Which place is cheaper, Chicago or Nassau?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Nassau or Chicago?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Nassau or Chicago, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Nassau or Chicago?
Nassau
There are few vacation destinations more famous than the Bahamian city of Nassau. This capital city is full of laid back locals, relaxed tourists and the iconic pastel pink government houses.
As the largest city in the Bahamas, Nassau can hold plenty of people. Not only are there hundreds of tourists on any given day, the city is also home to 260,000 people – that is 80 percent of the Bahamas' total population.
Founded around 1650, Nassau's location made it a great spot on the trade route. So great, in fact, that it also became a popular destination for pirates – including the infamous Blackbeard.
Pack light because it's going to be pretty steamy in Nassau. The climate is essentially identical to southern Florida. It is warm and humid all year with the occasional cold snap in the winter.
Chicago
Located in the Midwest, Chicago is the third largest city in the United States. It has a population of almost 3 million and a metropolitan area that covers more than 10,000 square kilometers. It is also a hub for music, comedy and theater. It's skyline is beautiful with modern skyscrapers and Lake Michigan as a backdrop. It is easy to stay entertained in Chicago for weeks. There are world class museums, upscale or eclectic shopping opportunities, and impressive architecture.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America, and The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNassau $189Chicago $288
The average daily cost (per person) in Nassau is $189, while the average daily cost in Chicago is $288. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Nassau and Chicago in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNassau $109Chicago $198
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNassau $218Chicago $396
Compare Hotels in Nassau and Chicago
Looking for a hotel in Nassau or Chicago? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Nassau Hotel Prices and Chicago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nassau $32Chicago $37
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Nassau
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Nassau are as follows:
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Water Taxi$8.02
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Taxi to Cable Beach$25
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Taxi from Airport$30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nassau
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nassau:
- (Private) Nassau Bahamas Airport Round-Trip Transfers (1-4ppl One Flat Rate): $160
- Airport Transfer: $190
- Atlantis Private Luxury Roundtrip Airport Transfer: $190
- Baha Mar ( Grand Hyatt, SLS, Rosewood Hotels) Private Airport Transfers : $160
- Chippies Airport/Hotel Transfers Transportation: $55
- Group transfer: $68
- Low Cost Airport Transfers: $185
- Luxury MKT Town Car Private Roundtrip Transfer : $140
- Lynden Pindling Airport (NAS): Round-Trip Nassau Transfer: $252
- Nassau Airport (NAS) to Nassau Cruise Port - Arrival Private Transfer: $40
- Nassau Airport (NAS) to Nassau hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $55
- Nassau Airport (NAS) to Nassau hotels -Round-Trip Private Transfer: $109
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Chicago
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Chicago:
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Parking$19
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Taxi Ride$10
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Taxi from Airport$45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chicago
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chicago:
- Chicago O´Hare International Airport Private Transfer One-Way: $27
- Airport transfer between Chicago O'Hare and Milwaukee: $38
- Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) to Chicago hotel/address - Arrival Private Transfer: $52
- Chicago to Chicago O'Hare Airport (ORD): Departure Transfer: $57
- Chicago O'Hare Airport (ORD) to Arrival Private Transfer: $57
- Chicago to Chicago Airport (MDW) - Departure Private Transfer: $58
- ORD Airport Private Transfer to/from Chicago: $80
- Private one-way airport transfer O'Hare Airport to/from Chicago : $86
- Private Transfer Chicago to Chicago Airport by Luxury Car or SUV: $87
- MDW Airport Private Transfer to/from Chicago: $99
- Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) to Chicago City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $105
- Chicago O'Hare Airport (ORD) to Round-Trip Transfer: $114
Is it cheaper to fly into Nassau or Chicago?
Prices for flights to both Chicago and Nassau 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayNassau $53Chicago $49
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nassau
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nassau.
