Which place is cheaper, Michigan or Texas?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Texas or Michigan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Texas and Michigan. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Texas or Michigan?
Texas
Texas is the second largest and second most populated state in the United States. It measures 267,000 square miles in size and exploring even a large section of the state takes longer than you might expect. The size and distinctive culture of the area brings much pride to the state's natives. The state was briefly its own country for ten years, starting in 1836 after the residents rebelled as a territory of first Spain and then Mexico. It then joined the United States in 1845. The state maintains its independent personality and many Texans proudly display the state flag near their home or car.
Michigan
Surrounded by four of the five great lakes, the U.S. state of Michigan consists of two peninsulas, the Upper Peninsula and Lower Peninsula. The Lower Peninsula is the portion shaped like a mitten and is a center of manufacturing and high-tech industry. It is also home to the country's three major automobile companies-General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler-whose headquarters are in the Detroit metropolitan area. The Upper Peninsula is separated from the Lower by the Straits of Mackinac, a five-mile channel that joins Lake Huron to Lake Michigan. In contrast, the Upper Peninsula is sparsely populated and is economically important for its status as a tourist destination and its abundance of natural resources.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America, The Best Walking Tours in United States of America, and The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTexas $198Michigan $120
The average daily cost (per person) in Texas is $198, while the average daily cost in Michigan is $120. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Texas and Michigan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTexas $80Michigan $63
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTexas $160Michigan $126
Compare Hotels in Texas and Michigan
Looking for a hotel in Texas or Michigan? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Texas $49Michigan $30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Texas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Texas:
- Private Departure Transfer to Dallas Fort Worth Airport DFW: $40
- El Paso to El Paso International Airport (ELP) - Departure Private Transfer: $40
- El Paso International Airport (ELP) to El Paso - Arrival Private Transfer : $40
- Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL) to Dallas - Arrival Private Transfer: $41
- Dallas to Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL) - Departure Private Transfer: $41
- Private Departure Transfer to Houston George Bush Airport IAH: $51
- Private Arrival Transfer from Houston George Bush Airport (IAH): $51
- Transfer in private vehicle from Houston George Bush Airport to Houston Downtown: $60
- Transfer private executive car from Dallas Airport (DFW)- City Center: $60
- Transfer executive private car from Dallas City Center - Dallas Airport (DFW): $60
- Allen or Plano to Dallas Fort Worth Airport (DFW) - Departure Private Transfer: $61
- Transfer in executive private car from Dallas City Center - Dallas Airport (DAL): $71
Is it cheaper to fly into Texas or Michigan?
Prices for flights to both Michigan and Texas 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayTexas $43Michigan $36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Texas
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Texas.
- East Austin Food Tour: $44
- Billy Bob's Texas Honky Tonk Dinner and Photo Package: $51
- Seasonal Pizza From Scratch Experience in Houston: $55
- Murder Mystery Dinner and Show: $66
- Astroville Food Tour of Downtown Houston with Tunnel Access: $70
- The Haunted Dinner Tour: $75
- Downtown Houston Food Tour: $76
- The Heights Food Tour in Houston: $76
- Devour Downtown Austin Walking Food Tour: $80
- Houston Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $85
- Deep Ellum Foodie Lovers Tour with Food Tours of America: $85
- Famous Texas BBQ & Food Tour in Austin: $89
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Texas $23Michigan $18
Tours and Activities in Texas
Here are a few actual costs in Texas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Self-Guided Ghost Tour on the Galveston Strand: $6.75
- Historic Dallas Downtown Solo Self Guided Walking Tour : $7.75
- Sights of Downtown Houston Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $7.99
- Big Bend National Park Self Guided Audio Tour Guide: $9.99
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Fort Worth by Wacky Walks: $10
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Waco by Wacky Walks: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Houston by Wacky Walks: $10
- Unique Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt Experience in League City: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Fort Worth by 3Quest Challenge: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Fort Worth by Crazy Dash: $10
- Fort Worth Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Adventure: $13
- Al's Authentic Paranormal Excursion Tour: $15
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTexas $19Michigan $20
Sample the Local Flavors in Texas
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Texas:
- Galveston Island Brewing Brewery Tour with Beer Tasting : $10
- Austin Bar Hunt: Sixth Street Spree: Austin Bar Crawl: $12
- Epic San Antonio Bar Crawl: By Let’s Roam: $12
- Galveston Haunted Pub Crawl Walking Tour: $30
- Death Warmed Over: San Antonio Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
- Austin Haunted Pub Crawl Walking Tour: $30
- Texas’ Oldest Haunted Pub Crawl Shared Walking Tour: $30
- Downtown Austin Live Music Pub Crawl: $35
- Austin Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $45
- Stockyards History Tour Fort Worth Pub Crawl: $45
- Party Bike Pub Crawl in Deep Ellum and Downtown Dallas: $55
- Private Houston Brewery Tour by Cart: $57
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Texas and Michigan, we can see that Texas is more expensive. And not only is Michigan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Michigan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Michigan 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 Texas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Texas than you might in Michigan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Texas Expensive? and Is Michigan Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, Texas or Michigan?
Texas has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Michigan. When comparing the sizes of Texas and Michigan, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.