Should you visit New Orleans or Seattle?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between New Orleans and Seattle 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.
Seattle
Situated on the Puget Sound in the state of Washington, Seattle is the largest city in the United States Pacific Northwest. It's a beautiful city surrounded by the water and mountains and filled with evergreen trees. It's also the home of some famous American institutions including Starbucks Coffee, Amazon, and Microsoft. The population of almost 700,000 continues to grow. As of 2014, the city was considered the fastest growing major city in the United States. The entire metropolitan area has about 3.6 million residents, making it the 15th largest metro area in the US. The natural beauty, growing economy, and educational base give Seattle a youthful vibe that keep the city young and energetic.
Which city is cheaper, Seattle 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 Seattle is $156. 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 Seattle 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.
A hotel room in Seattle is about $188 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
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 price of a meal in Seattle can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $38 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $15 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
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Food
Meals for one day
New Orleans $36
Seattle $38
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
-
Steamboat Natchez Evening Jazz Cruise with Dinner Option:
$50
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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
Typical Food prices in Seattle
Some typical examples of dining costs in Seattle are as follows:
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Expresso & cookie at Pier 70
$7.00
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Cashews at Pike Place Market
$6.00
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6 Mini Donuts at Pike Place Market
$3.25
-
Chinese Lunch in International District (for 2)
$21
-
Breakfast at Lowel's in Pike Place Market (for 2)
$32
-
Breakfast at French Cafe (for 2)
$37
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Seattle
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Seattle.
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Chef Guided Food Tour of Pike Place Market- 1 Hour:
$34
-
Pike Place Market: Walking Food Tour:
$48
-
Pike Place Market Chef-Guided Food Tour:
$56
-
Chef Guided Food Tour of Pike Place Market- 2 Hours:
$58
-
Pacific Northwest-Style Dinner and Pairing in Seattle:
$61
-
Exclusive: Early-Access Food Tour of Pike Place Market:
$73
-
Street Theater and Dinner in Seattle's Fremont District:
$86
-
Seattle Dinner Cruise:
$115
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.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $18 per day to get around in Seattle.
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 Departure Transfer: Hotel or Cruise Port to New Orleans Airport:
$20
-
New Orleans Shared Airport Transfers:
$24
-
Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel or Cruise Port to New Orleans Airport:
$26
-
Private Transfer from New Orleans Airport to Hotel or Port:
$32
-
Private Departure Transfer: Hotel or Cruise Port to MSY:
$40
-
Shared Roundtrip Transfer: Hotel or Cruise Port to New Orleans Airport:
$40
-
New Orleans Departure Chauffeur Driven Airport Transfer:
$48
-
Private Departure Transfer: Hotel or Cruise to MSY by Executive Sedan:
$48
-
Private Arrival Transfer: MSY to Hotel or Cruise Port by Executive SUV:
$50
-
Luxury Transfer from New Orleans International Airport to Downtown Hotels:
$59
-
Private Roundtrip Transfer: New Orleans Airport to Hotel or Cruise Port:
$64
-
Departure Private Transfer New Orleans to New Orleans MSY or Port - Business Car:
$67
Typical Local Transportation prices in Seattle
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Seattle:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Seattle
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Seattle:
-
Transfer in Private Vehicle from Seattle Tacoma Airport to Seattle Downtown:
$60
-
Transfer in Private Vehicle from Seattle Downtown to Tacoma Airport:
$60
-
Transfer in Private Minivan from Seattle Tacoma Airport to Seattle Downtown:
$84
-
Transfer in Private Minivan from Seattle Downtown to Tacoma Airport:
$84
-
Seattle to Whistler Private Transfer:
$1,076
-
Seattle to Seattle Tacoma Airport (SEA) - Departure Private Transfer:
$92
-
Seattle Tacoma Airport (SEA) to Seattle - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$184
-
Seattle Tacoma Airport (SEA) to Seattle - Arrival Private Transfer:
$92
-
Seattle Tacoma Airport (SEA) to Cruise Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$142
-
Seattle Tacoma Airport (SEA) to Cruise Port - Arrival Private Transfer:
$71
-
Seattle Roundtrip Chauffeur Driven Airport Transfer by Private Van:
$210
-
Seattle Roundtrip Chauffeur Driven Airport Transfer by Executive Sedan:
$100
Is it cheaper to fly into New Orleans or Seattle?
Prices for flights to both Seattle 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.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $12 per person, per day in Seattle. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
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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New Orleans City Park Private Tour and Exploration Game:
$3.72
-
Your new addiction! The best women’s shoe shopping experience in NOLA!:
$5.00
-
Walking the Tremé: A Self-guided Audio Tour of New Orleans:
$5.34
-
New Orleans Esplanade Ridge: A Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$5.34
-
Struttin' Down Royal Street Walking Audio Tour by VoiceMap:
$5.34
-
Metairie Cemetery Stories Walking Audio Tour by VoiceMap:
$5.34
-
A Walk in the Park: City Park New Orleans Audio Tour:
$5.34
-
Bywater Stroll: Explore the Evolving Neighbourhood on an Audio Walking Tour:
$5.40
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Beyond the French Quarter: New Orleans Off the Beaten Path Audio Tour:
$5.40
-
New Orleans Virtual Self-Paced Guided City Tour:
$5.99
-
One Hour Saint Louis Cemetery Number One Walking Tour:
$10
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Skip the Line: Historic House Tour Ticket:
$10
Tours and Activities in Seattle
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Seattle are as follows:
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20-Minute Greater Seattle Scenic Airplane Tour:
$102
-
3-Day Seattle Olympic+Mount Rainier National Park tour(Seattle departure) APOR3:
$285
-
3-Hour Seattle City Tour:
$80
-
4-Hour Seattle City Tour:
$77
-
5-Day Yellowstone+Grand Teton National Park Tour ( Seattle departure ) SYG5:
$615
-
A Feast for Foodies Walking Tour In Seattle:
$201
-
Afternoon 3-Hour Seattle City Tour:
$76
-
Bainbridge Island Wine and History - Private Luxury Day Tour with Lunch:
$450
-
Bainbridge Island Wine and History Luxury Small-Group Day Tour with Lunch:
$249
-
Beneath The Streets Underground History Tour:
$29
-
Best of Mount Rainier National Park from All-Inclusive Small-Group Tour:
$263
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Best of Olympic National Park from All-Inclusive Small-Group Day Tour:
$263
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting New Orleans spend on average $48 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
The average person spends about $13 on alcoholic beverages in Seattle per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
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
-
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Seattle
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Seattle:
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Seattle Bar Hunt: Sleepless in Seattle Bar Crawl:
$12
-
Haunted Seattle Ghost and Pub Walking Tour:
$27
-
Georgetown Brewery Tour:
$72
-
Bon Vivant Woodinville Wine Tasting Tour:
$98
-
Half-Day Coffee, Chocolate, and Wine Tour:
$99
-
Seattle Coffee, Chocolate and Wine Tour:
$112
-
Seattle Wine Tour (Hourly):
$135
-
7-Hour Wenatchee White Water Rafting and Wine Tour:
$145
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From Snoqualmie Falls & Woodinville Wine Tasting:
$209
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Seattle All-Inclusive: Hike Mt. Rainier and Wine Tasting:
$263
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between New Orleans and Seattle, we can see that New Orleans is more expensive. And not only is Seattle much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Seattle would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Seattle 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 Seattle.
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