Where should you go on a Florida vacation? Here are the cheapest and costliest sites
The Florida Keys, a popular destination for tourists in the Sunshine State, are among the most expensive places for people to visit.
Three of the five costliest stays are in the popular archipelago south of Miami, according to a new report.
Duck Key was named the most expensive travel destination by FloridaRentals.com on its list of “Florida’s priciest and most budget-friendly vacation hot spots,” which came out in August and looks at 25 areas.
The report by the vacation rental marketplace also had a surprising finding: Miami was one of the five most affordable places to go in the state. That may stun locals who have been battling high cost of living increases in recent years. But it could help explain why the region continues to draw tourists and new migrants.
In addition to Monroe County’s Duck Key, rounding out the Top 5 most expensive list: Destin, Orlando, Big Pine Key and Key West.
The five most affordable places? Tallahassee, Everglades National Park, Cocoa Beach, Cape Canaveral and Miami.
In the report, Florida Rentals assessed the cost for a traveler for one day and night. Airfare or transportation to and from the location was not counted in the study.
The report looked at the following categories and calculated the sum:
▪ Average cost of a double occupancy room
▪ Average price of breakfast, lunch and dinner at a budget restaurant
▪ Average amount spent on alcoholic beverages
▪ Average cost of local transportation
Most expensive places in Florida
Here is how each of those places breaks down for a day by categories:
Duck Key
▪ Hotel: A hotel for one night ran $560, the costliest of all places
▪ Transportation: $69
▪ Meals: $45
▪ Alcohol: $12, the cheapest of all places
▪ Entertainment: $30
Destin
▪ Hotel: $403
▪ Transportation: $50
▪ Meals: $51
▪ Alcohol: $73
▪ Entertainment: $17
Orlando
▪ Hotel: $174
▪ Transportation: $66
▪ Food: $65
▪ Alcohol: $45
▪ Entertainment: $204
Big Pine Key
▪ Hotel: $380
▪ Transportation: $56
▪ Food: $42
▪ Alcohol: $14
▪ Entertainment: $42
Key West
▪ Hotel: $350
▪ Transportation: $51
▪ Food: $68
▪ Alcohol: $24
▪ Entertainment: $33
Least expensive places in Florida
If money is tight but you’d still like to take a vacation, here are the five most affordable places to go:
Tallahassee
▪ Hotel: $104
▪ Transportation: $33
▪ Food: $47
▪ Alcohol: $79
▪ Entertainment: $12
Everglades National Park
▪ Hotel: $160
▪ Transportation: $56
▪ Food: $31
▪ Alcohol: $12
▪ Entertainment: $28
Note: The cost of accommodation in the park averages at $160 per night for a double occupancy room and has the cheapest food costs, with a day’s meals costing $31 on average.
Cocoa Beach
▪ Hotel: $180
▪ Transportation: $26
▪ Food: $43
▪ Alcohol: $30
▪ Entertainment:.$16
Note: It is known for its surfing culture, the report said. “Its average entertainments costs are low at $16, with its main attractions being beaches which are free to visit.”
Cape Canaveral
▪ Hotel: $181
▪ Transportation: $35
▪ Food: $43
▪ Alcohol: $19
▪ Entertainment: $17
Note: The Cape, also known as Space Coast owing to its thriving space industry.
Miami
▪ Hotel: $152
▪ Transportation: $38
▪ Food: $41
▪ Alcohol: $34
▪ Entertainment: $31
Travel costs around Florida
The Magic City came in below average in all categories except for entertainment. Of all 25 places, Duck Key had the most expensive accommodation and Boca Raton the costliest local transportation. Jacksonville was most expensive for food, Orlando for entertainment and Panama City for alcohol.
Orlando would not have been in the priciest were it not for the cost of theme parks. “The entertainment cost is what makes Orlando expensive,” according to the report.
The report used the travel site Budget Your Trip and Kayak. Accommodation was the average cost of double-occupancy from Kayak. Local transportation was calculated using a combination of cost of taxis/ride share, local buses and trains. The data was collected in June 2024.
