Is Miami Expensive to Visit?

Is Miami Expensive to Visit?

Are you heading to Miami this year but worried about the budget? Check out our guide to money in Miami, discover if it's expensive to visit the city, and check out our tips to squeeze your cents!

Including:

  • Can you go to Miami on a budget?
  • What is the cheapest month to go to Miami?
  • Can I enjoy Miami without a car?
  • Is Miami Expensive to Visit?
  • and more!

Can you go to Miami on a budget?

is miami expensive to visit

It is absolutely possible to enjoy Miami on a budget. However, doing so depends on your choices. Read on, and you'll learn about all the tips and tricks you need to ensure your trip to Miami doesn't break the bank!

What is the cheapest month to go to Miami?

Miami's off-season tends to run from mid-spring to the end of summer, so if you travel at any point between April and September, you'll likely find cheaper deals on flights and accommodation. While it may seem strange that Miami's off-season is right in the middle of the northern hemisphere's typically sunniest period, Miami is built different. The summer's scorching heat keeps many away, but if you can handle it, make the most of the deals!

 

Can I enjoy Miami without a car?

is miami expensive to visit

It is possible to enjoy Miami without a car, but it depends on a few factors. Firstly, if you're staying in Miami Beach, Coral Gables, downtown Miami, and South Miami, it's doable, thanks to those areas' public transport networks. However, if you're planning to travel further afield, you'll likely have to rent a car, or take a cab at the very least.

 

Is Miami Expensive to Visit?

There's no beating about the bush with this one. Yes, Miami is expensive to visit. In fact, it's one of the most expensive cities on the planet. The cost of living is over 20% higher in Miami than in the rest of America, which means your hard-earned wages won't go as far.

This doesn't matter so much for residents, who typically earn more than the national average to cancel this out. However, for humble visitors such as yourself, those Miami wages won't play a part.

Accommodation is much the same, because Miami's housing market is 47% higher than the national average. Nearly 50%! In layperson's terms, rich people move to Miami and drive the price of housing up. Sadly, this has a knock-on effect on rented accommodation too, including many hotels. In fact, you're likely to find cheaper hotels in Vegas than Miami, if you don't know where to look.

How Expensive is Miami to visit?

is miami expensive to visit

How expensive Miami is to visit depends on three main factors: where you stay, where you go to eat and drink, and the attractions and experiences you want to have when you go. So, for the sake of simplicity, we'll focus on these three topics throughout this article.

Hotels come in all shapes and sizes, but if you want to sleep in style, then you'll pay for the privilege. It's the same with food and experiences. You can eat on a budget if you shop around, and look for cheaper attractions that won't break the bank, but if you don't, your visit to Miami is going to be expensive. How expensive? Well, let's get into it.

 

Is Miami Expensive to Visit: Accommodation

As we mentioned earlier, where you stay will determine the answer to this question. If you choose a hostel that's inside or adjacent to the areas you want to visit, you can effectively squeeze your cents at the cost of luxury. If you don't mind sharing bathrooms, kitchens, and - dare we say - bedrooms with other travelers, hostels will drive your Miami budget down dramatically.

On the flip side, if you want to live in the lap of luxury and won't settle for anything less than 5-star treatment, you'll pay for it. Miami is absolutely full to the brim with extravagant, expensive hotels, as well as upmarket Airbnbs, that will eat into any modest budget and then some.

So, if you want to find a happy medium, what do you do? Well, you're best off deciding your budget and then doing some research! Mid-range offerings like the Eurostars Langford Hotel are reasonably priced, offer a good location near most of Miami's best bits, and still let you sleep in your own room - ace! Alternatively, you could shop around on Airbnb and try to find deals that suit your finances, but you may need to book months in advance to ensure you get something budget-friendly.

Is Miami Expensive to Visit: Food

is miami expensive to visit

Again, what you eat - and what you're willing to eat - will determine how much food eats into your Miami vacation budget. Something as simple as street food - a burger or hotdog, for instance - could set you back nearly $10. Restaurants, too, aren't particularly cheap, but at around $40 per person per meal, it really depends on what you're used to spending on meals out. Bear in mind that's just for the main course - you still need to add the tip and any extra dishes like starters, desserts, and, of course, drinks into the equation.

So, eating out is expensive - that's somewhat unavoidable. However, if you book an Airbnb or rented accommodation another way, you can, of course, buy groceries and cook your own meals. Yes, groceries are more expensive than in many other parts of America, but the difference between groceries and a restaurant meal is astronomical. So, if you're budget's running thin towards the back end of your vacation, don't be afraid to eat in and save some cash for Miami's other treats.

