Which place is cheaper, Tucson or Orlando?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Orlando or Tucson?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Orlando or Tucson? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Orlando or Tucson?
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.
Tucson
Tucson, Arizona is the second largest city in the state and sits at an elevation of 2,400 feet. It's temperature is slightly milder than Phoenix and it is a pleasant place to visit. Most people arrive in the city by car, but Amtrak does travel through Tucson, as does Greyhound. The area is also served by the Tucson International Airport. Once in the city, you'll likely want to have access to a car, as the city is not very pedestrian friendly and public transportation is very much lacking. Many popular and beautiful sights are also outside of town in the surrounding desert, so having access to a vehicle is paramount if you hope to visit any of the places.
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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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayOrlando $321Tucson $157
The average daily cost (per person) in Orlando is $321, while the average daily cost in Tucson is $157. 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 Orlando and Tucson in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personOrlando $154Tucson $93
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomOrlando $308Tucson $186
Compare Hotels in Orlando and Tucson
Looking for a hotel in Orlando or Tucson? 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Orlando Hotel Prices and Tucson Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Orlando $66Tucson $27
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Orlando
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Orlando are as follows:
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Parking$14
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Taxi Ride$45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Orlando
Also for Orlando, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Orlando APT-HTL (MCO): $96
- Transfer: Lake Buena Vista Area Hotels to Orlando Airport (MCO): $19
- Transfer service in Orlando. MCO: $75
- Transfer in private minivan Orlando Airport (MCO) - Orlando downtown: $67
- Transfer from Orlando International Airport to Central Florida: $115
- Sedan Transfer Orlando Airport to Lake Buena VIsta Resort: $150
- SUV Transfer TO or FROM MCO to Lake Buena Vista : $145
- SUV Transfer From Orlando Airport to Lake Buena Vista Area Hotels: $150
- Roundtrip Transfer: Orlando Airport to Orlando Hotels : $124
- Roundtrip MCO Orlando Airport Transfer to Disney/Orlando Hotels: $107
- Private transfer Orlando International Airport MCO to Port Canaveral, Cocoa.: $70
- Private Transfers from Port Canaveral to Lake Buena Vista Hotels: $250
Is it cheaper to fly into Orlando or Tucson?
Prices for flights to both Tucson 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayOrlando $65Tucson $36
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: $38
- Tastes of the World Food Tour in Winter Haven : $50
- Señor Frogs Lunch / Dinner Package: $50
- Pirates Adventure Dinner Show with Drinks: $51
- Dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe with Live Music: $58
- Polynesian Fire Luau with Dinner and Live Show: $75
- Sleuth's Mystery Dinner Show, Orlando: $76
- Medieval Times Dinner Show in Orlando: $78
- Teatro Martini Dinner Show in Orlando: $79
- Food Tour of Local Orlando's Ivanhoe Village : $89
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Orlando $204Tucson $16
Typical Entertainment Prices in Orlando
For Orlando, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Universal Studios for Two$110
Tours and Activities in Orlando
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Orlando.
- 90 minute Everglades Airboat Tour near Orlando Florida : $89
- 1 Hour Everglades Airboat Tour Central Florida: $69
- 16 miles Private Helicopter Day Tour over Fun Spot: $65
- 2 Hour Investigative Walking Ghost Tour of Downtown Orlando: $50
- 2 hours E-Bike with 2-Child Trailer Kissimmee Lakefront Tour : $55
- 23 miles Day Flight Heli Coaster Adventure Ride: $128
- 23 miles Private Helicopter After-hours Tour Orlando Theme Parks: $125
- 3- or 4-Park Magic Ticket at Walt Disney World Resort: $284
- 4-hour Rental Mountain Bike Experience : $56
- 8-Hour Automatic Polaris Slingshot SL Adventure Rental: $300
- Admission Ticket to Museum of Illusions Orlando: $31
- BEST Silver Springs and Glass-bottom Boat 1-Day Tour from Orlando: $115
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayOrlando $30Tucson $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Orlando
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Orlando:
- Orlando Virtual Bar Crawl & Scavenger Hunt: $12
- Orlando Haunts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $29
- Orlando Haunts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- Pontoon Pub Crawl, 5 Lakeside Pubs and Restaurants Visit by Boat: $90
- Happy Hour Downtown Pub Crawl: $170
- Chef's Table and Wine Tasting Tour: $300
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Orlando and Tucson, we can see that Orlando is more expensive. And not only is Tucson much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Tucson would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tucson 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 Tucson.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Orlando Expensive? and Is Tucson Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Orlando or Tucson?
Tucson has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Orlando. When comparing the sizes of Orlando and Tucson, 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.