Which place is cheaper, Tucson or New Orleans?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit New Orleans or Tucson?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between New Orleans and Tucson can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: New Orleans or Tucson?
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.
Tucson
Tucson, Arizona is the second largest city in the state and sits at an elevation of 2,400 feet. It's temperature is slightly milder than Phoenix and it is a pleasant place to visit. Most people arrive in the city by car, but Amtrak does travel through Tucson, as does Greyhound. The area is also served by the Tucson International Airport. Once in the city, you'll likely want to have access to a car, as the city is not very pedestrian friendly and public transportation is very much lacking. Many popular and beautiful sights are also outside of town in the surrounding desert, so having access to a vehicle is paramount if you hope to visit any of the places.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America, The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America, and The Best Historical Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNew Orleans $239Tucson $157
The average daily cost (per person) in New Orleans is $239, while the average daily cost in Tucson is $157. 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 New Orleans and Tucson in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNew Orleans $125Tucson $93
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNew Orleans $250Tucson $186
Compare Hotels in New Orleans and Tucson
Looking for a hotel in New Orleans or Tucson? 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: New Orleans Hotel Prices and Tucson Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.New Orleans $51Tucson $27
Typical Local Transportation Prices in New Orleans
Some typical examples of transportation costs in New Orleans are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in New Orleans
Also for New Orleans, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from New Orleans MSY or Port to New Orleans by Minibus: $169
- Transfer from New Orleans MSY or Port to New Orleans City by SUV: $93
- Private transfer: New Orleans to New Orleans Airport (MSY): $131
- Private Transfer: New Orleans to Louis Armstrong Airport MSY in Luxury SUV : $114
- Private Transfer: New Orleans to Louis Armstrong Airport MSY in Business Car: $103
- Private Transfer: New Orleans Airport MSY to Cruise Port in SUV: $114
- Private Transfer: Louis Armstrong Airport MSY to New Orleans in Business Car: $102
- Private Transfer in a Luxury Sedan from Louis Armstrong Airport: $69
- Private Transfer in (Rover RSD) New Orleans MSY/Home/Hotel/Work : $55
- Private Transfer from Port Of New of New Orleans Cruise: $210
- Private Transfer New Orleans MSY or Port to New Orleans by Sedan: $76
- Private Transfer From New Orleans To Baton Rouge: $157
Is it cheaper to fly into New Orleans or Tucson?
Prices for flights to both Tucson 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayNew Orleans $45Tucson $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:
- Cajun and Creole Cooking Class with Meal: $38
- Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Jazz Dinner Cruise in New Orleans: $55
- Steamboat Natchez Evening Jazz Cruise with Dinner Option: $55
- Evening Jazz Boat Cruise with Optional Dinner: $55
- French Quarter Food Tour: Signature Flavors of New Orleans: $59
- The Premier New Orleans Food Tour: $77
- Taste Of New Orleans Food Tour and Experience: $80
- French Quarter Food Tour with a Local: $80
- New Orleans' Lower Garden Food Tour: $89
- French Quarter Food Tour: $89
- French Quarter Food Tour with Tastings: $89
- Cooking Class & Cocktail Walking Tour: $106
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.New Orleans $55Tucson $16
Typical Entertainment Prices in New Orleans
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for New Orleans's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Zoo & Aquarium Tickets (2)$75
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Riverboat Cruise$70
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French Quarter City Tour$100
Tours and Activities in New Orleans
For New Orleans, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Walking Instagram Photo Tour in the French Quarter New Orleans: $27
- 2-Hour Guided French Quarter Vampire Walking Tour: $25
- 45 Minute Highlights Tour of the French Quarter: $23
- 90-Minute Jean Lafitte Swamp and Bayou Tour with Transportation: $57
- A Local's Private French Quarter Walking or Biking Tour : $175
- A Locals' Drink Dat! Cocktail Tour: $200
- Adults Only True Crime Dark History New Orleans Walking Tour: $37
- Adults-Only History, Ghost, Vampire, and Voodoo Walking Tour: $30
- Adults-Only New Orleans Ghost, Crime, Voodoo, and Vampire Tour: $37
- Adventurers Ready To Jump Into The Void New Orleans Style Wanted : $35
- Airboat Tour of Louisiana Swamps: $130
- Audio-Guided Whitney Plantation Tour with Transportation: $90
Tours and Activities in Tucson
For Tucson, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Saguaro National Park Self Guided Driving Audio Tour: $75
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNew Orleans $60Tucson $16
Sample the Local Flavors in New Orleans
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in New Orleans:
- Hop on, Hop off Craft Brewery Bus Tour in New Orleans: $10
- Haunted Pub Crawl In-App Audio Tour (ENG): $13
- Discovering the Flavors of Louisiana: Rum & Gin Distillery Tour: $14
- Private New Orleans Seafood Bar Crawl: $15
- Guided Rum Distillery Tour and Tasting: $15
- Spooky Ghost and Haunted Pub Crawl Tour: $17
- Ghost Tour and Haunted Pub Crawl Party: $25
- New Orleans Bar Crawl: $28
- True Crime Pub Crawl in New Orleans: $30
- New Orleans Spooky Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
- Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
- New Orleans Original True Crime Pub Crawl: $30
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between New Orleans and Tucson, we can see that New Orleans is more expensive. And not only is Tucson much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Tucson would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tucson 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 Tucson.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is New Orleans Expensive? and Is Tucson Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, New Orleans or Tucson?
Tucson has a larger population, and is about 7% larger than the population of New Orleans. When comparing the sizes of New Orleans and Tucson, 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.
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.