Which place is cheaper, Charleston or Hot Springs?
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 Hot Springs or Charleston?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Hot Springs or Charleston? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Hot Springs or Charleston?
Hot Springs
Hot Springs is a popular resort city in central Arkansas. It's location in the Ouachita Mountains make it a convenient base for exploring the area's natural hot springs, from which the city gets its name. The city is also home to Hot Springs National Park, which have long been believed to have healing properties. Today many spas have popped up around the hot springs.
Charleston
Charleston is a beautiful, southern city and seaport town in South Carolina. It has a wonderful, historic downtown area that the city government works hard to maintain. Located on a peninsula that is created by two rivers, the city is a stunning setting with much character. It is a popular place to visit for its culture, architecture and cuisine. In recent years Charleston has gained popularity and it continues to grow as both a regional and international travel destination. With its rising popularity comes increasing costs. Travel costs continue to go up as restaurants and hotels raise their prices, particularly during the peak travel season and holiday periods.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in United States of America.
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Hot Springs Prices
USA PricesCharleston Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHot Springs $220Charleston $212
The average daily cost (per person) in Hot Springs is $220, while the average daily cost in Charleston is $212. 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 Hot Springs and Charleston in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHot Springs $100Charleston $90
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHot Springs $200Charleston $180
Compare Hotels in Hot Springs and Charleston
Looking for a hotel in Hot Springs or Charleston? 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: Hot Springs Hotel Prices and Charleston Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hot Springs $47Charleston $33
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hot Springs
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hot Springs:
- Hot Springs to Little Rock Airport LIT Departure Private Transfer: $125
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Charleston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Charleston:
- From Boone Hall Plantation Entry with Transfers: $71
- One Way Airport Transfer Service: $80
- Charleston city to Charleston Airport (CHS) - Departure Private Transfer: $134
- Private Transfer from Charleston Airport (CHS) to Charleston Port: $134
- Folly Beach to Charleston Airport (CHS) - Departure Private Transfer: $147
- Kiawah/Seabrook Islands to Charleston Airport (CHS) – Departure Private Transfer: $208
- Charleston Airport (CHS) to Charleston city - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $268
Is it cheaper to fly into Hot Springs or Charleston?
Prices for flights to both Charleston and Hot Springs 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 dayHot Springs $90Charleston $100
Typical Food Prices in Charleston
Some typical examples of dining costs in Charleston are as follows:
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Lunch in downtown Charleston for two$21
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Breakfast$26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Charleston
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Charleston.
- Charleston Sunset Blues & BBQ Dinner Cruise: $72
- Hands-on Cooking Class in Charleston: $89
- Tastes Through Time - Charleston's Best Food Tour!: $96
- Tastes Through Time - Charleston's Best Food Tour: $98
- Charleston Harbor Luxury Dinner Cruise with Live Music: $100
- Charleston French Quarter or Brunch Food Tour with 7+ Tastings: $110
- Downtown Charleston Food Tour: $110
- Small Group Food Tour – Savor the Flavors: $111
- Savor the Flavors Upper King Street Food Tour: $111
- Luxury Harbor Dinner Cruise: $111
- Historic Downtown Food Tour: $112
- 3-Hour Secret Food Tour: $116
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hot Springs $30Charleston $22
Tours and Activities in Hot Springs
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Hot Springs are as follows:
- Hot Springs NP Self Guided Driving and Walking Audio Tour: $15
- Small-Group Zipline Tour in Hot Springs: $67
Typical Entertainment Prices in Charleston
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Charleston are as follows:
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Patriots Point (for 2)$60
Tours and Activities in Charleston
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Charleston are as follows:
- Charleston Self-Guided Ghost Tour in 12 Languages: $5.00
- Charleston's Haunted Ghost Tour - Solo Smart Phone Guided Tour: $6.75
- Charleston Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $7.78
- Charleston Self Guided Audio Experience: $9.00
- Charleston Self Guided Walking Tour: $9.75
- Self-Guided "The French Quarter Charleston" Solo Walking Tour: $9.75
- Window into American History: A Self-guided Charleston Audio Tour: $9.99
- Charleston Self Guided Ghost Tour in 12 Languages: $10
- Charleston Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $13
- South Carolina Audio Tour: Charleston Audio Tour Adventure: $15
- 300 Years of War and Peacetime in A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
- Charleston Water Taxi Cruise with Dolphin Sighting: $17
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHot Springs $22Charleston $36
Sample the Local Flavors in Charleston
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Charleston:
- Charleston Bar Hunt: Charleston Chase Bar Crawl: $13
- Striped Pig Distillery Tour and Tasting: $22
- Spirits & Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl: $29
- Charleston Women and Wine Tour: $34
- Women and Wine Tour: $34
- Charleston Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- Bay Street Bastards Pub Crawl: $35
- Haunted Pub Crawl for the Broken-Hearted: $35
- Bay Street Bastards Pub Crawl Shared Tour in Charleston : $35
- Haunted Pub Crawl for the Broken-Hearted: $35
- Speakeasy Sagas Prohibition Pub Crawl: $35
- 108 Elemental Presents Spirits & Spirits: Pub Crawl w/ Adam Miles: $36
When comparing the travel costs between Hot Springs and Charleston, we can see that Hot Springs is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hot Springs Expensive? and Is Charleston Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hot Springs or Charleston?
