Which place is cheaper, Virginia Beach or Atlanta?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Atlanta or Virginia Beach, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Atlanta is a diverse, sprawling, and suburban city. Travelers will also find plenty of sights and attractions here, as it's a big city that attracts lots of visitors. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.
Virginia Beach is a fun-filled, relaxing, and bustling coastal city. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the nightlife and beaches.
Tourists will generally find more to do in Atlanta. Although Atlanta and Virginia Beach are both popular with visitors, Atlanta has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Atlanta is more popular for its museums, food, nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Virginia Beach is known for its resorts, beaches, and impressive beauty. Atlanta is popular for its world class aquarium, its role as host of the 1996 Olympic Games, and its influence during the Civil Rights Movement. It is also home to the Georgia Aquarium. Virginia Beach is popular for its fun boardwalk, many seafood restaurants, and classic beach town vibe.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Virginia Beach and Atlanta. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Atlanta is terrific for its historical sights. However, Virginia Beach does not have museums and landmarks.
The museums and tourist attractions in Atlanta are world-renowned. The museums range in topic from history to science and art. The country's largest aquarium, the Georgia Aquarium, is in Atlanta as well. It's home to whale sharks, stingrays, and a diversity of marine life. Other museums around town include the Atlanta History Center, the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, the High Museum of Art, the World of Coca Cola, the David J. Sencer CDC Museum, and the Delta Flight Museum. There are also many monuments and sites including the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site.
Virginia Beach does not have museums and landmarks.
Atlanta is great for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Virginia Beach is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.
Atlanta has a huge number of terrific restaurants. It's a huge city with a wide selection of restaurants including international, local, and classic southern styles. Fried chicken, biscuits, diner food, and barbecue are all popular. For a classic southern breakfast check out The OK Cafe and for a quintessential Atlanta experience go to The Varsity.
Virginia Beach may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. Seafood is plentiful around town and there are all-you-can-eat buffets as well as high end, waterfront seafood restaurants. Make sure you try the She Crab Soup, soft shell crabs, and oysters.
Atlanta is great for nightlife and partying. Also, Virginia Beach is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for its evening party scene.
Many people head to Atlanta for the nightlife scene. The nightlife scene is diverse with trendy bars, dance clubs, and huge music halls. There are a number of neighborhoods that each have their own atmosphere. For some of the best nightlife check out the upscale bars in Buckhead, the music venues in Midtown, the hipster vibe in Edgewood, or the laid-back atmosphere in Virginia Highland.
There's a variety of activities in the evening in Virginia Beach. While it's a family-friendly beach, there's still a great nightlife scene with many bars and clubs in the area. Popular places to hang out at night include Omega Bar, Peabody's Nightclub, and Sky Bar.
Virginia Beach is a nice place to visit for its luxury resorts. However, Atlanta is not a resort destination.
Virginia Beach has a few great resort options. Some of the best resorts in the area include the Historic Cavalier Hotel and Beach Club, the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront, and The Founders Inn and Spa.
Atlanta is not a resort destination.
Virginia Beach is a nice place to visit for the beach. However, Atlanta is not a beach destination.
Virginia Beach has a beach worth visiting. The beaches are long and sandy, but they can get crowded during the summer months. The waves are just the right size for playing in the surf and the water temperature is usually warm enough to swim well into the fall months.
Atlanta is not a beach destination.
Atlanta is terrific for its shopping opportunities. However, Virginia Beach is not a noteworthy shopping destination.
Known for shopping, Atlanta draws large crowds to its stores. There are a number of great shopping districts around town. Atlantic Station is popular with a movie theater and ice skating. Buckhead has boutique and local vendors and Lenox Square has a large shopping mall.
Virginia Beach is not a noteworthy shopping destination.
Atlanta and Virginia Beach are both superb destinations for the whole family.
You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Atlanta. There is no shortage of playgrounds around town, but a highlight of any trip is a visit to the Georgia Aquarium. It's the largest aquarium in the United States and its home to whale sharks, hammerheads, dolphin shows, and more. It is so much more than just an aquarium, and it truly is a not to be missed experience. Also worth a visit are Zoo Atlanta, the Center of Puppetry Arts, Stone Mountain, Fernbank Museum of Natural History, and the Lego Discovery Center. If you have the chance to see the Atlanta Braves play, that's also a rewarding experience.
