Which place is cheaper, Niagara Falls or Raleigh?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Raleigh or Niagara Falls?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Raleigh or Niagara Falls? 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 Niagara Falls?
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.
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls, Ontario sits on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, across the border from Niagara Falls, New York. Together these cities have claimed themselves to be the "Honeymoon Capital of the World" a status that is probably little more than a marketing ploy. That said, Niagara Falls, Ontario, is perhaps a quainter and more natural version of its American counterpart. The town has existed as a tourist destination for hundreds of years, with its main attraction, obviously, being Niagara Falls. Today, millions of visitors come to see the falls every year. It's truly an impressive sight, and there is no shortage of entertainment options while you're in the area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada, and The Best Camping Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRaleigh $189Niagara Falls $122
The average daily cost (per person) in Raleigh is $189, while the average daily cost in Niagara Falls is $122. 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 Niagara Falls in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRaleigh $104Niagara Falls $74
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRaleigh $208Niagara Falls $148
Compare Hotels in Raleigh and Niagara Falls
Looking for a hotel in Raleigh or Niagara Falls? 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 Niagara Falls Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Raleigh $37Niagara Falls $16
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: $118
- Raleigh-Durham Airport (RDU) to Durham - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $124
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Niagara Falls
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Niagara Falls:
- Private Departure Transfer to Buffalo Airport (BUF): $104
- Private Transfer: Niagara Falls, ON to Pearson Int’l Airport (YYZ): $134
- Buffalo Niagara Airport (BUF) to Buffalo - Arrival Private Transfer: $42
- Buffalo Niagara Airport (BUF) to Buffalo - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $83
- Buffalo Niagara Airport to Holiday Valley - Round-Trip Transfer: $263
- Buffalo Niagara Airport(BUF) to Holiday Valley - Arrival Transfer: $131
- Buffalo to Buffalo Niagara Airport (BUF) - Departure Private Transfer: $41
- Departure Private Transfer: Niagara Falls to Toronto Airport YYZ in Luxury SUV: $195
- Niagara Buffalo Airport Arrival: Private Transfer to Niagara Falls Ontario: $80
- Niagara Buffalo Airport Departure: Private Transfer to Buffalo Niagara Airport: $79
- Private Arrival Transfer from Buffalo Airport (BUF): $96
- Private Arrival Transfer: Buffalo Niagara Airport to Niagara Falls, Ontario: $88
Is it cheaper to fly into Raleigh or Niagara Falls?
Prices for flights to both Niagara Falls 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 $57Niagara Falls $28
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Niagara Falls
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Niagara Falls.
- The Wing Ride: The Hidden History of Chicken Wings Food Tour: $105
- Walking Food Tour in Niagara Falls: $108
- Niagara Falls Sightseeing Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $130
- Sunset Wine Tour with Dinner Niagara On The Lake: $146
- Guided Night Tour w/ Dinner & Hotel Transfer: $149
- Light up The Falls Small Group Tour with Fallsview Dinner: $155
- Evening Lights Tour with Skylon Tower Dinner: $177
- Sunset Niagara-on-the-Lake Small Group Wine Tour with Dinner: $178
- Niagara Wine Tasting and three courses Dinner: $192
- Niagara Falls Evening Lights Tour With Skylon Tower Dinner: $192
- Night on Niagara Walking Tour with Fireworks Cruise + Dinner: $200
- Small Group Night Tour w/ Dinner & Light Show: $204
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Raleigh $37Niagara Falls $20
Tours and Activities in Raleigh
Here are a few actual costs in Raleigh for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Durham by Wacky Walks: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure Self-Guided City Game: $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: $33
- Raleigh Puzzling Adventure: $35
Typical Entertainment Prices in Niagara Falls
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Niagara Falls are as follows:
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Maid of the Mist$37
Tours and Activities in Niagara Falls
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Niagara Falls are as follows:
- Visit Niagara Falls with bus ticket from/to Hamilton Airport: $3.65
- Niagara Peninsula Smartphone Audio Driving Tour: $6.21
- Niagara Falls, Canada: Niagara Adventure Theater: $11
- Niagara Falls, Canada: Niagara SkyWheel Ticket: $12
- Niagara SkyWheel Admission Ticket: $13
- Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site Admission and Guided Tour: $13
- Niagara's Fury 4D Experience Entry Ticket: $14
- Niagara Falls USA Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $15
- Niagara Falls, Canada: White Water Walk Entry Ticket: $16
- Niagara Falls, Canada: Skylon Tower Observation Deck Ticket: $16
- Niagara Falls, Canada: Bird Kingdom Entry Ticket: $16
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Buffalo by Zombie Scavengers: $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRaleigh $27Niagara Falls $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Niagara Falls
Also in Niagara Falls, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Niagara Wine Tour and Tastings with Included Transportation : $56
- Small Group Niagara-on-the-Lake Wine Tasting Tour: $96
- Sip, Swirl and Savour Chocolate & Wine Tour : $103
- Niagara Craft Brewery Tour Niagara Falls: $110
- 3.5 Hours NOTL E-Bike Wine Tour: $111
- Niagara All American All inclusive Boutique Wine Tour : $114
- Half Day Wine & Cheese Tour - Niagara On The Lake Wine Tour: $119
- Full-Day Group Wine Tour (with cheese and charcuterie) in Niagara-on-the-Lake: $141
- myWineCountry Experience Premium Wine Tours and Tastings: $148
- Relaxing three courses Lunch & Wine Tour through Niagara's Wine Country: $148
- Niagara-on-the-Lake Small Group Wine Tour with Picnic Lunch: $149
- Luxury Buffalo Brewery Tour: $149
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Raleigh and Niagara Falls, we can see that Raleigh is more expensive. And not only is Niagara Falls much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Niagara Falls would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Niagara Falls 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 Raleigh would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Raleigh than you might in Niagara Falls.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Raleigh Expensive? and Is Niagara Falls Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Raleigh or Niagara Falls?
