Should you visit Miami or West Palm Beach?
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 West Palm Beach 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.
West Palm Beach
One of Florida's most dynamic cities, West Palm Beach encapsulates the best of a metropolitan city all while nestled in the warm serenity of a tropical paradise. Located in southern Florida, about an hour's drive north of Miami, West Palm Beach holds a population of 99,919 and is one of the three main cities in South Florida. This city is known for its unique culture, world-class dining, and extensive shopping districts. From young to old, everyone can find their own niche in such a pleasant, diverse city. No matter what time of the year it may be, you can be assured that it is gorgeously sunny in West Palm Beach!
Which city is cheaper, West Palm Beach 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 West Palm Beach is $264. 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 West Palm Beach in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $374 in West Palm Beach For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
While meal prices in West Palm Beach can vary, the average travelers spends about $53 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in West Palm Beach should cost around $21 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in West Palm Beach is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
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Food
Meals for one day
Miami
-
West Palm Beach $53
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in West Palm Beach
For West Palm Beach, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Downtown West Palm Beach Food Tour:
$79
Local Transportation
To get around in West Palm Beach, the average visitor spends $39 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
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
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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 West Palm Beach
Also for West Palm Beach, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Palm Beach Airport (PBI) to Palm Beach City - Arrival Private Transfer:
$85
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Palm Beach Airport (PBI) to Palm Beach City - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$169
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Private Airport Transfer: West Palm Beach Int. Airport (PBI) to West Palm Beach:
$59
Is it cheaper to fly into Miami or West Palm Beach?
Prices for flights to both West Palm Beach 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
In West Palm Beach, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $15 per person, per day.
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
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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 West Palm Beach
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for West Palm Beach.
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Candy Tour:
$13
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Land and Lagoon Narrated Musical Tour of Palm Beach:
$40
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Palm Beach Island Day Tour:
$65
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Downtown WPB and Palm Beach Private Bicycle Tour:
$75
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2 Hour Segway Tour: Downtown West Palm Waterfront & Palm Beach Island:
$98
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Palm Beach Sightseeing Tour:
$120
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Snorkel Tour by boat:
$128
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 West Palm Beach, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $31.
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 West Palm Beach
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in West Palm Beach:
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Party Bike Pub Crawl in West Palm Beach:
$43
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Miami and West Palm Beach, we can see that West Palm Beach 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 West Palm Beach would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in West Palm Beach than you might in Miami.
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