Should you visit Key West or Miami?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Key West and Miami can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Key West
Key West is both a city and an island as well as the southern most Florida Key. It is also the southern most city in the continental United States. The island is only about four miles long and one mile wide. The total land mass covers just 4.2 square miles. The most famous street in town is Duval Street, which runs just 1.1 miles from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean. There are 14 blocks. The size of the island doubled during the 1950s when many of the salt ponds along the eastern side of the island were filled in.
Miami
Miami is a popular tourist destination and a modern city in South Florida. It has beautiful white beaches, crystal blue waters, cosmopolitan neighborhoods, impressive shopping, and excellent dining opportunities. It is also a gateway to the Florida Keys, which is another popular destination in South Florida.
Which city is cheaper, Miami or Key West?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Key West is $170, while the average daily cost in Miami is $164. 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 Key West and Miami in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Key West is about $212 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $104. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Miami the cost is $208 on average.
Food
In Key West travelers spend around $38 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.
Miami food costs typically run travelers around $33 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.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Key West
$38
Miami
$33
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Key West
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Key West.
-
Sunset Cruise with Buffet Dinner and Open Bar:
$69
-
Key West Sunset Dinner Cruise with Tropical Buffet:
$68
-
Private Secret Food Tour of Key West:
$103
-
Secret Food Tour of Key West w/ Private Tour Option:
$221
Typical Food prices in Miami
Some typical examples of dining costs in Miami are as follows:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Miami
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Miami.
-
Little Havana 2-Hour Food Tour:
$59
-
South Beach Miami Culinary Walking Tour Lunch or Dinner:
$59
-
Taste of Little Havana Food Tour by Bicycle:
$69
-
4th of July Fireworks Cruise & Hard Rock Dinner:
$159
-
4th of July Fireworks from Catamaran & Hard Rock Café Dinner:
$159
-
Little Havana Street Food Tours:
$61
-
Haitian Cooking Experience:
$85
-
Private Little Havana Cuban Food Tour:
$99
-
Private VIP Historical Citywide Food Tour:
$159
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Key West is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $41 per person, per day, on local transportation in Key West.
The cost of a taxi ride in Miami is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $32 per person, per day, on local transportation in Miami.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Key West
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Key West are as follows:
-
Rental Car for One Day
$38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Key West
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Key West:
-
Key West International Airport One Way Transfer:
$53
-
Private Arrival Transfer: Key West Airport to Hotel:
$116
-
Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Key West Airport:
$116
-
Round-Trip Transfer: Fort Lauderdale to Key West:
$198
-
Private Airport Transfer in Key West, Florida:
$209
Typical Local Transportation prices in Miami
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Miami are as follows:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Miami
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Miami:
-
Transfer: Miami Beach to Airport, Port or Palm Beach:
$25
-
Miami Private Transfer (Airport to Miami Hotel):
$126
-
Miami Airport Private One Way Transfer:
$304
-
Transfer from Miami Airport:
$25
-
Disney World Full-Day Ticket & Transfer from Miami:
$249
-
Miami Airport Private One Way Transfer:
$179
-
Universal Studios Ticket & Transfer from Miami:
$249
-
Dolphin Mall Miami Shuttle Transfer: Downtown Loop:
$20
-
Miami Seaquarium Tickets and Transfer from Miami Beach:
$69
-
Hialeah Airport - Private Transfer:
$105
Entertainment
Entertainment and activities in Key West typically cost an average of $26 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Entertainment and activities in Miami typically cost an average of $25 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Tours and Activities in Key West
For Key West, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
History and Culture Southernmost Walking Tour:
$30
-
Reef Snorkel Morning Tour with Breakfast & Mimosas:
$45
-
Dolphin Combo Boat Tour:
$74
-
Eco Safari Tour with Snorkeling:
$84
-
Self-Guided Bike Tour to Key West Beaches and Back Roads:
$7.19
-
Easy Stroll Audio Tour Downtown Key West:
$7.99
-
The Ghosts of Key West Walking Tour:
$20
-
Key West Scavenger Hunt Adventure Mobile Experience:
$21
-
Key West Ghost Tour:
$24
-
6th Sense Haunted Tour of Key West:
$25
Tours and Activities in Miami
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Miami are as follows:
-
Movie set and star tour:
$31
-
Half-Day Secret Spots Bus & Walking Tour:
$59
-
Segways at Sunset: Miami Beach Tour:
$59
-
Key West Day Tour from Miami by Bus:
$69
-
From Full-Day Walking Tour of Key West:
$100
-
Miami Helicopter Tour:
$342
-
From Florida Everglades Small Group Airboat Tour:
$45
-
Miami from Above: 1 Hour Private Air Tour:
$170
-
Everglades Tour from Port Miami / Fort Lauderdale:
$69
-
Full-Day Tour to Key West:
$35
Alcohol
The average person spends about $13 on alcoholic beverages in Key West per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
The average person spends about $18 on alcoholic beverages in Miami per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in Key West
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Key West:
-
Key West Haunted Pub Crawl and Ghost Tour:
$23
-
Yes, Queen! Drag Queen Pub Crawl of Key West:
$34
-
Key West Pub Crawl:
$35
Typical Alcohol prices in Miami
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Miami are as follows:
Sample the Local Flavors in Miami
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Miami:
-
Pub Crawl South Beach 3-Hour Tour:
$30
-
Miami Beach Rockstar Bar Crawl:
$69
-
Making Your Own Gin Distillery Tour and Tasting Experience:
$190
When comparing the travel costs between Key West and Miami, we can see that Key West 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.
Related Articles for Key West
Related Articles for Miami
