Should you visit New Orleans or Minneapolis?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between New Orleans and Minneapolis 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.
Minneapolis
Known as one of the Twin Cities with its neighbor, Saint Paul, the Minneapolis area is the second largest economic center in the Midwest, behind Chicago. Originally a city of lumber and flour milling, the city has grown to prosper in commerce, rail and trucking, health care, industry, education, publishing, milling, and food processing amongst others. In addition to housing the headquarters for five Fortune 500 Companies, Minneapolis is a city of thriving culture. From visual arts, music, and theater to sporting events and award-winning restaurants, the entertainment is never lacking.
Which city is cheaper, Minneapolis 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 Minneapolis is $164. 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 Minneapolis 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 Minneapolis can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $88, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $176.
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.
The average traveler spends about $32 per day in Minneapolis 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.
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Food
Meals for one day
New Orleans $36
Minneapolis $32
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:
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New Orleans Lunch & Lesson: Cajun & Creole Cooking Class:
$33
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New Orleans Cooking Class:
$34
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French Quarter Food Tour:
$42
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New Orleans Food Tour:
$44
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Steamboat Natchez Evening Jazz Cruise with Dinner Option:
$50
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Evening Jazz Boat Cruise with Optional Dinner:
$52
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Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Jazz Cruise with Optional Dinner:
$52
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Dinner at Tujague's Restaurant in New Orleans:
$68
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New Orleans French Quarter Food Tour:
$69
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French Quarter Food Tour:
$75
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Lower Garden District Food Tour:
$75
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New Orleans Small-Group French Quarter Food Tour:
$75
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Minneapolis
For Minneapolis, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Historic Northeast Minneapolis Food Tour:
$52
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Private Dining: Mediterranean dinner in Minneapolis with local chef:
$89
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 Minneapolis than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $34 on transportation in Minneapolis 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:
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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
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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 Minneapolis
Also for Minneapolis, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private transfer: Minneapolis to Minneapolis Airport (MSP):
$622
-
Private Departure Transfer to Minneapolis Airport MSP:
$75
-
Private Arrival Transfer from Minneapolis Airport MSP:
$75
-
Minneapolis to Minneapolis Airport (MSP) - Departure Private Transfer:
$92
Is it cheaper to fly into New Orleans or Minneapolis?
Prices for flights to both Minneapolis 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 Minneapolis, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $21 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:
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1.5-Hour New Orleans Express Segway Tour:
$55
-
15:00 New Orleans Ghost Tour:
$25
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2 Nights in French Quarter Hotel, City Tour and Attraction Pass:
$565
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2-Hour Cemetery & Voodoo Walking Tour in New Orleans:
$25
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2-Hour French Quarter and Cemetery Tour:
$20
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2-Hour New Orleans Ghosts & Vampires Walking Tour:
$20
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5 in 1 New Orleans Cemetery Tour:
$20
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8-in-1 Combo Haunted Walking Tour in New Orleans:
$27
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A Locals' Drink Dat! Cocktail Tour:
$120
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A Locals' French Quarter Tour:
$120
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A Taste of Jazz, Bars & Drinks Private Tour:
$108
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A Walk in the Park: City Park New Orleans Audio Tour:
$5.34
Tours and Activities in Minneapolis
For Minneapolis, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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"Crooked" St. Paul Gangsters Private Riding Tour (2 hrs):
$325
-
City of Lakes Tour With An Interpreter In Minneapolis:
$179
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Minneapolis & St. Paul Highlights Private Riding & Walking Tour (2 hrs):
$325
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Minneapolis & St. Paul Highlights Private Riding & Walking Tour (3 hrs):
$425
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Private 3-Hour Walking Tour of Paris during World War II:
$297
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Romantic tour in Minneapolis:
$498
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The Twin Cities St Paul Tour With An Interpreter:
$179
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The best of Minneapolis walking tour:
$498
-
Walking Minneapolis Downtown & Skyways Private Tour (2 hrs):
$175
-
Walking Minneapolis Downtown Parks, Fountains & Sculpture Private Tour (2 hrs):
$175
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Walking Minneapolis Mississippi River, Falls & Historic Mills Private Tour(2hrs):
$175
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting New Orleans spend on average $48 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typically, people visiting Minneapolis spend on average $19 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in New Orleans
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in New Orleans:
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New Orleans Bar Hunt: New Orleans Ballin' Bar Crawl:
$12
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Bourbon Street VIP Pub Crawl:
$20
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Big Easy Ghost and Vampire Pub Crawl:
$20
-
Haunted Pub Crawl in New Orleans:
$22
-
New Orleans Haunted Pub Crawl:
$25
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Haunted New Orleans Ghost and Pub Walking Tour:
$27
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Haunted Pub Crawl:
$27
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NOLA Distillery Tour:
$28
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Haunted Pub Tour:
$35
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Frenchmen Street Live Music Pub Crawl:
$48
Sample the Local Flavors in Minneapolis
Also in Minneapolis, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
All Inclusive 3hr Craft Brewery Tour:
$82
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Minneapolis Distillery Tour:
$87
When comparing the travel costs between New Orleans and Minneapolis, we can see that New Orleans is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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