Should you visit Tampa or Pocono Mountains?
Should I visit Tampa or Pocono Mountains? 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.
Pocono Mountains
The Poconos are a region of mountains, small towns, and natural areas in Eastern Pennsylvania. Located just a few hours from both New York City and Philadelphia, this region of 4 counties (Wayne, Pike, Monroe, & Carbon) consists of plenty of mountain scenery, gorgeous lakes, historic small towns, ski resorts, state parks, water parks, and more.
Which city is cheaper, Pocono Mountains 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 Pocono Mountains 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 Pocono Mountains 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 average price for accommodation for two people in Pocono Mountains is $142. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
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.
Pocono Mountains food costs typically run travelers around $42 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
Pocono Mountains $42
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.
The average price of local transportation around Pocono Mountains is $39 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
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 Pocono Mountains?
Prices for flights to both Pocono Mountains 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.
Pocono Mountains's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $24 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
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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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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Adventure Island Water Park Ticket:
$63
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Tampa Indoor Skydiving Experience with 2 Flights & Personalized Certificate:
$70
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Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Admission Ticket:
$110
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Nature Lovers Combo Tour:
$136
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Tampa spend on average $20 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
The average person spends about $11 on alcoholic beverages in Pocono Mountains per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
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 Pocono Mountains, we can see that Pocono Mountains 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 Pocono Mountains would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pocono Mountains than you might in Tampa.
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