Which place is cheaper, Dayton or Key West?
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 Key West or Dayton?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Key West or Dayton? 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: Key West or Dayton?
Key West
Key West is both a city and an island as well as the southern most Florida Key. It is also the southern most city in the continental United States. The island is only about four miles long and one mile wide. The total land mass covers just 4.2 square miles. The most famous street in town is Duval Street, which runs just 1.1 miles from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean. There are 14 blocks. The size of the island doubled during the 1950s when many of the salt ponds along the eastern side of the island were filled in.
Dayton
Located in southwest Ohio, Dayton is known as the "Gem City." It's the original home of Orville and Wilbur Wright, the brothers who designed the first airplane. You'll also find the Dayton Aviation Heritage Park here, which is one of the only multi-site National Parks in the United States. The cities climate has four different seasons, winter, spring, summer and fall. The winter months are quite cold and you can expect a decent amount of snow in the area. Spring remains cool and there are infrequent showers. This is also the peak time for tornadoes in the area. Summer is hot and humid and can be unpleasant at times, but fall is crisp and refreshing with occasional storms and infrequent tornadoes.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America, The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in United States of America, and The Best Cultural Tours in United States of America.
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Key West Prices
USA PricesDayton Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKey West $832Dayton $368
The average daily cost (per person) in Key West is $832, while the average daily cost in Dayton is $368. 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 Key West and Dayton in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKey West $132Dayton $250
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKey West $264Dayton $500
Compare Hotels in Key West and Dayton
Looking for a hotel in Key West or Dayton? 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: Key West Hotel Prices and Dayton Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Key West $51Dayton $25
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Key West
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Key West:
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Rental Car for One Day$38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Key West
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Key West:
- One Way Airport Transfer Service: $54
- Private Transfer from Key West Airport (EYW) to Key West Port: $113
- Private Transfer from Key West hotels to Key West Cruise Port: $114
- Key West Int Airport EYW to Key West Hotels Arrival Transfer: $156
- Key West hotels to Key West Int Airport (EYW) Departure Transfer: $156
- Key West Int Airport (EYW) to Key West - Arrival Private Transfer: $164
- Key West to Key West Airport (EYW) - Departure Private Transfer: $164
Is it cheaper to fly into Key West or Dayton?
Prices for flights to both Dayton and Key West 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 dayKey West $667Dayton $105
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Key West
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Key West.
- Sunset Dinner Cruise with Open Bar & Live Music: $74
- Exploring and Walking Food Tour of Cayo Hueso: $80
- Key West Cooking Show Chef Demonstration with Meal: $81
- Cooking Show Chef Demonstration with Meal: $81
- Key West Sunset Cruise: Dinner, Live Music & Drinks Included: $84
- Southernmost Food & Cultural Walking Tour by Key West Food Tours: $90
- Key West Sunset Buffet Dinner Cruise with Open Bar and Live Music: $100
- Secret Walking Food Tour: $115
- Sunset Sail Full Bar, Live Music & Dinner & Early Morning Snorkeling: $160
Typical Food Prices in Dayton
Some typical examples of dining costs in Dayton are as follows:
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Noodle Company Lunch (for 2)$17
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Indian Food Dinner (for 2)$34
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Key West $33Dayton -
Tours and Activities in Key West
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Key West are as follows:
- Hemingway's Key West Self Guided Walking Audio Tour: $8.00
- Key West Pirate Exploration Game and Tour: $8.99
- Key West Smartphone guided Ghost Walking Tour App/GPS/EMF Reader: $9.75
- Florida Key West Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $9.99
- Key West GPS Audio Tour: From Seaside Village to Micro State: $12
- Key West’s Old Town Treasures: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
- Mel Fisher Maritime Museum Admission Ticket: $18
- Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum Tickets: $19
- Skip the Line: Mel Fisher Maritime Museum Admission Ticket and Audio Tour: $20
- Key West Aquarium Tickets: $23
- Key West Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour and Game: $25
- Truman Little White House Guided Tour Ticket: $26
Tours and Activities in Dayton
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Dayton are as follows:
- Daytona Beach: Paddle Pub Experience: $45
- Daytona Beach: Guided Kayaking or Standup Paddling Tour: $65
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKey West $16Dayton -
Sample the Local Flavors in Key West
Also in Key West, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Key West Bar Crawl: $15
- Key West Haunted Pub Crawl and Ghost Tour with Free T-Shirt: $32
- Bone Island Haunted Pub Crawl: $32
- Key West Haunted Pub Crawl Walking Tour: $35
- Haunted Pub Crawl Walking Tour: $35
- 2.5-Hour Duval Street Pub Crawl: $43
Sample the Local Flavors in Dayton
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dayton:
- Dive Bar Bus Crawl: $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Key West and Dayton, we can see that Key West is more expensive. And not only is Dayton much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Dayton would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Dayton 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 Key West would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Key West than you might in Dayton.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Key West Expensive? and Is Dayton Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Key West or Dayton?
