Should I Visit Fort Lauderdale or Orlando? Which is Better for Resorts, Families, Couples, and Food? Which is Cheaper? Which is More Expensive?

Which city is cheaper, Orlando or Fort Lauderdale?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Fort Lauderdale and Orlando. We’ll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let’s dig into it.

Fort Lauderdale is a scenic, bustling, and spirited coastal city. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and shopping.

Orlando is a family-friendly, entertaining, and active city. It’s also known for shopping, theater, and nightlife.

Let’s take a look at the differences and similarities between Orlando and Fort Lauderdale. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Both Fort Lauderdale and Orlando offer a number of unique restaurants to choose from.

Fort Lauderdale offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. Seafood is the obvious option with popular dishes being fish tacos, sea bass, and scallop risotto.

Orlando has a huge number of terrific restaurants. There are a diversity of restaurants on the Disney grounds and nearby. Restaurants can be challenging though, as reservations must be made months in advance.

It’s hard to distinguish whether Fort Lauderdale or Orlando has a better nightlife scene.

The people in Fort Lauderdale know how to have a good time. Most people head to the beach, Las Olas Blvd, River Front and The New Hard Rock Seminole Hotel Complex for the best bars and clubs.

If you’re looking for night time activities Orlando has a few options to choose from. If you need a break from the kids, you’ll find some of the best nightlife around Orlando at Disney Springs, Wall Street Plaza and Universal CityWalk.

There are resorts to choose from in both Fort Lauderdale and Orlando.

Vacationers flock to Fort Lauderdale for its luxury resorts. Luxury beachfront resorts are plentiful in the area. Several of the most impressive include the Ritz-Carlton, W Fort Lauderdale, and the Dalmar.

For the ultimate resort vacation, Orlando is a great choice. Disney World is famous for its many iconic resorts. Some of the most popular are the Animal Kingdom Lodge, Port Orleans Resort, and the Grand Floridian Resort.

Shopping is a popular activity in both Orlando and Fort Lauderdale.

Fort Lauderdale is a great destination for shopping. For interesting local boutiques head to Las Olas Boulevard and for name brand stores you’ll want to visit Sawgrass Mills Mall.

Orlando is well-known for its shopping. Shopping is a dream for any Disney enthusiast. There are countless malls and shops, both on and off the Disney grounds, that sell all of the Disney paraphernalia.

Both Fort Lauderdale and Orlando are family-friendly destinations.

Fort Lauderdale is a very family-friendly place to visit. With seven miles of beautiful sandy beaches and a number of kid-oriented activities the kids will be entertained. Fun activities include Bluefoot Pirate Adventures, Butterfly World, and Funderdome.

As it has a large number of activities for kids, Orlando is a very family-friendly destination. Known as a theme park capital, here you’ll find the iconic Disney World, as well as Universal Studios, SeaWorld and many more.

Fort Lauderdale offers a wider variety of romantic activities for couples than Orlando.

Fort Lauderdale is fantastic couple’s destination with fun and romantic activities. Fine dining, beautiful beaches, and great shopping make for a great romantic getaway. Couples and honeymooners love relaxing at the beaches in Fort Lauderdale.

Orlando makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. While most people visit the area with family, there is a niche crowd that enjoys honeymooning or vacationing here as a couple. There are many beautiful restaurants and interesting activities that couples can enjoy together.

Fort Lauderdale is generally more walkable than Orlando.

Fort Lauderdale is very walkable. It is one of the most walkable Florida communities with a boardwalk and several pedestrian areas that are fun to wander around.

Orlando is not a very walkable coastal city. The city is sprawling, so unless you stay on the Disney grounds, it’s best to rent a car.

Both Fort Lauderdale and Orlando have a number of activities to choose from. You can spend a similar amount of time exploring either.

The ideal length of time for a trip to Fort Lauderdale is 3-7 days, and the ideal length of time for a trip to Orlando is 7 days.

In Fort Lauderdale, you’ll find nightlife and food. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. One reason most visitors come is for the beaches. This coastal city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

The entertaining destination of Orlando offers nightlife and food. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

In Fort Lauderdale, you’ll find food and scuba diving and snorkeling. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Most people come for the beaches. One reason most visitors come is for the beaches. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.

The city of Orlando offers food and shopping. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. The entire region has so many activities, and you’ll want time to do everything. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.

Fort Lauderdale is a great place to explore. It is common to spend five days here. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. Five days is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Fort Lauderdale has to offer. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Orlando is a great place to explore. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. This city offers something for everyone. It is common to spend five days here. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

It’s hard to know how much time to spend in Fort Lauderdale. In Fort Lauderdale, you’ll find shopping and nightlife. One reason most visitors come is for the beaches. It’s also a relaxing resort destination. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one week here.

