Should you visit Orlando or Pocono Mountains?
Should I visit Orlando or Pocono Mountains? 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.
Pocono Mountains
The Poconos are a region of mountains, small towns, and natural areas in Eastern Pennsylvania. Located just a few hours from both New York City and Philadelphia, this region of 4 counties (Wayne, Pike, Monroe, & Carbon) consists of plenty of mountain scenery, gorgeous lakes, historic small towns, ski resorts, state parks, water parks, and more.
Which city is cheaper, Pocono Mountains 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 Pocono Mountains is $139. 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 Pocono Mountains 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 average price for accommodation for two people in Pocono Mountains is $142. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
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.
Pocono Mountains food costs typically run travelers around $42 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
Pocono Mountains $42
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:
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The Outta Control Magic Comedy Dinner Show, Orlando:
$34
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The Outta Control Magic Comedy Dinner Show:
$34
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Mango's Tropical Cafe Dinner & Show Tickets:
$50
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Mango's Tropical Cafe Orlando Dinner and Show Ticket:
$50
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The Rock Dinner Show in Orlando:
$51
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Food Tour of Celebration:
$55
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Pirates Dinner Adventure Orlando:
$57
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Downtown Food Tour:
$60
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WonderWorks and Outta Control Dinner Show VIP Combo:
$64
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Audubon Park Garden District Food Tour:
$85
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Cowboy Rodeo Adventure Tour & BBQ Dinner from Orlando:
$89
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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.
The average price of local transportation around Pocono Mountains is $39 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Orlando
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Orlando are as follows:
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Parking
$14
-
Taxi Ride
$45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Orlando
Also for Orlando, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Orlando International Airport Shared Shuttle Transfers:
$15
-
Orlando Attractions Roundtrip Transfer:
$19
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Private Departure Transfer to Orlando Sanford Airport (SFB):
$24
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Private Arrival Transfer - from Orlando Sanford Airport (SFB):
$24
-
Shared Orlando Cruise Port Transfer: Airport to Port:
$32
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Shared Orlando Cruise Port Transfer: Port to Airport:
$32
-
Private Airport Transfer: from Orlando to Orlando International Airport (MCO):
$39
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Private Airport Transfer: Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Orlando:
$39
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Private Airport Transfer: from Orlando Int. Airport (MCO) to Walt Disney World:
$39
-
Disney World or Universal Studios transfer to Orlando Airport MCO up to 4 pax:
$45
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Disney World Resort to Orlando Airport MCO. Private Transfer Up to 4 pax:
$45
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Orlando (MCO) Airport transfer to / from Orlando area hotels (One Way) Regular:
$52
Is it cheaper to fly into Orlando or Pocono Mountains?
Prices for flights to both Pocono Mountains 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.
Pocono Mountains's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $24 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
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.
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A Walk Around Lake Eola Audio Tour:
$6.65
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Port Canaveral Cruise shuttles:
$15
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Port Canaveral Cruise shuttles:
$15
-
Factory Adventure Tour in Chocolate Kingdom:
$18
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Chocolate Kingdom Factory Tour:
$18
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Orlando Walking Ghost Tour:
$20
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Titanic - The Artifact Exhibition Ticket:
$24
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Crayola Experience Orlando Ticket:
$25
-
Lost Caverns Adventure Golf:
$29
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Skip the Line: Indoor Kart Racing Experience Ticket:
$32
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The Escape Game Epic 60-Minute Adventures:
$37
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Kennedy Space Center Tour:
$49
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.
The average person spends about $11 on alcoholic beverages in Pocono Mountains per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in Orlando
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Orlando:
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Florida Craft Beer & Brewery Tour:
$65
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Orlando and Pocono Mountains, we can see that Orlando is more expensive. And not only is Pocono Mountains much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pocono Mountains would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pocono Mountains 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 Pocono Mountains.
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