 

Is Miami Expensive to Visit: Attractions

Paying to get into each of Miami's biggest attractions on an individual basis is sure to add up. So, why not save money and see them all with Go City? Pick from our All-Inclusive Pass or our Explorer Pass - whichever suits your trip - and skip the queue and save at some of Miami's best experiences! See Miami's Seaquarium, snorkel in Fort Lauderdale, check out the white-knuckle thrills at Fun Spot America, and much, much more! So grab a Miami pass and save while you sightsee!

Dom Bewley
Go City Travel Expert

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perez art museum Miami
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Things to Do in Miami When it Rains

Miami is a fabulous city all year round, with warm tropical temperatures and sunny days. Of course, that doesn’t mean there’s no chance of rain here and there, especially on humid days. If you run into a rainy day in Miami and are looking for ways to fill up your time, check out our best suggestions for top things to do in Miami when it rains. A few of our favorite rainy day activities include... Pérez Art Museum Vizcaya Museum and Gardens Miami Children’s Museum Big Bus Miami Tours And more! Hop-On Hop-Off Big Bus Miami If you want to tour the city on wheels without the hassle of driving, then a Hop On Hop Off Big Bus tour is an excellent option. An enclosed double-decker bus keeps you dry, and the narration will guide you around the city's sights. Choose from the Beach Loop or the City Loop and pass by popular landmarks and attractions like Biscayne Bay, Jungle Island, Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, and the Wynwood District. This is a hop-on hop-off option, so if the weather clears up (or if you’re feeling adventurous), feel free to disembark and explore at your leisure. Big Bus Miami: Night Tour See Miami come alive in the nighttime with a 90-minute Big Bus Miami Night Tour past the most popular Miami landmarks. Your tour will start on iconic Ocean Drive in South Beach. You'll pass by all the most popular clubs and restaurants as the night is just heating up - all the neon lights will be on and flashing! Your guide will teach you all about the city's history and culture as you zip by the Art Deco District and beyond. It's the perfect way to get to know the Magic City after dark. Miami Children’s Museum The hardest part about a rainy family vacation is occupying the kids. Solve that problem with a visit to the Miami Children’s Museum. It’s one of our favorite kid-centric institutions, offering dozens of interactive (and bilingual!) exhibits for children of all ages. You'll find everything from interactive bank and supermarket exhibits to rock-climbing walls and a massive model cruise ship. The kids will love climbing through the Castle of Dreams, a two-story sandcastle, and learning about how to care for animals at the Pet Clinic. It's the perfect way to make the best of a dreary day. Orlando Attractions If you have access to a car and want to make the trip up to Orlando, then there are plenty of additional attraction options to enjoy indoors, from the iconic Kennedy Space Center to kid-favorite WonderWorks. There's even a Ripley's Believe it or Not! in Orlando. Pick up a Go Orlando pass and make the most of a trip to this city of theme parks and wonder! WonderWorks This bizarre arena of oddities is another great place to visit if you're spending the day in Orlando. Everything inside WonderWorks will make you feel like your world has been flipped upside down. With over 100 interactive exhibits that will have you questioning everything, it's like an amusement park for the mind. At one exhibit, you'll be blown away by 71 MPH winds in a hurricane simulator, in another you'll experience an earthquake of massive proportions, and in another you can put yourself inside a bubble and elevate. There's nowhere else like it! Ripley's Believe it or Not! Orlando The Ripley's Believe it or Not! Orlando building is quite literally slanted, so you know you're in for an unbelievable visit from the start. Enter the sinking building and feast your eyes on hundreds of quirky exhibits. Within the walls of the 16 unique galleries, you'll find shrunken heads, dinosaur bones, a micro-sculpture room, a tribute to Robert Wadlow (the World's Tallest Man) and plenty more. You can't find this kind of stuff anywhere else. Theatrical Performances Culture buffs will love the opportunity to take advantage of Miami’s diverse theater scene. You’ll find everything from classic opera or ballet to indie performances. There are many well-regarded venues in the city, like the Adrienne Arscht Center for the Performing Arts, the Olympia Theater, and the Tower Theater. Several of these venues are historical, too, so it's a chance to view beautiful architectural styles as well. Rainy Day Recap Looking for some fun things to do indoors? Admission to many of the below rainy day activities are available on the Go Miami pass. Choose as you go from a number of fun attractions and save on combined admission vs. paying at the gate. See all available passes, attractions & prices. We hope you'll add a few of these rainy day attractions and landmarks to your Miami to-do list. We promise these attractions will make even the dreariest of vacation days much better. To save money and make your planning easier, consider picking up an all-inclusive Go Miami pass. It includes admission to many of the attractions on this rainy day list.
Katie Sagal
Blog

