Which place is cheaper, Sarasota or Key West?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Key West or Sarasota? 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.
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.
Located on the Gulf Coast of southwest Florida, Sarasota is a popular city known for its thriving arts scene, selection of restaurants, plenty of shopping, and beautiful beaches. The metropolitan area is a hub of city culture, while the beaches offer escapes of fine white sand and aqua waters.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Key West is $551, while the average daily cost in Sarasota is $249. 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 Key West and Sarasota in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Key West or Sarasota? 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.
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Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Key West:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Key West:
Also for Sarasota, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Sarasota 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Key West.
For Sarasota, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Key West are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sarasota.
Also in Key West, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Key West and Sarasota, we can see that Key West is more expensive. And not only is Sarasota much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Sarasota would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sarasota 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 Key West would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Key West than you might in Sarasota.
Sarasota is bigger, and its population is about 2.2 times larger than the population of Key West. When comparing the population of Key West vs. Sarasota, 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 and the activities that interest you.
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.
The summer brings many poeple to Key West as well as Sarasota. Most visitors come to Key West for the beaches, snorkeling, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Key West is around the same temperature as Sarasota in the summer. The daily temperature in Key West averages around 84°F (29°C) in July, and Sarasota fluctuates around 82°F (28°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sarasota. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Key West this time of the year. In the summer, Key West often gets more sunshine than Sarasota. Key West gets 328 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sarasota receives 265 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Sarasota. Key West usually gets less rain in July than Sarasota. Key West gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Sarasota receives 8.4 inches (214 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Both Sarasota and Key West are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Key West because of the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Key West is around the same temperature as Sarasota. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Key West in October average around 80°F (27°C), and Sarasota averages at about 76°F (24°C).
It's quite sunny in Sarasota. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Key West. Key West usually receives more sunshine than Sarasota during autumn. Key West gets 258 hours of sunny skies, while Sarasota receives 234 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Key West. In October, Key West usually receives more rain than Sarasota. Key West gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Sarasota receives 2.6 inches (65 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
Both Sarasota and Key West during the winter are popular places to visit. The shopping scene and the cuisine are the main draw to Key West this time of year.
In January, Key West is generally a little warmer than Sarasota. Daily temperatures in Key West average around 70°F (21°C), and Sarasota fluctuates around 59°F (15°C).
In Sarasota, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Key West. In the winter, Key West often gets more sunshine than Sarasota. Key West gets 252 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sarasota receives 200 hours of full sun.
Key West usually gets less rain in January than Sarasota. Key West gets 1.7 inches (43 mm) of rain, while Sarasota receives 2.3 inches (59 mm) of rain this time of the year.
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Key West and Sarasota. Many travelers come to Key West for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty.
Key West is a little warmer than Sarasota in the spring. The daily temperature in Key West averages around 77°F (25°C) in April, and Sarasota fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sarasota this time of the year. In Key West, it's very sunny this time of the year. Key West usually receives more sunshine than Sarasota during spring. Key West gets 326 hours of sunny skies, while Sarasota receives 299 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Key West usually receives less rain than Sarasota. Key West gets 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain, while Sarasota receives 2.1 inches (53 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
Key West | Sarasota | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 70°F (21°C) | 1.7 inches (43 mm) | 59°F (15°C) | 2.3 inches (59 mm) |
Feb | 71°F (21°C) | 1.4 inches (36 mm) | 62°F (17°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) |
Mar | 74°F (23°C) | 1.7 inches (42 mm) | 67°F (20°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
Apr | 77°F (25°C) | 0.8 inches (21 mm) | 73°F (23°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
May | 81°F (27°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) | 78°F (25°C) | 2.4 inches (61 mm) |
Jun | 83°F (28°C) | 4.5 inches (114 mm) | 82°F (28°C) | 6.5 inches (165 mm) |
Jul | 84°F (29°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 82°F (28°C) | 8.4 inches (214 mm) |
Aug | 84°F (29°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) | 82°F (28°C) | 8 inches (203 mm) |
Sep | 83°F (29°C) | 5.7 inches (144 mm) | 81°F (27°C) | 6.3 inches (161 mm) |
Oct | 80°F (27°C) | 5.1 inches (129 mm) | 76°F (24°C) | 2.6 inches (65 mm) |
Nov | 76°F (24°C) | 2 inches (50 mm) | 69°F (20°C) | 1.8 inches (45 mm) |
Dec | 72°F (22°C) | 1.4 inches (35 mm) | 62°F (17°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) |
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