A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Wilmington vs. Dayton for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Wilmington or Dayton?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Wilmington or Dayton, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Wilmington or Dayton?

Wilmington

Wilmington is a port city in southeastern North Carolina. It's a great city to visit for it's nearby beaches, large historic district, and quaint atmosphere. The city has a population of about 115,000 and it's the eighth largest city in the state.

Wilmington is also home to the University of North Carolina at Wilmington as well as the EUE Screen Gems Studios. This is the largest domestic television and movie production facility outside of California. The studio, which opened in 1984, helped grow Wilmington into a major base for film and television production. The city has been the backdrop for many movies and tv shows including Iron Man 3, Sleepy Hollow, One Tree Hill, and Revolution.

Dayton

Located in southwest Ohio, Dayton is known as the "Gem City." It's the original home of Orville and Wilbur Wright, the brothers who designed the first airplane. You'll also find the Dayton Aviation Heritage Park here, which is one of the only multi-site National Parks in the United States. The cities climate has four different seasons, winter, spring, summer and fall. The winter months are quite cold and you can expect a decent amount of snow in the area. Spring remains cool and there are infrequent showers. This is also the peak time for tornadoes in the area. Summer is hot and humid and can be unpleasant at times, but fall is crisp and refreshing with occasional storms and infrequent tornadoes.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America, The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas.


Which place is cheaper, Dayton or Wilmington?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Wilmington is $204, while the average daily cost in Dayton is $323. 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 Wilmington and Dayton in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Wilmington $120
    Dayton $250
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Wilmington $240
    Dayton $500
Compare Hotels in Wilmington and Dayton

Looking for a hotel in Wilmington or Dayton? 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.

Hotels in Wilmington


Hotels in Dayton


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.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Wilmington Hotel Prices and Dayton Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Wilmington $47
    Dayton $25

Is it cheaper to fly into Wilmington or Dayton?

Prices for flights to both Dayton and Wilmington 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Wilmington $56
    Dayton $61

Typical Food Prices in Dayton

Some typical examples of dining costs in Dayton are as follows:


  • Noodle Company Lunch (for 2)
    $17
  • Indian Food Dinner (for 2)
    $34

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Wilmington $17
    Dayton -

Tours and Activities in Wilmington

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Wilmington.

  • Scavenger Hunt Adventure Self-Guided City Game: $10
  • Wilmington Pirate Walking Tour: $20
  • Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Wilmington by Zombie Scavengers: $20
  • Eagles Island 50 minute Narrated Boat Cruise: $21
  • History and Architecture Walking Tour : $25
  • Wilmington History and Architecture Tour: $25
  • Ghosts of the Port City Haunted Walking Tour: $26
  • Craft Beer and History Crawl Shared Experience in Wilmington: $30
  • Wilmington Ghosts: Phantoms of Pirates and Patriots Tour: $33
  • Black Water Adventure Cruise: $33
  • Trolley Pub Public Tour: $49
  • Island Hopper Cruise in Wrightsville Beach: $50

Tours and Activities in Dayton

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Dayton are as follows:

  • Daytona Beach: Guided Kayaking or Standup Paddling Tour: $65

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Wilmington $39
    Dayton -

Sample the Local Flavors in Wilmington

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Wilmington:

  • 2-Hour Wilmington E-Bike Bar Crawl: $55
  • 2-Hour Wilmington E-Bike Bar Crawl: $55

Sample the Local Flavors in Dayton

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dayton:

  • Dive Bar Bus Crawl: $38


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Wilmington and Dayton, we can see that Dayton is more expensive. And not only is Wilmington much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Wilmington would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Wilmington 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 Dayton would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dayton than you might in Wilmington.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Wilmington Expensive? and Is Dayton Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Wilmington or Dayton?

Dayton has a larger population, and is about 72% larger than the population of Wilmington. When comparing the sizes of Wilmington and Dayton, 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.


When is the best time to visit Wilmington or Dayton?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Wilmington or Dayton in the Summer?

