Which place is cheaper, Fairbanks or Duck Key?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Duck Key or Fairbanks?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Duck Key and Fairbanks can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Duck Key or Fairbanks?
Duck Key
If you are thirsty for the taste of tropical splendor, Duck Key, Florida will surely quench your desires. Located in Monroe County, Florida, right beside its neighbor Conch Key, Duck Key stands. The community is chock full of everyone's favorite seaside activities, including fishing, jetskiing, scuba diving, canoeing, and kayaking. Though a quaint town, Duck Key attracts tourists from all over due to its quiet beaches and friendly locals. Whether you are looking to meet and greet with the dolphins or simply lie upon the sandy white beaches as the fire orange sun sets before you, Duck Key is truly a sweet and small subtropical diversion.
Fairbanks
Fairbanks is the only 'city' in the interior region of Alaska, and the largest settlement for hundreds of miles, but it has many characteristics of a small town where everyone seems to know everyone. Because the city sits at the nexus of some truly epic routes - north to the Arctic, east to Canada and south to Denali - you'll almost inevitably end up spending time here, and that time is rarely boring. The residential streets of compact downtown are pretty as a picture, and during winter, this is ground zero for viewing the aurora borealis.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco, The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America, and The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America.
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Duck Key Prices
USA PricesFairbanks Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDuck Key $175Fairbanks $318
The average daily cost (per person) in Duck Key is $175, while the average daily cost in Fairbanks is $318. 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 Duck Key and Fairbanks in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDuck Key $56Fairbanks $154
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDuck Key $112Fairbanks $308
Compare Hotels in Duck Key and Fairbanks
Looking for a hotel in Duck Key or Fairbanks? 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.
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: Fairbanks Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Duck Key $69Fairbanks $66
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Fairbanks
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Fairbanks:
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Full Tank of Gas$90
Is it cheaper to fly into Duck Key or Fairbanks?
Prices for flights to both Fairbanks and Duck Key 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
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Food Meals for one dayDuck Key $77Fairbanks $109
Typical Food Prices in Fairbanks
For Fairbanks, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two at Pike's Landing$63
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Totem Inn Breakfast for Two$46
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Fairbanks
For Fairbanks, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Aurora Viewing and Dinner : $120
- Late Night Yurt Dinner and Northern Lights: $210
- "Aurora Ice" - Ice Fishing & Salmon Dinner Tour: $239
- Best Northern Lights Aurora Adventure FREE Portraits & Hot Pizza : $270
- Northern Lights Adventure with Photos & HOT PIZZA: $300
- Moonlight Dog Sled, Dinner & Northern Lights: $320
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Duck Key $30Fairbanks $65
Typical Entertainment Prices in Fairbanks
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Fairbanks's activities, tours, and tickets:
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The Riverboat Discovery Trip$55
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1 Day Mountain Bike Rental$27
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Canoe Rental with Pickup$56
Tours and Activities in Fairbanks
For Fairbanks, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 Day Shared Tour Arctic Circle and Aurora Viewing in Alaska: $150
- 1 Hour Fall Sled Dog Experience in Two Rivers: $130
- 1 Hour Snowmobile Adventure in Boreal Forest: $159
- 1.5-Hour Beer and Puppies Guided Experience in Fairbanks: $58
- 3 Hour Ice Fishing Experience: $145
- 3-Hour Small Group 9-Hole Self-Guided Fairbanks Golf Experience: $114
- Alaska: Private Northern Lights Viewing Tour: $495
- Alaskan Heritage and Sightseeing Tour in Fairbanks: $165
- Arctic Circle Adventure: Journey on the Dalton Highway: $275
- Arctic Circle Day Tour Adventure: $299
- Arctic Circle Full-Day Adventure from Fairbanks: $285
- Aurora Chaser Tour: $161
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDuck Key $7.99Fairbanks $27
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Duck Key and Fairbanks, we can see that Fairbanks is more expensive. And not only is Duck Key much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Duck Key would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Duck Key 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 Fairbanks would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Fairbanks than you might in Duck Key.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Duck Key Expensive? and Is Fairbanks Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Duck Key or Fairbanks?
