Which place is cheaper, Charleston or Kansas City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kansas City or Charleston?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kansas City or Charleston? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Kansas City or Charleston?
Kansas City
A large, mid western city that sits on the border between Missouri and Kansa, Kansas City has a population of about 450,000. It's not exactly a tourist destination, but it is a surprisingly beautiful city with more boulevards than Paris and more fountains than any other city in the world with the exception of Rome. Most of the city's suburbs are concentrated in the south but the city is beginning to grow to the north as well. The climate in Kansas City can vary dramatically, in large part because it is so far from any form of water. Winters can range from mild to extremely cold and snow is not uncommon. Spring and fall and quite comfortable but summer months can be incredibly hot and humid.
Charleston
Charleston is a beautiful, southern city and seaport town in South Carolina. It has a wonderful, historic downtown area that the city government works hard to maintain. Located on a peninsula that is created by two rivers, the city is a stunning setting with much character. It is a popular place to visit for its culture, architecture and cuisine. In recent years Charleston has gained popularity and it continues to grow as both a regional and international travel destination. With its rising popularity comes increasing costs. Travel costs continue to go up as restaurants and hotels raise their prices, particularly during the peak travel season and holiday periods.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America, The Best Coach Bus Tours in United States of America, The Best Adventure Tours to United States of America, and The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKansas City $161Charleston $170
The average daily cost (per person) in Kansas City is $161, while the average daily cost in Charleston is $170. 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 Kansas City and Charleston in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKansas City $88Charleston $90
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKansas City $176Charleston $180
Compare Hotels in Kansas City and Charleston
Looking for a hotel in Kansas City or Charleston? 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: Kansas City Hotel Prices and Charleston Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kansas City $44Charleston $33
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Charleston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Charleston:
- Private Transfer from Charleston Cruise Port to Charleston city: $54
- Private Transfer from Charleston City to Charleston Cruise Port: $54
- Isle of Palms/Sullivans Island to Charleston Airport –Departure Private Transfer: $103
- From Boone Hall Plantation Entry with Transfers: $71
- Folly Beach to Charleston Airport (CHS) - Departure Private Transfer: $103
- Charleston city to Charleston Airport (CHS) - Departure Private Transfer: $87
- Charleston Airport: One-Way Transfer to Charleston: $153
- Charleston Airport to Isle of Palms/Sullivans Island– Arrival Private Transfer: $103
- Charleston Airport to Isle of Palms/Sullivans Island -Roundtrip Private Transfer: $206
- Charleston Airport (CHS) to Kiawah/Seabrook Islands – Arrival Private Transfer: $117
- Charleston Airport (CHS) to Folly Beach - Arrival Private Transfer: $103
- Charleston Airport (CHS) to Charleston city - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $173
Is it cheaper to fly into Kansas City or Charleston?
Prices for flights to both Charleston and Kansas City 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 dayKansas City $47Charleston $58
Typical Food Prices in Charleston
Some typical examples of dining costs in Charleston are as follows:
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Lunch in downtown Charleston for two$21
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Breakfast$26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Charleston
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Charleston.
- Charleston Sunset Blues & BBQ Dinner Cruise: $63
- Charleston Harbor Luxury Dinner Cruise with Live Music: $88
- Luxury Harbor Dinner Cruise: $93
- Savor the Flavors Upper King Street Food Tour: $95
- Charleston Food Tour: $99
- Historic Downtown Food Tour with Tastings: $99
- 3-Hour Secret Food Tour: $108
- Charleston Farm-to-Table Food Tour and Chef's Challenge: $109
- Charleston Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $110
- Downtown Charleston Food Tour: $110
- Savor the Flavors of Charleston Walking Food Tour: $110
- Charleston's Savor the Flavors of Upper King Street Walking Food Tour: $110
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kansas City $11Charleston $22
Typical Entertainment Prices in Charleston
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Charleston are as follows:
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Patriots Point (for 2)$60
Tours and Activities in Charleston
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Charleston are as follows:
- 2 Hours Private Morris Island and River Cruise: $255
- 1.5-Hour Charleston Harbor Cruise with Live Narration: $42
- 2 Hours Shem Creek Safari Kayak Tour: $52
- 2-Hour Guided Kayak Eco Tour in Charleston: $54
- 300 Years of War and Peacetime in A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
- 90-Minute Charleston City Sightseeing Bus Tour : $37
- Afternoon Schooner Sightseeing Dolphin Cruise on Charleston Harbor: $56
- An Amazing Guided Ghost Tour: $30
- Boone Hall Plantation Admission & Tour with Transportation from Charleston: $78
- Boone Hall Plantation All-Access Admission Ticket: $28
- Bruce Knows Charleston Walking Tour: $30
- Charleston Bird Watching Tour : $45
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKansas City $12Charleston $36
Sample the Local Flavors in Charleston
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Charleston:
- Women and Wine Tour: $18
- Charleston Women and Wine Tour: $20
- Guided Pub Crawl and Haunted History Tour: $30
- Bay Street Bastards Pub Crawl Shared Tour in Charleston : $35
- Speakeasy Sagas Prohibition Pub Crawl: $35
- Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl Walking Tour: $35
- Historic District Haunted Pub Crawl Tour: $40
- Charleston Brewery District Cruise (Public Tour): $95
- Wadmalaw Island Wine Tasting and Tea Garden Trip: $135
- Half Day Party Bus Brewery Tour of Charleston: $140
When comparing the travel costs between Kansas City and Charleston, we can see that Charleston 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.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kansas City Expensive? and Is Charleston Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kansas City or Charleston?