- Nassau Food Tour and Beach Break: $65
- Conch Salad Cooking Lesson and Tasting in Nassau: $80
- Sail Catamaran Sunset Dinner Cruise: $116
- All Inclusive Sunset Dinner Cruise in Nassau Bahamas: $125
- Dinner and Dancing: $130
- Authentic Bahamian Cooking Class: $135
- Bahamian Cooking Class Lunch Experience by Tru Bahamian Food Tour: $140
- Island Food Tour: $140
- Gourmet dinner & sunset cruise on luxury catamaran: $375
Typical Food Prices in Chicago
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Chicago:
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Dinner for 1$24
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Dinner for 3$118
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chicago
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chicago.
- Traveling Spoon Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza Private Online Cooking Class : $40
- Chicago : Hands-on Cooking Classes With Local Chef: $55
- Downtown Pizza Guided Walking Tour with Tastings: $58
- Chicago's Delicious Donut Adventure and Walking Food Tour: $63
- Chicago Small Group Food Tour: $69
- Lake Michigan Gourmet Brunch/Lunch/Dinner Cruise: $72
- Chicago Pizza Tour: $75
- Chicago Deep Dish Pizza Self-Guided Tour: $75
- Chicago West Loop Pizza Crawl: $79
- Chicago Bucktown-Wicker Park Pizza Crawl: $79
- Downtown Family Food Tour by Bike with Sightseeing: $80
- Nitti's Supper Club Dinner and Show: $80
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nassau $37Chicago $47
Typical Entertainment Prices in Nassau
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Nassau are as follows:
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Jet Ski$50
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4 Hr Kayak Tour$70
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1/2 Day Snorkel Trip$75
Tours and Activities in Nassau
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nassau are as follows:
- All New Weekend Tour with Seafood Snack Portuguese & Spanish : $7.00
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
- Nassau Self-Guided Audio Tour: The Jewel of the Bahamas: $15
- Heritage Museum of The Bahamas Nassau Guided Tour: $20
- Jekyll Island Dolphin Tours: $28
- Roundtrip Shuttle from Cruise Terminal at Prince George Wharf: $29
- Nassau Sightseeing Bus Tour: $35
- Big Bus Private Tour (minimum of 15): $43
- Bahamas Ghost Walking Tour: $44
- Island Tour: $44
- Dis We Culture Tour (At least 6 passengers): $50
- Banana Boat Adventure: $50
Typical Entertainment Prices in Chicago
Here are a few typical costs in Chicago for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Sears Tower (family of 4)$102
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Aquarium for 4$118
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Water Taxi (family of 4)$22
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IMAX Movie for Two$35
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Shakespeare Play (2)$116
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Art Institute (2)$36
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U-Boat Tour (2)$8.00
Tours and Activities in Chicago
Here are a few actual costs in Chicago for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Discovering Chicago with Walking In App Audio Tour: $6.00
- Haunted Sites Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $6.50
- Vice, Crime and Gangsters Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Chicago’s Ragtime & Jazz Eras: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Vice, Crime and Gangsters in A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Must-Sees & Hidden Gems In-App Audio Tour (ENG): $9.00
- App Chicago self-guided tours with multilingual audioguides: $9.63
- Riverwalk Self-Guided Walking Tour: $9.99
- Millennium Park Self-Guided Walking Tour: $9.99
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure Self-Guided City Game: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Chicago White Sox Baseball Game Ticket: $12
For more ideas for your next trip, check out The Best Free Things to Do in Chicago, Chicago Bucket List: The Best Places to See, and The Best Museums in Chicago.
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNassau $19Chicago $25
Typical Alcohol Prices in Nassau
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Nassau are as follows:
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Cocktail$6.52
Sample the Local Flavors in Nassau
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Nassau:
- Rum Runners Pub Crawl: $135
- Rum Runners Pub Crawl: $140
Sample the Local Flavors in Chicago
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Chicago:
- Malt Row Walking Brewery Tour: $30
- Walking tour to Chicago dive bars: $41
- Chicago Craft Brewery Barrel Bus Tour: $100
- Craft Brewery Tour by Barrel Bus: $100
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nassau and Chicago, we can see that Chicago is more expensive. And not only is Nassau much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Nassau is in Caribbean Islands and Chicago is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Nassau would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Nassau 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 Chicago would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Chicago than you might in Nassau.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Nassau Expensive? and Is Chicago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nassau or Chicago?
