Should you visit Philadelphia or Pocono Mountains?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Philadelphia or Pocono Mountains, 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.
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 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 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 Philadelphia and Pocono Mountains 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.
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
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.
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
Philadelphia $39
Pocono Mountains $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
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 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.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Philadelphia
Also for Philadelphia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Departure Transfer to Philadelphia Airport (PHL):
$38
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Private Arrival Transfer from Philadelphia Airport (PHL):
$38
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Private Airport Transfer: Philadelphia Int. Airport (PHL) to Philadelphia:
$44
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Private Airport Transfer: Philadelphia to Philadelphia Int. Airport (PHL):
$44
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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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Philadelphia Airport (PHL) to Philadelphia - Arrival Private Transfer:
$60
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Philadelphia to Philadelphia Airport (PHL) - Departure Private Transfer:
$60
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Departure Private Transfer Philadelphia to Philadelphia Airport PHL by Sedan:
$68
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Departure Private Transfer Philadelphia to Philadelphia Train Station by Sedan:
$68
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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 Sedan:
$68
Is it cheaper to fly into Philadelphia or Pocono Mountains?
Prices for flights to both Pocono Mountains 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.
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 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
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Philadelphia spend on average $17 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
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 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 Pocono Mountains, we can see that Philadelphia 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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