Luxury and Budget Travel in the United States: A Comprehensive Guide to the Most and Least Expensive Tourist Destinations
Introduction: The United States is home to a diverse range of tourist destinations, from luxurious resorts to breathtaking scenery. However, not all destinations are created equal in terms of cost. A recent study by GOBankingRates has revealed the most and least expensive tourist destinations in the country, providing valuable insights for travelers on a budget or looking to splurge.
Key Findings:
- Aspen, Colorado: The most expensive tourist destination in the US with a total vacation cost of $2,708 for a couple. Airfare costs $1,341, hotel costs $791, and meals cost $510.
- Santa Barbara, California: The second most expensive destination with a total vacation cost of $2,446 for a couple. Airfare costs $952, hotel costs $830, and meals cost $600.
- Anchorage, Alaska: The third most expensive destination with a total vacation cost of $2,294 for a couple. Airfare costs $1,190, hotel costs $440, and meals cost $600.
Florida Destinations: Florida has several affordable tourist destinations that made it to the list of the top 55 most expensive destinations. Miami Beach (#32), Naples (#36), West Palm Beach (#37), Fort Lauderdale (#47), Orlando (#52), Kissimmee (#54), and Clearwater (#55) all have total vacation costs of $1,630 or less for two adults.
Airfare Costs: Aspen, Anchorage, Fairbanks, Taos, Santa Fe, Williamsburg, Hot Springs, and Birmingham have the most expensive airfare costs. Couples pay more than $1,000 for flights to these eight popular tourist destinations.
Cheapest Beer Destinations: Branson, Missouri, has the cheapest beer in the US with a domestic beer cost of $3.75 per beer. In contrast, beer purchased in Los Angeles costs $8.50 per beer.
Least Expensive Destination: Clearwater, Florida, is the least expensive tourist destination for vacationers on a budget. The total vacation costs are $998 and airfare costs for a couple are $264, making it the cheapest of the 55 destinations.
Methodology: GOBankingRates analyzed 91 cities considered top vacation destinations sourced from TripAdvisor’s Top Destinations, Travel+Leisure’s 2024 Top US Cities, and U.S. News & World Report’s Best Cities in the US. Fifty-five cities qualified for this study as each city had data available from the U.S. Census American Community Survey and Numbeo’s Cost of Living. For this study, GOBankingRates is assuming the vacationers are two adults visiting for three nights with three meals at a mid-range restaurant
