Should you visit Miami or Detroit?
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 Detroit 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.
Detroit
Detroit is the largest city in the Midwestern state of Michigan. Near Downtown, the neoclassical Detroit Institute of Arts is famed for the Detroit Industry Murals painted by Diego Rivera, and inspired by the city's ties to the auto industry, giving it the nickname "Motor City." Detroit is also the birthplace of Motown Records, whose chart-topping history is on display at their original headquarters, Hitsville U.S.A.
Which city is cheaper, Detroit 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 Detroit is $107. 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 Detroit in more detail.
Accommodation
The prices for places to stay in Detroit can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $51, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $102.
Food
In Detroit travelers spend around $36 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
-
Detroit $36
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
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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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Detroit
For Detroit, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Fresh Mediterranean Inspired Cooking Class in a Unique Detroit Home:
$94
-
Detroit Revival Food Tours:
$139
Local Transportation
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Detroit than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $30 on transportation in Detroit on average per day.
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:
-
Universal Studios Ticket & Transfer from Miami:
$249
-
Transfers to Port of Miami:
$28
-
Transfer: Miami Beach to Airport, Port or Palm Beach:
$25
-
Transfer in Private Vehicle from Miami Downtown to Miami Airport:
$46
-
Transfer in Private Vehicle from Miami Airport to Miami Downtown:
$46
-
Transfer in Private Vehicle from Miami Airport to Miami Beach:
$46
-
Transfer in Private Minivan from Miami Downtown to Miami Airport:
$70
-
Transfer in Private Minivan from Miami Airport to Miami Downtown:
$70
-
Transfer in Private Minivan from Miami Airport to Miami Beach:
$70
-
Transfer in Executive Private Vehicle from Miami Downtown to Miami Airport:
$53
-
Transfer in Executive Private Vehicle from Miami Airport to Miami Downtown:
$53
-
Transfer in Executive Private Vehicle from Miami Airport to Miami Beach:
$53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Detroit
Also for Detroit, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Detroit - Wayne County Airport One Way Transfer:
$80
-
Detroit Airport (DTW) to Detroit City - Arrival Private Transfer:
$106
-
Detroit Airport (DTW) to Detroit City - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$212
-
Detroit City to Detroit Airport (DTW) - Departure Private Transfer:
$106
-
Private Departure Transfer to Detroit Airport DTW:
$43
-
Private Transfer From Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to Detroit City: One Way Arrival Transfer:
$149
-
Private Transfer from Detroit (DTW) Airport to Detroit City:
$122
-
Private Transfer from Detroit City to Detroit (DTW) Airport:
$122
-
Private Transfer: Detroit to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW):
$622
-
Transfer from Detroit Metropolitan Airport to Detroit:
$100
Is it cheaper to fly into Miami or Detroit?
Prices for flights to both Detroit 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
Sightseeing expenses in Detroit, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $17 per day, per person.
Tours and Activities in Miami
Here are a few actual costs in Miami for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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"Cigar Factory Tour":
$35
-
1 Hour Private Helicopter Tour of Miami and South Florida:
$518
-
1-Day Key West Tour ( Miami Departure ) ( MIA1-B ):
$138
-
1-Day Miami+Everglades Naitonal Park Tour ( Miami Departure )( MIA1-A ):
$80
-
1/2 Hour Jet Ski Island Adventure:
$5.00
-
10-Day Surf Adventure from Brisbane to Sydney Including Coffs Harbour, Byron Bay and Gold Coast:
$2,371
-
2 Hour Cycle Boat Tour:
$50
-
2-hour boat tour with Aquarius Boat Rental:
$195
-
3 Hour Private Sunset Sailboat Tour for up to 6 Complimentary beverages, snacks:
$550
-
3-hour tour with Aquarius Boat Rental:
$248
-
3.5-Hour Ultimate Learn to Surf Adventure:
$35
-
30 Minute Private Luxury Helicopter Sightseeing Tour of Miami:
$299
Tours and Activities in Detroit
For Detroit, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
Ford Piquette Avenue Plant Entry & Guided Tour:
$15
-
2020 Preservation Detroit Saturday Eastern Market Tour:
$18
-
The Rise, Fall & Renewal Walking Tour:
$29
-
Downtown Detroit Walking Tour with a Local:
$29
-
Corktown is Popping! Small Group Walking Tour:
$29
-
Detroit Walking Tour Including Rides on the People Mover:
$29
-
Detroit Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$30
-
Detroit Beer History Walking Tour:
$39
-
Pre Mother's Day Detroit Shopping Tour:
$49
-
90 minute Segway Experience:
$64
-
Foods and Flavors of Detroit Private Tour:
$130
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Detroit spend on average $16 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Miami and Detroit, we can see that Detroit 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 Detroit would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Detroit than you might in Miami.
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