Should you visit Miami or Galveston?
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 Galveston 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.
Galveston
Located on Galveston Island off the Texas Gulf Coast, Galveston is a popular destination for Texans and a departure point for cruise ships. It also makes a great beach destination for anyone looking to enjoy a week or weekend.
Galveston is a popular destination during the summer months, but the warm climate makes it comfortable year round. Even during the winter months you can enjoy mild temperatures, although on occasion it can have a cold spell.
Which city is cheaper, Galveston 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 Galveston is $147. 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 Galveston in more detail.
Accommodation
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $128 in Galveston For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
On average, meal and food prices in Galveston cost around $42 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 $17.
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Food
Meals for one day
Miami
-
Galveston $42
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.
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Little Havana 2-Hour Food Tour:
$59
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South Beach Miami Culinary Walking Tour Lunch or Dinner:
$59
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Little Havana Street Food Tours:
$61
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Taste of Little Havana Food Tour by Bicycle:
$69
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Haitian Cooking Experience:
$85
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Private Little Havana Cuban Food Tour:
$99
-
4th of July Fireworks Cruise & Hard Rock Dinner:
$159
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4th of July Fireworks from Catamaran & Hard Rock Café Dinner:
$159
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Private VIP Historical Citywide Food Tour:
$159
Local Transportation
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Galveston than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $28 on transportation in Galveston 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:
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Roundtrip transfer from Miami International Airport to Key West:
$1,500
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Private Airport Transfer from Miami to Orlando:
$979
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Private Transfer from Miami Cruise Port to Orlando-Sanford (SFB) Airport:
$913
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Private Transfer from Miami Airport to Orlando-Sanford (SFB) Airport:
$913
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Private Transfer from Miami City to Orlando-Sanford (SFB) Airport:
$913
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Private Transfer from Miami City to Orlando (MCO) Airport:
$871
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Private Transfer from Miami Airport to Orlando (MCO) Airport:
$871
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Private Transfer from Miami Cruise Port to Orlando (MCO) Airport:
$871
-
Private Miami to Orlando Transfer for up to 11 - One Price - Mercedes Sprinter:
$799
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Private Transfer from Miami City to Port Canaveral:
$790
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Private Transfer from Miami Airport to Port Canaveral:
$790
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Private Transfer from Miami Cruise Port to Port Canaveral:
$790
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Galveston
Also for Galveston, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Galveston Port to Houston Airport Transfer:
$432
Is it cheaper to fly into Miami or Galveston?
Prices for flights to both Galveston 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 Galveston, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $12 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
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1 Hour Private Helicopter Tour of Miami and South Florida:
$518
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1-Day Key West Tour ( Miami Departure ) ( MIA1-B ):
$138
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1-Day Miami+Everglades Naitonal Park Tour ( Miami Departure )( MIA1-A ):
$80
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1/2 Hour Jet Ski Island Adventure:
$5.00
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10-Day Surf Adventure from Brisbane to Sydney Including Coffs Harbour, Byron Bay and Gold Coast:
$2,371
-
2 Hour Cycle Boat Tour:
$50
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2-hour boat tour with Aquarius Boat Rental:
$195
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3 Hour Private Sunset Sailboat Tour for up to 6 Complimentary beverages, snacks:
$550
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3-hour tour with Aquarius Boat Rental:
$248
-
3.5-Hour Ultimate Learn to Surf Adventure:
$35
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30 Minute Private Luxury Helicopter Sightseeing Tour of Miami:
$299
Tours and Activities in Galveston
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Galveston.
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Galveston Ghosts Walking Tour:
$8.00
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Spooky Strand Ghost Tour:
$8.00
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Al's Galveston Ghost Tour:
$9.99
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Galveston Ghost Tour:
$10
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Ghost On the Strand Ghost Tour:
$10
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Historic Galveston Ghost Tour:
$10
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Storm on the Strand Ghost Tour:
$13
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Galveston Island Ghost Tour:
$13
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Dolphin Sightseeing Tour in Galveston with a Guide:
$15
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Great! Galveston Ghost Tour:
$16
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Historic Galveston Red Light District Tour:
$19
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Galveston's Haunted Cemetery Walking Tour:
$20
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Galveston, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $30.
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
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Making Your Own Gin Distillery Tour and Tasting Experience:
$190
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Miami and Galveston, we can see that Galveston 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 Galveston would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Galveston than you might in Miami.
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