Should you visit Miami or Memphis?
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 Memphis 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.
Memphis
Located on the banks of the Mississippi River in southwest Tennessee, Memphis is a city famous for the blues, soul, and Rock 'n' Roll music that originated there. There are a number of museums and historic landmarks like Elvis Presley's Graceland dedicated to that history, while areas of the city like Beale Street keep the musical culture alive today with a vibrant scene of bars, restaurants, and live music.
Which city is cheaper, Memphis 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 Memphis is $129. 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 Memphis 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.
The prices for places to stay in Memphis can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $67, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $134.
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 average traveler spends about $39 per day in Memphis for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Miami $33
Memphis $39
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 Memphis
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Memphis:
-
Baskin Robins (for 2)
$6.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Memphis
For Memphis, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Taste of Downtown Memphis Food Tour:
$64
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.
Memphis'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 $27 per person, per day on transportation in Memphis.
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:
-
Roundtrip transfer from Miami International Airport to Key West:
$1,500
-
Private Airport Transfer from Miami to Orlando:
$979
-
Private Transfer from Miami Cruise Port to Orlando-Sanford (SFB) Airport:
$913
-
Private Transfer from Miami Airport to Orlando-Sanford (SFB) Airport:
$913
-
Private Transfer from Miami City to Orlando-Sanford (SFB) Airport:
$913
-
Private Transfer from Miami City to Orlando (MCO) Airport:
$871
-
Private Transfer from Miami Airport to Orlando (MCO) Airport:
$871
-
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
-
Private Transfer from Miami City to Port Canaveral:
$790
-
Private Transfer from Miami Airport to Port Canaveral:
$790
-
Private Transfer from Miami Cruise Port to Port Canaveral:
$790
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Memphis
Also for Memphis, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Memphis Airport (MEM) to Memphis City - Arrival Private Transfer:
$112
-
Memphis Airport (MEM) to Memphis City - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$224
-
Memphis City to Memphis Airport (MEM) - Departure Private Transfer:
$112
-
Private Arrival Transfer from Memphis Airport MEM:
$72
-
Private Departure Transfer to Memphis Airport MEM:
$72
-
Private Transfers: Memphis Airport:
$109
-
Private transfer: Memphis Airport (MEM) to Memphis:
$622
-
Private transfer: Memphis to Memphis Airport (MEM):
$622
Is it cheaper to fly into Miami or Memphis?
Prices for flights to both Memphis 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.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Memphis can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $36 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Tours and Activities in Miami
Here are a few actual costs in Miami for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
"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 Memphis
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Memphis.
-
Memphis Music Hall of Fame Admission Ticket:
$8.00
-
Memphis Music Hall of Fame Admission Ticket:
$8.00
-
Memphis Cotton Museum Admission Ticket:
$10
-
Rock 'n' Soul Museum with Audio Tour:
$11
-
Beale Street Guided Walking Tour:
$12
-
Skip the Line: Woodruff-Fontaine House Museum Admission Ticket:
$15
-
1-Hour Beale Street Guided Walking Tour:
$16
-
Haunted Memphis Walking Ghost Tour:
$16
-
Memphis Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$21
-
Historic Memphis Guided Walking Tour:
$21
-
2-Hour Haunted Walking Tour:
$21
-
Memphis Mojo Bus Tour:
$25
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.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Memphis, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $21.
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 Memphis
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Memphis:
-
2-Hour Private Pedal Tavern Pub Crawl in Downtown Memphis:
$800
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Miami and Memphis, we can see that Miami is more expensive. And not only is Memphis much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Memphis would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Memphis 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 Miami would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Miami than you might in Memphis.
Related Articles for Miami
Related Articles for Memphis
