Should you visit Tampa or Richmond?
Should I visit Tampa or Richmond? 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.
Richmond
One of the oldest American cities, Richmond was established in 1607 by English settlers led by Captain Christopher Newport and Captain John Smith. During the Civil War it existed as the capital of the Confederacy, and today it remains the capital of the U.S. state of Virginia. There are many historic sights to see and museums to explore, as well as plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment.
Which city is cheaper, Richmond 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 Richmond is $129. 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 Richmond 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.
Richmond's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $162. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $81.
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 $17 per day in Richmond 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
Richmond $17
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Richmond
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Richmond.
-
Church Hill Food Tour:
$60
-
Arts District Food Tour in Richmond:
$65
-
Church Hill Food Tour in Richmond, VA:
$70
-
Pizza Making Party:
$99
-
Thai Cooking Class:
$130
-
Chinese Cooking Class Master:
$130
-
Street Food of Asia Cooking Class:
$134
-
Indian Cooking Master Class:
$134
-
Arts District 3 Hours Guided Walking Food Tour:
$173
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 $58 per day to get around in Richmond.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tampa
Also for Tampa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Private Departure Transfer - to Tampa Airport (TPA):
$28
-
Private Arrival Transfer - from Tampa Airport (TPA):
$32
-
Private Airport Transfer: from Tampa to Tampa International Airport (TPA):
$44
-
Private Transfer from Tampa Airport to Land O' Lakes Florida:
$60
-
Private Airport Transfer: Tampa International Airport (TPA) to Tampa:
$61
-
Transfer from Tampa International Airport to Tampa:
$75
-
Tampa Airport (TPA) to Tampa hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer:
$82
-
Tampa hotel or address to Tampa Airport (TPA) - Departure Private Transfer:
$82
-
Tampa Airport (TPA) to St Petersburg hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer:
$83
-
Tampa Airport (TPA) to Clearwater Beach - Arrival Private Transfer:
$83
-
Private Transfer from Tampa Airport to Bradenton:
$110
-
Private Tampa Transfer: Cruise Port to Airport or Hotel:
$113
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Richmond
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Richmond:
-
YVR - Vancouver's Airport Whistler( Private Transfer Sightseeing Tour):
$443
-
Vancouver Airport Transfers: Vancouver Airport YVR to Vancouver in Luxury Van:
$152
-
Vancouver Airport Transfers: Vancouver Airport YVR to Vancouver in Luxury Car:
$185
-
Vancouver Airport Transfers: Vancouver Airport YVR to Vancouver in Business Car:
$110
-
Vancouver Airport (YVR) to White Rock - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$321
-
Vancouver Airport (YVR) to White Rock - Arrival Private Transfer:
$160
-
Vancouver Airport (YVR) to Vancouver hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer:
$72
-
Vancouver Airport (YVR) to Canada Place Cruise Port - Arrival Private Transfer:
$72
-
Transfer in private vehicle from Vancouver Airport to North West Vancouver:
$70
-
Transfer in Private Vehicle from Vancouver Airport to Vancouver Downtown:
$60
-
Transfer in Private Minivan from Vancouver Airport to Vancouver Downtown:
$73
-
Transfer from Vancouver International Airport to Whistler:
$443
Is it cheaper to fly into Tampa or Richmond?
Prices for flights to both Richmond 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.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $11 per person, per day in Richmond. 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
-
Tampa History Cruise:
$31
-
1.5-hour Dolphin Sightseeing Cruise from Tampa:
$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
-
ZooQuarium 1-Day Ticket:
$60
-
Adventure Island Water Park Ticket:
$63
-
Tampa Indoor Skydiving Experience with 2 Flights & Personalized Certificate:
$70
Tours and Activities in Richmond
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Richmond are as follows:
-
6 Hours Private tour of city of Vancouver & North Vancouver:
$291
-
Amazing Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Richmond:
$44
-
Blue Bee Cider 1-Hour Tour and Tasting:
$17
-
City Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Richmond:
$11
-
Hollywood Cemetery Electric Car Tour in Richmond:
$38
-
Mountain Biking Adventure on Narrowback Mountain:
$150
-
On Foot RVA Running Tours of Richmond, Virginia:
$36
-
RVATukTuk Sightseeing Tour of Richmond:
$150
-
Richmond Ghosts Walking Ghost Tour:
$20
-
Richmond Landmark Segway Tour:
$44
-
Vancouver Airport (YVR) to Canada Place Cruise Port - Round-Trip Private Transfe:
$144
-
Vancouver City Tour:
$66
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:
-
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 Richmond
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Richmond:
-
Brewery Tour of Richmond, VA:
$320
When comparing the travel costs between Tampa and Richmond, we can see that Richmond is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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