Charleston has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Hot Springs. When comparing the sizes of Hot Springs and Charleston, 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 Hot Springs or Charleston?
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 Hot Springs or Charleston in the Summer?
Both Charleston and Hot Springs are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Charleston in the summer for the beaches, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Hot Springs is generally around the same temperature as Charleston. Daily temperatures in Hot Springs average around 83°F (28°C), and Charleston fluctuates around 82°F (28°C).
It's quite sunny in Charleston. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Hot Springs. Hot Springs usually receives more sunshine than Charleston during summer. Hot Springs gets 364 hours of sunny skies, while Charleston receives 293 hours of full sun in the summer.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Charleston. In July, Hot Springs usually receives less rain than Charleston. Hot Springs gets 3.6 inches (92 mm) of rain, while Charleston receives 6.9 inches (176 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHot Springs 83°F (28°C)Charleston 82°F (28°C)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Charleston in the Autumn?
Both Charleston and Hot Springs during the autumn are popular places to visit. Also, most visitors come to Charleston for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
Hot Springs is around the same temperature as Charleston in the autumn. The daily temperature in Hot Springs averages around 64°F (18°C) in October, and Charleston fluctuates around 67°F (19°C).
It's quite sunny in Hot Springs. In the autumn, Hot Springs often gets more sunshine than Charleston. Hot Springs gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Charleston receives 197 hours of full sun.
Hot Springs usually gets more rain in October than Charleston. Hot Springs gets 3.7 inches (93 mm) of rain, while Charleston receives 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHot Springs 64°F (18°C)Charleston 67°F (19°C)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Charleston in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Hot Springs and Charleston. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Charleston because of the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Hot Springs can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Hot Springs is much colder than Charleston. Typically, the winter temperatures in Hot Springs in January average around 40°F (4°C), and Charleston averages at about 47°F (9°C).
In Hot Springs, it's very sunny this time of the year. Hot Springs usually receives more sunshine than Charleston during winter. Hot Springs gets 205 hours of sunny skies, while Charleston receives 188 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Hot Springs usually receives around the same amount of rain as Charleston. Hot Springs gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Charleston receives 3.3 inches (85 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHot Springs 40°F (4°C)Charleston 47°F (9°C)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Charleston in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Hot Springs as well as Charleston. Also, the beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Charleston this time of year.
In April, Hot Springs is generally around the same temperature as Charleston. Daily temperatures in Hot Springs average around 65°F (18°C), and Charleston fluctuates around 64°F (18°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Charleston. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Hot Springs this time of the year. In the spring, Hot Springs often gets more sunshine than Charleston. Hot Springs gets 304 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Charleston receives 275 hours of full sun.
Hot Springs receives a lot of rain in the spring. Hot Springs usually gets more rain in April than Charleston. Hot Springs gets 5.2 inches (133 mm) of rain, while Charleston receives 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHot Springs 65°F (18°C)Charleston 64°F (18°C)
Typical Weather for Charleston and Hot Springs
| Hot Springs | Charleston | |||
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| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 40°F (4°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 47°F (9°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Feb | 45°F (7°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) | 50°F (10°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Mar | 54°F (12°C) | 4.8 inches (121 mm) | 58°F (14°C) | 4.3 inches (110 mm) |
| Apr | 65°F (18°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| May | 71°F (22°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 4.2 inches (106 mm) |
| Jun | 79°F (26°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) | 78°F (26°C) | 6.4 inches (163 mm) |
| Jul | 83°F (28°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) | 82°F (28°C) | 6.9 inches (176 mm) |
| Aug | 81°F (27°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) | 81°F (27°C) | 7.1 inches (181 mm) |
| Sep | 75°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) | 76°F (25°C) | 4.8 inches (121 mm) |
| Oct | 64°F (18°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 67°F (19°C) | 2.9 inches (74 mm) |
| Nov | 53°F (12°C) | 5.1 inches (130 mm) | 58°F (15°C) | 2.5 inches (63 mm) |
| Dec | 44°F (6°C) | 4.6 inches (118 mm) | 51°F (10°C) | 3.1 inches (78 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.