Should you visit Tampa or Asheville?
Should I visit Tampa or Asheville? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Tampa
On the north shore of Tampa Bay, across the water from Saint Peterburg, is the city of Tampa. The city has a population of almost 350,000. The metropolitan area includes Tampa, St. Peterburg, and Clearwater. It has about 2.9 million residents and is the second largest metropolitan area in the state. The city is a popular destination for outdoor activities and in 2008 it was ranked the 5th best outdoor city by Forbes.
Asheville
Asheville is a beautiful mountain town between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains. It's a popular tourist destination in western North Carolina that attracts hikers, shoppers, and adventurers alike. It's the largest city in the area and is famous for it's liberal mindset and large art community. Local crafts are frequently available for sale in the downtown shops.
Which city is cheaper, Asheville or Tampa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Tampa is $119, while the average daily cost in Asheville is $106. 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 Tampa and Asheville in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $120 in Tampa For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $142 for a double occupancy room in Asheville.
Food
On average, meal and food prices in Tampa cost around $35 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 $14.
In Asheville travelers spend around $26 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
Tampa $35
Asheville $26
Typical Food prices in Asheville
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Asheville:
Local Transportation
Tampa'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 $38 per person, per day on transportation in Tampa.
The average price of local transportation around Asheville is $11 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 Tampa
Also for Tampa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Airport Transfer: Tampa International Airport (TPA) to Tampa:
$61
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Private Airport Transfer: from Tampa to Tampa International Airport (TPA):
$44
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Private Arrival Transfer - from Tampa Airport (TPA):
$32
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Private Departure Transfer - to Tampa Airport (TPA):
$28
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Private Tampa Area to Orlando Area Transfer up to 11 One Price Mercedes Sprinter:
$300
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Private Tampa Transfer: Airport to Hotel or Cruise Port:
$113
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Private Tampa Transfer: Cruise Port to Airport or Hotel:
$113
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Private Tampa Transfer: Hotel to Airport or Cruise Port:
$113
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Private Transfer from Tampa Airport to Anna Maria Island:
$120
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Private Transfer from Tampa Airport to Bradenton:
$110
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Private Transfer from Tampa Airport to Land O' Lakes Florida:
$60
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Private Transfer from Tampa Airport to Sarasota:
$120
Is it cheaper to fly into Tampa or Asheville?
Prices for flights to both Asheville and Tampa 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 Tampa can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $15 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Asheville's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $13 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.
Tours and Activities in Tampa
For Tampa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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1 Hour Haunted History Walking Tour:
$23
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Skip the Line: The Florida Aquarium in Tampa Bay Ticket:
$26
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Tampa Celebrity Homes Boat Tour:
$30
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Tampa History Cruise:
$31
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1.5-hour Dolphin Sightseeing Cruise from Tampa:
$31
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VIP Ghost Hunters Tour Semi Private:
$35
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Skip the Line: ZooTampa at Lowry Park Admission Ticket:
$45
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Historic Ybor City Food and Drink Walking Tour:
$59
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2-hour Tiki Boat BYOB Cruise in Tampa:
$60
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ZooQuarium 1-Day Ticket:
$60
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Adventure Island Water Park Ticket:
$63
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Tampa Indoor Skydiving Experience with 2 Flights & Personalized Certificate:
$70
Typical Entertainment prices in Asheville
Here are a few typical costs in Asheville for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in Asheville
Here are a few actual costs in Asheville for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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"Love Stories of Asheville" Guided Walking Tour:
$498
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2-Hour Guided Segway Tour of Asheville:
$68
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4-Mile Guided Paddleboard Tour on The French Broad River in Asheville:
$82
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7 Mile Guided Paddleboard Tour On The French Broad River in Asheville:
$97
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Amazing Asheville Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$44
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Asheville Insider Guided Walking Tour:
$30
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Asheville Literary Tour:
$30
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Asheville Night-Time Guided Walking Ghost Tour (1 or 1.5-Hour Options Available):
$21
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Asheville Night-Time Walking Ghost Tour:
$21
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Asheville Private Guided Bird Watching Tour:
$41
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Asheville Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$21
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Asheville Scavenger Hunt: Downtown Asheville Adventure:
$12
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Tampa spend on average $20 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Asheville may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $13 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Tampa
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Tampa:
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Tampa Bar Hunt: Tampa Takeover Bar Crawl:
$12
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Haunted Tampa Ghost and Pub Walking Tour - Ybor City:
$26
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Private Tampa Brewery Tour - Party Bus:
$600
Sample the Local Flavors in Asheville
Also in Asheville, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Downtown Asheville Guided Brewery Walking Tour:
$38
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Private Adventure Brews Cruise Brewery Tours in Asheville (Up To 5 Breweries):
$1,013
When comparing the travel costs between Tampa and Asheville, we can see that Tampa 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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