Dayton has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Key West. When comparing the sizes of Key West and Dayton, 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 Key West or Dayton?
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 Key West or Dayton in the Summer?
Both Dayton and Key West are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Key West for the beaches, snorkeling, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Key West is a little warmer than Dayton. Typically, the summer temperatures in Key West in July average around 84°F (29°C), and Dayton averages at about 78°F (26°C).
It's quite sunny in Dayton. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Key West. Key West usually receives more sunshine than Dayton during summer. Key West gets 328 hours of sunny skies, while Dayton receives 298 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Key West usually receives around the same amount of rain as Dayton. Key West gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKey West 84°F (29°C)Dayton 78°F (26°C)
Should I visit Key West or Dayton in the Autumn?
Both Dayton and Key West during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Key West in the autumn for the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Key West is generally much warmer than Dayton. Daily temperatures in Key West average around 80°F (27°C), and Dayton fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).
It's quite sunny in Key West. In the autumn, Key West often gets more sunshine than Dayton. Key West gets 258 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dayton receives 188 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Key West. Key West usually gets more rain in October than Dayton. Key West gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 2.5 inches (64 mm) of rain this time of the year. Also, June to November in Key West is the hurricane season.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKey West 80°F (27°C)Dayton 57°F (14°C)
Should I visit Key West or Dayton in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Key West and Dayton. Most visitors come to Key West for the shopping scene and the cuisine during these months.
The weather in Dayton can be very cold. Key West is much warmer than Dayton in the winter. The daily temperature in Key West averages around 70°F (21°C) in January, and Dayton fluctuates around 30°F (-1°C).
In Key West, it's very sunny this time of the year. Key West usually receives more sunshine than Dayton during winter. Key West gets 252 hours of sunny skies, while Dayton receives 129 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Key West usually receives less rain than Dayton. Key West gets 1.7 inches (43 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 2.1 inches (54 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKey West 70°F (21°C)Dayton 30°F (-1°C)
Should I visit Key West or Dayton in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Key West as well as Dayton. The spring months attract visitors to Key West because of the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Key West is much warmer than Dayton. Typically, the spring temperatures in Key West in April average around 77°F (25°C), and Dayton averages at about 55°F (13°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Dayton. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Key West this time of the year. In the spring, Key West often gets more sunshine than Dayton. Key West gets 326 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dayton receives 215 hours of full sun.
Key West usually gets less rain in April than Dayton. Key West gets 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 3.5 inches (88 mm) of rain this time of the year. Also, the hurricane season in Key West is June to November.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKey West 77°F (25°C)Dayton 55°F (13°C)
Typical Weather for Dayton and Key West
| Key West | Dayton | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 70°F (21°C) | 1.7 inches (43 mm) | 30°F (-1°C) | 2.1 inches (54 mm) |
| Feb | 71°F (21°C) | 1.4 inches (36 mm) | 33°F (1°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
| Mar | 74°F (23°C) | 1.7 inches (42 mm) | 44°F (7°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Apr | 77°F (25°C) | 0.8 inches (21 mm) | 55°F (13°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) |
| May | 81°F (27°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) | 65°F (18°C) | 4 inches (102 mm) |
| Jun | 83°F (28°C) | 4.5 inches (114 mm) | 74°F (23°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) |
| Jul | 84°F (29°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 78°F (26°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) |
| Aug | 84°F (29°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) | 76°F (25°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
| Sep | 83°F (29°C) | 5.7 inches (144 mm) | 69°F (21°C) | 2.6 inches (65 mm) |
| Oct | 80°F (27°C) | 5.1 inches (129 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.5 inches (64 mm) |
| Nov | 76°F (24°C) | 2 inches (50 mm) | 47°F (8°C) | 3.1 inches (80 mm) |
| Dec | 72°F (22°C) | 1.4 inches (35 mm) | 35°F (2°C) | 3 inches (75 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.