Should you visit Miami or Chicago?
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 Chicago 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.
Chicago
Located in the Midwest, Chicago is the third largest city in the United States. It has a population of almost 3 million and a metropolitan area that covers more than 10,000 square kilometers. It is also a hub for music, comedy and theater. It's skyline is beautiful with modern skyscrapers and Lake Michigan as a backdrop. It is easy to stay entertained in Chicago for weeks. There are world class museums, upscale or eclectic shopping opportunities, and impressive architecture.
Which city is cheaper, Chicago or Miami?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Miami is $165, while the average daily cost in Chicago is $221. 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 Chicago in more detail.
Accommodation
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.
Chicago's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $304. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $152.
Food
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.
The price of a meal in Chicago can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $37 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.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Miami $33
Chicago $37
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 Chicago
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Chicago:
-
Dinner for 1
$24
-
Dinner for 3
$118
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chicago
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chicago.
-
Traveling Spoon Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza Private Online Cooking Class:
$27
-
Factories to Calories Fulton Market Food Tour:
$46
-
Learn to Make Chicago Deep-Dish Pizza with a Local:
$49
-
Chicago Crime & Pizza Walk:
$50
-
Lonely Planet Experiences: Chicago History and Food Tour:
$59
-
Lonely Planet Experiences: River North Historical Food Tour:
$61
-
Signature Food Tour at Chicago's Navy Pier:
$64
-
Best in Chow: Chicago River North Food Tour:
$64
-
Private Fusion Cooking Class in Downtown Chicago:
$64
-
Skip the Line: Tommy Gun's Garage Dinner and Show Ticket:
$67
-
Small-Group Chicago Food Tour: Gold Coast and Old Town:
$75
-
Best of Chicago Tour Including a Deep-Dish Pizza:
$75
Local 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.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $29 per day to get around in Chicago.
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:
-
2019 50 Passenger Bus Transport Airport/port Transfers, Miami/broward:
$613
-
56 Passenger Motor Coach Transport Airport/port Transfers, Miami/broward:
$669
-
Airport Transfers, Car Service, Executive Transportation:
$89
-
Arrival Private Transfer Miami Airport MIA to Miami by Business Car:
$78
-
Arrival Private Transfer from Miami Airport MIA to Miami Beach in Business Car:
$98
-
Arrival Private Transfer from Miami Airport MIA to Miami Beach in Luxury SUV:
$123
-
Cruise Port of Miami to Miami Airport (MIA) - Departure Private Transfer:
$62
-
Disney World Full-Day Ticket & Transfer from Miami:
$249
-
Dolphin Mall Miami Shuttle Transfer: Downtown Loop:
$20
-
Everglades Airboat Tour with Transfer from Miami:
$124
-
Hialeah Airport - Private Transfer:
$105
-
Luxury Airport Transfer from Miami International Airport:
$33
Typical Local Transportation prices in Chicago
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Chicago:
-
Parking
$19
-
Taxi Ride
$10
-
Taxi from Airport
$45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chicago
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chicago:
-
Arrival Private Transfer Chicago O'Hare Airport ORD to Chicago City by SUV:
$96
-
Arrival Private Transfer Chicago O'Hare Airport ORD to Chicago by Sedan Car:
$79
-
Arrival Private Transfer Chicago O'Hare Airport to Chicago City by Minibus:
$333
-
Chicago Airport Private Arrival Transfer by SUV:
$115
-
Chicago Airport Private Arrival Transfer by Sedan:
$96
-
Chicago Airport Private Departure Transfer by SUV:
$115
-
Chicago Airport Private Departure Transfer by Sedan:
$96
-
Chicago Airport Transfer by Private Sedan:
$119
-
Chicago Airport Transfer: Midway Airport MDW to O'Hare Airport ORD in Luxury SUV:
$133
-
Chicago Airport Transfers : Chicago City to O'Hare Airport ORD by Luxury SUV:
$119
-
Chicago Airport Transfers : Chicago City to O'Hare Airport ORD in Business Car:
$100
-
Chicago Airport Transfers : Chicago City to O'Hare Airport ORD in Luxury Car:
$123
Is it cheaper to fly into Miami or Chicago?
Prices for flights to both Chicago 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 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.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $34 per person, per day in Chicago. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
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 Half-Day City Tour and Bay Cruise:
$20
-
Miami City Tour: South Beach, Downtown, and More:
$20
-
La Perle De Little Haiti Tour:
$20
-
La Perle de Little Haiti Tour:
$20
-
Little Havana: Beyond Cuba Tour:
$20
-
1-Hour Wynwood Walls and Street Art Tour:
$22
-
Miami Skyline View Cruise:
$23
-
Pirates Adventures Sightseeing Tour from Miami:
$23
-
Skip the Line: Zoo Miami Ticket with Optional Upgrade:
$25
-
Everglades National Park Airboat Tour:
$25
Typical Entertainment prices in Chicago
Here are a few typical costs in Chicago for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in Chicago
Here are a few actual costs in Chicago for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
A Storied Neighborhood: Dance the dialectic with Bill Ayers on an audio tour:
$5.00
-
Discovering Vintage The Loop Walking Audio Tour by VoiceMap:
$5.34
-
Chicago Riverwalk Self-Guided Walking Tour:
$6.00
-
Millennium Park Exploration Game & Self-Guided Tour:
$12
-
Skip the Line: American Writers Museum Admission Ticket:
$14
-
Pilsen Walking Tour of Local Publicly Displayed Art:
$15
-
The Chicago Theatre Marquee Tour:
$18
-
Behind-the-Scenes Tour of Historic Chicago Theatre:
$18
-
Chicago Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$21
-
Chicago Skydeck Experience Ticket:
$22
-
Ghosts of Lincoln Park Walking Tour:
$22
-
Best Architecture Walking Tour for Design Lovers:
$22
Alcohol
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.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Chicago may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $20 per day on alcoholic beverages.
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 Chicago
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Chicago:
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Haunted Chicago Ghost and Pub Walking Tour:
$25
-
Walking tour to Chicago dive bars:
$41
-
Chicago Barrel Bus Craft Distillery Tour:
$90
-
Chicago Craft Brewery Barrel Bus Tour:
$90
-
Ultimate Girl's Night Out in Sparkling Wine, Photo Shoot, Burlesque:
$900
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Miami and Chicago, we can see that Chicago 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 Chicago would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Chicago than you might in Miami.
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