Should you visit Miami or Sarasota?
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 Sarasota 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.
Sarasota
Located on the Gulf Coast of southwest Florida, Sarasota is a popular city known for its thriving arts scene, selection of restaurants, plenty of shopping, and beautiful beaches. The metropolitan area is a hub of city culture, while the beaches offer escapes of fine white sand and aqua waters.
Which city is cheaper, Sarasota 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 Sarasota is $279. 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 Sarasota 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.
For a normal double-occupancy room in Sarasota, $332 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Sarasota, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $166, such as in a hostel.
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 Sarasota can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $110 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $44 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
Sarasota $110
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sarasota
For Sarasota, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Downtown Walking Food Tour in Sarasota:
$99
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.
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 Sarasota
Also for Sarasota, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Private Arrival Transfer from Sarasota Airport SRQ:
$32
-
Private Departure Transfer to Sarasota Airport SRQ:
$32
-
Private Transfer from Sarasota to Orlando (MCO) Airport:
$453
-
Private Transfer from Sarasota to Orlando-Sanford (SFB) Airport:
$615
-
Private Transfer from Sarasota to Port Canaveral:
$658
-
Sarasota Airport to Hotel Private Transfer:
$133
-
Sarasota Private Transfer - Hotel to Airport:
$133
-
Sarasota to Sarasota–Bradenton Intl. Airport (SRQ) - Departure Private Transfer:
$112
-
Sarasota–Bradenton Intl. Airport (SRQ) to Sarasota - Arrival Private Transfer:
$112
-
Sarasota–Bradenton Intl. Airport (SRQ) to Sarasota - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$224
Is it cheaper to fly into Miami or Sarasota?
Prices for flights to both Sarasota 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 expenses in Sarasota, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $9.08 per day, per person.
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 Sarasota
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sarasota.
-
Public Art Tour:
$39
-
Psychic Sunday Tour:
$40
-
City Sightseeing Trolley Tour of Sarasota:
$43
-
Tiki Trivia Trolley Tour with Local Performer and Guide:
$43
-
Sightseeing Trolley Tour of Sarasota for Private Groups & Corporate Events:
$45
-
Infamous Sarasota - Happy Hour City Trolley Tour:
$46
-
Sarasota Bay & Lido Key BEST Mangrove Kayak Tour:
$50
-
Kayak Tour through Mangrove Tunnels:
$51
-
Paddleboard or Kayak Tour Through Mangrove Tunnels:
$51
-
Mangrove Tunnel Kayak Ecotour:
$51
-
Scenic Paddling Tour with Gourmet lunch on the Beach included:
$60
-
Sunset Cruise Private Charter in Sarasota:
$60
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.
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 Sarasota, we can see that Sarasota 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 Sarasota would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sarasota than you might in Miami.
Related Articles for Miami
Related Articles for Sarasota