Both Dayton and Wilmington during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Wilmington because of the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Wilmington is generally around the same temperature as Dayton. Daily temperatures in Wilmington average around 81°F (27°C), and Dayton fluctuates around 78°F (26°C).

In Dayton, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Wilmington. In the summer, Wilmington often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Dayton. Wilmington gets 283 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dayton receives 298 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Wilmington. Wilmington usually gets more rain in July than Dayton. Wilmington gets 8.1 inches (207 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Wilmington 81°F (27°C) 
    Dayton 78°F (26°C)

Should I visit Wilmington or Dayton in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Wilmington and Dayton. The shopping scene are the main draw to Wilmington this time of year.

Wilmington is a little warmer than Dayton in the autumn. The daily temperature in Wilmington averages around 65°F (18°C) in October, and Dayton fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).

In Wilmington, it's very sunny this time of the year. Wilmington usually receives more sunshine than Dayton during autumn. Wilmington gets 227 hours of sunny skies, while Dayton receives 188 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Wilmington usually receives around the same amount of rain as Dayton. Wilmington gets 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 2.5 inches (64 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Wilmington 65°F (18°C) 
    Dayton 57°F (14°C)

Should I visit Wilmington or Dayton in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Wilmington as well as Dayton. Many travelers come to Wilmington for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Dayton can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Wilmington is much warmer than Dayton. Typically, the winter temperatures in Wilmington in January average around 45°F (7°C), and Dayton averages at about 30°F (-1°C).

In the winter, Wilmington often gets more sunshine than Dayton. Wilmington gets 180 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dayton receives 129 hours of full sun.

Wilmington usually gets more rain in January than Dayton. Wilmington gets 3.9 inches (98 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 2.1 inches (54 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Wilmington 45°F (7°C) 
    Dayton 30°F (-1°C)

Should I visit Wilmington or Dayton in the Spring?

Both Dayton and Wilmington are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Wilmington in the spring for the beaches.

In April, Wilmington is generally a little warmer than Dayton. Daily temperatures in Wilmington average around 63°F (17°C), and Dayton fluctuates around 55°F (13°C).

It's quite sunny in Dayton. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Wilmington. Wilmington usually receives more sunshine than Dayton during spring. Wilmington gets 278 hours of sunny skies, while Dayton receives 215 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Wilmington usually receives less rain than Dayton. Wilmington gets 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 3.5 inches (88 mm) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Wilmington 63°F (17°C) 
    Dayton 55°F (13°C)

Typical Weather for Dayton and Wilmington

Wilmington Dayton
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 45°F (7°C) 3.9 inches (98 mm) 30°F (-1°C) 2.1 inches (54 mm)
Feb 47°F (9°C) 3.7 inches (94 mm) 33°F (1°C) 2.1 inches (53 mm)
Mar 55°F (13°C) 3.9 inches (99 mm) 44°F (7°C) 3.3 inches (85 mm)
Apr 63°F (17°C) 2.9 inches (73 mm) 55°F (13°C) 3.5 inches (88 mm)
May 70°F (21°C) 4.4 inches (113 mm) 65°F (18°C) 4 inches (102 mm)
Jun 77°F (25°C) 6 inches (152 mm) 74°F (23°C) 3.9 inches (100 mm)
Jul 81°F (27°C) 8.1 inches (207 mm) 78°F (26°C) 3.4 inches (86 mm)
Aug 80°F (27°C) 6.9 inches (176 mm) 76°F (25°C) 3.3 inches (83 mm)
Sep 75°F (24°C) 5 inches (128 mm) 69°F (21°C) 2.6 inches (65 mm)
Oct 65°F (18°C) 2.7 inches (68 mm) 57°F (14°C) 2.5 inches (64 mm)
Nov 56°F (14°C) 3.1 inches (79 mm) 47°F (8°C) 3.1 inches (80 mm)
Dec 49°F (9°C) 3.6 inches (92 mm) 35°F (2°C) 3 inches (75 mm)