Which place is cheaper, Virginia or Alaska?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Alaska or Virginia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Alaska or Virginia? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Alaska or Virginia?
Alaska
Alaska joined the United States of America as the 49th state. The US purchased the area from the Russian Empire in 1867 for just 7.2 million dollars (about two cents an acre). It became an organized territory in 1912 and a state in 1959. It is separated from the rest of the country by Canada and, although it is the largest state, it is the least densely populated and for many years had the lowest population. It covers an area equal to California, Texas and Montana combined and lies on the Arctic Circle. Many people consider Alaska to be the United State's "final frontier" because of its vast wilderness. It is also where you will find the highest point in North America.
Virginia
One of the original thirteen British colonies, Virginia is a place of rich history and varied environments. You might explore the historic settlement of Colonial Williamsburg, dive into the current culture of its major cities, or get lost in nature along the coast or in the scenic landscape of the Appalachian Mountains. There's a little something for everyone.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Photography Tours in United States of America, The Best Camping Tours in United States of America, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, and The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAlaska $243Virginia $161
The average daily cost (per person) in Alaska is $243, while the average daily cost in Virginia is $161. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Alaska and Virginia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAlaska $135Virginia $80
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAlaska $270Virginia $160
Compare Hotels in Alaska and Virginia
Looking for a hotel in Alaska or Virginia? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Alaska $51Virginia $49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alaska
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Alaska:
- Private Arrival Transfer from Juneau Airport (JNU): $48
- Private Departure Transfer to Juneau Airport (JNU): $48
- Private Arrival Transfer from Anchorage Airport ANC: $62
- Shuttle Transfer: Anchorage ↔ Denali National Park: $150
- Seward to Anchorage- Post Cruise Curated Wildlife Tour +Transfer: $197
- Anchorage to Seward- Pre-Cruise Curated Wildlife Tour +Transfer: $219
- Private Transfer Anchorage Airport (ANC) to Whittier Cruise Port: $232
- Private Transfer Whittier Cruise Port to Anchorage Airport ANC: $232
- SUV-Private Transfer, Anchorage to Whittier Cruise Ship Terminal: $299
- SUV-Private Transfer, Whittier Cruise ship to Anchorage: $299
- SUV-Private Transfer, Seward Cruise ship to Anchorage : $299
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Virginia
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Virginia:
- Richmond Airport (RIC) to Richmond city - Arrival Private Transfer: $36
- Richmond City to Richmond Airport (RIC) - Departure Private Transfer: $38
- Private Arrival Transfer from Charlotteville Airport (CHO): $50
- Private Departure Transfer to Charlottesville Airport (CHO): $50
- Richmond Airport (RIC) to Richmond City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $72
- Private Transfer To or From Reston and Dulles International Airport: $180
- Airport Transfer to or from Mclean, VA and Reagan Airport(DCA): $188
- Airport Transfer to or from Mclean, VA and Dulles Airport: $195
- Private transfer to or from Reston and Ronald Reagan National Airport: $200
- Bamville Transportation (Private & Airport Transfers): $275
Is it cheaper to fly into Alaska or Virginia?
Prices for flights to both Virginia and Alaska change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayAlaska $57Virginia $37
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Alaska
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Alaska.
- City of Anchorage SIGHTSEEING & FOOD Tour: $190
- "Aurora Ice" - Ice Fishing & Salmon Dinner Tour: $210
- Kenai Fjords Glacier Dinner Cruise from Seward: $213
- Best Northern Lights Aurora Adventure FREE Portraits & Hot Pizza : $256
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Virginia
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Virginia.
- The Carytown Food Tour in Richmond: $80
- Church Hill Food Tour in Richmond, VA: $80
- Arts District Food Tour in Richmond: $85
- Delicious Pizza & Ice Cream Tour of Richmond: $90
- Norfolk Buffet Dinner Cruise : $101
- Norfolk Father's Day Buffet Dinner Cruise: $126
- The UVA Corner Food Tour: Private Walking Food Tour in Charlottesville: $139
- The Downtown Mall Food Tour: $149
- Roanoke Ebike Food Tour: $150
- Norfolk Mother's Day Signature Dinner Cruise: $162
- Norfolk 4th of July Buffet Dinner Cruise: $182
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Alaska $65Virginia $24
Tours and Activities in Alaska
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Alaska are as follows:
- Gold Rush Boomtown: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Skagway: $5.00
- Juneau, The Last Frontier Self Guided (Smart Phone App/GPS) Audio Walking Tour: $6.75
- Sensational Sitka Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
- Seward Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
- DIY Skagway Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour: $20
- Anchorage Trolley Tour: $25
- Kennecott Mill Town Tour: $34
- Guided Walking Tour of Sitka | HISTORIC DOWNTOWN: $39
- Adventurers Ready To Jump Into the Void Alaska Style Wanted: $39
- Axe Throwing - 60 minute Experience : $40
- 2-Hour Beer and Puppies Guided Experience in Fairbanks: $40
- Anchorage Trolley's Deluxe City Tour: $50
Tours and Activities in Virginia
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Virginia are as follows:
- Historical Fredericksburg SmartPhone App Self Guided Walking Tour: $6.50
- Charlottesville Historic Downtown APP/GPS Smartphone Walking Tour: $7.75
- Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia Audio Driving Tour: $9.99
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Richmond by 3Quest Challenge: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Richmond by Crazy Dash: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Richmond by Wacky Walks: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Williamsburg by Wacky Walks: $10
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Virginia Beach by Wacky Walks: $10
- Shenandoah: Self-Guided Audio Tour: $13
- Williamsburg West Tour: $15
- Colonial Williamsburg Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $15
- Blue Ridge Parkway (Roanoke to Afton) Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAlaska $20Virginia $19
Sample the Local Flavors in Alaska
Also in Alaska, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Half-Day Anchorage Craft Brewery Tour and Tastings: $179
Sample the Local Flavors in Virginia
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Virginia:
- Richmond Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl : $34
- Colonial Ghosts Boos and Brews Haunted Pub Crawl : $35
- Richmond Craft Brewery Crawl By Junket: $74
- Drink Richmond Craft Brewery Crawl: $74
- Private Wine Tours (Minimum 3 & Maximum 6 ) Pickup Maximum 30 Mi : $85
- Brewery Tour of Richmond, VA: $90
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Alaska and Virginia, we can see that Alaska is more expensive. And not only is Virginia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Virginia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Virginia and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Alaska would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Alaska than you might in Virginia.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Alaska Expensive? and Is Virginia Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, Alaska or Virginia?
Virginia has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Alaska. When comparing the sizes of Alaska and Virginia, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.