Should you visit New Orleans or Detroit?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between New Orleans and Detroit can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
New Orleans
New Orleans is the largest city in the state of Louisiana, and it is a cultural city that is the home of jazz, unique cuisine, and Mardi Gras in the U.S. It was established in 1718 and is one of the oldest cities in the country. The culture of the city has a mix of French, Creole, African American, Caribbean, Irish, Haitian, German and Vietnamese. There's an energy and atmosphere that is unlike any place else.
Detroit
Detroit is the largest city in the Midwestern state of Michigan. Near Downtown, the neoclassical Detroit Institute of Arts is famed for the Detroit Industry Murals painted by Diego Rivera, and inspired by the city's ties to the auto industry, giving it the nickname "Motor City." Detroit is also the birthplace of Motown Records, whose chart-topping history is on display at their original headquarters, Hitsville U.S.A.
Which city is cheaper, Detroit or New Orleans?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in New Orleans is $191, while the average daily cost in Detroit is $107. 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 New Orleans and Detroit in more detail.
Accommodation
Travelers usually pay around $200 for a double occupancy room in New Orleans If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
The prices for places to stay in Detroit can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $51, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $102.
Food
The average traveler spends about $36 per day in New Orleans 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.
In Detroit travelers spend around $36 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
-
Food
Meals for one day
New Orleans $36
Detroit $36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in New Orleans
For New Orleans, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
New Orleans Lunch & Lesson: Cajun & Creole Cooking Class:
$33
-
New Orleans Cooking Class:
$34
-
French Quarter Food Tour:
$42
-
New Orleans Food Tour:
$44
-
Steamboat Natchez Evening Jazz Cruise with Dinner Option:
$50
-
Evening Jazz Boat Cruise with Optional Dinner:
$52
-
Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Jazz Cruise with Optional Dinner:
$52
-
Dinner at Tujague's Restaurant in New Orleans:
$68
-
New Orleans French Quarter Food Tour:
$69
-
French Quarter Food Tour:
$75
-
Lower Garden District Food Tour:
$75
-
New Orleans Small-Group French Quarter Food Tour:
$75
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Detroit
For Detroit, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Fresh Mediterranean Inspired Cooking Class in a Unique Detroit Home:
$94
-
Detroit Revival Food Tours:
$139
Local Transportation
To get around in New Orleans, the average visitor spends $41 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.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Detroit than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $30 on transportation in Detroit on average per day.
Typical Local Transportation prices in New Orleans
Some typical examples of transportation costs in New Orleans are as follows:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in New Orleans
Also for New Orleans, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Shared Roundtrip Transfer: Hotel or Cruise Port to New Orleans Airport:
$40
-
Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel or Cruise Port to New Orleans Airport:
$20
-
Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel or Cruise Port to New Orleans Airport:
$26
-
Private transfer: New Orleans Airport (MSY) to New Orleans:
$622
-
Private Transfer: New Orleans Hotel to Cruise Port:
$75
-
Private Transfer from Port Of New of New Orleans Cruise:
$210
-
Private Transfer from New Orleans Airport to Hotel or Port:
$32
-
Private Roundtrip Transfer: New Orleans Airport to Hotel or Cruise Port:
$64
-
Private Roundtrip Transfer: MSY to Hotel or Cruise Port by Executive Sprinter:
$250
-
Private Roundtrip Transfer: MSY to Hotel or Cruise Port:
$80
-
Private New Orleans Transfer from Port to Airport or Hotel:
$122
-
Private Departure Transfers: New Orleans Airport:
$122
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Detroit
Also for Detroit, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Transfer from Detroit Metropolitan Airport to Detroit:
$100
-
Private Transfer: Detroit to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW):
$622
-
Private Transfer from Detroit City to Detroit (DTW) Airport:
$122
-
Private Transfer from Detroit (DTW) Airport to Detroit City:
$122
-
Private Transfer From Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to Detroit City: One Way Arrival Transfer:
$149
-
Private Departure Transfer to Detroit Airport DTW:
$43
-
Detroit City to Detroit Airport (DTW) - Departure Private Transfer:
$106
-
Detroit Airport (DTW) to Detroit City - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$212
-
Detroit Airport (DTW) to Detroit City - Arrival Private Transfer:
$106
-
Detroit - Wayne County Airport One Way Transfer:
$80
Is it cheaper to fly into New Orleans or Detroit?
Prices for flights to both Detroit and New Orleans 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 New Orleans, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $44 per person, per day.
Sightseeing expenses in Detroit, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $17 per day, per person.
Typical Entertainment prices in New Orleans
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for New Orleans's activities, tours, and tickets:
Tours and Activities in New Orleans
For New Orleans, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
1.5-Hour New Orleans Express Segway Tour:
$55
-
15:00 New Orleans Ghost Tour:
$25
-
2 Nights in French Quarter Hotel, City Tour and Attraction Pass:
$565
-
2-Hour Cemetery & Voodoo Walking Tour in New Orleans:
$25
-
2-Hour French Quarter and Cemetery Tour:
$20
-
2-Hour New Orleans Ghosts & Vampires Walking Tour:
$20
-
5 in 1 New Orleans Cemetery Tour:
$20
-
8-in-1 Combo Haunted Walking Tour in New Orleans:
$27
-
A Locals' Drink Dat! Cocktail Tour:
$120
-
A Locals' French Quarter Tour:
$120
-
A Taste of Jazz, Bars & Drinks Private Tour:
$108
-
A Walk in the Park: City Park New Orleans Audio Tour:
$5.34
Tours and Activities in Detroit
For Detroit, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
2020 Preservation Detroit Saturday Eastern Market Tour:
$18
-
90 minute Segway Experience:
$64
-
Detroit Beer History Walking Tour:
$39
-
Detroit Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$30
-
Detroit Walking Tour Including Rides on the People Mover:
$29
-
Corktown is Popping! Small Group Walking Tour:
$29
-
Downtown Detroit Walking Tour with a Local:
$29
-
Foods and Flavors of Detroit Private Tour:
$130
-
Ford Piquette Avenue Plant Entry & Guided Tour:
$15
-
The Rise, Fall & Renewal Walking Tour:
$29
-
Pre Mother's Day Detroit Shopping Tour:
$49
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting New Orleans spend on average $48 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typically, people visiting Detroit spend on average $16 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in New Orleans
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in New Orleans:
-
New Orleans Bar Hunt: New Orleans Ballin' Bar Crawl:
$12
-
Bourbon Street VIP Pub Crawl:
$20
-
Big Easy Ghost and Vampire Pub Crawl:
$20
-
Haunted Pub Crawl in New Orleans:
$22
-
New Orleans Haunted Pub Crawl:
$25
-
Haunted New Orleans Ghost and Pub Walking Tour:
$27
-
Haunted Pub Crawl:
$27
-
NOLA Distillery Tour:
$28
-
Haunted Pub Tour:
$35
-
Frenchmen Street Live Music Pub Crawl:
$48
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between New Orleans and Detroit, we can see that New Orleans is more expensive. And not only is Detroit much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Detroit would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Detroit 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 New Orleans would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in New Orleans than you might in Detroit.
Related Articles for New Orleans
Related Articles for Detroit
