Should you visit Jacksonville or Philadelphia?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Jacksonville and Philadelphia. 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.
Philadelphia
Philadelphia is the fourth largest urban area, and the fifth largest city in the United States. It's located in southeastern Pennsylvania and has a rich history, having once been the capital of the United States. The city has very impressive architecture, museums, universities, and entertainment venues. It's a cultural and artistic center for the country and it continues to climb as a top travel destination.
Which city is cheaper, Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia is $151. 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 Philadelphia 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.
The prices for places to stay in Philadelphia can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $95, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $190.
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.
Philadelphia food costs typically run travelers around $39 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
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Food
Meals for one day
Jacksonville $77
Philadelphia $39
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
Typical Food prices in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Flavors of Philly Food Tour:
$44
-
Decadent Gourmet Food Tour:
$44
-
Flavors of Philly Food Tour:
$52
-
Highlights of East Passyunk Food Tour:
$54
-
South Philly Italian Family Dinner Tour:
$75
-
Historic Food Tour:
$78
-
Private Tour: Secret Food Tours Philadelphia:
$90
-
Spirit of Philadelphia Dinner Cruise with Buffet:
$107
-
Secret Food Tours Philadelphia w/ Private Tour Option:
$193
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.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Philadelphia than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $22 on transportation in Philadelphia on average per day.
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
-
Jacksonville City to Jacksonville Airport (JAX) - Departure Private Transfer:
$164
-
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Philadelphia
Also for Philadelphia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Transfer in executive private vehicle from Philadelphia City Center to Airport:
$70
-
Transfer in executive private vehicle from Philadelphia Airport to City Center:
$70
-
Transfer in executive private minivan from Philadelphia City Center to Airport:
$95
-
Transfer in executive private minivan from Philadelphia Airport to City Center:
$95
-
Transfer from Philadelphia International Airport to Philadelphia:
$100
-
Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel to Philadelphia Airport:
$51
-
Shared Arrival Transfer: Philadelphia Airport to Hotel:
$51
-
RoundTrip transfer in executive private minivan from-to Airpt-Philadelphia City:
$191
-
Round-Trip Transfer in Executive Private Car from-to Airport - Philadelphia City:
$140
-
Private transfer from or to MDT , PHL airports , Philadelphia and Harrisburg, PA:
$200
-
Private Transfer: Philadelphia to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL):
$622
-
Private Transfer: Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) to Philadelphia:
$622
Is it cheaper to fly into Jacksonville or Philadelphia?
Prices for flights to both Philadelphia 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.
Sightseeing expenses in Philadelphia, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $22 per day, per person.
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
-
Jacksonville Residential Architecture & History Tour:
$55
-
Public Art Tour in Jacksonville:
$60
-
Ride From Jax Port Cruise Terminal:
$60
-
Ride To Jax Port Cruise Terminal:
$60
-
The Escape Game Epic 60-Minute Adventures:
$37
Typical Entertainment prices in Philadelphia
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Philadelphia's activities, tours, and tickets:
Tours and Activities in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
1776 History and Cheesesteak Tour:
$28
-
2-Day Philadelphia Tour from Boston:
$549
-
2-Hour German-Language Historic Walking Tour:
$195
-
Amazing Philadelphia Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$44
-
Art and Controversy: An audio tour of Philadelphia's most infamous art scandals:
$5.00
-
Badass Women's History Tour of Philadelphia:
$40
-
Beyond the [Liberty] Bell History Tour:
$40
-
Brandywine Valley Tour with Private Driver:
$581
-
Cemetery and Serial Killers Walking Tour of Philadelphia:
$35
-
City Sightseeing Philadelphia Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour:
$36
-
Colonial Era Philadelphia Waterfront Walking Tour:
$215
-
Colonial Philadelphia Waterfront Walking Tour:
$195
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Jacksonville spend on average $16 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typically, people visiting Philadelphia spend on average $17 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:
-
Jax Urban Core Brewery Tour in Jacksonville:
$48
Sample the Local Flavors in Philadelphia
Also in Philadelphia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Haunted Pub Crawl:
$45
-
Philadelphia Prohibition Pub Crawl:
$45
-
Haunted Pub Crawl:
$45
-
2-Hour Philly on Tap Pub Tour:
$65
-
Sip of Philly Brewery Tour:
$79
-
2-Hour Old City Wine Tasting Tour:
$96
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Jacksonville and Philadelphia, we can see that Jacksonville is more expensive. And not only is Philadelphia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Philadelphia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia.
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