Should you visit Tallahassee or Rapid City?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Tallahassee and Rapid City can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Tallahassee
As the skyscrapers glow against the rose-tinged sunset, you find yourself astounded by the tropical metropolitan area of Tallahassee, Florida. Known as the capital city of the state, Tallahassee is the hub of Floridian politics and history, holding Florida State Capitol, Supreme Court of Florida, Florida Governor's Mansion, and nearly 30 state agency headquarters within its borders. To add to its importance, in 2015, Tallahassee was given the All-American City Award by the National Civic League for a second time. Despite all the city's historical and political accomplishments, Tallahasse is also known to attract a wide array of tourists looking to explore the beauty of Florida. From wild refuges to busy shopping districts to Florida State University, Tallahassee is a great place to be in Florida.
Rapid City
Rapid City is a large city in western South Dakota that is considered the gateway to the Black Hills National Forest. Rapid City is often used as a base for all types of outdoor activities, including tours to the infamous Mount Rushmore and surrounding parks. The city has a budding art scene and offers the perfect combination of a metropolitan city surrounded by stunning natural scenery. Rapid City experiences the best weather from June-September with temperatures in the 70's and 80's Fahrenheit. Temperatures drop to the low 20's F in the winter and the area receives the most rain pour in April and May.
Which city is cheaper, Rapid City or Tallahassee?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Tallahassee is $125, while the average daily cost in Rapid City is $93. 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 Tallahassee and Rapid City in more detail.
Accommodation
Travelers usually pay around $142 for a double occupancy room in Tallahassee If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $96 in Rapid City For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
On average, meal and food prices in Tallahassee cost around $38 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 $15.
In Rapid City travelers spend around $19 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
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Food
Meals for one day
Tallahassee $38
Rapid City $19
Local Transportation
Tallahassee's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $26 per person, per day on transportation in Tallahassee.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Rapid City than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $42 on transportation in Rapid City on average per day.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tallahassee
Also for Tallahassee, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Tallahassee Transfer: Hotel to Airport:
$116
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Private Tallahassee Transfer: Airport to Hotel:
$116
Is it cheaper to fly into Tallahassee or Rapid City?
Prices for flights to both Rapid City and Tallahassee 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, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Tallahassee can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $9.71 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Sightseeing expenses in Rapid City, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $21 per day, per person.
Tours and Activities in Tallahassee
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tallahassee.
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Guided tour "Love Stories of Tallahassee":
$498
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The Best of Tallahassee Walking Tour:
$498
Tours and Activities in Rapid City
For Rapid City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Badlands National Park Private Tour:
$299
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Bike Adventure on the Mickelson Trail - Private:
$267
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Black Hills: Private Tour of Mt. Rushmore & Flume Trail Hike:
$299
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Bus Tour of Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills:
$123
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Mount Rushmore and Black Hills Bus Tour with Live Commentary:
$84
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Private Badlands National Park Day Tour:
$315
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Private Jeep Safari and Hiking Tour/ Two Person Minimum:
$307
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Private Mickelson Trail Bicycling Tour/ Two Person Minimum:
$299
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Private Mt Rushmore & Southern Black Hills Tour:
$329
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Mount Rushmore and Black Hills Full-Day Tour:
$84
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Private Black Hills Monuments Full-Day Tour:
$299
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Southern Black Hills Bicycle Tour - Private:
$267
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Tallahassee, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $42.
Typically, people visiting Rapid City spend on average $5.54 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tallahassee and Rapid City, we can see that Tallahassee is more expensive. And not only is Rapid City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Rapid City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Rapid City 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 Tallahassee would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tallahassee than you might in Rapid City.
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