Should you visit Washington or Fort Lauderdale?
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 Fort Lauderdale 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.
Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale is located on the Atlantic coast of Florida, not far from Miami, and is famous for its beaches and boating culture. An elaborate system of canals runs through the city, adding to the charm and coastal lifestyle. Plenty of restaurants, shops, watersports, and other things to do can be found here in addition to the beautiful beaches. The city is family-friendly and also caters to older travelers as well as younger generations. While it's not an inexpensive place to visit, the prices are on par with other cities in southeastern Florida. The beach is lined with high-rise condos and hotels that tend to be expensive, while a few blocks back from the shore you'll find plenty of nice houses along with shops, restaurants, and fun activities for all ages. And since Fort Lauderdale is part of the Miami metro area, you can easily get to all of the other beach areas, cities, and activities in the nearby metropolitan areas as well.
Which city is cheaper, Fort Lauderdale 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 Fort Lauderdale is $146. 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 Fort Lauderdale 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.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $154 for a double occupancy room in Fort Lauderdale.
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.
Fort Lauderdale 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
Washington $30
Fort Lauderdale $39
Typical Food prices in Washington
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Washington:
-
Water
$2.00
-
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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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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Adams Morgan Food Tour:
$76
-
Lonely Planet Experiences: DC Morning Food Tour on H Street:
$79
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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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Washington, DC: The Original Brew Tour with Tasting & Dinner:
$81
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U Street Neighborhood Food Tour:
$89
-
Washington DC Odyssey Dinner Cruise:
$100
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Private French Cooking Class with an Expert in the Heart of Washington DC:
$108
-
Washington, DC 3-Hour Dinner Buffet Cruise:
$122
Typical Food prices in Fort Lauderdale
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Fort Lauderdale:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Fort Lauderdale
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Fort Lauderdale.
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Mai-Kai Dinner and Polynesian Show:
$47
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All You Can Eat BBQ Dinner and Show at Tropical Isle with Sightseeing Cruise:
$60
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 cost of a taxi ride in Fort Lauderdale is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $41 per person, per day, on local transportation in Fort Lauderdale.
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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Airport Transfer to and from Dulles International IAD Airport:
$160
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DCA Private 1-Way Transfer from D.C. City Center Hotels:
$97
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DCA to D.C. City Center Hotels: 1-Way Private Transfer:
$102
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Departure Private Transfers : Washington to Dulles Airport IAD in Business Car:
$118
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Departure Private Transfers : Washington to Dulles Airport IAD in Luxury SUV:
$154
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Departure Private Transfers : Washington to Dulles Airport IAD in Luxury Van:
$154
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Departure Private Transfers: Washington to Baltimore Airport BWI in Business Car:
$119
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Departure Private Transfers: Washington to Baltimore Airport BWI in Luxury SUV:
$151
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Departure Private Transfers: Washington to Baltimore Airport BWI in Luxury Van:
$159
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Departure Private Transfers: Washington to National Airport DCA in Business Car:
$72
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Departure Private Transfers: Washington to National Airport DCA in Luxury SUV:
$78
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Departure Private Transfers: Washington to National Airport DCA in Luxury Van:
$82
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Fort Lauderdale
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Fort Lauderdale:
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Private Transfer from Fort Lauderdale to Orlando-Sanford (SFB) Airport:
$851
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Private Transfer from Fort Lauderdale to Orlando (MCO) Airport:
$754
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Transfer from Fort Lauderdale Airport to Orlando:
$750
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Private Transfer from Fort Lauderdale to Port Canaveral:
$710
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Private Ft Lauderdale to Orlando Transfer up to 11-One Price-Mercedes Sprinter:
$699
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Party Bus Limo Sprinter Transfer Service things to do Miami Beach #dreamridellc:
$450
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Fort Lauderdale Transfer Luxury Suv:
$281
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Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL) to Boynton Beach - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$274
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Private transfer from or to MIA , FLL airports and Miami & Lauderdale FL:
$250
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Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL) to Delray Beach - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$246
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Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL) to Doral - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$229
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Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL) to Boca Raton - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$197
Is it cheaper to fly into Washington or Fort Lauderdale?
Prices for flights to both Fort Lauderdale 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.
Entertainment
In Washington, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $19 per person, per day.
Entertainment and activities in Fort Lauderdale typically cost an average of $12 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Tours and Activities in Washington
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Washington.
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The National Mall: Discover the monuments and their memories on an audio tour:
$5.00
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Tidal Basin: Stroll around the cherry blossoms and monuments 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: Arlington Nat. Cemetery Ticket & Tram Tour:
$15
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Washington DC Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$15
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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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DC: Museum of the Bible Exclusive Early Admission Ticket:
$20
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Washington, DC: US Capitol Building Entry with 1-Hour Tour:
$20
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Haunted History Ghost Tour:
$21
Tours and Activities in Fort Lauderdale
Here are a few actual costs in Fort Lauderdale for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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1 Hour Central Park Guided Electric Bike Tour:
$49
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1-Hour Bike Tour of Hugh Taylor Birch State Park:
$47
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1-Hour Interactive Pirate Adventure Cruise in Fort Lauderdale (Family-Friendly):
$23
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2 Hour Fort Lauderdale Guided Electric Bike Tour:
$60
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2 Hour Venice Of America Jet Ski Adventure & Exploration Tour of Fort Lauderdale:
$225
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3 Hour All Inclusive 007 Millionaires Row Jet Ski Adventure Fort Lauderdale:
$307
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5-Day Miami+Key West+Palm Beach+Fort Lauderdale Tour (Miami Departure)(MIA5-A):
$579
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90-Minute Narrated Sightseeing Cruises:
$23
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90-Minute Snorkel & Seabob Underwater Guided Reef Tour in Fort Lauderdale:
$139
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Airport to Cruise Shuttle Private Group Transportation:
$580
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Beach Cruiser Bike Rentals in Fort Lauderdale:
$11
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Champagne Sunset Cruise Ft. Lauderdale:
$58
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.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Fort Lauderdale may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $27 per day on alcoholic beverages.
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
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Haunted Washington D.C. Ghost and Pub Walking Tour:
$27
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DC: 'New York Times Journeys' Walking Tour with Beer, Cheese and Wine Tasting:
$120
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NOVA Private Custom Wine Tours & Tasting from DMV:
$645
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6 Hours Northern VA Wine Tour:
$920
Typical Alcohol prices in Fort Lauderdale
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Fort Lauderdale are as follows:
When comparing the travel costs between Washington and Fort Lauderdale, we can see that Washington 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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