Which place is cheaper, Dayton or Raleigh?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Raleigh or Dayton?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Raleigh or Dayton? 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: Raleigh or Dayton?
Raleigh
Raleigh is the capital city of the state of North Carolina. The city has a population of about 450,000 and is home to many colleges and university including North Carolina State University, Shaw University, Saint Augustine's College, Meredith College and Peace University. The city has a wide range of museums, restaurants, theaters, and parks. There's also an extensive greenway system that is great for biking or running.
Dayton
Located in southwest Ohio, Dayton is known as the "Gem City." It's the original home of Orville and Wilbur Wright, the brothers who designed the first airplane. You'll also find the Dayton Aviation Heritage Park here, which is one of the only multi-site National Parks in the United States. The cities climate has four different seasons, winter, spring, summer and fall. The winter months are quite cold and you can expect a decent amount of snow in the area. Spring remains cool and there are infrequent showers. This is also the peak time for tornadoes in the area. Summer is hot and humid and can be unpleasant at times, but fall is crisp and refreshing with occasional storms and infrequent tornadoes.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America, The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRaleigh $189Dayton $323
The average daily cost (per person) in Raleigh is $189, while the average daily cost in Dayton is $323. 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 Raleigh and Dayton in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRaleigh $104Dayton $250
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRaleigh $208Dayton $500
Compare Hotels in Raleigh and Dayton
Looking for a hotel in Raleigh or Dayton? 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: Raleigh Hotel Prices and Dayton Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Raleigh $37Dayton $25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Raleigh
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Raleigh:
- Raleigh-Durham Airport (RDU) to Raleigh Arrival Private Transfer: $59
- Raleigh to Raleigh-Durham Airport (RDU) - Departure Private Transfer: $59
- Raleigh-Durham Airport (RDU) to Durham - Arrival Private Transfer: $62
- Durham to Raleigh-Durham Airport (RDU) - Departure Private Transfer: $62
- Raleigh-Durham Airport (RDU) to Raleigh - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $117
- Raleigh-Durham Airport (RDU) to Durham - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $124
Is it cheaper to fly into Raleigh or Dayton?
Prices for flights to both Dayton and Raleigh 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 dayRaleigh $57Dayton $61
Typical Food Prices in Raleigh
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Raleigh:
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The Pit Authentic BBQ (for 3)$84
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Raleigh
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Raleigh.
- Private Cooking Class in Durham with an Expert Home Cook: $104
Typical Food Prices in Dayton
Some typical examples of dining costs in Dayton are as follows:
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Noodle Company Lunch (for 2)$17
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Indian Food Dinner (for 2)$34
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Raleigh $37Dayton -
Tours and Activities in Raleigh
Here are a few actual costs in Raleigh for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure Self-Guided City Game: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Durham by Wacky Walks: $10
- Murder Mystery Detective Experience Chapel Hill, NC: $15
- Raleigh Historian-Guided Downtown Walking Tour: $16
- Guided Walking Historian Tour in Downtown Durham: $16
- Raleigh Downtown: Historic Walking Tours: $16
- Raleigh Ghost and Urban Legend Tour: $16
- Raleigh African American History Tour: $16
- True Crime History Guided Walking Tour: $16
- Ghosts and Ghouls Hauntings Walking Tour: $26
- Raleigh Ghosts and Ghouls Hauntings Tour: $30
- Raleigh Puzzling Adventure: $35
Tours and Activities in Dayton
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Dayton are as follows:
- Daytona Beach: Guided Kayaking or Standup Paddling Tour: $65
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRaleigh $27Dayton -
Sample the Local Flavors in Dayton
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dayton:
- Dive Bar Bus Crawl: $38
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Raleigh and Dayton, we can see that Dayton is more expensive. And not only is Raleigh much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Raleigh would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Raleigh 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 Dayton would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dayton than you might in Raleigh.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Raleigh Expensive? and Is Dayton Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Raleigh or Dayton?
