Which place is cheaper, Dayton or New Orleans?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit New Orleans or Dayton?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between New Orleans and Dayton can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: New Orleans or Dayton?
New Orleans
New Orleans is the largest city in the state of Louisiana, and it is a cultural city that is the home of jazz, unique cuisine, and Mardi Gras in the U.S. It was established in 1718 and is one of the oldest cities in the country. The culture of the city has a mix of French, Creole, African American, Caribbean, Irish, Haitian, German and Vietnamese. There's an energy and atmosphere that is unlike any place else.
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 Cultural Tours in United States of America, The Best Photography Tours in United States of America, The Best Camping Tours in United States of America, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America.
-
New Orleans Prices
USA PricesDayton Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNew Orleans $271Dayton $368
The average daily cost (per person) in New Orleans is $271, 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 New Orleans and Dayton in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNew Orleans $125Dayton $250
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNew Orleans $250Dayton $500
Compare Hotels in New Orleans and Dayton
Looking for a hotel in New Orleans 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: New Orleans Hotel Prices and Dayton Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.New Orleans $51Dayton $25
Typical Local Transportation Prices in New Orleans
Some typical examples of transportation costs in New Orleans are as follows:
-
Taxi Ride$10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in New Orleans
Also for New Orleans, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Cruise Port Transfer New Orleans and Louis Armstrong Intl MSY: $40
- Private Transfer to/from Louis Armstrong Intl Airport and NOLA: $40
- Private Transfer from New Orleans Port to New Orleans city: $48
- New Orleans to New Orleans L.Armstrong Airport(MSY) - Departure Private Transfer: $53
- Private Airport Transfer From New Orleans: $60
- New Orleans to New Orleans Airport (MSY) - Departure Transfer : $65
- New Orleans Airport (MSY) to New Orleans - Arrival Transfer : $65
- New Orleans port to New Orleans Airport (MSY) Private Transfer: $65
- Private Arrival Transfer from Louis Armstrong New Orleans Airport: $67
- Private Departure Transfer to Louis Armstrong New Orleans Airport MSY: $67
- Private Luxury Transfer in New Orleans: $75
- Private Transfer New Orleans MSY or Port to New Orleans by Sedan: $80
Is it cheaper to fly into New Orleans or Dayton?
Prices for flights to both Dayton and New Orleans 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
-
Food Meals for one dayNew Orleans $78Dayton $105
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in New Orleans
For New Orleans, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- New Orleans Demonstration Cooking Class with Meal: $42
- Steamboat Natchez Evening Jazz Cruise with Dinner Option: $58
- Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Jazz Dinner Cruise in New Orleans: $60
- New Orleans Sunset Food Tour Experience: $85
- Private New Orleans Food Tour of the French Quarter : $85
- Lower Garden District Food Tour: $89
- NOLA Carte Food Tours: $96
- New Orleans Cooking Class and Cocktail Walking Tour: $106
- Food Tour of New Orleans Garden District: Group of Nine or Less: $129
- Vegan French Quarter Food Tour NOLA cuisine: $149
- New Orleans Hands-On Cooking Class with Meal: $162
- VIP Jazz Dinner Cruise with Private Tour and Open Bar Option: $191
Typical Food Prices in Dayton
Some typical examples of dining costs in Dayton are as follows:
-
Noodle Company Lunch (for 2)$17
-
Indian Food Dinner (for 2)$34
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.New Orleans $55Dayton -
Typical Entertainment Prices in New Orleans
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for New Orleans's activities, tours, and tickets:
-
Zoo & Aquarium Tickets (2)$75
-
Riverboat Cruise$70
-
French Quarter City Tour$100
Tours and Activities in New Orleans
For New Orleans, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- City Park Exploration Game and Tour: $7.16
- New Orleans French Quarter Audio Tour: Iconic Sites & Hidden Gems: $7.99
- Metairie Cemetery Stories: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $8.99
- New Orleans Self Guided Audio Experience: $9.00
- New Orleans Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $9.55
- Self-Guided Tour of New Orleans’ Historic French Quarter: $9.99
- Self Guided Walking Tour of New Orleans' Historic Garden District: $9.99
- A Walk in the Park: City Park New Orleans Audio Tour: $9.99
- Walking the Tremé: A Self-guided Audio Tour of New Orleans: $9.99
- Old Ursuline Convent Museum Ticket: New Pope Leo XIV Exhibit: $10
- Self Guided Scavenger Hunt: New Orleans Ghost Tour: $12
- Ghostly Legends of New Orleans Walking Tour: $15
Tours and Activities in Dayton
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Dayton are as follows:
- Daytona Beach: Guided Kayaking or Standup Paddling Tour: $65
- Daytona Beach: Paddle Pub Experience: $45
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayNew Orleans $60Dayton -
Sample the Local Flavors in New Orleans
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in New Orleans:
- New Orleans Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $29
- New Orleans Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
- New Orleans Happy Hour Ghost Walking Tour Pub Crawl: $33
- New Orleans Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- New Orleans Bourbon Street Bar Crawl w/ Shots & Souvenir Cup: $35
- Sin and Tonic Pub Crawl in New Orleans: $35
- Adults Only Haunted Pub Crawl in New Orleans: $37
- Frenchmen Street VIP Live Music Pub Crawl in New Orleans: $46
- Irish Channel Bike Bar Tour: Murals, History and Bar Crawl: $65
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 New Orleans and Dayton, we can see that Dayton is more expensive. And not only is New Orleans much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to New Orleans would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in New Orleans 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 Dayton would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dayton than you might in New Orleans.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is New Orleans Expensive? and Is Dayton Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, New Orleans or Dayton?
