Should you visit Tampa or New Orleans?
Should I visit Tampa or New Orleans? 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.
New Orleans
New Orleans is the largest city in the state of Louisiana, and it is a cultural city that is the home of jazz, unique cuisine, and Mardi Gras in the U.S. It was established in 1718 and is one of the oldest cities in the country. The culture of the city has a mix of French, Creole, African American, Caribbean, Irish, Haitian, German and Vietnamese. There's an energy and atmosphere that is unlike any place else.
Which city is cheaper, New Orleans 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 New Orleans is $191. 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 New Orleans 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.
Travelers usually pay around $200 for a double occupancy room in New Orleans If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end 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.
The average traveler spends about $36 per day in New Orleans 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.
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Food
Meals for one day
Tampa $35
New Orleans $36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in New Orleans
For New Orleans, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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New Orleans Lunch & Lesson: Cajun & Creole Cooking Class:
$33
-
New Orleans Cooking Class:
$34
-
French Quarter Food Tour:
$42
-
New Orleans Food Tour:
$44
-
Steamboat Natchez Evening Jazz Cruise with Dinner Option:
$50
-
Evening Jazz Boat Cruise with Optional Dinner:
$52
-
Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Jazz Cruise with Optional Dinner:
$52
-
Dinner at Tujague's Restaurant in New Orleans:
$68
-
New Orleans French Quarter Food Tour:
$69
-
French Quarter Food Tour:
$75
-
Lower Garden District Food Tour:
$75
-
New Orleans Small-Group French Quarter Food Tour:
$75
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.
To get around in New Orleans, the average visitor spends $41 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
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
-
Tampa hotel or address to Tampa Airport (TPA) - Departure Private Transfer:
$82
-
Tampa Airport (TPA) to Tampa hotel or address - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$164
-
Tampa Airport (TPA) to Tampa hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer:
$82
-
Tampa Airport (TPA) to St Petersburg hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer:
$83
-
Tampa Airport (TPA) to St Petersburg - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$167
-
Tampa Airport (TPA) to Clearwater Beach - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$167
-
Tampa Airport (TPA) to Clearwater Beach - Arrival Private Transfer:
$83
-
Private Transfer from Tampa to Port Canaveral:
$526
-
Private Transfer from Tampa to Orlando-Sanford (SFB) Airport:
$457
-
Private Transfer from Tampa to Orlando (MCO) Airport:
$393
-
Private Transfer from Tampa Airport to Sarasota:
$120
Typical Local Transportation prices in New Orleans
Some typical examples of transportation costs in New Orleans are as follows:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in New Orleans
Also for New Orleans, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Shared Roundtrip Transfer: Hotel or Cruise Port to New Orleans Airport:
$40
-
Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel or Cruise Port to New Orleans Airport:
$20
-
Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel or Cruise Port to New Orleans Airport:
$26
-
Private transfer: New Orleans Airport (MSY) to New Orleans:
$622
-
Private Transfer: New Orleans Hotel to Cruise Port:
$75
-
Private Transfer from Port Of New of New Orleans Cruise:
$210
-
Private Transfer from New Orleans Airport to Hotel or Port:
$32
-
Private Roundtrip Transfer: New Orleans Airport to Hotel or Cruise Port:
$64
-
Private Roundtrip Transfer: MSY to Hotel or Cruise Port by Executive Sprinter:
$250
-
Private Roundtrip Transfer: MSY to Hotel or Cruise Port:
$80
-
Private New Orleans Transfer from Port to Airport or Hotel:
$122
-
Private Departure Transfers: New Orleans Airport:
$122
Is it cheaper to fly into Tampa or New Orleans?
Prices for flights to both New Orleans 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.
In New Orleans, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $44 per person, per day.
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
-
Adventure Island Water Park Ticket:
$63
-
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
-
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
Typical Entertainment prices in New Orleans
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for New Orleans's activities, tours, and tickets:
Tours and Activities in New Orleans
For New Orleans, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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1.5-Hour New Orleans Express Segway Tour:
$55
-
15:00 New Orleans Ghost Tour:
$25
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2 Nights in French Quarter Hotel, City Tour and Attraction Pass:
$565
-
2-Hour Cemetery & Voodoo Walking Tour in New Orleans:
$25
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2-Hour French Quarter and Cemetery Tour:
$20
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2-Hour New Orleans Ghosts & Vampires Walking Tour:
$20
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5 in 1 New Orleans Cemetery Tour:
$20
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8-in-1 Combo Haunted Walking Tour in New Orleans:
$27
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A Locals' Drink Dat! Cocktail Tour:
$120
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A Locals' French Quarter Tour:
$120
-
A Taste of Jazz, Bars & Drinks Private Tour:
$108
-
A Walk in the Park: City Park New Orleans Audio Tour:
$5.34
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Tampa spend on average $20 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typically, people visiting New Orleans spend on average $48 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
-
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 New Orleans
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in New Orleans:
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New Orleans Bar Hunt: New Orleans Ballin' Bar Crawl:
$12
-
Bourbon Street VIP Pub Crawl:
$20
-
Big Easy Ghost and Vampire Pub Crawl:
$20
-
Haunted Pub Crawl in New Orleans:
$22
-
New Orleans Haunted Pub Crawl:
$25
-
Haunted New Orleans Ghost and Pub Walking Tour:
$27
-
Haunted Pub Crawl:
$27
-
NOLA Distillery Tour:
$28
-
Haunted Pub Tour:
$35
-
Frenchmen Street Live Music Pub Crawl:
$48
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tampa and New Orleans, we can see that New Orleans 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 New Orleans would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in New Orleans than you might in Tampa.
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