Should you visit Tampa or Myrtle Beach?
Should I visit Tampa or Myrtle Beach? 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.
Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach is one of the most popular and touristy beach destinations on the South Atlantic coast. It's a popular spring break destination for college kids and there is no shortage of hotels and entertainment options along the beach front. It's also well known as a golfing destination, and it has some wonderful seafood restaurants and shopping areas. If you're looking for a natural, relaxed beach destination, Myrtle Beach is not your best option, but if you're looking for the thrills of club hopping, wonderful food options, and souvenir shopping opportunities, then Myrtle Beach is where it's at.
Which city is cheaper, Myrtle Beach 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 Myrtle Beach is $139. 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 Myrtle Beach 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.
Myrtle Beach's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $140. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $70.
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.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $19 per day to get around in Myrtle Beach.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tampa
Also for Tampa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Private Airport Transfer: Tampa International Airport (TPA) to Tampa:
$61
-
Private Airport Transfer: from Tampa to Tampa International Airport (TPA):
$44
-
Private Arrival Transfer - from Tampa Airport (TPA):
$32
-
Private Departure Transfer - to Tampa Airport (TPA):
$28
-
Private Tampa Area to Orlando Area Transfer up to 11 One Price Mercedes Sprinter:
$300
-
Private Tampa Transfer: Airport to Hotel or Cruise Port:
$113
-
Private Tampa Transfer: Cruise Port to Airport or Hotel:
$113
-
Private Tampa Transfer: Hotel to Airport or Cruise Port:
$113
-
Private Transfer from Tampa Airport to Anna Maria Island:
$120
-
Private Transfer from Tampa Airport to Bradenton:
$110
-
Private Transfer from Tampa Airport to Land O' Lakes Florida:
$60
-
Private Transfer from Tampa Airport to Sarasota:
$120
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Myrtle Beach
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Myrtle Beach:
-
Private Departure Transfer to Myrtle Beach Airport (MYR):
$38
-
Private Arrival Transfer from Myrtle Beach Airport MYR:
$38
-
Myrtle Beach to Myrtle Beach Intl. Airport (MYR) - Departure Private Transfer:
$146
-
Myrtle Beach Intl. Airport (MYR) to Myrtle Beach - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$291
-
Myrtle Beach Intl. Airport (MYR) to Myrtle Beach - Arrival Private Transfer:
$146
Is it cheaper to fly into Tampa or Myrtle Beach?
Prices for flights to both Myrtle Beach 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
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 average traveler spends about $45 per day in Myrtle Beach for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Tampa $35
Myrtle Beach $45
Typical Food prices in Myrtle Beach
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Myrtle Beach:
-
Dinner for Two
$49
-
Diner Breakfast for Two
$21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Myrtle Beach
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Myrtle Beach.
-
Polynesian Fire Luau and Dinner Show Ticket in Myrtle Beach:
$50
-
Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament Admission Ticket in Myrtle Beach:
$53
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.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $36 per person, per day in Myrtle Beach. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
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
Typical Entertainment prices in Myrtle Beach
Here are a few typical costs in Myrtle Beach for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
-
Mini Golf for Two
$18
-
Beach Chairs
$15
Tours and Activities in Myrtle Beach
Here are a few actual costs in Myrtle Beach for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
Charleston Sightseeing Day Trip with Lunch from Myrtle Beach:
$139
-
Early Myrtle Beach and The War Years Trolley Tour:
$40
-
Guided Myrtle Beach Kayak Tour:
$56
-
Guided Stand-Up Paddleboard Tour:
$55
-
Local Folklore and Family Fortunes Near Myrtle Beach Trolley Tour:
$40
-
Myrtle Beach Boardwalk Food & Sightseeing Tour:
$276
-
Myrtle Beach History, Movies and Music Trolley Tour:
$40
-
Myrtle Beach Military History Trolley Tour:
$40
-
Waccamaw River Nature & Wildlife Tours:
$32
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Tampa spend on average $20 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Myrtle Beach may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $13 per day on alcoholic beverages.
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tampa and Myrtle Beach, we can see that Myrtle Beach 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 Myrtle Beach would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Myrtle Beach than you might in Tampa.
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