Which place is cheaper, Dayton or Tampa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Tampa or Dayton?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Tampa 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: Tampa or Dayton?
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.
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.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTampa $179Dayton $323
The average daily cost (per person) in Tampa is $179, 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 Tampa and Dayton in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTampa $85Dayton $250
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTampa $170Dayton $500
Compare Hotels in Tampa and Dayton
Looking for a hotel in Tampa 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: Tampa Hotel Prices and Dayton Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tampa $69Dayton $25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tampa
Also for Tampa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private transfer: From Tampa to airport and vice versa : $18
- Private Arrival Transfer - from Tampa Airport (TPA): $36
- Tampa Airport to Tampa Bay Cruise Port Private Arrival Transfer: $50
- Tampa Bay Cruise Port to Tampa hotels - Arrival Private Transfer : $50
- Tampa hotels to Tampa Bay Cruise Port-Departure Private Transfer : $50
- Tampa Airport (TPA) to Lakeland / Winter Haven - Arrival Private Transfer: $53
- Private Transfer to/from Tampa Airport (TPA): $69
- Arrival Private Transfer: Tampa Airport TPA to Tampa City in Business Car: $72
- Departure Private Transfer: Tampa City to Tampa Airport TPA in Business Car: $72
- Tampa Airport (TPA) to Tampa Bay Cruise Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $100
- Tampa Bay Cruise Port to Tampa Hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $100
- Tampa Airport (TPA) to Lakeland / Winter Haven - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $107
Is it cheaper to fly into Tampa or Dayton?
Prices for flights to both Dayton 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.
Food
-
Food Meals for one dayTampa $53Dayton $61
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tampa
For Tampa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking Class near Disney in Tampa Florida: $88
- Ybor City Food Tour On Sundays: $89
Typical Food Prices in Dayton
Some typical examples of dining costs in Dayton are as follows:
-
Noodle Company Lunch (for 2)$17
-
Indian Food Dinner (for 2)$34
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tampa $20Dayton -
Tours and Activities in Tampa
For Tampa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Ybor City Immigrant influence Smart Phone guided App (GPS) walking tour: $6.50
- Tampa Riverwalk: A Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $7.27
- Smartphone Audio Private Walking Tour in Tampa Riverwalk: $7.99
- Tampa Terrors Ghost Tour: $26
- Discover Tampa with Local Stories from a Virtual Tour: $30
- Sunset and Night Cruises Tour: $30
- The Official Downtown Tampa Ghost Tour: $30
- Tampa Terrors Ghost Tour By US Ghost Adventures: $30
- Downtown Tampa Historic Walking Tour: $30
- Shared Ybor City Historic Walking Tour: $30
- Tampa Celebrity Homes Boat Tour: $31
- Tampa History Cruise: $31
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
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayTampa $26Dayton -
Sample the Local Flavors in Tampa
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Tampa:
- Tampa Bar Crawl on a 2023 Street Legal Golf Cart: $40
- Haunted Pub Crawl: $40
- Ybor City Private Brewery Tour by Custom Golf Cart: $200
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 Tampa and Dayton, we can see that Dayton is more expensive. And not only is Tampa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Tampa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tampa 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 Tampa.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tampa Expensive? and Is Dayton Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tampa or Dayton?
Tampa has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Dayton. When comparing the sizes of Tampa 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 Tampa or Dayton?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Tampa or Dayton in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Tampa as well as Dayton. Many travelers come to Tampa for the beaches, snorkeling, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
Tampa is around the same temperature as Dayton in the summer. The daily temperature in Tampa averages around 82°F (28°C) in July, and Dayton fluctuates around 78°F (26°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Dayton. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Tampa this time of the year. In the summer, Tampa often gets less sunshine than Dayton. Tampa gets 265 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dayton receives 298 hours of full sun.
Tampa receives a lot of rain in the summer. Tampa usually gets more rain in July than Dayton. Tampa gets 8.4 inches (214 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyTampa 82°F (28°C)Dayton 78°F (26°C)
Should I visit Tampa or Dayton in the Autumn?
Both Dayton and Tampa are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Tampa in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions.
In the autumn, Tampa is much warmer than Dayton. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Tampa in October average around 75°F (24°C), and Dayton averages at about 57°F (14°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Tampa. Tampa usually receives more sunshine than Dayton during autumn. Tampa gets 234 hours of sunny skies, while Dayton receives 188 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Tampa usually receives around the same amount of rain as Dayton. Tampa gets 2.6 inches (65 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 2.5 inches (64 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberTampa 75°F (24°C)Dayton 57°F (14°C)
Should I visit Tampa or Dayton in the Winter?
Both Dayton and Tampa during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Tampa for the cuisine during these months.
The weather in Dayton can be very cold. In January, Tampa is generally much warmer than Dayton. Daily temperatures in Tampa average around 60°F (15°C), and Dayton fluctuates around 30°F (-1°C).
It's quite sunny in Tampa. In the winter, Tampa often gets more sunshine than Dayton. Tampa gets 200 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dayton receives 129 hours of full sun.
Tampa usually gets more rain in January than Dayton. Tampa gets 2.3 inches (59 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 2.1 inches (54 mm) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryTampa 60°F (15°C)Dayton 30°F (-1°C)
Should I visit Tampa or Dayton in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Tampa and Dayton. The spring months attract visitors to Tampa because of the beaches and the activities around the city.
Tampa is much warmer than Dayton in the spring. The daily temperature in Tampa averages around 71°F (22°C) in April, and Dayton fluctuates around 55°F (13°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Dayton this time of the year. In Tampa, it's very sunny this time of the year. Tampa usually receives more sunshine than Dayton during spring. Tampa gets 299 hours of sunny skies, while Dayton receives 215 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Tampa usually receives less rain than Dayton. Tampa gets 2.1 inches (53 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 3.5 inches (88 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilTampa 71°F (22°C)Dayton 55°F (13°C)
Typical Weather for Dayton and Tampa
| Tampa | Dayton | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 60°F (15°C) | 2.3 inches (59 mm) | 30°F (-1°C) | 2.1 inches (54 mm) |
| Feb | 61°F (16°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) | 33°F (1°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
| Mar | 67°F (19°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) | 44°F (7°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Apr | 71°F (22°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) | 55°F (13°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) |
| May | 77°F (25°C) | 2.4 inches (61 mm) | 65°F (18°C) | 4 inches (102 mm) |
| Jun | 81°F (27°C) | 6.5 inches (165 mm) | 74°F (23°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) |
| Jul | 82°F (28°C) | 8.4 inches (214 mm) | 78°F (26°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) |
| Aug | 82°F (28°C) | 8 inches (203 mm) | 76°F (25°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
| Sep | 81°F (27°C) | 6.3 inches (161 mm) | 69°F (21°C) | 2.6 inches (65 mm) |
| Oct | 75°F (24°C) | 2.6 inches (65 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.5 inches (64 mm) |
| Nov | 68°F (20°C) | 1.8 inches (45 mm) | 47°F (8°C) | 3.1 inches (80 mm) |
| Dec | 62°F (17°C) | 2.2 inches (56 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.