Miami in May

These days, visitors are downright spoiled with things to do in Miami. As one of the most popular tourist hotspots in America, the city continues to surprise us with new attractions and events cropping up each day. Spring is a great time to visit, since the weather should be warm enough to enjoy all of the area’s fantastic outdoor attractions without being too hot to function. Enjoy the natural beauty of the area at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. Have a blast at Zoo Miami. Or simply explore the boardwalk at South Beach. No matter where your interests may lie, you’re sure to find something to suit your style. If you‘re not quite sure where to start, we’re here to help! Use our guide as a starting point to plan your perfect vacation. No matter how you choose to enjoy the Magic City, we’re sure it’ll be great. See the Sites With lots of sunshine and little rainfall, May is great for spending time outdoors. Those looking to learn more about the background of the city might enjoy Coral Castle for its unique history. Built single-handedly over the course of 28 years, this mysterious sculpture garden is perhaps best known for the questions that it brings up. Constructed out of 1, 100 tons of oolite limestone in a time when no modern construction advances were available, the piece is somewhat of an anomaly. Walking around the site, there’s no doubt you’ll be mind-blown by the intricately hand-carved pieces telling the story of artist Edward Leedskalnin’s heartbreak. A mysterious mindbender and true testament to the artist's innovation, Coral Castle is an attraction quite like no other. Undoubtedly one-of-a-kind, this place is a total must-see for any first-time visitor to the Miami area. Looking to discover a different side of the city? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Standing out as the oldest building in Miami by a long shot, the Ancient Spanish Monastery is a total treat for architecture buffs and history aficionados alike. Parts of the structure date as far back as 1133 AD, long before America was even established. Apparently, the monastery was originally built in northern Spain around this time, but later bought, shipped to New York, and dismantled stone by stone. In 1953, two entrepreneurs bought the stones to build a tourist attraction – and the Ancient Spanish Monastery was born! As such, Time Magazine characterized the building as ‘’the biggest jigsaw puzzle in history’’. Today, the structure stands as a fine example of Romanesque and Gothic architecture. The interiors are incredibly preserved, showcasing a number of captivating architectural and religious details. Walking around the space, you’ll notice impressive hand-carved columns, sweeping arches and beautiful shrines from the original structure. Rich in history and most certainly unique, this place should rank right at the top of your itinerary. Get in Touch with Nature No doubt, Miami is the perfect haven for all nature lovers. Standing out for its unusual and expansive display of exotic flora, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is a fantastic place to spend a sunny spring afternoon in the area. Established way back in 1936, this historical attraction works to showcase the unique collection of avid botanist David Fairchild, which was brought back from his travels. Thousands of varieties thrive here, including many rare species you’d never expect to find in the United States. Bursting with color, scents and spectacular views, the gardens are an absolute joy to wander. Walking through the park, you’ll be able to see the birds, fish, lizards, and crocodiles which call the site home. Don’t miss the butterfly emporium, with too many species to count. We suggest setting a few hours aside for this, since it can take a while to get around the entire place. Remember to bring lots of sunscreen and wear your comfiest walking shoes! A total treat for the senses and educational, too, this place is not to be missed. If you’re anything like us, a visit to the zoo would be right down your alley. Luckily for you, Miami is home to some fantastic nature reserves to bring out that sense of childlike wonder. Combining the natural beauty of the area with incredible exotic wildlife, one of the most popular tourist attractions for animal lovers has got to be Zoo Miami. In fact, this place is recognized as the only tropical zoo in the United States. Featuring over 3, 000 animals and around 100 exhibits to be enjoyed, there’s a little something for everybody here. Expect jaguars, warthogs, spotted hyenas, hippos and much, much more. You’ll need a whole day at the zoo to make the best of it - we suggest heading off pretty early so you can fit as much in as possible! A fantastic educational opportunity, we love this place because it’s impossible to leave without having learned something new. Try Something Different Though the city is perhaps best known for its palm-fringed beaches and exotic greenery, there’s plenty to see here for those looking for art and culture. Open to the public and free of charge, Wynwood Walls is a trendy outdoor street art museum shining a spotlight on some of the world’s best urban artists. Carefully curated and periodically transformative, the exhibit works to showcase a wide variety of styles; at Wynwood Walls, you’ll be able to enjoy the work of old school graffiti artists and the newest innovators in the game all in one space. For those who are interested in learning more about the creatives, different styles, and history of the art form, we recommend booking a guided tour. Aside from the museum itself, the surrounding area is great to explore, with lots of cool shops and eateries to check out. The perfect stop for all creative types, this place provides the perfect taste of the city’s art scene. Few places are as exciting and energetic as the Floridian hotspot of Miami. May is great time to visit, since the temperatures are warmer but it's not as busy as the summer months. Explore the city to its full potential with GoCity’s All-Inclusive Pass or Explorer Pass. If you’d like to know more, connect with us on Instagram and Facebook. With Go City, you can see more, for less.
Sarah Harris

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