Which place is cheaper, South Carolina or North Carolina?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit North Carolina or South Carolina?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between North Carolina and South Carolina can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: North Carolina or South Carolina?
North Carolina
North Carolina is a diverse state in the southern United States. The state has a variety of landscapes, with mountains, forests, and beaches all represented. The state's elevation ranges from sea level to 6,684 feet on Mount Mitchell, which is the highest point in North America east of the Mississippi. There are large cosmopolitan cities like Charlotte, and there are quaint college towns like Chapel Hill. North Carolina is the nineth most populous state in the country and the economy is currently centered around engineering, energy, biotechnology, and finance. Historically, the state's economy developed from the tobacco, textile, and furniture making industries.
South Carolina
The U.S. state of South Carolina is a part of the American South-rich in all the culture, cuisine, and countryside that make up the region. From the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains to a stunning coastline with many charming towns in between, the landscape of South Carolina is full of things to do and see. There are many great opportunities to dive into the past while indulging in the culture that thrives today.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in United States of America, The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America, and The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America.
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North Carolina Prices
USA PricesSouth Carolina Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNorth Carolina $215South Carolina $242
The average daily cost (per person) in North Carolina is $215, while the average daily cost in South Carolina is $242. 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 North Carolina and South Carolina in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNorth Carolina $112South Carolina $96
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNorth Carolina $224South Carolina $192
Compare Hotels in North Carolina and South Carolina
Looking for a hotel in North Carolina or South Carolina? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.North Carolina $36South Carolina $33
Hired Cars and Shuttles in South Carolina
Some specific examples of transportation prices in South Carolina:
- Private Transfer from Charleston Port to Charleston Airport (CHS): $61
- Myrtle Beach Intl. Airport (MYR) to Myrtle Beach - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $79
- Greenville to Greenville-Spartanburg Airport (GSP) - Departure Private Transfer: $85
- Greenville-Spartanburg Airport (GSP) to Greenville - Arrival Private Transfer: $85
- Charleston AirportCHS to Isle of Palms/Sullivans Private Transfer: $144
- Greenville-Spartanburg Airport (GSP) to Greenville - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $170
- Charleston Airport (CHS) to Kiawah/Seabrook Islands – Arrival Private Transfer: $203
- Charleston Airport (CHS) to Charleston city - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $210
- Charleston AirportCHS to Isle of Palms/Sullivans Private Transfer: $287
Is it cheaper to fly into North Carolina or South Carolina?
Prices for flights to both South Carolina and North Carolina 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 dayNorth Carolina $75South Carolina $88
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in South Carolina
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in South Carolina.
- The Greenville Sampler, a 2 Hour Food Tour: $50
- Riga Tony's Murder Mystery Dinner Show: $60
- Polynesian Fire Luau and Dinner Show Ticket in Myrtle Beach: $67
- Charleston Sunset Blues & BBQ Dinner Cruise: $72
- Hands-on Cooking Class in Charleston: $99
- Charleston Harbor Luxury Dinner Cruise with Live Music: $100
- Hilton Head Sunset Dinner Cruise: $109
- Downtown Charleston Food Tour: $110
- Charleston Upper King Street Food Tour: $110
- Charleston's Savor the Flavors of Upper King Street Walking Food Tour: $111
- Charleston French Quarter or Brunch Food Tour with 7+ Tastings: $111
- Sunset Hibachi Dinner Cruise: $128
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.North Carolina $25South Carolina $25
Tours and Activities in South Carolina
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for South Carolina are as follows:
- Charleston Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $5.83
- Charleston Self Guided Audio Experience: $6.00
- Charleston History & Mystery: Interactive Walking Tour Game: $6.64
- Charleston's Haunted Ghost Tour - Solo Smart Phone Guided Tour: $6.75
- Charleston Ghost Tour: $8.00
- True Crime Walking Tour in Charleston: $8.00
- Self-Guided "The French Quarter Charleston" Solo Walking Tour: $9.75
- Window into American History: A Self-guided Charleston Audio Tour: $9.99
- Epic Royalty Themed Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Greenville: $10
- Charleston Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $13
- 300 Years of War and Peacetime in Charleston: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
- Murder Mystery Detective Experience in Greenville SC: $15
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNorth Carolina $29South Carolina $30
Sample the Local Flavors in South Carolina
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in South Carolina:
- Tour and Tasting at Striped Pig Distillery: $20
- Charleston’s Spirits & Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl: $29
- Speakeasy Sagas - Charleston Prohibition Pub Crawl: $35
- Haunted Pub Crawl for the Broken-Hearted: $35
When comparing the travel costs between North Carolina and South Carolina, we can see that South Carolina 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.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is North Carolina Expensive? and Is South Carolina Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, North Carolina or South Carolina?
North Carolina has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of South Carolina. When comparing the sizes of North Carolina and South Carolina, 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.