Which place is cheaper, South Lake Tahoe or Mandeville?
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 Mandeville or South Lake Tahoe?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Mandeville or South Lake Tahoe? 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: Mandeville or South Lake Tahoe?
Mandeville
Mandeville is a small, quiet town in the mountains of Jamaica with a population of about 50,000. The town is situated on a plateau west of Kingston. It is the largest town in the parish of Manchester and the fifth largest urban center in the country.
South Lake Tahoe
South Lake Tahoe is the largest town on the famous Lake Tahoe that straddles the California-Nevada border in the Sierra Mountain Range. Located just south of Reno, Nevada and about 2 hours east of Sacramento, the Lake Tahoe area is easily accessible to many visitors.
Lake Tahoe is known for skiing and other winter sports, as well as plenty of warm weather activities such as hiking, swimming, boating, mountain biking, and more.
South Lake Tahoe has plenty of accommodations, restaurants, bars, and shopping. This is a good town to base yourself if you're looking to explore the area, as it has a large number of amenities.
Located on the Nevada side of South Lake Tahoe is the town of Stateline. Here you can find some casinos, as gambling is legal in Nevada.
If you're looking to go skiing or snowboarding, the Heavenly Ski Resort can be found on the southern edge of the town of South Lake Tahoe. Naturally, more ski resorts are located around the lake as well.
As swimming is also popular, several beach areas are on the southern section of the lake including the Regan Memorial City Beach, Lakeside Beach, Pope Beach, Emerald Bay State Park, and the Edgewood Resort area (on the Nevada side).
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America.
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Mandeville Prices
Jamaica PricesSouth Lake Tahoe Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMandeville $95South Lake Tahoe $146
The average daily cost (per person) in Mandeville is $95, while the average daily cost in South Lake Tahoe is $146. 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 Mandeville and South Lake Tahoe in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMandeville $37South Lake Tahoe $54
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMandeville $74South Lake Tahoe $108
Compare Hotels in Mandeville and South Lake Tahoe
Looking for a hotel in Mandeville or South Lake Tahoe? 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: South Lake Tahoe Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mandeville $30South Lake Tahoe $24
Is it cheaper to fly into Mandeville or South Lake Tahoe?
Prices for flights to both South Lake Tahoe and Mandeville 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 dayMandeville $41South Lake Tahoe $66
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in South Lake Tahoe
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in South Lake Tahoe.
- Persian Cooking Class with Private Chef: $120
- Lake Tahoe Evening Dinner Cruise: $150
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mandeville $8.01South Lake Tahoe $56
Tours and Activities in South Lake Tahoe
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for South Lake Tahoe are as follows:
- Clear Kayak Paddle Tour at Cave Rock: $110
- "Lake Tahoe 101" : See The Whole Lake! 6 HR Shared Tour by Van.: $199
- 2 Hour Sailing Cruise on Lake Tahoe: $140
- Clear Kayak Adventure Tour: $198
- Clear Kayak Paddle Tour: $150
- Clear Kayak Tour: $140
- Eco Canoe Tour: $258
- Electric Dirtbike Adventure in Lake Tahoe: $200
- Emerald Bay Helicopter Tour of Lake Tahoe: $139
- Emerald Bay Private Boat Tours: $690
- Full-Day Lake Tahoe Circle Tour including Squaw Valley: $70
- Guided Scenic Bike Experience above Lake Tahoe's East Shore: $205
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMandeville $6.27South Lake Tahoe $34
Sample the Local Flavors in South Lake Tahoe
Also in South Lake Tahoe, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Scavenger Adventure and Lake Tahoe Bar Crawl: $15
- Lake Tahoe: Emerald Bay Sunset Wine Tasting Yacht Cruise: $150
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mandeville and South Lake Tahoe, we can see that South Lake Tahoe is more expensive. And not only is Mandeville much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Mandeville is in Caribbean Islands and South Lake Tahoe is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Mandeville would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mandeville 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 South Lake Tahoe would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in South Lake Tahoe than you might in Mandeville.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mandeville Expensive? and Is South Lake Tahoe Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mandeville or South Lake Tahoe?
Mandeville has a larger population, and is about 97% larger than the population of South Lake Tahoe. When comparing the sizes of Mandeville and South Lake Tahoe, 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.
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.