For example, a CityPass discounted attraction booklet costs $122 per adult for access to six popular Big Apple sights, yet only $98 per adult for entry to five popular attractions in Chicago.

Among the 20 cities surveyed, the Big Apple again reported the highest annual gain, surging 7.3 percent in November. Chicago and Washington, D.C. rose 6.2 percent and 5.9 percent, respectively.