Study Reveals Atlanta Among the Most Affordable US Vacation Cities

A brand new study has revealed the best US tourist hotspots to explore on a budget.

The study analyzed a number of different factors from average accommodation prices to the cost of a meal, in order to determine which cities topped the list for affordable vacations in 2024. 

The 10 most affordable vacation cities in the US:

1. Orlando – scored 47.2/80
2. San Antonio – 46.7
3. Atlanta – 45.4
4. Dallas – 45.4
5. Chicago – 42.5
6. St Louis – 38.7
7. Philadelphia – 37.8
8. Los Angeles – 33.3
9. Las Vegas – 33.3
10. Boston – 33.3

1st – Orlando – 47.2/80

Securing the top spot in the study and being crowned as the nation’s most affordable tourist hot spot was Orlando, Florida. Visitors to Orlando can enjoy a meal out for $23.00 and drinks for $4.24. Public transport tickets cost just $2.00, making it cheap to get a round and sample the local attractions.

The study found that the average price per night for weekend accommodation in Orlando is $192.86, and attraction tickets come in at an average of $146.29. 

Obviously Disney is out of the picture (pro tip… there is a lot more to Orlando than theme parks)

2nd – San Antonio – 46.7/80 

In second place was San Antonio, Texas. The city scored as more affordable than Orlando in terms of accommodation, the average cost of local attraction tours and tickets, the cost of a meal, and the cost of a mini food shop.

Joint 3rd – Atlanta & Dallas – 45.4/80 

Atlanta and Dallas tied for joint third place, both scoring 45.4/80 on the affordability scale. Atlanta scored better for the affordability of accommodation, average price of attraction tickets, and the price of public transport.

However, Dallas scored more favorably for the affordability of a meal, drinks, and a mini food shop, making it a great destination for food lovers to visit. 

The full ranking can be found in the graphic below.