Study: Charlotte Is One Of The Most Expensive U.S. Cities For A Night Out

Have you ever thought to yourself, "You know, I just don't go out as much as I'd like to." Well, there may be a very good reason for that. It turns out we live in one of America's most expensive cities for a night out.

According to WGHP-TV, price comparison website PriceListo and hotel booking site Vio teamed up determine where a night on the town will cost the most and least across the nation. The ranking was calculated by using cost-of-living figures from U.S. cities with more than 500,000 people. The data includes the average price of a cocktail, a bottle of wine, a pint of beer, a three-mile taxi ride, and the median rate for a one-night stay in a budget hotel. Those were added together to come up with the cost of a night out in each city.

I would have guessed that New York City would be at the top of the list of most expensive cities. Nope, that would be San Diego. Actually, that's not entirely shocking. California has a very high cost of living. I was not, however, expecting Charlotte to be in the no. 2 spot. According to the study, a night out in the Queen City will cost you an average of $224.75. Ouch! Netflix and pizza suddenly sounds a lot more appealing.

On the flip side, if you want to get the most bang for your buck when you go out for the evening, Las Vegas is the place to be. A night out in the City of Lights will run $120.76 on average, more than $100 less than in Charlotte. Of course, Vegas could end up being much pricier if you decide to gamble so stay away from the slots.

While most people have favorite restaurants, those places may not necessarily be considered the best in the world. Well, now Tripadvisor is letting us know which restaurants are, so if you're a traveling foodie, read on.

The travel site just came out with their Travelers' Choice “Best of the Best” Awards for restaurants, based on a full year of Tripadvisor reviews. The list consists of restaurants in six continents and 51 countries. Establishments are broken down into the following categories: Fine Dining, Everyday Eats, Quick Bites, Picture-Perfect Restaurants, Date Night, and Hidden Gems.

Earning the honor of Top Fine Dining spot in the U.S. is the Lahaina Grill, in Lahaina, Hawaii, which also landed at number 19 on the Best Restaurants in the World list. The Old Stamp House Restaurant in Ambleside, United Kingdom is the World number one for a second year in a row.

The Restaurant at Gideon Ridge in Blowing Rock, North Carolina took second place on the U.S. fine dining list, but was also named the Top Date Night spot in the U.S. That's not surprising, given that it overlooks the Blue Ridge Mountains from an elevation of 3,990 feet. Circa 1886 in Charleston, South Carolina is sixth on the Date Night list.

Have you seen the cost of living as of recently? Yes, that's right it is quite expensive to survive around here. It's pretty insane if you ask me. People are also getting to the point of relocating to more affordable cities more than ever. Some towns and cities are just so much more affordable that it's a no-brainer to relocate.

Travel + Leisure released their list of the ten most beautiful and affordable places to live in the United States. Yes, affordable does not mean you won't be able to have some beauty either. From fast-paced cities to small, quaint towns on the beaches there are tons of great, affordable places you could live. In fact, one North Carolina town took home the No. 1 spot for the most beautiful and affordable spot in the U.S. One South Carolina area also made the top five. Do you have any guesses? Check out the top 5 below and tell us what you think. View Travel + Leisure's full list here.

First, we're taking a trip to Tennessee, Knoxville to be exact. Knoxville is the No. 5 most affordable and beautiful place to live on this list. The area gives those that live there a perfect balance of city and nature living. The report states that the median housing price is about $335,000 which is figuratively low for other small, metro type areas in the country.

Next up, we're living it up in Kentucky. Lousiville, Kentucky is the No. 4 most affordable, beautiful location to live. This city is full of life with the history and culture that can be seen in buildings and through the locals. The median housing cost is quite low coming in at $163,000. Now that sounds like a great deal to me!

Coming in at No. 3, we're heading to South Carolina. Greenville is one of South Carolina's most up-and-coming cities that has grown tremendously over the last few years. The city has tons of job opportunities, restaurants, and tons of other things to do. The median home price is about $320,000. The revamped downtown areas offer visitors and locals a fresh new look at what Greenville is all about! 

Coming in at No. 2 is this Michigan staple, Grand Rapids. The Grand Rapids area is home to a booming arts scene and offers those that live in the area tons of things to do. The family friendly area offers entertainment for the entire family ranging in different ages. They also have a median home price of $367,000 which is roughly low compared to the area. 

Here we are at No. 1! Hickory, North Carolina is the most beautiful and affordable spot to live in the U.S. This family friendly spot is a beautiful town for those loving the close proximity to nature and mountain dreams. The median home price is $161,000 which makes it clearly far more affordable than anywhere else in the top 5. Great for retirees or those looking for a bit quieter area to call home, Hickory would be perfect for you!