Should you visit Philadelphia or Mystic?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Philadelphia or Mystic, 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.
Mystic
Mystic is a popular tourist destination in Connecticut for its many marinas, historic buildings, aquarium, and seaport. It was historically a shipbuilding and maritime town but today it attracts crowds from many nearby states and regions. Sailing trips are a fun activity that get visitors out on the water. The town is also near Foxwoods Casino.
Which city is cheaper, Mystic 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 Mystic is $168. 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 Mystic 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.
For a normal double-occupancy room in Mystic, $200 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Mystic, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $100, such as in a hostel.
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.
On average, meal and food prices in Mystic cost around $42 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $17.
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Food
Meals for one day
Philadelphia $39
Mystic $42
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mystic
For Mystic, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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2-Hour Guided Walking Tour with Pizza and Sweets:
$39
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.
To get around in Mystic, the average visitor spends $45 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.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Philadelphia
Also for Philadelphia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Transfer in executive private vehicle from Philadelphia City Center to Airport:
$70
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Transfer in executive private vehicle from Philadelphia Airport to City Center:
$70
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Transfer in executive private minivan from Philadelphia City Center to Airport:
$95
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Transfer in executive private minivan from Philadelphia Airport to City Center:
$95
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Transfer from Philadelphia International Airport to Philadelphia:
$100
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Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel to Philadelphia Airport:
$51
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Shared Arrival Transfer: Philadelphia Airport to Hotel:
$51
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RoundTrip transfer in executive private minivan from-to Airpt-Philadelphia City:
$191
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Round-Trip Transfer in Executive Private Car from-to Airport - Philadelphia City:
$140
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Private transfer from or to MDT , PHL airports , Philadelphia and Harrisburg, PA:
$200
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Private Transfer: Philadelphia to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL):
$622
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Private Transfer: Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) to Philadelphia:
$622
Is it cheaper to fly into Philadelphia or Mystic?
Prices for flights to both Mystic 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.
In Mystic, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $19 per person, per day.
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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1776 History and Cheesesteak Tour:
$28
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2-Day Philadelphia Tour from Boston:
$549
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2-Hour German-Language Historic Walking Tour:
$195
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Amazing Philadelphia Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$44
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Art and Controversy: An audio tour of Philadelphia's most infamous art scandals:
$5.00
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Badass Women's History Tour of Philadelphia:
$40
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Beyond the [Liberty] Bell History Tour:
$40
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Brandywine Valley Tour with Private Driver:
$581
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Cemetery and Serial Killers Walking Tour of Philadelphia:
$35
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City Sightseeing Philadelphia Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour:
$36
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Colonial Era Philadelphia Waterfront Walking Tour:
$215
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Colonial Philadelphia Waterfront Walking Tour:
$195
Tours and Activities in Mystic
For Mystic, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Fields of Fire Adventure Park Admission Ticket:
$58
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Mystic Seaport Museum Adventure:
$19
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Philadelphia spend on average $17 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typically, people visiting Mystic spend on average $25 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
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
-
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 Mystic, we can see that Mystic 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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