Should you visit Orlando or Pittsburgh?
Should I visit Orlando or Pittsburgh? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Orlando
Orlando is a haven for tourists from the entire United States and abroad. The most famous sight in Orlando, Walt Disney World, is not actually located in the city at all, but in nearby Lake Buena Vista. The area attracts over 50 million visitors a year and the city's sprawling development has created amenities and entertainment options for tourists of all ages.
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is a city in western Pennsylvania at the junction of 3 rivers. Set between the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers, and a mountain ridge called Mt Washington, Pittsburgh has a unique character that is evident from the moment you arrive. Juxtaposed with the rumbling freight trains and the iconic bridges are the Bladerunner-esque self-driving Uber vehicles, scanning the roads with spinning Lidar scanners. Its Gilded Age sites, including the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, the Carnegie Museum of Art, and the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, speak to its history as an early-20th-century industrial capital. In the North Shore neighborhood are the modern Andy Warhol Museum, Heinz Field football stadium, and PNC Park baseball stadium. Experiencing periods of boom and bust since its founding, the city is in a boom now, and it's a fun place to visit, with top-notch museums, great gardens and parks, and amazing food.
Which city is cheaper, Pittsburgh or Orlando?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Orlando is $240, while the average daily cost in Pittsburgh is $145. 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 Orlando and Pittsburgh in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $224 in Orlando For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
The prices for places to stay in Pittsburgh can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $85, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $170.
Food
The price of a meal in Orlando can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $50 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $20 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
Pittsburgh food costs typically run travelers around $43 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
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Food
Meals for one day
Orlando $50
Pittsburgh $43
Typical Food prices in Orlando
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Orlando:
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Lunch for Two at Epcot
$29
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Orlando
For Orlando, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
The Outta Control Magic Comedy Dinner Show, Orlando:
$34
-
The Outta Control Magic Comedy Dinner Show:
$34
-
Mango's Tropical Cafe Dinner & Show Tickets:
$50
-
Mango's Tropical Cafe Orlando Dinner and Show Ticket:
$50
-
The Rock Dinner Show in Orlando:
$51
-
Food Tour of Celebration:
$55
-
Pirates Dinner Adventure Orlando:
$57
-
Downtown Food Tour:
$60
-
WonderWorks and Outta Control Dinner Show VIP Combo:
$64
-
Audubon Park Garden District Food Tour:
$85
-
Cowboy Rodeo Adventure Tour & BBQ Dinner from Orlando:
$89
-
Dinner with Disney Characters by Limousine:
$119
Local Transportation
To get around in Orlando, the average visitor spends $48 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.
Pittsburgh's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $18 per person, per day on transportation in Pittsburgh.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Orlando
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Orlando are as follows:
-
Parking
$14
-
Taxi Ride
$45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Orlando
Also for Orlando, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Private transfer from or to MIA FLL MCO airports and Orlando FL:
$1,000
-
Private Transfer from Orlando (MCO) Airport to Miami Beach:
$904
-
Private Transfer from Orlando (MCO) Airport to Miami City:
$871
-
Private Transfer from Orlando (MCO) Airport to Miami Cruise Port:
$871
-
Private Transfer from Orlando (MCO) Airport to Miami Airport:
$871
-
Private Transfer from Orlando (MCO) Airport to Saint Simons Island:
$871
-
Orlando Airport (MCO) to Miami Cruise Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$834
-
Orlando Airport (MCO) to Miami accommodation - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$834
-
Private Transfer from Orlando (MCO) Airport to Cape Coral:
$796
-
Private Transfer from Orlando (MCO) Airport to Fort Lauderdale:
$754
-
Private Roundtrip Transfer: Orlando to Clearwater Beach:
$750
-
Private Transfer from Orlando (MCO) Airport to Fort Myers:
$671
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pittsburgh
Also for Pittsburgh, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Pittsburgh Airport (PIT) to Pittsburgh City - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$187
-
Pittsburgh City to Pittsburgh Airport (PIT) - Departure Private Transfer:
$93
-
Pittsburgh Airport (PIT) to Pittsburgh hotel/address - Arrival Private Transfer:
$93
-
Pittsburgh International Airport One Way Transfer:
$80
-
Pittsburgh Departure Private Transfer to Airport:
$69
Is it cheaper to fly into Orlando or Pittsburgh?
Prices for flights to both Pittsburgh and Orlando 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 Orlando, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $163 per person, per day.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Pittsburgh can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $30 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Typical Entertainment prices in Orlando
For Orlando, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Tours and Activities in Orlando
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Orlando.
-
1-Hour Airboat Sunset Tour (Seasonal):
$72
-
1-Hour Private Ski Boat Experience in Florida:
$69
-
2-Park 1-Day Universal Orlando™ Theme Park Tickets:
$174
-
2-Park 2-Day Universal Orlando™ Theme Park Tickets:
$275
-
8-Hour Automatic Polaris Slingshot SL Adventure Rental:
$193
-
A Walk Around Lake Eola Audio Tour:
$6.65
-
Central Florida Everglades Airboat Tour from Orlando:
$59
-
Central Florida Everglades and Safari Park Tour:
$129
-
Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens Admission Ticket:
$20
-
Chef Nite Dining Experience:
$150
-
City Tour of Orlando with Gospel Brunch:
$109
-
Clearwater Beach Deep Sea Fishing Adventure with Lunch:
$149
Tours and Activities in Pittsburgh
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Pittsburgh.
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2-Hr Pittsburgh Walking Tour:
$15
-
Bike the Burgh Tour:
$49
-
Black & Ghost Tour:
$30
-
Entrance Ticket to AT BLAQK House Collections:
$5.60
-
Essential Pittsburgh Experience - The One Tour to Take:
$75
-
Pittsburgh Private Tours:
$94
-
Pittsburgh Scavenger Hunt Experience:
$11
-
Pittsburgh to Logstown: Discover the area's settler history on an audio tour:
$5.99
-
Architecture and History Tour:
$29
-
Beauty of the Burgh Bike Tour:
$49
-
Evening Ghost Tour:
$27
-
Sip of Pittsburgh Brew Tour:
$90
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Orlando, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $24.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Pittsburgh, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $26.
Sample the Local Flavors in Orlando
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Orlando:
-
Florida Craft Beer & Brewery Tour:
$65
Sample the Local Flavors in Pittsburgh
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Pittsburgh:
-
Wacky Pittsburgh Bar Crawl: By Let’s Roam:
$12
-
Pittsburgh Bar Hunt: Party Through Pittsburgh Bar Crawl:
$13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Orlando and Pittsburgh, we can see that Orlando is more expensive. And not only is Pittsburgh much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pittsburgh would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pittsburgh 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 Orlando would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Orlando than you might in Pittsburgh.
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