Which place is cheaper, Texas or North Carolina?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit North Carolina or Texas?
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 Texas can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: North Carolina or Texas?
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.
Texas
Texas is the second largest and second most populated state in the United States. It measures 267,000 square miles in size and exploring even a large section of the state takes longer than you might expect. The size and distinctive culture of the area brings much pride to the state's natives. The state was briefly its own country for ten years, starting in 1836 after the residents rebelled as a territory of first Spain and then Mexico. It then joined the United States in 1845. The state maintains its independent personality and many Texans proudly display the state flag near their home or car.
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 $185Texas $198
The average daily cost (per person) in North Carolina is $185, while the average daily cost in Texas is $198. 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 Texas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNorth Carolina $112Texas $80
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNorth Carolina $224Texas $160
Compare Hotels in North Carolina and Texas
Looking for a hotel in North Carolina or Texas? 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 $36Texas $49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Texas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Texas:
- Private Departure Transfer to Dallas Fort Worth Airport DFW: $40
- El Paso International Airport (ELP) to El Paso - Arrival Private Transfer : $40
- El Paso to El Paso International Airport (ELP) - Departure Private Transfer: $40
- Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL) to Dallas - Arrival Private Transfer: $41
- Dallas to Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL) - Departure Private Transfer: $41
- Private Departure Transfer to Houston George Bush Airport IAH: $51
- Private Arrival Transfer from Houston George Bush Airport (IAH): $51
- Transfer in private vehicle from Houston George Bush Airport to Houston Downtown: $60
- Transfer executive private car from Dallas City Center - Dallas Airport (DFW): $60
- Transfer private executive car from Dallas Airport (DFW)- City Center: $60
- Allen or Plano to Dallas Fort Worth Airport (DFW) - Departure Private Transfer: $61
- Transfer in executive private car from Dallas City Center - Dallas Airport (DAL): $71
Is it cheaper to fly into North Carolina or Texas?
Prices for flights to both Texas 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 $45Texas $43
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Texas
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Texas.
- East Austin Food Tour: $44
- Billy Bob's Texas Honky Tonk Dinner and Photo Package: $51
- Seasonal Pizza From Scratch Experience in Houston: $55
- Murder Mystery Dinner and Show: $66
- Astroville Food Tour of Downtown Houston with Tunnel Access: $70
- The Haunted Dinner Tour: $75
- Downtown Houston Food Tour: $76
- The Heights Food Tour in Houston: $76
- Devour Downtown Austin Walking Food Tour: $80
- Houston Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $85
- Deep Ellum Foodie Lovers Tour with Food Tours of America: $85
- Famous Texas BBQ & Food Tour in Austin: $89
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.North Carolina $25Texas $23
Tours and Activities in Texas
Here are a few actual costs in Texas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- The Stockyards Haunted Self Guided Audio App Walking Tour: $6.50
- Self-Guided Ghost Tour on the Galveston Strand: $6.75
- Historic Dallas Downtown Solo Self Guided Walking Tour : $7.75
- Sights of Downtown Houston Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $7.99
- Big Bend National Park Self Guided Audio Tour Guide: $9.99
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Houston by Wacky Walks: $10
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Waco by Wacky Walks: $10
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Fort Worth by Wacky Walks: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Fort Worth by Crazy Dash: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Fort Worth by 3Quest Challenge: $10
- Unique Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt Experience in League City: $10
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Corpus Christi by 3Quest Challenge: $10
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNorth Carolina $29Texas $19
Sample the Local Flavors in Texas
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Texas:
- Galveston Island Brewing Brewery Tour with Beer Tasting : $10
- Austin Bar Hunt: Sixth Street Spree: Austin Bar Crawl: $12
- Epic San Antonio Bar Crawl: By Let’s Roam: $12
- Fort Worth Bar Hunt: Foolproof Fort Worth Bar Crawl: $12
- Death Warmed Over: San Antonio Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
- Galveston Haunted Pub Crawl Walking Tour: $30
- Austin Haunted Pub Crawl Walking Tour: $30
- Texas’ Oldest Haunted Pub Crawl Shared Walking Tour: $30
- Downtown Austin Live Music Pub Crawl: $35
- Austin Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $45
- Stockyards History Tour Fort Worth Pub Crawl: $45
- Party Bike Pub Crawl in Deep Ellum and Downtown Dallas: $55
When comparing the travel costs between North Carolina and Texas, we can see that Texas 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 Texas Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, North Carolina or Texas?
Texas has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of North Carolina. When comparing the sizes of North Carolina and Texas, 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.