Highlights
- Chicago, Illinois: Enjoy the outdoor attractions, comedy clubs, and deep dish pizza for an average of $330 a day. Off-season travel is more affordable.
- Park City, Utah: Experience winter skiing or summer adventures in a cozy mountain town for around $330 per day. Summer months offer better deals.
- Seattle, Washington: Explore the eco-conscious city and natural wonders like Mount Rainier for an average of $364 per day. Make sure to visit Pike Place Market and the Space Needle.
America remains a popular travel destination for people worldwide due to its myriad expanses of land and a diversity of attractions. But traveling around this vast country can be expensive, particularly with popular yet pricey city stops – and knowing what gets you the most bang for your buck could be helpful if you're traveling in the United States and have a strict budget.
Join us as we look at the ten most expensive American cities for travelers, detailing some top rated attractions in the vicinity of each destination, as well as the cost average per day, per city. These are the estimated daily costs for basic meals, housing, transportation, and touring per person when traveling to America's priciest locales.
10 Chicago, Illinois: $330
In the Midwest, the city of Chicago is a popular place for outdoor enthusiasts. This world-class city boasts such attractions as the Art Institute, dozens of comedy clubs, professional sports teams, and its beloved deep dish pizza.
Visitors to Chicago can take a river cruise, appreciate its bevy of architectural features, visit Garrett Popcorn, or attend a game at Wrigley Field. Although the City provides no end of possibilities (and easy to explore streets, thanks to its public transportation system), $330 a day allows visitors to freely traverse Chicago at their leisure.
Moreover, hotel rack rates are known to be more affordable in the off season of late spring and autumn – times of the year when the celebrations, shows, and artistic scene are in full swing.
9 Park City, Utah: $330
Park City, Utah's famous ski resorts provide adrenaline fueled winter experiences, a peek at an Olympic legacy, and even summer excursions for hiking and biking in its cozy and bucolic small town setting.
Visitors can also find upscale dining, galleries, and shops on Park City's Main Street. The highest rates will predictably be found during peak winter ski season, when the slopes are packed with happy skiers, and daily costs average around $330.
To get more bang for your buck, plan your trip to Park City during the summer months – when savvy travelers can take advantage of hot weather discounts, while venturing into the great outdoors on the mountain.
8 Seattle, Washington: $364
From its eco-friendly and conscious urban setting to its unbridled natural wonders (like Mount Rainier), Seattle has the best of both worlds.
Visitors are keen on the city's famed Pike Place Market for fresh salmon, the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum for art, and the globally famous Space Needle. Add to this hotel prices averaging $215 a night, and Seattle visitors can expect to spend an average of $364 daily during their trip.
7 Charleston, South Carolina: $369
Experience vintage trolley or horse-drawn carriage rides, admire the stunning architecture, and enjoy the gracious Southern hospitality. Visitors love the gracious old houses, vibrant gardens, winding cobbled streets, and picturesque harbor front parks of Charleston.
Enjoy the unique flavors of Low Country cuisine and fresh seafood in between stops at historic sites ranging from colonial days to the Civil War. However, the southern charm will come at a price, with hotel resort fees and tourist traps bumping the average tab to $369 daily.
6 Orlando, Florida: $371
With over 74 million tourists visiting annually, Orlando is a household name the world over. Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando, and Legoland are among its numerous theme parks.
Top attractions include Disney's Magic Kingdom, Disney's Epcot Center, Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and Universal's Volcano Bay. Orlando's bustling local economy generates a lot of money from tourism, and it relies heavily upon travel as a whole.
Orlando is not only about theme parks, and it has something for everyone: hotels and house rentals at all price points, local and chain restaurants, endless shopping, a vibrant nightlife, and Florida's wonderfully warm climate. On top of its theme parks like Disney World, the warm climate and nearby beaches make Orlando another desirable destination – and visitors can expect to spend a rough average of $371 per person, per day.
5 Los Angeles, California: $396
Los Angeles is full of glittering movie magic and fantastic theme parks to explore, so there will always be a supply of staring opportunities. People come here to see the stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, to visit studios like Paramount Pictures, to hike up to the Hollywood sign for a selfie, and to hit the beach — and there is so much more.
However, the main attractions and perfect weather lead to high demand and year round travel, with hotel costs hovering around $215 a night and daily expenses landing at $396. That said, crowds are somewhat smaller (and hotel rates lower) during the summer in Los Angeles.
4 Boston, Massachusetts: $410
Relive America's revolutionary roots while strolling on historic cobblestone streets as part of the Freedom Trail, and cheer on the Red Sox at Fenway Park. This highly walkable city, including Faneuil Hall and Harvard Square, has key attractions centrally located and in walking distance of Boston's many hotels and inns.
Once you've been to the famous museums (like the John F. Kennedy Presidential Museum), relax with a harbor cruise or catch a show in the Theater District. Costs pile up fast, at an average of $410 a day spent per visitor.
3 Key West, Florida: $451
Key West is easy to relax in, an island surrounded by a tropical, artistic energy. Soak up some sun on the shaded palm-lined beaches, paddle your kayak through tranquil mangroves, or play with bottle nose dolphins at The Dolphin Research Center.
Keep in mind, though, that the average cost per day is about $451 a person. Visit the estate and former residence and workplace of Ernest Hemingway, Watch Mallory Square at Sunset, and take in some Florida sun on the beach at the Ocean Key Resort & Spa. Duval Street comes alive at night, as the tropical party scene heats up with lively bars hosting live music.
2 San Francisco, California: $492
Set amidst undulating hills, San Francisco (the city by the bay) dazzles visitors with its ornate Victorian buildings, clanging cable cars, and grand bay view. Stroll through San Francisco's buzzing Chinatown, sample luxury chocolate at Ghirardelli Square, and feast your eyes on the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge.
The best time for visiting is spring or fall, with slightly milder temperatures, fewer crowds, and reasonable hotel deals compared to the summer tourist season. However, any time of the year is perfect for experiencing San Francisco's dynamic fusion of culture, food, and tech – all for around $492 on average per day.
1 New York City, New York: $510
New York City delivers unrivaled energy and excitement, with limitless attractions available day and night across its five boroughs – yet it is one of the most expensive cities to visit. Over 50 million visitors pour in annually to see renowned landmarks like the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and Central Park, alongside world class shopping, dining, museums, and entertainment.
However, those endless possibilities come at a cost, with an average daily price tag of around $510. Savvy travelers choose to utilize free attractions like parks and city walks, to look for hotel deals outside peak times, and to limit expensive Broadway shows and dining.
For the quintessential New York City experience, make sure to allow time for iconic attractions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, One World Observatory, Broadway, and Katz's Delicatessen.
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