Many Americans dream of living in European cities like Paris, Rome or Barcelona, or perhaps in a picturesque villa in Burgundy, Tuscany or the English countryside.
A lot cities and towns of Europe project idyllic images as places that are safe, full of culture, and have excellent transportation systems. To some extent, these visions are true.
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But traveling in Europe can be complicated. Aside from enduring long flights, it can be expensive to visit places in Europe – from the cost of flights to hotels, transportation, food, and more. Additionally, it can be difficult for some tourists to adapt to the conventions of European cities. But the good news is that there are many travel destinations in the United States that have similar features to Europe, but are much cheaper.
Of course, no city is cheaper than another in every way, and there will always be more expensive expenses in one city than another. For the purposes of this study, prices were selected from a variety of sources, ranging from Numbeo and Statista to Budget Your Trip and various general and local transportation/accommodation pricing services. All prices are as of May 31, 2024.
For the most part, prices in comparison cities were higher for some products but lower for others. However, overall, European destinations still ended up costing a lot more, if only for the cost of the flight.
With that in mind, here's an overview some interesting US-European city pairs.
Minneapolis/Berlin
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Roundtrip flight from Los Angeles: from $158 / from $969
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Round trip flight from New York: from $178 / from $761
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Average hotel price: $137 / $171
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Cost of a mid-range restaurant meal for 2: $77 / $76
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One-way ticket (local transport): $2.50 / $3.81
Minnesota in general has a high concentration of people of German or Scandinavian descent, and Minneapolis is no exception. Many visitors compare Minneapolis to cities like Rotterdam or even Berlin, with a liberal sensibility and a healthy lifestyle filled with abundant outdoor recreational activities.
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Los Angeles / London
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Round trip flight from Los Angeles: N/A / from $78
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Round trip flight from New York: from $242 / from $620
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Average hotel price: $169 / $180
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Cost of a mid-range restaurant meal for 2: $120 / $102
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One-way ticket (local transport): $1.75 / $3.58
Let's be real: there is no city in the world quite like Los Angeles. But it shares much of its personality and style with London. These are two major international cities offering plenty of culinary and cultural opportunities and fascinating architecture. Both are also global financial centers offering world-class entertainment.
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Boston/Dublin
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Round trip flight from Los Angeles: from $267 / from $838
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Round trip flight from New York: from $107 / from $627
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Average hotel price: $233 / $228
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Cost of a mid-range restaurant meal for 2: $100 / $97
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One-way ticket (local transport): $2.40 / $2.18
Boston's strong Irish heritage reminds many visitors of Dublin. Both have fascinating architecture and world-class universities, as well as extremely lively pub districts and famous breweries. Both cities can also be extremely walkable, weather permitting! The costs are quite similar, but traveling to Dublin can make the trip much more expensive than visiting Boston.
Newport, Rhode Island / Blois, France
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Round trip flight from Los Angeles: from $353 / from $708
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Round trip flight from New York: from $176 / from $646
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Average hotel price: $112 / $149
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Cost of a mid-range restaurant meal for 2: $80 / N/A
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One-way ticket (local transport): $2 / $1.36
Newport's opulent Gilded Age mansions are a real treat for visitors and, what's more, they evoke the wealth of old Europe. Cities in France's Loire Valley, such as Blois, are a comparable option to Newport, but they are much less accessible and can be much more expensive than the domestic version.
Washington, DC / Paris
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Round trip flight from Los Angeles: from $195 / from $708
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Round trip flight from New York: from $183 / from $646
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Average hotel price: $178 / $203
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Cost of a mid-range restaurant meal for 2: $100 / $76
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One-way ticket (local transport): $2.50 / $2.34
The actual layout of Washington, DC, was designed by a Frenchman, Pierre Charles L'Enfant, so it is not surprising that the two cities are similar. They are both separated by a large river, they have major monuments centered on large green spaces, they are famous for their world-class museums, and they each have large Gothic cathedrals. They are also both the capitals of their respective countries. The costs are fairly equivalent, but the plane ticket torpedoes the idea that going to Paris will save you money compared to Washington DC.
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San Francisco / Barcelona and Lisbon
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Round trip flight from Los Angeles: from $105 / from $883
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Roundtrip flight from New York: from $306 / from $766
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Average hotel price: $170 / $204 and $263
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Cost of a mid-range restaurant meal for 2: $100 / $65 and $54
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One-way ticket (local transport): $2.60 / $2.72 and $2.18
In the late 1800s, San Francisco was known as the “Paris of the West,” but it is actually closer in personality and geography to some of the great port cities of Europe like Barcelona or Lisbon. These three cities have a wealth of diverse neighborhoods, dynamic energy and a Mediterranean coastal climate. San Francisco's famous cable cars are also reminiscent of Lisbon's excellent tram system.
Philadelphia / Glasgow, Scotland
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Round trip flight from Los Angeles: from $247 / from $937
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Round trip flight from New York: from $170 / from $740
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Average hotel price: $151 / $149
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Cost of a mid-range restaurant meal for 2: $75/$77
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One-way ticket (local transport): $2.50 / $3.32
Philadelphia was considered so similar to Glasgow that the filmmakers behind the film “World War Z” used it as a substitute during filming. Both cities are laid out in a grid system, full of art and culture, and feature stunning Art Deco architecture.
New Orleans / Vienna
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Round trip flight from Los Angeles: from $185 / from $931
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Round trip flight from New York: from $199 / from $768
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Average hotel price: $132 / $215
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Cost of a mid-range restaurant meal for 2: $100 / $76
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One-way ticket (local transport): $1.50 / $2.61
New Orleans is considered the most European city in America, thanks to its strong French and Spanish influences, from its cuisine to its architecture. The city's historic neighborhoods and world-class dining make it a top destination for Americans and foreigners.
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Santa Barbara, California / Nice, France
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Round trip flight from Los Angeles: from $279 / from $896
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Round trip flight from New York: from $242 / from $812
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Average hotel price: $253 / $327
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Cost of a mid-range restaurant meal for 2: $85 / $76
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One-way ticket (local transport): $1.75 / $1.85
Beautiful Santa Barbara has long been compared to the Côte d'Azur, thanks to its seaside setting, its cultural richness and its high quality of life. Although parts of Santa Barbara can be quite expensive, for a tourist the costs can be well below the luxury standards of cities like Nice.
Solvang, California / Copenhagen, Denmark
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Round trip flight from Los Angeles: from $279 / from $972
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Round trip flight from New York: from $242 / from $765
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Average hotel price: $141 / $238
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Cost of a mid-range restaurant meal for 2: $90 / $117
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One-way ticket (local transport): $1.50 / $3.50
When you arrive in Solvang, you might think that you have been immediately transported to Scandinavia. The city was founded in 1911 by a group of Danish Americans who were trying to preserve the culture of Denmark. So it makes sense that Solvang would have this strong influence.
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This article was originally published on GOBankingRates.com: 10 US Travel Destinations That Are Like Europe But Much Cheaper