Kansas City has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Charleston. When comparing the sizes of Kansas City and Charleston, 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.
When is the best time to visit Kansas City or Charleston?
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 Kansas City or Charleston in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Kansas City as well as Charleston. Also, many visitors come to Charleston in the summer for the beaches, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
Kansas City is around the same temperature as Charleston in the summer. The daily temperature in Kansas City averages around 82°F (28°C) in July, and Charleston fluctuates around 82°F (28°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Charleston. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kansas City this time of the year. In the summer, Kansas City often gets more sunshine than Charleston. Kansas City gets 325 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Charleston receives 293 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Charleston. Kansas City usually gets less rain in July than Charleston. Kansas City gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Charleston receives 6.9 inches (176 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKansas City 82°F (28°C)Charleston 82°F (28°C)
Should I visit Kansas City or Charleston in the Autumn?
Both Charleston and Kansas City are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Charleston for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In the autumn, Kansas City is cooler than Charleston. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kansas City in October average around 60°F (15°C), and Charleston averages at about 67°F (19°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kansas City. Kansas City usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Charleston during autumn. Kansas City gets 208 hours of sunny skies, while Charleston receives 197 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Kansas City usually receives less rain than Charleston. Kansas City gets 2.4 inches (62 mm) of rain, while Charleston receives 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKansas City 60°F (15°C)Charleston 67°F (19°C)
Should I visit Kansas City or Charleston in the Winter?
Both Charleston and Kansas City during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Charleston because of the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Kansas City can be very cold during winter. In January, Kansas City is generally much colder than Charleston. Daily temperatures in Kansas City average around 30°F (-1°C), and Charleston fluctuates around 47°F (9°C).
In the winter, Kansas City often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Charleston. Kansas City gets 175 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Charleston receives 188 hours of full sun.
Kansas City usually gets less rain in January than Charleston. Kansas City gets 0.9 inches (23 mm) of rain, while Charleston receives 3.3 inches (85 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKansas City 30°F (-1°C)Charleston 47°F (9°C)
Should I visit Kansas City or Charleston in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Kansas City and Charleston. Furthermore, the beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Charleston this time of year.
Kansas City is cooler than Charleston in the spring. The daily temperature in Kansas City averages around 58°F (15°C) in April, and Charleston fluctuates around 64°F (18°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Charleston this time of the year. In Kansas City, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kansas City usually receives less sunshine than Charleston during spring. Kansas City gets 231 hours of sunny skies, while Charleston receives 275 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Kansas City usually receives around the same amount of rain as Charleston. Kansas City gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Charleston receives 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKansas City 58°F (15°C)Charleston 64°F (18°C)
Typical Weather for Charleston and Kansas City
| Kansas City | Charleston | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 30°F (-1°C) | 0.9 inches (23 mm) | 47°F (9°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Feb | 35°F (2°C) | 0.9 inches (24 mm) | 50°F (10°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Mar | 47°F (8°C) | 2 inches (52 mm) | 58°F (14°C) | 4.3 inches (110 mm) |
| Apr | 58°F (15°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| May | 68°F (20°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 4.2 inches (106 mm) |
| Jun | 77°F (25°C) | 4.9 inches (125 mm) | 78°F (26°C) | 6.4 inches (163 mm) |
| Jul | 82°F (28°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 82°F (28°C) | 6.9 inches (176 mm) |
| Aug | 80°F (26°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) | 81°F (27°C) | 7.1 inches (181 mm) |
| Sep | 71°F (22°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) | 76°F (25°C) | 4.8 inches (121 mm) |
| Oct | 60°F (15°C) | 2.4 inches (62 mm) | 67°F (19°C) | 2.9 inches (74 mm) |
| Nov | 46°F (8°C) | 1.7 inches (43 mm) | 58°F (15°C) | 2.5 inches (63 mm) |
| Dec | 34°F (1°C) | 1.2 inches (30 mm) | 51°F (10°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) |
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.