Should you visit Tampa or Dallas?
Should I visit Tampa or Dallas? 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.
Dallas
Located in the north central part of the state, Dallas is a prominent city in Texas and is one of the most populated metropolitan areas in the United States of America. The business reputation of Dallas rose from its historical status as the center for cotton and oil industries. It was also positioned among numerous railroads.
Which city is cheaper, Dallas 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 Dallas is $103. 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 Dallas 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.
Dallas's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $116. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $58.
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.
The price of a meal in Dallas can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $28 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $11 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
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Food
Meals for one day
Tampa $35
Dallas $28
Typical Food prices in Dallas
Some typical examples of dining costs in Dallas are as follows:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dallas
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Dallas.
-
Live from Eggs Benedict Brunch Cooking Class with Bri from MasteChef:
$33
-
Live from Eggs Benedict Cooking Class with Bri from MasterChef:
$33
-
Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament Admission Ticket in Dallas:
$73
-
Secret Food Tour of Dallas w/ Private Tour Option:
$221
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Dallas Secret Food Tour:
$224
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 Dallas is $23 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:
-
Private Departure Transfer - to Tampa Airport (TPA):
$28
-
Private Arrival Transfer - from Tampa Airport (TPA):
$32
-
Private Airport Transfer: from Tampa to Tampa International Airport (TPA):
$44
-
Private Transfer from Tampa Airport to Land O' Lakes Florida:
$60
-
Private Airport Transfer: Tampa International Airport (TPA) to Tampa:
$61
-
Transfer from Tampa International Airport to Tampa:
$75
-
Tampa Airport (TPA) to Tampa hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer:
$82
-
Tampa hotel or address to Tampa Airport (TPA) - Departure Private Transfer:
$82
-
Tampa Airport (TPA) to St Petersburg hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer:
$83
-
Tampa Airport (TPA) to Clearwater Beach - Arrival Private Transfer:
$83
-
Private Transfer from Tampa Airport to Bradenton:
$110
-
Private Tampa Transfer: Cruise Port to Airport or Hotel:
$113
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dallas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dallas:
-
Transfer in private minivan from Dallas Love Field Airport to City Center:
$93
-
Transfer in private minivan from Dallas City Center to Love Field Airport:
$93
-
Transfer in private minivan from Dallas City Center to Fort Worth Airport:
$93
-
Transfer in executive private car from Dallas Love Field Airport to City Center:
$73
-
Transfer in executive private car from Dallas City Center to Love Field Airport:
$73
-
Transfer in executive private car from Dallas City Center to Fort Worth Airport:
$70
-
Transfer from Dallas Love Field to Dallas:
$100
-
RoundTrip transfer in executive private car from-to Love Field Airpt-Dallas City:
$147
-
Round trip transfer in private minivan from-to Love Field Airport in Dallas City:
$187
-
Private transfer: Dallas to Dallas Airport (DAL):
$622
-
Private Transfer Downtown Dallas to Fort Worth Airport DFW Luxury Vehicle:
$63
-
Private Transfer Dallas Airport DAL to Las Colinas, Irving by Luxury Vehicle:
$54
Is it cheaper to fly into Tampa or Dallas?
Prices for flights to both Dallas 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.
Dallas's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $10 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:
-
1 Hour Haunted History Walking Tour:
$23
-
Skip the Line: The Florida Aquarium in Tampa Bay Ticket:
$26
-
Tampa Celebrity Homes Boat Tour:
$30
-
Tampa History Cruise:
$31
-
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
-
2-hour Tiki Boat BYOB Cruise in Tampa:
$60
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ZooQuarium 1-Day Ticket:
$60
-
Adventure Island Water Park Ticket:
$63
-
Tampa Indoor Skydiving Experience with 2 Flights & Personalized Certificate:
$70
Tours and Activities in Dallas
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Dallas are as follows:
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2-Hour Dallas and JFK Limousine Tour:
$70
-
2-Hour Historic Dallas Segway Tour:
$59
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3-Hour Small-Group Dallas Cowboys Stadium Tour:
$90
-
Best of Dallas Sightseeing Bus Tour: Reunion Tower GeO-Deck or CityPass:
$60
-
Create Your Own Dallas Ft. Worth Combination Tour:
$129
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Dallas City Highlights Tour:
$29
-
Dallas City Tour:
$51
-
Dallas Cruizer Tour:
$25
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Dallas Food and Culture Tour:
$36
-
Dallas Highlights Tour:
$69
-
Dallas JFK and West Village Restaurant Walking Tour:
$78
-
Dallas Shopping Tour:
$106
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Tampa spend on average $20 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
The average person spends about $9.82 on alcoholic beverages in Dallas per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in Tampa
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Tampa:
-
Tampa Bar Hunt: Tampa Takeover Bar Crawl:
$12
-
Haunted Tampa Ghost and Pub Walking Tour - Ybor City:
$26
-
Private Tampa Brewery Tour - Party Bus:
$600
Sample the Local Flavors in Dallas
Also in Dallas, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Dallas Bar Hunt: Dallas Dynasty Bar Crawl:
$12
-
Haunted Dallas Ghost and Pub Walking Tour:
$27
-
Party Bike Pub Crawl in Deep Ellum and Downtown Dallas:
$55
When comparing the travel costs between Tampa and Dallas, 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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