Should you visit Washington or Minneapolis?
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 Minneapolis 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.
Minneapolis
Known as one of the Twin Cities with its neighbor, Saint Paul, the Minneapolis area is the second largest economic center in the Midwest, behind Chicago. Originally a city of lumber and flour milling, the city has grown to prosper in commerce, rail and trucking, health care, industry, education, publishing, milling, and food processing amongst others. In addition to housing the headquarters for five Fortune 500 Companies, Minneapolis is a city of thriving culture. From visual arts, music, and theater to sporting events and award-winning restaurants, the entertainment is never lacking.
Which city is cheaper, Minneapolis 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 Minneapolis is $164. 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 Minneapolis 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.
The prices for places to stay in Minneapolis can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $88, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $176.
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.
The average traveler spends about $32 per day in Minneapolis 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.
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Food
Meals for one day
Washington $30
Minneapolis $32
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
-
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:
-
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
-
Adams Morgan Food Tour:
$76
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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
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Washington, DC 3-Hour Dinner Buffet Cruise:
$122
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Minneapolis
For Minneapolis, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Historic Northeast Minneapolis Food Tour:
$52
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Private Dining: Mediterranean dinner in Minneapolis with local chef:
$89
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.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Minneapolis than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $34 on transportation in Minneapolis on average per day.
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, DC: Private Airport Transfer(SUV): To or From: (DCA) Reagan National:
$180
-
Washington, DC: Potomac Mills Outlet Private Transfer:
$357
-
Washington to Washington R. Reagan Airport (DCA) - Departure Private Transfer:
$61
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Washington to Washington Dulles Airport (IAD) - Departure Private Transfer:
$97
-
Washington to Newark International Airport (EWR) - Departure Private Transfer:
$491
-
Washington to New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA) - Departure Private Transfer:
$535
-
Washington to New York J.F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) - Departure Private Transfer:
$535
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Washington to Baltimore Washington Airport (BWI) - Departure Private Transfer:
$109
-
Washington Reagan Airport Transfer to Baltimore & D. C.:
$15
-
Washington DC: Private Transfer to Airports or Baltimore:
$130
-
Washington City to Philadelphia City - Private Car Transfer:
$392
-
Washington City to New York City - Private Car Transfer:
$516
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Minneapolis
Also for Minneapolis, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private transfer: Minneapolis to Minneapolis Airport (MSP):
$622
-
Minneapolis to Minneapolis Airport (MSP) - Departure Private Transfer:
$92
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Private Arrival Transfer from Minneapolis Airport MSP:
$75
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Private Departure Transfer to Minneapolis Airport MSP:
$75
Is it cheaper to fly into Washington or Minneapolis?
Prices for flights to both Minneapolis 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.
Sightseeing expenses in Minneapolis, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $21 per day, per person.
Tours and Activities in Washington
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Washington.
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"HEROES OF FREEDOM" PRIVATE TOUR (4 Hour Military Tribute):
$658
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"SHINING CITY" PRIVATE TOUR (3 Hour Evening Tour):
$658
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2 Day Grand Tour with George Washington's Mount Vernon:
$95
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2-Day Colonial Williamsburg Guided Tour from Washington DC:
$330
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24/48-Hour Washington, D.C. Hop-on Hop-off Tour:
$49
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3-Hour "DC After Dark" Night-Time Guided Bus Tour with Stops at Top Attractions:
$35
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3-Hour Private Jeep Tour of Washington D.C.:
$495
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3-Hour Washington DC "Monuments By Night" Guided Night-Time Sightseeing Bus Tour:
$49
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3-Hour Washington DC "Morning Monuments" Guided Sightseeing Walking & Bus Tour:
$64
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3-Hour Washington, D.C Urban Adventure Scavenger Hunt:
$44
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30-Minutes Supercar Driving Pilot Experience in Washington DC:
$275
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Advance Tickets to Washington, D.C.'s Newseum:
$24
Tours and Activities in Minneapolis
For Minneapolis, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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"Crooked" St. Paul Gangsters Private Riding Tour (2 hrs):
$325
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City of Lakes Tour With An Interpreter In Minneapolis:
$179
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Minneapolis & St. Paul Highlights Private Riding & Walking Tour (2 hrs):
$325
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Minneapolis & St. Paul Highlights Private Riding & Walking Tour (3 hrs):
$425
-
Private 3-Hour Walking Tour of Paris during World War II:
$297
-
Romantic tour in Minneapolis:
$498
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The Twin Cities St Paul Tour With An Interpreter:
$179
-
The best of Minneapolis walking tour:
$498
-
Walking Minneapolis Downtown & Skyways Private Tour (2 hrs):
$175
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Walking Minneapolis Downtown Parks, Fountains & Sculpture Private Tour (2 hrs):
$175
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Walking Minneapolis Mississippi River, Falls & Historic Mills Private Tour(2hrs):
$175
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.
Typically, people visiting Minneapolis spend on average $19 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
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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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
Sample the Local Flavors in Minneapolis
Also in Minneapolis, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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All Inclusive 3hr Craft Brewery Tour:
$82
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Minneapolis Distillery Tour:
$87
When comparing the travel costs between Washington and Minneapolis, we can see that Minneapolis 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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