Should you visit Washington or Adirondack Mountains?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Washington and Adirondack Mountains can help you decide which place is right for you.
Washington
Washington, DC is the capital city of the United States of America. It is also a city rich in history and culture. The city dates back to 1791 when the states of Maryland and Virginia donated the land to create the capital. In 1846, Congress returned the land that was ceded by Virginia and in 1871 it created a single municipal government with the remaining area. Today, Washington, DC has a population of over 600,000 people. The metropolitan area includes suburbs in Maryland and Virginia and has a population of about 5.8 million.
Adirondack Mountains
Located in northeast New York State, the Adirondacks attract a large number of outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. It's the largest and first government protected park in the contiguous United States, and it's a popular year round destination for hiking, rock climbing, skiing, and more. The area covers about 5,000 square miles and is home to more than 200 lakes.
Which city is cheaper, Adirondack Mountains or Washington?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Washington is $155, while the average daily cost in Adirondack Mountains is $133. 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 Washington and Adirondack Mountains in more detail.
Accommodation
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $182 in Washington For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $77. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Adirondack Mountains the cost is $154 on average.
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Accommodation
Hotel or hostel for one person
Washington $91
Adirondack Mountains $77
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Accommodation
Typical double-occupancy room
Washington
$182
Adirondack Mountains
$154
Local Transportation
To get around in Washington, the average visitor spends $37 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
The average price of local transportation around Adirondack Mountains is $26 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.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Washington
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Washington are as follows:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Washington
Also for Washington, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Washington Reagan Airport Transfer to Baltimore & D. C.:
$15
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Private Airport Transfer: Washington to Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA):
$40
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Washington to Washington R. Reagan Airport (DCA) - Departure Private Transfer:
$61
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Washington Airport Transfers: Washington to National Airport DCA in Business Car:
$72
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Departure Private Transfers: Washington to National Airport DCA in Business Car:
$72
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Private Airport Transfer: from Washington to Dulles International Airport (IAD):
$77
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Private Departure Transfer from Washington City to DCA Regan Washington Airport:
$78
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Departure Private Transfers: Washington to National Airport DCA in Luxury SUV:
$78
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Washington Airport Transfers: Washington to National Airport DCA in Luxury SUV:
$82
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Departure Private Transfers: Washington to National Airport DCA in Luxury Van:
$82
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Washington Airport Transfers: Washington to National Airport DCA in Luxury Van:
$82
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Seattle: Private Transfer to/from Seattle Airport (SEA):
$86
Is it cheaper to fly into Washington or Adirondack Mountains?
Prices for flights to both Adirondack Mountains and Washington 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
The average traveler spends about $30 per day in Washington 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.
On average, meal and food prices in Adirondack Mountains cost around $39 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 $16.
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Food
Meals for one day
Washington $30
Adirondack Mountains $39
Typical Food prices in Washington
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Washington:
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Water
$2.00
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Snacks on Monuments Tour
$6.15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Washington
For Washington, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Seattle: Pike Place Market Plant-Based Food Tour:
$64
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Washington D.C.: 3.5-Hour Georgetown Food Tour:
$65
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Washington DC: 3-Hour Italian Food Tour:
$65
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Washington DC Food Tour: Italian Cuisine in Dupont Circle:
$65
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Washington, DC: The Original Brew Tour with Tasting & Dinner:
$70
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Adams Morgan Food Tour:
$76
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Washington DC: Private Food Tour Experience:
$79
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Capitol Hill Walking Food Tour:
$79
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U Street Neighborhood Food Tour:
$99
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Washington DC Odyssey Dinner Cruise:
$100
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Private French Cooking Class with an Expert in the Heart of Washington DC:
$108
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Washington, DC 3-Hour Dinner Buffet Cruise:
$122
Entertainment
In Washington, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $19 per person, per day.
Adirondack Mountains's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $13 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 Washington
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Washington.
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Tidal Basin: Stroll around the cherry blossoms and monuments on an audio tour:
$5.00
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The National Mall: Discover the monuments and their memories on an audio tour:
$5.00
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Lincoln's Assassination: Explore Lincoln's final day on this audio walking tour:
$5.55
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The Kennedy Homes: Explore the colonial architecture on this audio walking tour:
$5.55
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Washington DC Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$14
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Washington DC Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$15
-
Virtual Tour of Martin Luther King Memorial:
$18
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Virtual Tour African American Heritage in Washington DC:
$19
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Washington, DC: US Capitol Building Entry with 1-Hour Tour:
$20
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City Sightseeing Chester Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour:
$21
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DC Ghost Tour:
$24
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Advance Tickets to Washington, D.C.'s Newseum:
$24
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Washington, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $15.
The average person spends about $15 on alcoholic beverages in Adirondack 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 Washington
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Washington:
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Epic Washington DC Bar Crawl: By Let’s Roam:
$12
-
Haunted Washington D.C. Ghost and Pub Walking Tour:
$27
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Washington DC: Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl:
$34
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DC: 'New York Times Journeys' Walking Tour with Beer, Cheese and Wine Tasting:
$120
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Seattle All-Inclusive: Hike Mt. Rainier and Wine Tasting:
$278
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NOVA Private Custom Wine Tours & Tasting from DMV:
$645
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6 Hours Northern VA Wine Tour:
$920
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Washington and Adirondack Mountains, we can see that Washington is more expensive. And not only is Adirondack Mountains much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Adirondack Mountains would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Adirondack Mountains 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 Washington would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Washington than you might in Adirondack Mountains.
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