According to a survey released by TripAdvisor near the beginning of the season, 60% of travelers were planning winter trips, and 45% noted that they would be travelling more this winter than last year.
The report noted a diverse mix of warm and cold urban destinations on this winter’s travel list. With 66% of travelers returning to known destinations and 34% chartering into new places, the report shared the most common travel spots for this winter. The following were the top domestic winter destinations for U.S. travelers: New York City, Las Vegas, Orlando, and Key West.
While none of these locations should be much of a surprise, we will examine the true monthly cost of living in America’s most popular winter cities and look into what makes these cities so appealing to tourists.
New York City, New York
- Monthly cost of living for a family of four: $9,136
- Median annual household income: $81,956
- Average home price: $797,328
- Average monthly rent: $5,245
New York City is one of the most expensive destinations to visit and live in, with an exorbitant price tag for a family of four to get by monthly.
Tim Gunstone, a travel expert and chief communications officer at HotelPlanner, noted that New York and Las Vegas regularly top the lists as the most popular winter destinations. He found that New York has seen a smaller increase in demand but a larger increase in rates, as the city has about 30,000 fewer hotel rooms than Vegas.
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“Instead of paying peak winter pricing in Southern Florida and then being limited in what they can actually enjoy outdoors, travelers are choosing destinations like New York City, where cold weather is part of the experience and built into the appeal,” said John Beck, the regional director of operations, luxury, lifestyle and managed hotels at IHG Hotels & Resorts. “Winter in NYC still delivers Broadway, concerts, sporting events, museums, dining, shopping, and a nonstop energy that doesn’t rely on perfect weather to be enjoyable.”
It’s evident that there’s plenty to do in the city, especially around the holiday season.
Las Vegas, Nevada
- Monthly cost of living for a family of four: $5,485
- Median annual household income: $74,481
- Average home price: $420,781
- Average monthly rent: $1,434
Gunstone pointed out that Las Vegas is consistently the top booked American city and that it’s cheaper than its rivals.
Part of the appeal is that it offers a wide range of hotels and therefore prices for people of all budgets, along with activities for families and people with different interests. You can check out a sporting event, sit by the pool or check out one of the live shows.
Gunstone noted that the city also frequently hosts large conventions, which bring in tourists. To avoid high rates, review the convention schedule before booking your trip. However, the good news is that the cost of living here is much lower than in New York City if you’re looking to make Vegas your home base.
Orlando, Florida
- Monthly cost of living for a family of four: $5,661
- Median annual household income: $73,436
- Average home price: $367,475
- Average monthly rent: $1,785
“Orlando’s advantage as a winter destination is its ability to support longer, lower-friction stays across a wide range of traveler types,” said Nate Siehr, developer of Ambar Residences Orlando, Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy. “Travelers increasingly use Orlando as a flexible home base — combining attractions with shopping, dining, wellness, and day trips, such as visiting Cape Canaveral to experience a space launch.”
Orlando is historically known as a top winter travel destination for its weather and attractions. Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Studios are two major theme parks that come to mind. Orlando welcomed more than 75 million visitors in 2024, making it the most visited city in the U.S., according to the city’s tourism site. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Americans looking to escape the cold are visiting Orlando this winter season.
Key West, Florida
- Monthly cost of living for a family of four: $6,340
- Median annual household income: $78,532
- Average home price: $994,173
- Average monthly rent: $6,000
It’s worth pointing out that Key West is one of the rare cities that doesn’t have the average rent mentioned by RentCafe. Zillow noted that the monthly price range for all rentals is $1,000 to $24,000. While this is the most expensive destination on the list, it’s also known as the warmest place in the continental U.S. during the winter months, which is its main appeal.
Key West offers an abundance of outdoor activities and ideal winter weather for a getaway. Travel experts have pointed out that you can enjoy one of the many beaches (South Beach, Higgs Beach or Dog Beach) and go for a bike ride or stroll by the water. If you want to live here, you can expect higher monthly expenses as it’s difficult to find a cheap rental and the average home is worth around a million dollars.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: The True Monthly Cost of Living in America’s 4 Most Popular Winter Cities