Chicago has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Nassau. When comparing the sizes of Nassau and Chicago, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Nassau or Chicago?
Chicago has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Nassau experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Nassau or Chicago in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Nassau and Chicago. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Nassau year-round. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Chicago because of the beaches, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Nassau is generally around the same temperature as Chicago. Daily temperatures in Nassau average around 28°C (82°F), and Chicago fluctuates around 77°F (25°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Chicago this time of the year. In Nassau, it's very sunny this time of the year. Nassau usually receives less sunshine than Chicago during summer. Nassau gets 273 hours of sunny skies, while Chicago receives 326 hours of full sun in the summer.
Chicago receives a lot of rain in the summer. Nassau gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Nassau usually receives more rain than Chicago. Nassau gets 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Chicago receives 3.9 inches (100 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyNassau 28°C (82°F)Chicago 77°F (25°C)
Should I visit Nassau or Chicago in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Nassau as well as Chicago. Nassau attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Chicago this time of year.
Nassau is much warmer than Chicago in the autumn. The daily temperature in Nassau averages around 26°C (79°F) in October, and Chicago fluctuates around 56°F (14°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Nassau this time of the year. In the autumn, Nassau often gets more sunshine than Chicago. Nassau gets 223 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chicago receives 195 hours of full sun.
Nassau receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Nassau usually gets more rain in October than Chicago. Nassau gets 184 mm (7.2 in) of rain, while Chicago receives 2.2 inches (56 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberNassau 26°C (79°F)Chicago 56°F (14°C)
Should I visit Nassau or Chicago in the Winter?
Both Chicago and Nassau are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Nassau throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Chicago for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Chicago. In the winter, Nassau is much warmer than Chicago. Typically, the winter temperatures in Nassau in January average around 21°C (70°F), and Chicago averages at about 25°F (-4°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Nassau. Nassau usually receives more sunshine than Chicago during winter. Nassau gets 220 hours of sunny skies, while Chicago receives 134 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Nassau usually receives more rain than Chicago. Nassau gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Chicago receives 1.9 inches (47 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryNassau 21°C (70°F)Chicago 25°F (-4°C)
Should I visit Nassau or Chicago in the Spring?
Both Chicago and Nassau during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Nassau because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Chicago in the spring for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
In April, Nassau is generally much warmer than Chicago. Daily temperatures in Nassau average around 23°C (74°F), and Chicago fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).
In Chicago, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Nassau. In the spring, Nassau often gets more sunshine than Chicago. Nassau gets 276 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chicago receives 218 hours of full sun.
Chicago gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Nassau usually gets less rain in April than Chicago. Nassau gets 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Chicago receives 4.3 inches (108 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilNassau 23°C (74°F)Chicago 52°F (11°C)
Typical Weather for Chicago and Nassau
| Nassau | Chicago | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 21°C (70°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 25°F (-4°C) | 1.9 inches (47 mm) |
| Feb | 21°C (70°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 29°F (-2°C) | 1.4 inches (35 mm) |
| Mar | 22°C (72°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 41°F (5°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) |
| Apr | 23°C (74°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 52°F (11°C) | 4.3 inches (108 mm) |
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) |
| Jun | 27°C (80°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) | 73°F (23°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) | 77°F (25°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) | 76°F (24°C) | 3.5 inches (90 mm) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 171 mm (6.7 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 184 mm (7.2 in) | 56°F (14°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) |
| Nov | 24°C (75°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 44°F (7°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) |
| Dec | 22°C (71°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 31°F (-1°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.