The active city of Orlando offers theater and nightlife. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. For many, it makes a great getaway for one week. Because of this, one week is usually enough time for a trip here.

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Fort Lauderdale is $146, while the average daily cost in Orlando is $256. 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 city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Fort Lauderdale and Orlando in more detail.

Looking for a hotel in Fort Lauderdale or Orlando? 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.

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Fort Lauderdale:

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Orlando are as follows:

Also for Orlando, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

Prices for flights to both Orlando and Fort Lauderdale 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.

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Fort Lauderdale:

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Fort Lauderdale.

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Orlando:

For Orlando, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

Here are a few actual costs in Fort Lauderdale for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

For Orlando, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Orlando.

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Fort Lauderdale are as follows:

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Fort Lauderdale:

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Orlando:

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, we can see that Orlando is more expensive. And not only is Fort Lauderdale much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Fort Lauderdale would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Fort Lauderdale 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 Orlando would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Orlando than you might in Fort Lauderdale.

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.

Both Orlando and Fort Lauderdale during the summer are popular places to visit. The beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Fort Lauderdale this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Orlando for the family-friendly experiences.

Fort Lauderdale is around the same temperature as Orlando in the summer. The temperature in Fort Lauderdale is usually 83°F (28°C) in July, and Orlando stays around 82°F (28°C).

Orlando gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Fort Lauderdale. Fort Lauderdale usually gets less rain in July than Orlando. Fort Lauderdale gets 5.9 inches (149 mm) of rain, while Orlando receives 8.3 inches (211 mm) of rain this time of the year.

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Fort Lauderdale and Orlando. Many travelers come to Fort Lauderdale for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, many visitors come to Orlando in the autumn for the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Fort Lauderdale is around the same temperature as Orlando. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Fort Lauderdale in October are around 78°F (26°C), and Orlando is about 75°F (24°C).

Orlando receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Fort Lauderdale gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Fort Lauderdale usually receives more rain than Orlando. Fort Lauderdale gets 5.6 inches (143 mm) of rain, while Orlando receives 4.1 inches (103 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

The winter brings many poeple to Fort Lauderdale as well as Orlando. Many visitors come to Fort Lauderdale in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine. Additionally, most visitors come to Orlando for the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine during these months.

In January, Fort Lauderdale is generally a little warmer than Orlando. Temperatures in Fort Lauderdale average around 67°F (20°C), and Orlando stays around 59°F (15°C).

Fort Lauderdale usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Orlando. Fort Lauderdale gets 2.2 inches (55 mm) of rain, while Orlando receives 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Both Orlando and Fort Lauderdale are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Fort Lauderdale for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months.

Fort Lauderdale is around the same temperature as Orlando in the spring. The temperature in Fort Lauderdale is usually 75°F (24°C) in April, and Orlando stays around 72°F (22°C).

In April, Fort Lauderdale usually receives more rain than Orlando. Fort Lauderdale gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Orlando receives 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Fort Lauderdale	Orlando
Temp (°C)	Rain (mm)	Temp (°C)	Rain (mm)
Jan	67°F (20°C)	2.2 inches (55 mm)	59°F (15°C)	2.3 inches (58 mm)
Feb	68°F (20°C)	2.1 inches (53 mm)	62°F (16°C)	3 inches (75 mm)
Mar	72°F (22°C)	2.4 inches (61 mm)	67°F (19°C)	3.5 inches (88 mm)
Apr	75°F (24°C)	3.1 inches (78 mm)	72°F (22°C)	2.7 inches (69 mm)
May	79°F (26°C)	6.4 inches (162 mm)	77°F (25°C)	3 inches (75 mm)
Jun	81°F (27°C)	9.4 inches (238 mm)	81°F (27°C)	7.1 inches (181 mm)
Jul	83°F (28°C)	5.9 inches (149 mm)	82°F (28°C)	8.3 inches (211 mm)
Aug	83°F (28°C)	7.5 inches (191 mm)	82°F (28°C)	6.7 inches (171 mm)
Sep	82°F (28°C)	7.6 inches (194 mm)	81°F (27°C)	7.2 inches (183 mm)
Oct	78°F (26°C)	5.6 inches (143 mm)	75°F (24°C)	4.1 inches (103 mm)
Nov	73°F (23°C)	2.9 inches (73 mm)	68°F (20°C)	1.6 inches (40 mm)
Dec	69°F (21°C)	1.9 inches (48 mm)	62°F (17°C)	1.9 inches (48 mm)

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