houston: $71
- Private Hotel Transfer in Houston: $80
- Private Departure Transfer to Houston William P. Hobby Airport HOU: $48
Is it cheaper to fly into Houston or Tucson?
Prices for flights to both Tucson and Houston 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
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Food Meals for one dayHouston $35Tucson $36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Houston
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Houston.
- Seasonal Pizza From Scratch Experience in Houston: $55
- Astroville Food Tour of Downtown Houston with Tunnel Access: $70
- Astroville Food Tour of Downtown Houston with Tunnel Access: $70
- The Heights Food Tour in Houston: $76
- Downtown Houston Food Tour: $76
- Houston Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $85
- Houston Downtown: Secret Food Tours: $86
- Howdy H-Town EADO Food Tour: $90
- East Downtown Food Tour: $90
- Houston Heights Culture and Food Tour: $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Houston $14Tucson $16
Tours and Activities in Houston
Here are a few actual costs in Houston for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Houston Ghosts and Hauntings By US Ghost Adventures: $30
- The Art of Fufu Cookbook Experience: West African Soup & Fufu : $100
- 2 Hours H- Town Tour with 15ft Open Air Party Truck On Wheels: $46
- 2-Hour Private Sightseeing Cart Tour of Houston and Galveston: $256
- 3D Printer Factory Tour plus 2 ft Tall Rocket!: $31
- Astroville Best of Houston City Driving Tour with Live Guide: $45
- Astroville Best of Houston City Driving Tour with Live Guide: $45
- Astroville Driving Tour & NASA Space Center Admission and Shuttle: $89
- Astroville Private Best of Houston City Driving Tour: $375
- Astroville Tunnel Tour & NASA Space Center Admission with Shuttle: $89
- Astroville Tunnel Tour of Downtown Houston (Air-Conditioned): $32
- Astroville Tunnel Tour of Downtown Houston (Air-Condtioned): $32
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHouston $13Tucson $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Houston
Also in Houston, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Brewery Pass with Beer Tastings: $50
- Private Houston Brewery Tour by Cart: $57
- 2-Hour Downtown Brewery Tour by Electric Cart: $70
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Houston and Tucson, we can see that Houston is more expensive. And not only is Tucson much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Tucson would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tucson 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 Houston would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Houston than you might in Tucson.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Houston Expensive? and Is Tucson Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Houston or Tucson?
Houston has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Tucson. When comparing the sizes of Houston and Tucson, 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.
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.