Should you visit Philadelphia or Hershey?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Philadelphia or Hershey, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Philadelphia
Philadelphia is the fourth largest urban area, and the fifth largest city in the United States. It's located in southeastern Pennsylvania and has a rich history, having once been the capital of the United States. The city has very impressive architecture, museums, universities, and entertainment venues. It's a cultural and artistic center for the country and it continues to climb as a top travel destination.
Hershey
Often called "Chocolatetown, USA" and "The Sweetest Place on Earth," Hershey, Pennsylvania is most known for being home to the famous Hershey's chocolates. The Hershey Company was founded in 1894 by Milton S. Hershey, and has grown to sell products in over sixty countries worldwide. Before the town was named Hershey, it was called Derry Church and was the hometown of the chocolatier. While there are now manufacturing plants in many locations, Hershey, PA, remains the location that draws the crowds. It is the place where the Hershey Company originated and is home to attractions like Hershey Park, Hershey Gardens, and Hershey's Chocolate World.
Which city is cheaper, Hershey or Philadelphia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Philadelphia is $151, while the average daily cost in Hershey is $170. 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 Philadelphia and Hershey in more detail.
Accommodation
The prices for places to stay in Philadelphia can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $95, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $190.
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $91. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Hershey the cost is $182 on average.
Food
Philadelphia food costs typically run travelers around $39 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.
While meal prices in Hershey can vary, the average travelers spends about $49 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Hershey should cost around $20 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Hershey is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
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Food
Meals for one day
Philadelphia $39
Hershey $49
Typical Food prices in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Flavors of Philly Food Tour:
$44
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Decadent Gourmet Food Tour:
$44
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Flavors of Philly Food Tour:
$52
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Highlights of East Passyunk Food Tour:
$54
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South Philly Italian Family Dinner Tour:
$75
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Historic Food Tour:
$78
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Private Tour: Secret Food Tours Philadelphia:
$90
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Spirit of Philadelphia Dinner Cruise with Buffet:
$107
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Secret Food Tours Philadelphia w/ Private Tour Option:
$193
Typical Food prices in Hershey
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Hershey:
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Frozen Hot Chocolate
$4.19
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Plain and Fancy Farm
$46
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Homemade Apple Butter
$7.98
Local Transportation
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Philadelphia than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $22 on transportation in Philadelphia on average per day.
The cost of a taxi ride in Hershey is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $39 per person, per day, on local transportation in Hershey.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Philadelphia
Also for Philadelphia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Arrival Private Transfer Philadelphia Airport PHL to Philadelphia City by SUV:
$124
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Arrival Private Transfer Philadelphia Airport PHL to Philadelphia by Limousine:
$117
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Arrival Private Transfer Philadelphia Airport PHL to Philadelphia by Minibus:
$204
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Arrival Private Transfer Philadelphia Airport PHL to Philadelphia by Minivan:
$123
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Arrival Private Transfer Philadelphia Airport PHL to Philadelphia by Sedan:
$68
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Arrival Private Transfer Philadelphia Train Station to Philadelphia by SUV:
$124
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Arrival Private Transfer Philadelphia Train Station to Philadelphia by Sedan:
$68
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Departure Private Transfer Philadelphia City to Philadelphia Airport PHL by SUV:
$124
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Departure Private Transfer Philadelphia to Philadelphia Airport PHL by Limousine:
$117
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Departure Private Transfer Philadelphia to Philadelphia Airport PHL by Minibus:
$204
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Departure Private Transfer Philadelphia to Philadelphia Airport PHL by Minivan:
$123
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Departure Private Transfer Philadelphia to Philadelphia Airport PHL by Sedan:
$68
Is it cheaper to fly into Philadelphia or Hershey?
Prices for flights to both Hershey and Philadelphia 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
Sightseeing expenses in Philadelphia, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $22 per day, per person.
Entertainment and activities in Hershey typically cost an average of $43 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Typical Entertainment prices in Philadelphia
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Philadelphia's activities, tours, and tickets:
Tours and Activities in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Art and Controversy: An audio tour of Philadelphia's most infamous art scandals:
$5.00
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Philadelphia's Lost Waterfront: Explore the historic city on an audio tour:
$5.00
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Ultimate Philadelphia Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$6.00
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Philadelphia Architecture: Discover Every American Style on a GPS Audio Tour:
$6.99
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Philadelphia Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$14
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Penn Museum Admission Ticket:
$18
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Grim, Dark, and Twisted History Tour:
$19
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Franklin Footsteps Historic Walking Tour:
$19
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Philadelphia Walking Ghost Tour:
$20
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Franklin's Footsteps Walking Tour:
$20
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Skip the Line: Museum of the American Revolution Admission Ticket:
$21
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Philadelphia Historical Independence Walking Tour:
$21
Typical Entertainment prices in Hershey
Here are a few typical costs in Hershey for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in Hershey
Here are a few actual costs in Hershey for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Skip the Line: AACA Museum Admission Ticket:
$13
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Philadelphia spend on average $17 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Hershey may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $22 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Philadelphia
Also in Philadelphia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Haunted Pub Crawl:
$45
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Philadelphia Prohibition Pub Crawl:
$45
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Haunted Pub Crawl:
$45
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2-Hour Philly on Tap Pub Tour:
$65
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Sip of Philly Brewery Tour:
$79
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2-Hour Old City Wine Tasting Tour:
$96
When comparing the travel costs between Philadelphia and Hershey, we can see that Hershey 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.
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