Should you visit Tampa or Philadelphia?
Should I visit Tampa or Philadelphia? 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.
Philadelphia
Philadelphia is the fourth largest urban area, and the fifth largest city in the United States. It's located in southeastern Pennsylvania and has a rich history, having once been the capital of the United States. The city has very impressive architecture, museums, universities, and entertainment venues. It's a cultural and artistic center for the country and it continues to climb as a top travel destination.
Which city is cheaper, Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia is $151. 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 Philadelphia 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.
The prices for places to stay in Philadelphia can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $95, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $190.
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.
Philadelphia food costs typically run travelers around $39 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
Philadelphia $39
Typical Food prices in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Flavors of Philly Food Tour:
$44
-
Decadent Gourmet Food Tour:
$44
-
Flavors of Philly Food Tour:
$52
-
Highlights of East Passyunk Food Tour:
$54
-
South Philly Italian Family Dinner Tour:
$75
-
Historic Food Tour:
$78
-
Private Tour: Secret Food Tours Philadelphia:
$90
-
Spirit of Philadelphia Dinner Cruise with Buffet:
$107
-
Secret Food Tours Philadelphia w/ Private Tour Option:
$193
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.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Philadelphia than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $22 on transportation in Philadelphia on average per day.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tampa
Also for Tampa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Philadelphia
Also for Philadelphia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Transfer in executive private vehicle from Philadelphia City Center to Airport:
$70
-
Transfer in executive private vehicle from Philadelphia Airport to City Center:
$70
-
Transfer in executive private minivan from Philadelphia City Center to Airport:
$95
-
Transfer in executive private minivan from Philadelphia Airport to City Center:
$95
-
Transfer from Philadelphia International Airport to Philadelphia:
$100
-
Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel to Philadelphia Airport:
$51
-
Shared Arrival Transfer: Philadelphia Airport to Hotel:
$51
-
RoundTrip transfer in executive private minivan from-to Airpt-Philadelphia City:
$191
-
Round-Trip Transfer in Executive Private Car from-to Airport - Philadelphia City:
$140
-
Private transfer from or to MDT , PHL airports , Philadelphia and Harrisburg, PA:
$200
-
Private Transfer: Philadelphia to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL):
$622
-
Private Transfer: Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) to Philadelphia:
$622
Is it cheaper to fly into Tampa or Philadelphia?
Prices for flights to both Philadelphia 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 expenses in Philadelphia, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $22 per day, per person.
Tours and Activities in Tampa
For Tampa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
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
-
Bicycle Tour Orlando, Over Tampa Bay Ride:
$150
-
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Admission Ticket:
$110
-
Historic Ybor City Food and Drink Walking Tour:
$59
-
Motorcycle Tour of Sunshine Skyway Bridge:
$299
-
Nature Coast Private Day Tour From Tampa with Photographer , Max Group of 4:
$250
-
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 Philadelphia
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Philadelphia's activities, tours, and tickets:
Tours and Activities in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
1776 History and Cheesesteak Tour:
$28
-
2-Day Philadelphia Tour from Boston:
$549
-
2-Hour German-Language Historic Walking Tour:
$195
-
Amazing Philadelphia Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$44
-
Art and Controversy: An audio tour of Philadelphia's most infamous art scandals:
$5.00
-
Badass Women's History Tour of Philadelphia:
$40
-
Beyond the [Liberty] Bell History Tour:
$40
-
Brandywine Valley Tour with Private Driver:
$581
-
Cemetery and Serial Killers Walking Tour of Philadelphia:
$35
-
City Sightseeing Philadelphia Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour:
$36
-
Colonial Era Philadelphia Waterfront Walking Tour:
$215
-
Colonial Philadelphia Waterfront Walking Tour:
$195
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Tampa spend on average $20 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typically, people visiting Philadelphia spend on average $17 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
-
Private Tampa Brewery Tour - Party Bus:
$600
Sample the Local Flavors in Philadelphia
Also in Philadelphia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Haunted Pub Crawl:
$45
-
Philadelphia Prohibition Pub Crawl:
$45
-
Haunted Pub Crawl:
$45
-
2-Hour Philly on Tap Pub Tour:
$65
-
Sip of Philly Brewery Tour:
$79
-
2-Hour Old City Wine Tasting Tour:
$96
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tampa and Philadelphia, we can see that Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Philadelphia than you might in Tampa.
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