Should you visit Jacksonville or New Orleans?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Jacksonville and New Orleans. 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. So, let's dig into it.
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.
New Orleans
New Orleans is the largest city in the state of Louisiana, and it is a cultural city that is the home of jazz, unique cuisine, and Mardi Gras in the U.S. It was established in 1718 and is one of the oldest cities in the country. The culture of the city has a mix of French, Creole, African American, Caribbean, Irish, Haitian, German and Vietnamese. There's an energy and atmosphere that is unlike any place else.
Which city is cheaper, New Orleans or Jacksonville?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Jacksonville is $176, while the average daily cost in New Orleans is $191. 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. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Jacksonville and New Orleans in more detail.
Accommodation
For a normal double-occupancy room in Jacksonville, $148 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Jacksonville, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $74, such as in a hostel.
Travelers usually pay around $200 for a double occupancy room in New Orleans If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
The price of a meal in Jacksonville can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $77 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $31 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
The average traveler spends about $36 per day in New Orleans for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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Food
Meals for one day
Jacksonville $77
New Orleans $36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jacksonville
For Jacksonville, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Private Progressive Dinner in Jacksonville for 2 to 6 People:
$300
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in New Orleans
For New Orleans, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
New Orleans Lunch & Lesson: Cajun & Creole Cooking Class:
$33
-
New Orleans Cooking Class:
$34
-
French Quarter Food Tour:
$42
-
New Orleans Food Tour:
$44
-
Steamboat Natchez Evening Jazz Cruise with Dinner Option:
$50
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Evening Jazz Boat Cruise with Optional Dinner:
$52
-
Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Jazz Cruise with Optional Dinner:
$52
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Dinner at Tujague's Restaurant in New Orleans:
$68
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New Orleans French Quarter Food Tour:
$69
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French Quarter Food Tour:
$75
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Lower Garden District Food Tour:
$75
-
New Orleans Small-Group French Quarter Food Tour:
$75
Local Transportation
Jacksonville's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $43 per person, per day on transportation in Jacksonville.
To get around in New Orleans, the average visitor spends $41 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jacksonville
Also for Jacksonville, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Private transfer: Jacksonville to Jacksonville Airport (JAX):
$622
-
Private transfer: Jacksonville Airport (JAX) to Jacksonville:
$622
-
Private Transfer from Jacksonville to Port Canaveral:
$658
-
Private Transfer from Jacksonville to Orlando-Sanford (SFB) Airport:
$457
-
Private Transfer from Jacksonville to Orlando (MCO) Airport:
$453
-
Private Jacksonville to Orlando Transfer up to 11-One Price-Mercedes Sprinter:
$300
-
Jacksonville Private Transfer - Hotel to Airport:
$125
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Jacksonville City to Jacksonville Airport (JAX) - Departure Private Transfer:
$164
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Jacksonville Airport (JAX) to Jacksonville City - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$328
-
Jacksonville Airport (JAX) to Jacksonville City - Arrival Private Transfer:
$164
-
JAX Airport Transfer to St Augustine:
$215
-
JAX Airport Transfer to Ponte Vedra Beach:
$149
Typical Local Transportation prices in New Orleans
Some typical examples of transportation costs in New Orleans are as follows:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in New Orleans
Also for New Orleans, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Shared Roundtrip Transfer: Hotel or Cruise Port to New Orleans Airport:
$40
-
Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel or Cruise Port to New Orleans Airport:
$20
-
Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel or Cruise Port to New Orleans Airport:
$26
-
Private transfer: New Orleans Airport (MSY) to New Orleans:
$622
-
Private Transfer: New Orleans Hotel to Cruise Port:
$75
-
Private Transfer from Port Of New of New Orleans Cruise:
$210
-
Private Transfer from New Orleans Airport to Hotel or Port:
$32
-
Private Roundtrip Transfer: New Orleans Airport to Hotel or Cruise Port:
$64
-
Private Roundtrip Transfer: MSY to Hotel or Cruise Port by Executive Sprinter:
$250
-
Private Roundtrip Transfer: MSY to Hotel or Cruise Port:
$80
-
Private New Orleans Transfer from Port to Airport or Hotel:
$122
-
Private Departure Transfers: New Orleans Airport:
$122
Is it cheaper to fly into Jacksonville or New Orleans?
Prices for flights to both New Orleans 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Jacksonville can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $16 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
In New Orleans, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $44 per person, per day.
Tours and Activities in Jacksonville
For Jacksonville, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Half-Day City Tour in Downtown Jacksonville:
$55
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Jacksonville Residential Architecture & History Tour:
$55
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Public Art Tour in Jacksonville:
$60
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Ride From Jax Port Cruise Terminal:
$60
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Ride To Jax Port Cruise Terminal:
$60
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The Escape Game Epic 60-Minute Adventures:
$37
Typical Entertainment prices in New Orleans
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for New Orleans's activities, tours, and tickets:
Tours and Activities in New Orleans
For New Orleans, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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1.5-Hour New Orleans Express Segway Tour:
$55
-
15:00 New Orleans Ghost Tour:
$25
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2 Nights in French Quarter Hotel, City Tour and Attraction Pass:
$565
-
2-Hour Cemetery & Voodoo Walking Tour in New Orleans:
$25
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2-Hour French Quarter and Cemetery Tour:
$20
-
2-Hour New Orleans Ghosts & Vampires Walking Tour:
$20
-
5 in 1 New Orleans Cemetery Tour:
$20
-
8-in-1 Combo Haunted Walking Tour in New Orleans:
$27
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A Locals' Drink Dat! Cocktail Tour:
$120
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A Locals' French Quarter Tour:
$120
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A Taste of Jazz, Bars & Drinks Private Tour:
$108
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A Walk in the Park: City Park New Orleans Audio Tour:
$5.34
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Jacksonville spend on average $16 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typically, people visiting New Orleans spend on average $48 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Jacksonville
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Jacksonville:
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Jax Urban Core Brewery Tour in Jacksonville:
$48
Sample the Local Flavors in New Orleans
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in New Orleans:
-
New Orleans Bar Hunt: New Orleans Ballin' Bar Crawl:
$12
-
Bourbon Street VIP Pub Crawl:
$20
-
Big Easy Ghost and Vampire Pub Crawl:
$20
-
Haunted Pub Crawl in New Orleans:
$22
-
New Orleans Haunted Pub Crawl:
$25
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Haunted New Orleans Ghost and Pub Walking Tour:
$27
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Haunted Pub Crawl:
$27
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NOLA Distillery Tour:
$28
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Haunted Pub Tour:
$35
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Frenchmen Street Live Music Pub Crawl:
$48
When comparing the travel costs between Jacksonville and New Orleans, we can see that New Orleans 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.
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