New Orleans has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Dayton. When comparing the sizes of New Orleans 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 New Orleans or Dayton?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit New Orleans or Dayton in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to New Orleans as well as Dayton. Most visitors come to New Orleans for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In July, New Orleans is generally around the same temperature as Dayton. Daily temperatures in New Orleans average around 82°F (28°C), and Dayton fluctuates around 78°F (26°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Dayton. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in New Orleans this time of the year. In the summer, New Orleans often gets less sunshine than Dayton. New Orleans gets 264 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dayton receives 298 hours of full sun.
New Orleans receives a lot of rain in the summer. New Orleans usually gets more rain in July than Dayton. New Orleans gets 5.9 inches (149 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyNew Orleans 82°F (28°C)Dayton 78°F (26°C)
Should I visit New Orleans or Dayton in the Autumn?
Both Dayton and New Orleans are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to New Orleans because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.
New Orleans is a little warmer than Dayton in the autumn. The daily temperature in New Orleans averages around 69°F (21°C) in October, and Dayton fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in New Orleans. New Orleans usually receives more sunshine than Dayton during autumn. New Orleans gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while Dayton receives 188 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, New Orleans usually receives more rain than Dayton. New Orleans gets 3 inches (77 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 2.5 inches (64 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberNew Orleans 69°F (21°C)Dayton 57°F (14°C)
Should I visit New Orleans or Dayton in the Winter?
Both Dayton and New Orleans during the winter are popular places to visit. The shopping scene and the cuisine are the main draw to New Orleans this time of year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Dayton. In the winter, New Orleans is much warmer than Dayton. Typically, the winter temperatures in New Orleans in January average around 51°F (11°C), and Dayton averages at about 30°F (-1°C).
In the winter, New Orleans often gets more sunshine than Dayton. New Orleans gets 158 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dayton receives 129 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in New Orleans. New Orleans usually gets more rain in January than Dayton. New Orleans gets 5.2 inches (131 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 2.1 inches (54 mm) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryNew Orleans 51°F (11°C)Dayton 30°F (-1°C)
Should I visit New Orleans or Dayton in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both New Orleans and Dayton. Many travelers come to New Orleans for the activities around the city.
In April, New Orleans is generally much warmer than Dayton. Daily temperatures in New Orleans average around 68°F (20°C), and Dayton fluctuates around 55°F (13°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Dayton this time of the year. In New Orleans, it's very sunny this time of the year. New Orleans usually receives more sunshine than Dayton during spring. New Orleans gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Dayton receives 215 hours of full sun in the spring.
New Orleans gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, New Orleans usually receives more rain than Dayton. New Orleans gets 4.5 inches (114 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 3.5 inches (88 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilNew Orleans 68°F (20°C)Dayton 55°F (13°C)
Typical Weather for Dayton and New Orleans
| New Orleans | Dayton | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 51°F (11°C) | 5.2 inches (131 mm) | 30°F (-1°C) | 2.1 inches (54 mm) |
| Feb | 54°F (12°C) | 5.8 inches (147 mm) | 33°F (1°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
| Mar | 62°F (16°C) | 5 inches (126 mm) | 44°F (7°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Apr | 68°F (20°C) | 4.5 inches (114 mm) | 55°F (13°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) |
| May | 75°F (24°C) | 4.3 inches (110 mm) | 65°F (18°C) | 4 inches (102 mm) |
| Jun | 80°F (27°C) | 5.9 inches (151 mm) | 74°F (23°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) |
| Jul | 82°F (28°C) | 5.9 inches (149 mm) | 78°F (26°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) |
| Aug | 82°F (28°C) | 6.2 inches (157 mm) | 76°F (25°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
| Sep | 78°F (26°C) | 5.5 inches (140 mm) | 69°F (21°C) | 2.6 inches (65 mm) |
| Oct | 69°F (21°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.5 inches (64 mm) |
| Nov | 61°F (16°C) | 4.8 inches (122 mm) | 47°F (8°C) | 3.1 inches (80 mm) |
| Dec | 55°F (13°C) | 5.7 inches (146 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.