Which place is cheaper, Durham or Jacksonville?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Jacksonville vs. Durham for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Jacksonville or Durham?
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 Jacksonville and Durham. 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: Jacksonville or Durham?
Jacksonville
As the sky above you darkens, the city around you glows with a vividness of a thousand colors as you hear the soft swell of waves upon the shore. Such an urban paradise is none other than Jacksonville, Florida. Located on the northeastern side of the sunshine state, Jacksonville stands where the St. John's River meets the Atlantic Ocean. Estimated to be the 12th most populous city in the United States, Jacksonville works as the cultural, commercial and financial hive of north Florida. The large city is known for its exquisite beaches, interactive museums, and golf course areas. Surf, shop, and socialize in one of Florida's most popular metropolitan areas.
Durham
Durham is a city in central North Carolina with about 230,000 residents. Together with Raleigh and Chapel Hill, it forms the Research Triangle area. Durham is often referred to as the "City of Medicine" and is home to the famous Duke University.
Durham's history is rooted in tobacco. The Duke family established American Tobacco, which controlled 90% of all cigarette production in the US during the second half of the 19th century. The family donated money to Trinity College, which changed its name to Duke University in 1924.
Today much of Durham's economy is centered around the university and Research Triangle Park. The area has many technology and pharmaceutical jobs and the economy continues to grow.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJacksonville $220Durham $162
The average daily cost (per person) in Jacksonville is $220, while the average daily cost in Durham is $162. 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 Jacksonville and Durham in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJacksonville $92Durham $92
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJacksonville $184Durham $184
Compare Hotels in Jacksonville and Durham
Looking for a hotel in Jacksonville or Durham? 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: Jacksonville Hotel Prices and Durham Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Jacksonville $53Durham $33
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jacksonville
Also for Jacksonville, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Carnival Port to Jacksonville Airport (JAX): $55
- Jacksonville Airport JAX to Carnival Cruise Port-Arrival Transfer: $55
- Carnival Cruise Port to Jacksonville Airport (JAX) - Departure Private Transfer: $55
- Jacksonville Airport (JAX) to Jacksonville Cruise Port -Arrival Private Transfer: $55
- Jacksonville Airport (JAX) to Jacksonville City - Arrival Private Transfer: $61
- Carnival Cruise Port Jacksonville to City - Arrival Transfer: $64
- Carnival Cruise Port Jacksonville to Jacksonville, FL - Arrival Private Transfer: $64
- Jacksonville Airport (JAX) to Jacksonville Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $110
- Jacksonville Airport (JAX) to Jacksonville City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $123
- Carnival Cruise Port Jacksonville to Jacksonville - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $127
- Marriott Jacksonville Downtown Transfer to JAX: $134
- JAX Airport Transfer to Hilton Garden Inn Jacksonville Downtown Southbank: $147
Is it cheaper to fly into Jacksonville or Durham?
Prices for flights to both Durham and Jacksonville 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 dayJacksonville $96Durham $44
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Jacksonville $20Durham $26
Tours and Activities in Jacksonville
For Jacksonville, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Murray Hill Walking Mural Tour: $25
- Downtown Fernandina Historical Walking Tour: $30
- Jacksonville Ghosts and Ghouls Tour By US Ghost Adventures: $30
- Amelia Island Area Kayak Rental on Lofton Creek with Adventures Up The Creek: $36
- The Escape Game Epic 60-Minute Adventures: $41
- 1-Hour Escape Room Adventure: $41
- Self-Guided Kayaking: Real Florida Adventure: $45
- Eight Flags Road Tour: $50
- Guided Kayak Eco Tour: Real Florida Adventure: $55
- Amelia Island Guided Kayak Tour of Lofton Creek : $60
- Electric Bike Art and Architecture Guided Tour in Jacksonville : $60
- Historic Amelia Island Scooter Gang Tour (14 and up): $65
Tours and Activities in Durham
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Durham are as follows:
- Durham NC: Art Walking Tour: $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJacksonville $20Durham $34
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Jacksonville and Durham, we can see that Jacksonville is more expensive. And not only is Durham much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Durham would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Durham 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 Jacksonville would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Jacksonville than you might in Durham.
Which is Bigger, Jacksonville or Durham?
Jacksonville is bigger, and its population is about 3.9 times larger than the population of Durham. When comparing the population of Jacksonville vs. Durham, 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 and the activities that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Jacksonville or Durham?
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 Jacksonville or Durham in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Jacksonville as well as Durham.
Jacksonville is around the same temperature as Durham in the summer. The daily temperature in Jacksonville averages around 82°F (28°C) in July, and Durham fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Durham. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Jacksonville this time of the year. In the summer, Jacksonville often gets more sunshine than Durham. Jacksonville gets 286 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Durham receives 259 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Durham. Jacksonville receives a lot of rain in the summer. Jacksonville usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Durham. Jacksonville gets 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyJacksonville 82°F (28°C)Durham 79°F (26°C)
Should I visit Jacksonville or Durham in the Autumn?
Both Durham and Jacksonville are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
In the autumn, Jacksonville is a little warmer than Durham. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Jacksonville in October average around 70°F (21°C), and Durham averages at about 61°F (16°C).
It's quite sunny in Durham. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Jacksonville. Jacksonville usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Durham during autumn. Jacksonville gets 214 hours of sunny skies, while Durham receives 211 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Jacksonville usually receives around the same amount of rain as Durham. Jacksonville gets 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberJacksonville 70°F (21°C)Durham 61°F (16°C)
Should I visit Jacksonville or Durham in the Winter?
Both Durham and Jacksonville during the winter are popular places to visit.
The weather in Durham can be very cold. In January, Jacksonville is generally much warmer than Durham. Daily temperatures in Jacksonville average around 53°F (12°C), and Durham fluctuates around 40°F (5°C).
In the winter, Jacksonville often gets more sunshine than Durham. Jacksonville gets 191 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Durham receives 162 hours of full sun.
Jacksonville usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Durham. Jacksonville gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryJacksonville 53°F (12°C)Durham 40°F (5°C)
Should I visit Jacksonville or Durham in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Jacksonville and Durham.
Jacksonville is a little warmer than Durham in the spring. The daily temperature in Jacksonville averages around 68°F (20°C) in April, and Durham fluctuates around 60°F (16°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Durham this time of the year. In Jacksonville, it's very sunny this time of the year. Jacksonville usually receives more sunshine than Durham during spring. Jacksonville gets 285 hours of sunny skies, while Durham receives 251 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Jacksonville usually receives less rain than Durham. Jacksonville gets 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilJacksonville 68°F (20°C)Durham 60°F (16°C)
Typical Weather for Durham and Jacksonville
| Jacksonville | Durham | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 53°F (12°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 40°F (5°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Feb | 56°F (13°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) | 43°F (6°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) |
| Mar | 62°F (17°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 52°F (11°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) |
| Apr | 68°F (20°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) | 60°F (16°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) |
| May | 74°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 68°F (20°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) |
| Jun | 80°F (27°C) | 5.7 inches (146 mm) | 76°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) |
| Jul | 82°F (28°C) | 5.4 inches (137 mm) | 79°F (26°C) | 5.1 inches (129 mm) |
| Aug | 82°F (28°C) | 7.8 inches (199 mm) | 78°F (26°C) | 4.9 inches (125 mm) |
| Sep | 79°F (26°C) | 7.1 inches (180 mm) | 73°F (23°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
| Oct | 70°F (21°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) | 61°F (16°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Nov | 62°F (17°C) | 2.2 inches (55 mm) | 53°F (11°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) |
| Dec | 56°F (13°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) | 44°F (7°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) |
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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.
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