Should you visit Tampa or Kansas City?
Should I visit Tampa or Kansas City? 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.
Kansas City
A large, mid western city that sits on the border between Missouri and Kansa, Kansas City has a population of about 450,000. It's not exactly a tourist destination, but it is a surprisingly beautiful city with more boulevards than Paris and more fountains than any other city in the world with the exception of Rome. Most of the city's suburbs are concentrated in the south but the city is beginning to grow to the north as well. The climate in Kansas City can vary dramatically, in large part because it is so far from any form of water. Winters can range from mild to extremely cold and snow is not uncommon. Spring and fall and quite comfortable but summer months can be incredibly hot and humid.
Which city is cheaper, Kansas City 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 Kansas City is $129. 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 Kansas City 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.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $140 in Kansas City For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
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.
Kansas City food costs typically run travelers around $38 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
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Food
Meals for one day
Tampa $35
Kansas City $38
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.
Kansas City'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 $35 per person, per day on transportation in Kansas City.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tampa
Also for Tampa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Transfer from Tampa International Airport to Tampa:
$75
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Tampa hotel or address to Tampa Airport (TPA) - Departure Private Transfer:
$82
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Tampa Airport (TPA) to Tampa hotel or address - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$164
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Tampa Airport (TPA) to Tampa hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer:
$82
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Tampa Airport (TPA) to St Petersburg hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer:
$83
-
Tampa Airport (TPA) to St Petersburg - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$167
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Tampa Airport (TPA) to Clearwater Beach - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$167
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Tampa Airport (TPA) to Clearwater Beach - Arrival Private Transfer:
$83
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Private Transfer from Tampa to Port Canaveral:
$526
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Private Transfer from Tampa to Orlando-Sanford (SFB) Airport:
$457
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Private Transfer from Tampa to Orlando (MCO) Airport:
$393
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Private Transfer from Tampa Airport to Sarasota:
$120
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kansas City
Also for Kansas City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private transfer: Kansas City to Kansas City Airport (MCI):
$622
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Private transfer: Kansas City Airport (MCI) to Kansas City:
$622
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Private Departure Transfer to Kansas City Airport MCI:
$56
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Private Arrival Transfer from Kansas City Airport MCI:
$80
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Kansas city hotel or address to Kansas Airport(MCI) - Departure Private Transfer:
$100
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Kansas City International Airport One Way Transfer:
$80
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Kansas Airport(MCI) to Kansas city hotel or address - Roundtrip Private Transfer:
$199
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Kansas Airport (MCI) to Kansas city hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer:
$100
Is it cheaper to fly into Tampa or Kansas City?
Prices for flights to both Kansas City 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.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Kansas City can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $8.88 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
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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1.5-hour Dolphin Sightseeing Cruise from Tampa:
$31
-
2-hour Tiki Boat BYOB Cruise in Tampa:
$60
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Adventure Island Water Park Ticket:
$63
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Bayshore Drive Motorbike Tour:
$199
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Bicycle Tour Orlando, Over Tampa Bay Ride:
$150
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Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Admission Ticket:
$110
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Historic Ybor City Food and Drink Walking Tour:
$59
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Motorcycle Tour of Sunshine Skyway Bridge:
$299
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Nature Coast Private Day Tour From Tampa with Photographer , Max Group of 4:
$250
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Nature Lovers Combo Tour:
$136
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Skip the Line: The Florida Aquarium in Tampa Bay Ticket:
$26
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Skip the Line: ZooTampa at Lowry Park Admission Ticket:
$45
Tours and Activities in Kansas City
For Kansas City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Downtown Walking History Tour:
$30
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Half-Day Artful Kansas City Streetcar Urban Tour:
$35
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Kansas City Segway Tour: Country Club Plaza Area:
$65
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LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Kansas Admission Ticket:
$22
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Original KC Barbecue Tour:
$78
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Paris Of The Plains Tours In Kansas City With An Interpreter:
$179
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River Market Walking History Tour:
$30
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Romantic tour in Kansas City:
$498
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SEA LIFE Kansas City Aquarium Admission Ticket:
$19
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Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Kansas City:
$11
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The best of Kansas City walking tour:
$498
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Tampa spend on average $20 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typically, people visiting Kansas City spend on average $9.83 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
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 Kansas City
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Kansas City:
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Kansas City Bar Hunt: Kansas City Crush Bar Crawl:
$12
When comparing the travel costs between Tampa and Kansas City, we can see that Kansas City 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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