Should you visit Miami or Anchorage?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Miami and Anchorage can help you decide which place is right for you.
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.
Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska's largest city, is in the south-central part of the state on the Cook Inlet. It's known for its cultural sites and also as a gateway to nearby wilderness areas and mountains. From the sparkling waters of Cook Inlet to the tallest peaks of the Chugach Mountains, Anchorage encompasses incredible adventures and metropolitan appeals that are larger than life. With 1,500 moose, incredible national parks nearby and 60 glaciers a short drive away, it's a dream destination in Alaska.
Which city is cheaper, Anchorage or Miami?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Miami is $0.00, while the average daily cost in Anchorage is $153. 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 Miami and Anchorage in more detail.
Accommodation
The average price for accommodation for two people in Anchorage is $186. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
Food
In Anchorage travelers spend around $40 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.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Miami
-
Anchorage $40
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.
-
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
Typical Food prices in Anchorage
Some typical examples of dining costs in Anchorage are as follows:
-
Bread
$4.25
-
Breakfast for Two
$17
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Anchorage is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $22 per person, per day, on local transportation in Anchorage.
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Anchorage
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Anchorage:
-
Anchorage Airport (ANC) to Anchorage accommodation - Arrival Private Transfer:
$34
-
Anchorage Airport (ANC) to Anchorage accommodation - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$67
-
Anchorage Airport (ANC) to Seward Cruise Port - Arrival Private Transfer:
$386
-
Anchorage Airport (ANC) to Seward Cruise Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$771
-
Anchorage accommodation to Anchorage Airport (ANC) - Departure Private Transfer:
$34
-
Private Arrival Transfer from Anchorage Airport ANC:
$54
-
Private Departure Transfer - to Anchorage Airport (ANC):
$54
-
Private Transfer Anchorage Airport (ANC) to Whittier Cruise Port:
$209
-
Private Transfer Anchorage Airport ANC to Seward Cruise Port:
$292
-
Private Transfer: Anchorage to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC):
$622
-
Private Transfer: Seward Cruise Port to Anchorage Airport (ANC):
$292
-
Private Transfer: Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) to Anchorage:
$622
Is it cheaper to fly into Miami or Anchorage?
Prices for flights to both Anchorage and Miami 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
Entertainment and activities in Anchorage typically cost an average of $24 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 Miami
Here are a few actual costs in Miami for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
1/2 Hour Jet Ski Island Adventure:
$5.00
-
Miami Dance Cruise:
$11
-
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
Typical Entertainment prices in Anchorage
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Anchorage are as follows:
-
1 Day Bike Rental
$33
-
1/2 Day Rafting Trip
$105
Tours and Activities in Anchorage
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Anchorage are as follows:
-
Seward: Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$14
-
Anchorage Museum General Admission Ticket:
$20
-
1-Hour Trolley Tour:
$20
-
Anchorage Trolley Tour:
$21
-
Anchorage City Tour w/ Taste of Wild Smoked Salmon & Reindeer Sausage:
$39
-
Winter - Anchorage All Around City Tour:
$49
-
Alaska Native Historic Cultural City Tour of Anchorage:
$59
-
Gold Panning Self-Guided Tour:
$69
-
Turnagain Arm Tour: "A Must See Destination":
$69
-
Beginner’s Snowshoeing Adventure:
$81
-
Coastal Trail 3-Hour City Bike Tour:
$85
-
Explore Portage Valley a Self-Guided Tour:
$99
Alcohol
The average person spends about $16 on alcoholic beverages in Anchorage per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Anchorage
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Anchorage:
-
Half-Day Anchorage Craft Brewery Tour and Tastings:
$115
-
Anchorage Bike and Brewery Tour:
$219
-
Alaska Brewery and Railroad Experience from Anchorage:
$349
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Miami and Anchorage, we can see that Anchorage is more expensive. And not only is Miami much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Miami would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Miami 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 Anchorage would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Anchorage than you might in Miami.
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