Should you visit Miami or Philadelphia?
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 Philadelphia 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.
Philadelphia
Philadelphia is the fourth largest urban area, and the fifth largest city in the United States. It's located in southeastern Pennsylvania and has a rich history, having once been the capital of the United States. The city has very impressive architecture, museums, universities, and entertainment venues. It's a cultural and artistic center for the country and it continues to climb as a top travel destination.
Which city is cheaper, Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia is $151. 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 Philadelphia in more detail.
Accommodation
The prices for places to stay in Philadelphia can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $95, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $190.
Food
Philadelphia food costs typically run travelers around $39 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Miami
-
Philadelphia $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 Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Flavors of Philly Food Tour:
$44
-
Decadent Gourmet Food Tour:
$44
-
Flavors of Philly Food Tour:
$52
-
Highlights of East Passyunk Food Tour:
$54
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South Philly Italian Family Dinner Tour:
$75
-
Historic Food Tour:
$78
-
Private Tour: Secret Food Tours Philadelphia:
$90
-
Spirit of Philadelphia Dinner Cruise with Buffet:
$107
-
Secret Food Tours Philadelphia w/ Private Tour Option:
$193
Local Transportation
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Philadelphia than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $22 on transportation in Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia
Also for Philadelphia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Arrival Private Transfer Philadelphia Airport PHL to Philadelphia City by SUV:
$124
-
Arrival Private Transfer Philadelphia Airport PHL to Philadelphia by Limousine:
$117
-
Arrival Private Transfer Philadelphia Airport PHL to Philadelphia by Minibus:
$204
-
Arrival Private Transfer Philadelphia Airport PHL to Philadelphia by Minivan:
$123
-
Arrival Private Transfer Philadelphia Airport PHL to Philadelphia by Sedan:
$68
-
Arrival Private Transfer Philadelphia Train Station to Philadelphia by SUV:
$124
-
Arrival Private Transfer Philadelphia Train Station to Philadelphia by Sedan:
$68
-
Departure Private Transfer Philadelphia City to Philadelphia Airport PHL by SUV:
$124
-
Departure Private Transfer Philadelphia to Philadelphia Airport PHL by Limousine:
$117
-
Departure Private Transfer Philadelphia to Philadelphia Airport PHL by Minibus:
$204
-
Departure Private Transfer Philadelphia to Philadelphia Airport PHL by Minivan:
$123
-
Departure Private Transfer Philadelphia to Philadelphia Airport PHL by Sedan:
$68
Is it cheaper to fly into Miami or Philadelphia?
Prices for flights to both Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $22 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
Typical Entertainment prices in Philadelphia
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Philadelphia's activities, tours, and tickets:
Tours and Activities in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
Art and Controversy: An audio tour of Philadelphia's most infamous art scandals:
$5.00
-
Philadelphia's Lost Waterfront: Explore the historic city on an audio tour:
$5.00
-
Ultimate Philadelphia Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$6.00
-
Philadelphia Architecture: Discover Every American Style on a GPS Audio Tour:
$6.99
-
Philadelphia Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$14
-
Penn Museum Admission Ticket:
$18
-
Grim, Dark, and Twisted History Tour:
$19
-
Franklin Footsteps Historic Walking Tour:
$19
-
Philadelphia Walking Ghost Tour:
$20
-
Franklin's Footsteps Walking Tour:
$20
-
Skip the Line: Museum of the American Revolution Admission Ticket:
$21
-
Philadelphia Historical Independence Walking Tour:
$21
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Philadelphia spend on average $17 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
Sample the Local Flavors in Philadelphia
Also in Philadelphia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Haunted Pub Crawl:
$45
-
Philadelphia Prohibition Pub Crawl:
$45
-
Haunted Pub Crawl:
$45
-
2-Hour Philly on Tap Pub Tour:
$65
-
Sip of Philly Brewery Tour:
$79
-
2-Hour Old City Wine Tasting Tour:
$96
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Miami and Philadelphia, we can see that Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Philadelphia than you might in Miami.
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