Raleigh has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Niagara Falls. When comparing the sizes of Raleigh and Niagara Falls, 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 Niagara Falls?
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 Niagara Falls in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Raleigh and Niagara Falls. The summer months attract visitors to Raleigh because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Raleigh is generally a little warmer than Niagara Falls. Daily temperatures in Raleigh average around 79°F (26°C), and Niagara Falls fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Niagara Falls this time of the year. In Raleigh, it's very sunny this time of the year. Raleigh usually receives less sunshine than Niagara Falls during summer. Raleigh gets 259 hours of sunny skies, while Niagara Falls receives 306 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 Niagara Falls. Raleigh gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Niagara Falls receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyRaleigh 79°F (26°C)Niagara Falls 23°C (74°F)
Should I visit Raleigh or Niagara Falls in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Raleigh as well as Niagara Falls. The city's sights and attractions are the main draw to Raleigh this time of year.
Raleigh is a little warmer than Niagara Falls in the autumn. The daily temperature in Raleigh averages around 61°F (16°C) in October, and Niagara Falls fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Raleigh this time of the year. In the autumn, Raleigh often gets more sunshine than Niagara Falls. Raleigh gets 211 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Niagara Falls receives 148 hours of full sun.
Raleigh usually gets more rain in October than Niagara Falls. Raleigh gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Niagara Falls receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberRaleigh 61°F (16°C)Niagara Falls 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Raleigh or Niagara Falls in the Winter?
Both Niagara Falls and Raleigh are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Raleigh for the museums and the cuisine.
Niagara Falls can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Raleigh. In the winter, Raleigh is much warmer than Niagara Falls. Typically, the winter temperatures in Raleigh in January average around 40°F (5°C), and Niagara Falls averages at about -4°C (26°F).
Raleigh usually receives more sunshine than Niagara Falls during winter. Raleigh gets 162 hours of sunny skies, while Niagara Falls receives 89 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Raleigh usually receives more rain than Niagara Falls. Raleigh gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Niagara Falls receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryRaleigh 40°F (5°C)Niagara Falls -4°C (26°F)
Should I visit Raleigh or Niagara Falls in the Spring?
Both Niagara Falls and Raleigh during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Raleigh in the spring for the activities around the city.
In April, Raleigh is generally much warmer than Niagara Falls. Daily temperatures in Raleigh average around 60°F (16°C), and Niagara Falls fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).
In Niagara Falls, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Raleigh. In the spring, Raleigh often gets more sunshine than Niagara Falls. Raleigh gets 251 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Niagara Falls receives 203 hours of full sun.
Raleigh usually gets more rain in April than Niagara Falls. Raleigh gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Niagara Falls receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilRaleigh 60°F (16°C)Niagara Falls 10°C (49°F)
Typical Weather for Niagara Falls and Raleigh
| Raleigh | Niagara Falls | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 40°F (5°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | -4°C (26°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 43°F (6°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) | -3°C (28°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Mar | 52°F (11°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) | 2°C (36°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Apr | 60°F (16°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) | 10°C (49°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| May | 68°F (20°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) | 15°C (59°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jun | 76°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 20°C (68°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jul | 79°F (26°C) | 5.1 inches (129 mm) | 23°C (74°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Aug | 78°F (26°C) | 4.9 inches (125 mm) | 22°C (72°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Sep | 73°F (23°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) | 18°C (65°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Oct | 61°F (16°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) | 12°C (54°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 53°F (11°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) | 6°C (43°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Dec | 44°F (7°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) | -0°C (31°F) | 75 mm (2.9 in) |
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.