Should you visit Jacksonville or Rapid City?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Jacksonville and Rapid City. 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.
Rapid City
Rapid City is a large city in western South Dakota that is considered the gateway to the Black Hills National Forest. Rapid City is often used as a base for all types of outdoor activities, including tours to the infamous Mount Rushmore and surrounding parks. The city has a budding art scene and offers the perfect combination of a metropolitan city surrounded by stunning natural scenery. Rapid City experiences the best weather from June-September with temperatures in the 70's and 80's Fahrenheit. Temperatures drop to the low 20's F in the winter and the area receives the most rain pour in April and May.
Which city is cheaper, Rapid City 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 Rapid City is $93. 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 Rapid City 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.
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $96 in Rapid City For nicer amenities and a premiere location, 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.
In Rapid City travelers spend around $19 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
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Food
Meals for one day
Jacksonville $77
Rapid City $19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jacksonville
For Jacksonville, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Private Progressive Dinner in Jacksonville for 2 to 6 People:
$300
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 Rapid City than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $42 on transportation in Rapid City on average per day.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jacksonville
Also for Jacksonville, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private transfer: Jacksonville to Jacksonville Airport (JAX):
$622
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Private transfer: Jacksonville Airport (JAX) to Jacksonville:
$622
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Private Transfer from Jacksonville to Port Canaveral:
$658
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Private Transfer from Jacksonville to Orlando-Sanford (SFB) Airport:
$457
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Private Transfer from Jacksonville to Orlando (MCO) Airport:
$453
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Private Jacksonville to Orlando Transfer up to 11-One Price-Mercedes Sprinter:
$300
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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
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Jacksonville Airport (JAX) to Jacksonville City - Arrival Private Transfer:
$164
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JAX Airport Transfer to St Augustine:
$215
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JAX Airport Transfer to Ponte Vedra Beach:
$149
Is it cheaper to fly into Jacksonville or Rapid City?
Prices for flights to both Rapid City 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 Rapid City, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $21 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
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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
Tours and Activities in Rapid City
For Rapid City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Badlands National Park Private Tour:
$299
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Bike Adventure on the Mickelson Trail - Private:
$267
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Black Hills: Private Tour of Mt. Rushmore & Flume Trail Hike:
$299
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Bus Tour of Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills:
$123
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Mount Rushmore and Black Hills Bus Tour with Live Commentary:
$84
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Private Badlands National Park Day Tour:
$315
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Private Jeep Safari and Hiking Tour/ Two Person Minimum:
$307
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Private Mickelson Trail Bicycling Tour/ Two Person Minimum:
$299
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Private Mt Rushmore & Southern Black Hills Tour:
$329
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Mount Rushmore and Black Hills Full-Day Tour:
$84
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Private Black Hills Monuments Full-Day Tour:
$299
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Southern Black Hills Bicycle Tour - Private:
$267
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Jacksonville spend on average $16 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typically, people visiting Rapid City spend on average $5.54 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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Jacksonville and Rapid City, we can see that Jacksonville is more expensive. And not only is Rapid City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Rapid City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Rapid City 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 Rapid City.
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