Should you visit Tampa or Pasadena?
Should I visit Tampa or Pasadena? 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.
Pasadena
Pasadena, California is adjacent to Los Angeles and is probably most famous as the host for the New Year's Day Rose Parade and Rose Bowl football game. As such, it has become known as the City of Roses. Year around Pasadena is known to have a vibrant night life. It has a great Old Town area that has impressive shopping and many excellent restaurants. It's also home to the California Institute of Technology and has many museums, theaters, and independent films that make it a cultural haven for the area. Also make sure you visit the Huntington Library which has an impressive art collection and over 150 acres of botanical gardens. It's been featured in several Hollywood Films.
Which city is cheaper, Pasadena 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 Pasadena is $50. 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 Pasadena 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.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $40 for a double occupancy room in Pasadena.
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.
On average, meal and food prices in Pasadena cost around $15 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 $6.00.
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Food
Meals for one day
Tampa $35
Pasadena $15
Typical Food prices in Pasadena
Some typical examples of dining costs in Pasadena are as follows:
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 $17 per day to get around in Pasadena.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tampa
Also for Tampa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Departure Transfer - to Tampa Airport (TPA):
$28
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Private Arrival Transfer - from Tampa Airport (TPA):
$32
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Private Airport Transfer: from Tampa to Tampa International Airport (TPA):
$44
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Private Transfer from Tampa Airport to Land O' Lakes Florida:
$60
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Private Airport Transfer: Tampa International Airport (TPA) to Tampa:
$61
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Transfer from Tampa International Airport to Tampa:
$75
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Tampa Airport (TPA) to Tampa hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer:
$82
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Tampa hotel or address to Tampa Airport (TPA) - Departure Private Transfer:
$82
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Tampa Airport (TPA) to St Petersburg hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer:
$83
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Tampa Airport (TPA) to Clearwater Beach - Arrival Private Transfer:
$83
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Private Transfer from Tampa Airport to Bradenton:
$110
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Private Tampa Transfer: Cruise Port to Airport or Hotel:
$113
Is it cheaper to fly into Tampa or Pasadena?
Prices for flights to both Pasadena 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.
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 Hour Haunted History Walking Tour:
$23
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Skip the Line: The Florida Aquarium in Tampa Bay Ticket:
$26
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Tampa Celebrity Homes Boat Tour:
$30
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Tampa History Cruise:
$31
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1.5-hour Dolphin Sightseeing Cruise from Tampa:
$31
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VIP Ghost Hunters Tour Semi Private:
$35
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Skip the Line: ZooTampa at Lowry Park Admission Ticket:
$45
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Historic Ybor City Food and Drink Walking Tour:
$59
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2-hour Tiki Boat BYOB Cruise in Tampa:
$60
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ZooQuarium 1-Day Ticket:
$60
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Adventure Island Water Park Ticket:
$63
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Tampa Indoor Skydiving Experience with 2 Flights & Personalized Certificate:
$70
Tours and Activities in Pasadena
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Pasadena are as follows:
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Private Christmas Tour with Christmas Afternoon Tea Ceremony in Old Pasadena:
$220
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Private Self-Guided Tour of Pasadena in Los Angeles:
$19
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Tampa spend on average $20 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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tampa and Pasadena, we can see that Tampa is more expensive. And not only is Pasadena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pasadena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pasadena 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 Tampa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tampa than you might in Pasadena.
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