A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Tampa vs. Durham for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Tampa or Durham?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Tampa or Durham? 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 Durham?

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.

Durham

Durham is a city in central North Carolina with about 230,000 residents. Together with Raleigh and Chapel Hill, it forms the Research Triangle area. Durham is often referred to as the "City of Medicine" and is home to the famous Duke University.

Durham's history is rooted in tobacco. The Duke family established American Tobacco, which controlled 90% of all cigarette production in the US during the second half of the 19th century. The family donated money to Trinity College, which changed its name to Duke University in 1924.

Today much of Durham's economy is centered around the university and Research Triangle Park. The area has many technology and pharmaceutical jobs and the economy continues to grow.

Which city is cheaper, Durham or Tampa?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Tampa is $136, while the average daily cost in Durham is $130. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Tampa and Durham in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Tampa $68
    Durham $73
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Tampa $136
    Durham $146
Compare Hotels in Tampa and Durham

Looking for a hotel in Tampa or Durham? 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.

Hotels in Tampa


Hotels in Durham


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 Durham Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Tampa $58
    Durham $26

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 Durham

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Durham:

  • Private Transfer from Durham to Manchester Airport (MAN): $407
  • Durham to Raleigh-Durham Airport (RDU) - Departure Private Transfer: $139

Is it cheaper to fly into Tampa or Durham?

Prices for flights to both Durham 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 day
    Tampa $34
    Durham $35

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Tampa $15
    Durham $21

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
  • 1.5-hour Dolphin Sightseeing Cruise from Tampa: $31
  • Tampa History Cruise: $31
  • VIP Ghost Hunters Tour Semi Private: $35
  • Skip the Line: ZooTampa at Lowry Park Admission Ticket: $45
  • Historic Ybor City Food and Drink Walking Tour: $59
  • 2-hour Tiki Boat BYOB Cruise in Tampa: $60
  • Adventure Island Water Park Ticket: $63
  • Tampa Indoor Skydiving Experience with 2 Flights & Personalized Certificate: $70
  • ZooQuarium 1-Day Ticket: $79

Tours and Activities in Durham

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Durham are as follows:

  • Trolley Pub Public Tour of Durham: $41

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Tampa $20
    Durham $27

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

About these numbers

When comparing the travel costs between Tampa and Durham, 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.


When is the best time to visit Tampa or Durham?

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 Durham in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Tampa as well as Durham. The beaches, snorkeling, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Tampa this time of year.

Tampa is around the same temperature as Durham in the summer. The temperature in Tampa is usually 82°F (28°C) in July, and Durham stays around 79°F (26°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Durham. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Tampa this time of the year. In the summer, Tampa often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Durham. Tampa gets 265 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Durham receives 259 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Durham. Tampa receives a lot of rain in the summer. Tampa usually gets more rain in July than Durham. Tampa gets 8.4 inches (214 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Tampa 82°F (28°C) 
    Durham 79°F (26°C)

Should I visit Tampa or Durham in the Autumn?

Both Durham and Tampa are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Tampa for the city's sights and attractions.

In the autumn, Tampa is a little warmer than Durham. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Tampa in October are around 75°F (24°C), and Durham is about 61°F (16°C).

It's quite sunny in Durham. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Tampa. Tampa usually receives more sunshine than Durham during autumn. Tampa gets 234 hours of sunny skies, while Durham receives 211 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Tampa usually receives less rain than Durham. Tampa gets 2.6 inches (65 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Tampa 75°F (24°C) 
    Durham 61°F (16°C)

Should I visit Tampa or Durham in the Winter?

Both Durham and Tampa during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Tampa in the winter for the cuisine.

Durham can be very cold during winter. In January, Tampa is generally much warmer than Durham. Temperatures in Tampa average around 60°F (15°C), and Durham stays around 40°F (5°C).

It's quite sunny in Tampa. In the winter, Tampa often gets more sunshine than Durham. Tampa gets 200 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Durham receives 162 hours of full sun.

Tampa usually gets less rain in January than Durham. Tampa gets 2.3 inches (59 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Tampa 60°F (15°C) 
    Durham 40°F (5°C)

Should I visit Tampa or Durham in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Tampa and Durham. Most visitors come to Tampa for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months.

Tampa is a little warmer than Durham in the spring. The temperature in Tampa is usually 71°F (22°C) in April, and Durham stays around 60°F (16°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Durham this time of the year. In Tampa, it's very sunny this time of the year. Tampa usually receives more sunshine than Durham during spring. Tampa gets 299 hours of sunny skies, while Durham receives 251 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Tampa usually receives less rain than Durham. Tampa gets 2.1 inches (53 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Tampa 71°F (22°C) 
    Durham 60°F (16°C)

Typical Weather for Durham and Tampa

Tampa Durham
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 60°F (15°C) 2.3 inches (59 mm) 40°F (5°C) 3.2 inches (82 mm)
Feb 61°F (16°C) 2.9 inches (73 mm) 43°F (6°C) 3.3 inches (84 mm)
Mar 67°F (19°C) 3.9 inches (99 mm) 52°F (11°C) 3.4 inches (87 mm)
Apr 71°F (22°C) 2.1 inches (53 mm) 60°F (16°C) 3.1 inches (78 mm)
May 77°F (25°C) 2.4 inches (61 mm) 68°F (20°C) 3.3 inches (84 mm)
Jun 81°F (27°C) 6.5 inches (165 mm) 76°F (24°C) 3.7 inches (93 mm)
Jul 82°F (28°C) 8.4 inches (214 mm) 79°F (26°C) 5.1 inches (129 mm)
Aug 82°F (28°C) 8 inches (203 mm) 78°F (26°C) 4.9 inches (125 mm)
Sep 81°F (27°C) 6.3 inches (161 mm) 73°F (23°C) 3.8 inches (96 mm)
Oct 75°F (24°C) 2.6 inches (65 mm) 61°F (16°C) 2.8 inches (71 mm)
Nov 68°F (20°C) 1.8 inches (45 mm) 53°F (11°C) 2.8 inches (72 mm)
Dec 62°F (17°C) 2.2 inches (56 mm) 44°F (7°C) 3.1 inches (78 mm)


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Tampa vs. Durham Travel Comparison

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