Raleigh has a larger population, and is about 73% larger than the population of Dayton. When comparing the sizes of Raleigh and Dayton, 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.
When is the best time to visit Raleigh or Dayton?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Raleigh or Dayton in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Raleigh and Dayton. Many travelers come to Raleigh for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
Raleigh is around the same temperature as Dayton in the summer. The daily temperature in Raleigh averages around 79°F (26°C) in July, and Dayton fluctuates around 78°F (26°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Dayton this time of the year. In Raleigh, it's very sunny this time of the year. Raleigh usually receives less sunshine than Dayton during summer. Raleigh gets 259 hours of sunny skies, while Dayton receives 298 hours of full sun in the summer.
Raleigh gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Raleigh usually receives more rain than Dayton. Raleigh gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyRaleigh 79°F (26°C)Dayton 78°F (26°C)
Should I visit Raleigh or Dayton in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Raleigh as well as Dayton. Many visitors come to Raleigh in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions.
In the autumn, Raleigh is a little warmer than Dayton. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Raleigh in October average around 61°F (16°C), and Dayton averages at about 57°F (14°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Raleigh this time of the year. In the autumn, Raleigh often gets more sunshine than Dayton. Raleigh gets 211 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dayton receives 188 hours of full sun.
Raleigh usually gets more rain in October than Dayton. Raleigh gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 2.5 inches (64 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberRaleigh 61°F (16°C)Dayton 57°F (14°C)
Should I visit Raleigh or Dayton in the Winter?
Both Dayton and Raleigh are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Raleigh for the museums and the cuisine during these months.
The weather in Dayton can be very cold. Raleigh can be very cold during winter. In January, Raleigh is generally much warmer than Dayton. Daily temperatures in Raleigh average around 40°F (5°C), and Dayton fluctuates around 30°F (-1°C).
Raleigh usually receives more sunshine than Dayton during winter. Raleigh gets 162 hours of sunny skies, while Dayton receives 129 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Raleigh usually receives more rain than Dayton. Raleigh gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 2.1 inches (54 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryRaleigh 40°F (5°C)Dayton 30°F (-1°C)
Should I visit Raleigh or Dayton in the Spring?
Both Dayton and Raleigh during the spring are popular places to visit. The spring months attract visitors to Raleigh because of the activities around the city.
Raleigh is a little warmer than Dayton in the spring. The daily temperature in Raleigh averages around 60°F (16°C) in April, and Dayton fluctuates around 55°F (13°C).
In Dayton, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Raleigh. In the spring, Raleigh often gets more sunshine than Dayton. Raleigh gets 251 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dayton receives 215 hours of full sun.
Raleigh usually gets less rain in April than Dayton. Raleigh gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 3.5 inches (88 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilRaleigh 60°F (16°C)Dayton 55°F (13°C)
Typical Weather for Dayton and Raleigh
| Raleigh | Dayton | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 40°F (5°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 30°F (-1°C) | 2.1 inches (54 mm) |
| Feb | 43°F (6°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) | 33°F (1°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
| Mar | 52°F (11°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) | 44°F (7°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Apr | 60°F (16°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) | 55°F (13°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) |
| May | 68°F (20°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) | 65°F (18°C) | 4 inches (102 mm) |
| Jun | 76°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 74°F (23°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) |
| Jul | 79°F (26°C) | 5.1 inches (129 mm) | 78°F (26°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) |
| Aug | 78°F (26°C) | 4.9 inches (125 mm) | 76°F (25°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
| Sep | 73°F (23°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) | 69°F (21°C) | 2.6 inches (65 mm) |
| Oct | 61°F (16°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.5 inches (64 mm) |
| Nov | 53°F (11°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) | 47°F (8°C) | 3.1 inches (80 mm) |
| Dec | 44°F (7°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) | 35°F (2°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) |
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.