Should you visit Key West or Miami?
Should I visit Key West or Miami? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
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.
Miami is the second most populated city in Florida and the metropolitan area is the most populated in the state with more than 5.4 million people. It's also the 7th largest metro area in the country. The city sits between the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Everglades to the west. It covers 110 miles north to south but is a narrow 20 miles east to west.
Miami sits at a low latitude, giving it a subtropical savannah climate. There are two seasons; the warm and dry season between November and April and the hot and wet season between May and October. The coldest months are between December and March when highs are in the upper 70 or low 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The summer months have highs in the upper 80s or 90s and lows in the mid 70s with high humidity.
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 $165. 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
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $106. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Key West the cost is $212 on average.
Miami's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $212. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $106.
Food
The price of a meal in Key West can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $38 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $15 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
On average, meal and food prices in Miami cost around $33 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $13.
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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.
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Key West Sunset Dinner Cruise with Tropical Buffet:
$68
-
Sunset Cruise with Buffet Dinner and Open Bar:
$90
-
Private Secret Food Tour of Key West:
$103
-
Secret Food Tour of Key West w/ Private Tour Option:
$221
Typical Food prices in Miami
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Miami:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Miami
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Miami.
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Little Havana 2-Hour Food Tour:
$59
-
South Beach Miami Culinary Walking Tour Lunch or Dinner:
$59
-
Little Havana Street Food Tours:
$61
-
Taste of Little Havana Food Tour by Bicycle:
$69
-
Haitian Cooking Experience:
$85
-
Private Little Havana Cuban Food Tour:
$99
-
4th of July Fireworks Cruise & Hard Rock Dinner:
$159
-
4th of July Fireworks from Catamaran & Hard Rock Café Dinner:
$159
-
Private VIP Historical Citywide Food Tour:
$159
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Key West is $41 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
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
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Key West:
-
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
-
Miami & One-Way Transfer by Motor Coach Bus:
$54
-
Private Airport Transfer in Key West, Florida:
$209
-
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
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:
-
Dolphin Mall Miami Shuttle Transfer: Downtown Loop:
$20
-
Transfer: Miami Beach to Airport, Port or Palm Beach:
$25
-
Transfer from Miami Airport:
$25
-
Transfers to Port of Miami:
$28
-
Luxury Airport Transfer from Miami International Airport:
$33
-
Private Departure Transfer: Miami City or Miami Beach to Miami Airport:
$37
-
Private Arrival Transfer: MIA Miami Airport to Miami City or Miami Beach:
$37
-
Miami Airport Transfer To Miami Area:
$40
-
Private Airport Transfer: from Miami to Miami International Airport (MIA):
$41
-
Private Airport Transfer: Miami International Airport (MIA) to Miami:
$41
-
Miami Private Airport Transfer:
$44
-
Transfer in Private Vehicle from Miami Downtown to Miami Airport:
$46
Is it cheaper to fly into Key West or Miami?
Prices for flights to both Miami and Key West 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
Key West's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $26 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
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
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Key West are as follows:
-
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
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Key West Ghost Tour:
$24
-
6th Sense Haunted Tour of Key West:
$25
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The Dark Side of Key West Ghost Tour:
$28
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Southernmost Key West History and Culture Small-Group Walking Tour:
$28
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History and Culture Southernmost Walking Tour:
$30
-
Old Town Key West Literary Walking Tour:
$30
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Key West Ghost and Mysteries Guided Tour:
$32
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Southernmost Key West Historical Tour in Small Group:
$33
Tours and Activities in Miami
Here are a few actual costs in Miami for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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1/2 Hour Jet Ski Island Adventure:
$5.00
-
Miami Dance Cruise:
$11
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Miami City Tour: South Beach, Downtown, and More:
$20
-
Miami Half-Day City Tour and Bay Cruise:
$20
-
La Perle de Little Haiti Tour:
$20
-
Little Havana: Beyond Cuba Tour:
$20
-
La Perle De Little Haiti Tour:
$20
-
1-Hour Wynwood Walls and Street Art Tour:
$22
-
Pirates Adventures Sightseeing Tour from Miami:
$23
-
Miami Skyline View Cruise:
$23
-
Skip the Line: Zoo Miami Ticket with Optional Upgrade:
$25
-
Everglades National Park Airboat Tour:
$25
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.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Miami may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $18 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Key West
Also in Key West, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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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.
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