How much does it cost to travel to Charlotte?
You should plan to spend around $191 per day on your vacation in Charlotte. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $46 on meals
- $33 on local transportation
- $236 on hotels
A one week trip to Charlotte for two people costs, on average, $2,677. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Charlotte has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Charlotte expensive to visit?
Prices in Charlotte are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.
Within North America, which is known to be an expensive region, Charlotte is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Anchorage or Boulder.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Charlotte Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Charlotte?
The average Charlotte trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Charlotte travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
|
Category
|
Cost
|
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
$236
|
|
Local Transportation 1
|
$33
|
|
Food 2
|
$46
|
|
Entertainment 1
|
$43
|
|
Alcohol 2
|
$10 -
30
|
Accommodation Budget in Charlotte
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Charlotte is $118. For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Charlotte is $236. This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Charlotte? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in Charlotte
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Charlotte is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $33 per person, per day, on local transportation in Charlotte.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$33
How much does it cost to go to Charlotte? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Charlotte will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Charlotte
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Charlotte can vary, the average cost of food in Charlotte is $46 per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Charlotte should cost around $18 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Charlotte is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$46
Typical prices for Food in Charlotte are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Charlotte, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
Entertainment Budget in Charlotte
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Charlotte typically cost an average of $43 per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$43
Alcohol Budget in Charlotte
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $20 on alcoholic beverages in Charlotte per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$20
Charlotte On a Budget
Charlotte, North Carolona
With a population of almost 800,000, Charlotte is the largest city in the state of North Carolina. The city has grown rapidly in recent years and the thriving economy has led to major revitalization efforts in the city's central district. The city is a center for finance, industry, technology, and entertainment within the state. It is the location of the corporate headquarters of Bank of America as well as the east coast operations of Wells Fargo, making it the second largest banking center in the United States. Although Charlotte has never been considered a significant tourist destination, recent efforts to enhance the urban core and develop entertainment venues have begun to appeal to outside visitors.
Charlote is located in central North Carolina. The climate is similar to that found elsewhere in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. There are four distinct seasons with short but cool winters and hot and humid summers. Snow falls occasionally but freezing rain is much more common. Thunderstorms are frequent during the summer months.
Sights
There are a handful of good museums and historic sights in Charlote. The Mint Museum has two locations. At these museums you'll find art and history based exhibits as well as various traveling exhibits. Discovery Place is in Uptown and is one of the top children's museums in the country. Also worth a visit are Levine Museum of the New South and Carolinas Aviation Museum. James K Polk Historic Site has a memorial to the president and a museum that is worth visiting.
Neighborhoods
Charlotte has many districts and neighborhoods. The city center is referred to as "Uptown". This is the central district and where you will find many businesses, museums, theaters, nightclubs, restaurants, and more recently, high rise condos.
North of Davidson Street (NoDa) is an eclectic area that is the Historic Arts District. This area is about two miles north of Uptown.
South End is near Uptown along the corridor of Tryon St. and South Blvd. It has grown into a somewhat upscale entertainment area.
Myers Park is a beautiful area that is home to "old money". The neighborhood has large, beautiful trees and impressive homes. It's also where you'll find Queens University and Freedom Park.
Dilworth is the city's first "streetcar suburb". It's an upscale area with a lot of character. There are art galleries, restaurants, and quaint homes.
Other neighborhoods in the city include Plaza-Midwood, South Park, Elizabeth, University City, East Charlotte, Ballantyne, and the Historic West End.
Activities
Charlotte has grown into a cultural hub for the state. There are many theaters and coliseums in town that host shows, concerts, and live performances. The largest venue in town is Verizon Wireless Amphitheater but other options include Bojangles Coliseum, Memorial Stadium, the Children's Theatre of Charlotte, Actor's Theater of Charlotte, and Blumenthal and Spirit Square, among many others.
NASCAR is a popular sport in town. The Charlotte Motor Speedway hosts events regularly and the city is home to the NASCAR Hall of Fame and headquarters. Other sports in the area include the Carolina Panthers, the Bobcats, and the minor league Charlotte Knights baseball team.
Food and Dining
Charlotte has a diverse range of restaurants that represent many different ethnicities and cuisine types. There are restaurants that offer the typical southern favorites such as grits, sweet potatoes, and barbecue, but there are also contemporary and modern restaurants that have eclectic or high end selections. Ethnic food in the area includes Mexican, Chinese, Japanese, Lebanese, Ethiopian, Greek, and much more.
Transportation
Charlotte Douglas International Airport is a large airport with frequent flights to many major cities. The airport is a hub for American Airlines and there are frequent deals on both international and domestic flights. The airport is located on the west side of town near the Billy Graham Parkway and there's a shuttle bus called Sprinter that travels between the airport and Uptown. There is also an Amtrak station in town.
Once you're in town, the Uptown area is generally walkable but if you hope to travel anywhere else, a car is very helpful. There is also a light rail system that is efficient if you're traveling to or from Uptown from the southern parts of Mecklenburg County. The Charlotte bus system is not very efficient and not particularly reliable. It is best not to depend on the bus system as your sole means of travel.
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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.