Should you visit Washington or Savannah?
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 Savannah 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.
Savannah
Savanah is a reasonably priced city by U.S. standards. With a wide range of accommodation and food options, it's possible to experience this historical city on a cheaper budget, or, if you like, to live it up in luxury without spending an inordinate amount of money.
The oldest city in the state of Georgia, Savannah sits right on the Savannah River, a historic commercial port dating back to the Thirteen Colonies. The old port of the city still lies along this river, paved in traditional cobblestone roads and radiating with old southern charm. Savannah is also known for its many small parks, tunnels of oak trees and magnolias draped in southern moss, romantic horse-drawn carriages, as well as some of the most ornate antebellum architecture to be found in the south.
Whether you are interested in the past of a historically prosperous seaport or wish to enjoy the enchanting atmosphere that it still holds, Savannah is a quaint destination full of beauty with an arsenal of historic appeal to match.
Which city is cheaper, Savannah 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 Savannah is $128. 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 Savannah 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 $67. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Savannah the cost is $134 on average.
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 Savannah cost around $46 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 $18.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Washington $30
Savannah $46
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:
-
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
-
Lonely Planet Experiences: DC Morning Food Tour on H Street:
$79
-
Washington DC: Private Food Tour Experience:
$79
-
Capitol Hill Walking Food Tour:
$79
-
Washington, DC: The Original Brew Tour with Tasting & Dinner:
$81
-
U Street Neighborhood Food Tour:
$89
-
Washington DC Odyssey Dinner Cruise:
$100
-
Private French Cooking Class with an Expert in the Heart of Washington DC:
$108
-
Washington, DC 3-Hour Dinner Buffet Cruise:
$122
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Savannah
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Savannah.
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2-Hour Southern Food Tour:
$47
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Savannah Southern Fried Expectations Walking Food Tour:
$47
-
3-Hour First Squares Food Tour:
$57
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Famous and Secret East Side Food Tour:
$57
-
Savannah's Historic & Secret East Side Walking Food Tour:
$61
-
Savannah Culinary & Cultural Walking Food Tour:
$61
-
Savannah Riverboat Gospel Music Dinner Cruise:
$72
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Riverboat Dinner Cruise with Live Entertainment:
$77
-
Savannah Riverboat Dinner Cruise:
$79
-
Savannah Walktails & Bar Bites Guided Food Tour:
$80
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 Savannah is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $22 per person, per day, on local transportation in Savannah.
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
-
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
-
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
-
Private Airport Transfer: from Washington to Dulles International Airport (IAD):
$77
-
Private Departure Transfer from Washington City to DCA Regan Washington Airport:
$78
-
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
-
Washington Airport Transfers: Washington to National Airport DCA in Luxury SUV:
$82
-
Washington Airport Transfers: Washington to National Airport DCA in Luxury Van:
$82
-
DCA Private 1-Way Transfer from D.C. City Center Hotels:
$97
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Savannah
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Savannah:
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Private Arrival Transfer: Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport to Hotel:
$157
-
Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Savannah Airport:
$157
-
Savannah Hilton Airport (SAV) to Savannah - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$124
-
SAV Airport Transfer To & From South Carolina:
$120
-
Private Arrival Transfer from Savannah Airport SAV:
$73
-
Private Departure Transfer to Savannah Airport SAV:
$73
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Savannah to Savannah Hilton Airport (SAV) - Departure Private Transfer:
$62
-
Savannah Hilton Airport (SAV) to Savannah - Arrival Private Transfer:
$62
Is it cheaper to fly into Washington or Savannah?
Prices for flights to both Savannah 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 Savannah typically cost an average of $13 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
-
The Kennedy Homes: Explore the colonial architecture on this audio walking tour:
$5.55
-
Washington DC Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$14
-
Washington DC: Arlington Nat. Cemetery Ticket & Tram Tour:
$15
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Washington DC Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$15
-
Virtual Tour of Martin Luther King Memorial:
$18
-
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
-
Haunted History Ghost Tour:
$21
Typical Entertainment prices in Savannah
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Savannah are as follows:
Tours and Activities in Savannah
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Savannah are as follows:
-
"Pedal through Savannah" 2-Hour Bike Tour:
$30
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10:00 pm Restless Souls Tour:
$29
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13 Ghosts of Christmas: Savannah Ghost Tour:
$26
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60-Minute Guided Segway History Tour of Savannah:
$49
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8:00 pm Voices of the Dead Tour:
$29
-
90-Minute Segway History Tour of Savannah:
$71
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America's Most Haunted City Savannah, Georgia Interpreter Tour:
$179
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Bonaventure Cemetery Walking Tour with Transportation:
$30
-
Botanical Walking Tour of Savannah:
$32
-
Cayman Honey Beekeeping Adventure:
$67
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Colonial Park Cemetery Segway and Walking Tour:
$69
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Custom Savannah Private Tour:
$103
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 $28 on alcoholic beverages in Savannah 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
-
DC: 'New York Times Journeys' Walking Tour with Beer, Cheese and Wine Tasting:
$120
-
NOVA Private Custom Wine Tours & Tasting from DMV:
$645
-
6 Hours Northern VA Wine Tour:
$920
Sample the Local Flavors in Savannah
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Savannah:
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Epic Savannah Bar Crawl: By Let’s Roam:
$12
-
90 Minute Savannah Haunted Pub Crawl:
$15
-
Spanish Moss Haunted Savannah Pub Crawl:
$20
-
Savannah Haunted Pub Crawl Walking Tour:
$24
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Haunted Pub Tour:
$28
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Haunted Savannah Ghost & Pub Walking Tour:
$28
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Bad Kitty Haunted Pub Crawl - The Best Savannah Ghost and Spirits Experience:
$29
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Spooky Savannah Haunted Pub Crawl and Walking Ghost Tour:
$30
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Creepy Crawl Night-Time Haunted Pub Walking Tour of Savannah's Historic District:
$30
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Haunted Savannah Pub Crawl:
$30
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Haunted Savannah Pub Crawl:
$30
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Drag Queen Guided Pub Crawl with Sing-a-Longs:
$34
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Washington and Savannah, we can see that Washington is more expensive. And not only is Savannah much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Savannah would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Savannah 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 Savannah.
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