Should you visit Key West or Tallahassee?
Should I visit Key West or Tallahassee? 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.
Tallahassee
As the skyscrapers glow against the rose-tinged sunset, you find yourself astounded by the tropical metropolitan area of Tallahassee, Florida. Known as the capital city of the state, Tallahassee is the hub of Floridian politics and history, holding Florida State Capitol, Supreme Court of Florida, Florida Governor's Mansion, and nearly 30 state agency headquarters within its borders. To add to its importance, in 2015, Tallahassee was given the All-American City Award by the National Civic League for a second time. Despite all the city's historical and political accomplishments, Tallahasse is also known to attract a wide array of tourists looking to explore the beauty of Florida. From wild refuges to busy shopping districts to Florida State University, Tallahassee is a great place to be in Florida.
Which city is cheaper, Tallahassee 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 Tallahassee is $125. 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 Tallahassee 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.
Travelers usually pay around $142 for a double occupancy room in Tallahassee If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
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 Tallahassee cost around $38 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 $15.
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Food
Meals for one day
Key West $38
Tallahassee $38
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
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Sunset Cruise with Buffet Dinner and Open Bar:
$69
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Private Secret Food Tour of Key West:
$103
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Secret Food Tour of Key West w/ Private Tour Option:
$221
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.
Tallahassee'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 $26 per person, per day on transportation in Tallahassee.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Key West
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Key West:
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Rental Car for One Day
$38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Key West
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Key West:
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Private Airport Transfer in Key West, Florida:
$209
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Round-Trip Transfer: Fort Lauderdale to Key West:
$198
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Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Key West Airport:
$116
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Private Arrival Transfer: Key West Airport to Hotel:
$116
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Key West International Airport One Way Transfer:
$53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tallahassee
Also for Tallahassee, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Tallahassee Transfer: Hotel to Airport:
$116
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Private Tallahassee Transfer: Airport to Hotel:
$116
Is it cheaper to fly into Key West or Tallahassee?
Prices for flights to both Tallahassee 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.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Tallahassee can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $9.71 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Tours and Activities in Key West
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Key West are as follows:
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2 Hour Private Highlights of Key West Walking Tour:
$99
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2-Hour Private Sunset Cruise around Key West:
$200
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2-Hour Private Sunset Cruise on Tiki Bar Boat in Key West:
$457
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4-Hour Private Sand Bar Cruise on a Tiki Bar Boat in Key West:
$565
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6th Sense Haunted Tour of Key West:
$25
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Adults only Champagne Celebration Sunset Cruise from Key West:
$79
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All-Inclusive Water Adventure Excursion in Key West:
$129
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Booze Cruise Key West Private Charter:
$248
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Cultural Walking Tour of Key West with Food and Drink Tastings:
$240
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Do It All Watersports Adventure with Lunch:
$148
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Easy Stroll Audio Tour Downtown Key West:
$7.99
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Florida Keys Afternoon Reef Snorkel & Sail Adventure:
$69
Tours and Activities in Tallahassee
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tallahassee.
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The Best of Tallahassee Walking Tour:
$498
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Guided tour "Love Stories of Tallahassee":
$498
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.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Tallahassee, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $42.
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
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Yes, Queen! Drag Queen Pub Crawl of Key West:
$34
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Key West Pub Crawl:
$35
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Key West and Tallahassee, we can see that Key West is more expensive. And not only is Tallahassee much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Tallahassee would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tallahassee 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 Tallahassee.
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