Fairbanks has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Duck Key. When comparing the sizes of Duck Key and Fairbanks, 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 Duck Key or Fairbanks?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Duck Key or Fairbanks in the Summer?
Both Fairbanks and Duck Key are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Fairbanks because of the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Duck Key is much warmer than Fairbanks. Typically, the summer temperatures in Duck Key in July average around 84°F (29°C), and Fairbanks averages at about 64°F (18°C).
In July, Duck Key usually receives more rain than Fairbanks. Duck Key gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Fairbanks receives 2 inches (51 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyDuck Key 84°F (29°C)Fairbanks 64°F (18°C)
Should I visit Duck Key or Fairbanks in the Autumn?
Both Fairbanks and Duck Key during the autumn are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Fairbanks this time of year.
It's quite cold in Fairbanks in the autumn. In October, Duck Key is generally much warmer than Fairbanks. Daily temperatures in Duck Key average around 80°F (27°C), and Fairbanks fluctuates around 27°F (-3°C).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Duck Key. Duck Key usually gets more rain in October than Fairbanks. Duck Key gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Fairbanks receives 0.9 inches (22 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberDuck Key 80°F (27°C)Fairbanks 27°F (-3°C)
Should I visit Duck Key or Fairbanks in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Duck Key and Fairbanks. Furthermore, many travelers come to Fairbanks for the skiing, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Fairbanks. Duck Key is much warmer than Fairbanks in the winter. The daily temperature in Duck Key averages around 70°F (21°C) in January, and Fairbanks fluctuates around -9°F (-23°C).
In January, Duck Key usually receives more rain than Fairbanks. Duck Key gets 1.7 inches (43 mm) of rain, while Fairbanks receives 0.5 inches (13 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryDuck Key 70°F (21°C)Fairbanks -9°F (-23°C)
Should I visit Duck Key or Fairbanks in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Duck Key as well as Fairbanks. Additionally, many visitors come to Fairbanks in the spring for the natural beauty.
Fairbanks can get quite cold in the spring. In the spring, Duck Key is much warmer than Fairbanks. Typically, the spring temperatures in Duck Key in April average around 77°F (25°C), and Fairbanks averages at about 32°F (0°C).
Duck Key usually gets more rain in April than Fairbanks. Duck Key gets 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain, while Fairbanks receives 0.4 inches (9 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilDuck Key 77°F (25°C)Fairbanks 32°F (0°C)
Typical Weather for Fairbanks and Duck Key
| Duck Key | Fairbanks | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 70°F (21°C) | 1.7 inches (43 mm) | -9°F (-23°C) | 0.5 inches (13 mm) |
| Feb | 71°F (21°C) | 1.4 inches (36 mm) | -2°F (-19°C) | 0.4 inches (11 mm) |
| Mar | 74°F (23°C) | 1.7 inches (42 mm) | 13°F (-11°C) | 0.5 inches (12 mm) |
| Apr | 77°F (25°C) | 0.8 inches (21 mm) | 32°F (0°C) | 0.4 inches (9 mm) |
| May | 81°F (27°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) | 50°F (10°C) | 0.6 inches (16 mm) |
| Jun | 83°F (28°C) | 4.5 inches (114 mm) | 62°F (16°C) | 1.4 inches (36 mm) |
| Jul | 84°F (29°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 2 inches (51 mm) |
| Aug | 84°F (29°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) | 58°F (15°C) | 2.2 inches (57 mm) |
| Sep | 83°F (29°C) | 5.7 inches (144 mm) | 47°F (8°C) | 0.9 inches (24 mm) |
| Oct | 80°F (27°C) | 5.1 inches (129 mm) | 27°F (-3°C) | 0.9 inches (22 mm) |
| Nov | 76°F (24°C) | 2 inches (50 mm) | 4°F (-15°C) | 0.9 inches (22 mm) |
| Dec | 72°F (22°C) | 1.4 inches (35 mm) | -5°F (-21°C) | 0.9 inches (23 mm) |
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.