Which place is cheaper, Kansas City or Tampa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Tampa or Kansas City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Tampa or Kansas City? 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 Kansas City?
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTampa $179Kansas City $161
The average daily cost (per person) in Tampa is $179, while the average daily cost in Kansas City is $161. 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 Kansas City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTampa $85Kansas City $88
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTampa $170Kansas City $176
Compare Hotels in Tampa and Kansas City
Looking for a hotel in Tampa or Kansas City? 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 Kansas City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tampa $69Kansas City $44
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tampa
Also for Tampa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer to/from Tampa Airport (TPA): $69
- Tampa hotels to Tampa Bay Cruise Port-Departure Private Transfer : $50
- Tampa Bay Cruise Port: Private Transfer to Tampa hotels: $300
- Tampa Bay Cruise Port to Tampa hotels - Arrival Private Transfer : $50
- Tampa Bay Cruise Port to Tampa Hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $100
- Tampa Airport to Tampa Bay Cruise Port Private Arrival Transfer: $50
- Tampa Airport (TPA): Transfer tо Tampa Bay Cruise Port: $300
- Tampa Airport (TPA): Private Transfer to Tampa hotel/address: $202
- Tampa Airport (TPA) to Tampa Bay Cruise Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $100
- Tampa Airport (TPA) to Lakeland / Winter Haven - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $107
- Tampa Airport (TPA) to Lakeland / Winter Haven - Arrival Private Transfer: $53
- Private transfer: From Tampa to airport and vice versa : $18
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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayTampa $53Kansas City $47
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tampa $20Kansas City $11
Tours and Activities in Tampa
For Tampa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Tampa Terrors Ghost Tour By US Ghost Adventures: $30
- 1.5-hour Dolphin Sightseeing Cruise from Tampa: $31
- 2 Hour Guided Segway Tour: $69
- Adventure Island Water Park Ticket: $62
- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Admission Ticket: $109
- Discover Tampa with Local Stories from a Virtual Tour: $30
- Downtown Tampa Historic Walking Tour: $30
- Escape to Paradise: Private Island Boat Adventure in Tampa: $630
- Ghost Hunters Paranormal Ghost Tour: $39
- Ghost Investigation Tour Interactive Paranormal Experience 18Plus: $35
- Ghost Investigation Tours with Interactive Paranormal Experience: $35
- Guided Tampa Sightseeing Tour in 2023 Street Legal Golf Cart: $41
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTampa $26Kansas City $12
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
When comparing the travel costs between Tampa and Kansas City, 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.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tampa Expensive? and Is Kansas City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tampa or Kansas City?
Kansas City has a larger population, and is about 36% larger than the population of Tampa. When comparing the sizes of Tampa and Kansas City, 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 Kansas City?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Tampa or Kansas City in the Summer?
Both Kansas City and Tampa are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Tampa because of the beaches, snorkeling, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
Tampa is around the same temperature as Kansas City in the summer. The daily temperature in Tampa averages around 82°F (28°C) in July, and Kansas City fluctuates around 82°F (28°C).
It's quite sunny in Kansas City. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Tampa. Tampa usually receives less sunshine than Kansas City during summer. Tampa gets 265 hours of sunny skies, while Kansas City receives 325 hours of full sun in the summer.
It's quite rainy in Tampa. In July, Tampa usually receives more rain than Kansas City. Tampa gets 8.4 inches (214 mm) of rain, while Kansas City receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyTampa 82°F (28°C)Kansas City 82°F (28°C)
Should I visit Tampa or Kansas City in the Autumn?
Both Kansas City and Tampa during the autumn are popular places to visit. The city's sights and attractions are the main draw to Tampa this time of year.
In the autumn, Tampa is much warmer than Kansas City. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Tampa in October average around 75°F (24°C), and Kansas City averages at about 60°F (15°C).
In Kansas City, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Tampa. In the autumn, Tampa often gets more sunshine than Kansas City. Tampa gets 234 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kansas City receives 208 hours of full sun.
Tampa usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Kansas City. Tampa gets 2.6 inches (65 mm) of rain, while Kansas City receives 2.4 inches (62 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberTampa 75°F (24°C)Kansas City 60°F (15°C)
Should I visit Tampa or Kansas City in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Tampa and Kansas City. Many travelers come to Tampa for the cuisine.
Kansas City can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Tampa is generally much warmer than Kansas City. Daily temperatures in Tampa average around 60°F (15°C), and Kansas City fluctuates around 30°F (-1°C).
In Tampa, it's very sunny this time of the year. Tampa usually receives more sunshine than Kansas City during winter. Tampa gets 200 hours of sunny skies, while Kansas City receives 175 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Tampa usually receives more rain than Kansas City. Tampa gets 2.3 inches (59 mm) of rain, while Kansas City receives 0.9 inches (23 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryTampa 60°F (15°C)Kansas City 30°F (-1°C)
Should I visit Tampa or Kansas City in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Tampa as well as Kansas City. Many visitors come to Tampa in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city.
Tampa is much warmer than Kansas City in the spring. The daily temperature in Tampa averages around 71°F (22°C) in April, and Kansas City fluctuates around 58°F (15°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kansas City. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Tampa this time of the year. In the spring, Tampa often gets more sunshine than Kansas City. Tampa gets 299 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kansas City receives 231 hours of full sun.
Tampa usually gets less rain in April than Kansas City. Tampa gets 2.1 inches (53 mm) of rain, while Kansas City receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilTampa 71°F (22°C)Kansas City 58°F (15°C)
Typical Weather for Kansas City and Tampa
| Tampa | Kansas City | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 60°F (15°C) | 2.3 inches (59 mm) | 30°F (-1°C) | 0.9 inches (23 mm) |
| Feb | 61°F (16°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) | 35°F (2°C) | 0.9 inches (24 mm) |
| Mar | 67°F (19°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) | 47°F (8°C) | 2 inches (52 mm) |
| Apr | 71°F (22°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) | 58°F (15°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| May | 77°F (25°C) | 2.4 inches (61 mm) | 68°F (20°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) |
| Jun | 81°F (27°C) | 6.5 inches (165 mm) | 77°F (25°C) | 4.9 inches (125 mm) |
| Jul | 82°F (28°C) | 8.4 inches (214 mm) | 82°F (28°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
| Aug | 82°F (28°C) | 8 inches (203 mm) | 80°F (26°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) |
| Sep | 81°F (27°C) | 6.3 inches (161 mm) | 71°F (22°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Oct | 75°F (24°C) | 2.6 inches (65 mm) | 60°F (15°C) | 2.4 inches (62 mm) |
| Nov | 68°F (20°C) | 1.8 inches (45 mm) | 46°F (8°C) | 1.7 inches (43 mm) |
| Dec | 62°F (17°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) | 34°F (1°C) | 1.2 inches (30 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.