Which place is cheaper, South Carolina or North Carolina?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNorth Carolina $185South Carolina $207
The average daily cost (per person) in North Carolina is $185, while the average daily cost in South Carolina is $207. 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 Departure Transfer to Myrtle Beach Airport (MYR): $36
- Private Arrival Transfer from Myrtle Beach Airport MYR: $36
- Greenville to Greenville-Spartanburg Airport (GSP) - Departure Private Transfer: $37
- Greenville-Spartanburg Airport (GSP) to Greenville - Arrival Private Transfer: $37
- Myrtle Beach to Myrtle Beach Intl. Airport (MYR) - Departure Private Transfer: $52
- Private Transfer from Charleston Cruise Port to Charleston city: $54
- Private Transfer from Charleston City to Charleston Cruise Port: $54
- Greenville-Spartanburg Airport (GSP) to Greenville - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $74
- Charleston city to Charleston Airport (CHS) - Departure Private Transfer: $87
- Charleston Airport (CHS) to Folly Beach - Arrival Private Transfer: $103
- Charleston Airport to Isle of Palms/Sullivans Island– Arrival Private Transfer: $103
- Folly Beach to Charleston Airport (CHS) - Departure Private Transfer: $103
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 $45South Carolina $53
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in South Carolina
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in South Carolina.
- Murder Mystery Dinner Show in Myrtle Beach: $50
- Charleston Sunset Blues & BBQ Dinner Cruise: $63
- Polynesian Fire Luau and Dinner Show Ticket in Myrtle Beach: $67
- Charleston Harbor Luxury Dinner Cruise with Live Music: $88
- Charleston Food Tour: $99
- Sunset Hibachi Dinner Cruise : $102
- Hilton Head Sunset Dinner Cruise: $106
- Charleston Farm-to-Table Food Tour and Chef's Challenge: $109
- Charleston Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $110
- Downtown Charleston Food Tour: $110
- Savor the Flavors of Charleston Walking Food Tour: $110
- Charleston's Savor the Flavors of Upper King Street Walking Food Tour: $110
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:
- Self-Guided "The French Quarter Charleston" Solo Walking Tour: $7.50
- 300 Years of War and Peacetime in Charleston: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
- Greenville Scavenger Hunt: Greenville Adventure: $12
- Kazoo Factory Tour & Museum : $15
- Charleston Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $15
- Murder Mystery Detective Experience Myrtle Beach, SC: $15
- Trolley Tour in Wadmalaw Island of South Carolina: $17
- Evening History Tour: $20
- Highlights of Charleston Guided Walking Tour: $23
- Historic Charleston Guided Sightseeing Walking Tour: $27
- Charleston Family & Child-Friendly Nighttime Ghost Tour with Unitarian Graveyard: $27
- Charleston Spooktacular All-Ages Ghost Walking Tour: $27
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:
- Charleston Women and Wine Tour: $20
- Spooky & Haunted Paranormal Bar Crawl Downtown Greenville: $32
- Bay Street Bastards Pub Crawl Shared Tour in Charleston : $35
- Hilton Head's ONLY Distillery Experience: $55
- Charleston Brewery District Cruise (Public Tour): $95
- Half Day Party Bus Brewery Tour of Charleston: $140
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.