Virginia Beach is a very family-friendly place to visit. This is a popular family-friendly beach with a nice boardwalk, a fun waterpark, aquarium, and nice beaches. It attracts families in the area for its long beaches and fun atmosphere. Most restaurants have kid's menus and there are ice cream shops and minigolf around.
Atlanta and Virginia Beach are both good to visit as a couple.
Atlanta is a good city for couples to visit. It's a big city, so there are a number of date night activities available such as orchestra concerts, theater shows, and fine dining. The city also has many outdoor areas like Lake Lanier and Piedmont Park. The Georgia Aquarium is world class, and there are other amazing museums around town as well.
Virginia Beach is a nice destination for couples. Couples will enjoy a nice escape to the beaches and boardwalk. There are many great seafood restaurants, some with waterfront settings. There's also a variety of activities ranging from many golf to dance clubs.
Atlanta is a nice place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Virginia Beach is not a backpacker-friendly destination.
It's common for backpackers to visit Atlanta. While it's usually overlooked by backpackers, there are actually a couple of hostels around town and a surprising number of activities worth experiencing. The city's large airport make it a convenient entry point for international travelers.
Virginia Beach is not a backpacker-friendly destination.
Atlanta is great for its student-friendly activities. Also, Virginia Beach is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for students.
Atlanta is a great city to visit as a student. There are a number of universities in town such as Emory, Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia State University, and Morehouse College. The city is sprawling, but it's also full of entertainment and activities that students will enjoy.
Virginia Beach is a good city to visit for students. It's not as popular as more southern beach towns, but you'll still find students heading here for the spring break holidays.
Atlanta is adequate for times when you don't have a car. However, Virginia Beach is not a good destination for its public transit.
Public transit is mostly limited in Atlanta. For such a large city, the public transportation system is very limited. MARTA is the main transit authority and there are a few subway lines that cross the city as well as bus routes running around town.
Public transit is limited or non-existant in Virginia Beach. There is very limited public transit in the area so you'll need to have a car to get around.
Atlanta is a nice place to visit for its high level of walkability. However, Virginia Beach is not a good destination for its ease of walking around.
Atlanta is a somewhat walkable place. Parts of the city are walkable, but most of the sights are spread out and require a car to access. Within neighborhoods, there are a few places that are more pedestrian-friendly such as Downtown, Midtown, Virginia Highlands, and Buckhead.
Virginia Beach is generally not very walkable. Most people prefer to have a car but do note that parking can be a nightmare, particularly during the summer season.
For even more information, also check out Is Atlanta Worth Visiting? and Is Virginia Beach Worth Visiting?.
Both Atlanta and Virginia Beach have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Virginia Beach than in Atlanta. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Atlanta, and 5-7 days is enough time in Virginia Beach.
Families should spend more time in Atlanta than Virginia Beach. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Atlanta, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Atlanta than Virginia Beach. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Atlanta that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Atlanta than Virginia Beach if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Atlanta.
Because Atlanta is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.
In Virginia Beach, you'll find nightlife. This coastal city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.
Atlanta is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.
In Virginia Beach, you'll find nightlife. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Atlanta. It offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.
Virginia Beach is a great place to explore. It is common to spend five days here. Five days is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Virginia Beach has to offer. Anyone can find something fun to do here.
Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the city of Atlanta. Your budget might influence how long you stay. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Virginia Beach. In Virginia Beach, you'll find nightlife. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one week here.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America, The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Atlanta is $173, while the average daily cost in Virginia Beach is $126. 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 Atlanta and Virginia Beach in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Atlanta or Virginia Beach? 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.
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Atlanta:
Also for Atlanta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Virginia Beach:
Prices for flights to both Virginia Beach and Atlanta 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.
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Atlanta:
For Atlanta, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Atlanta.
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Virginia Beach.
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Atlanta:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Atlanta and Virginia Beach, we can see that Atlanta is more expensive. And not only is Virginia Beach much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Virginia Beach would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Virginia Beach 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 Atlanta would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Atlanta than you might in Virginia Beach.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Atlanta Expensive? and Is Virginia Beach Expensive?.
Virginia Beach has a larger population, and is about 1% larger than the population of Atlanta. When comparing the sizes of Atlanta and Virginia Beach, 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.
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Both Virginia Beach and Atlanta are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Atlanta because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the beaches and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Virginia Beach this time of year.
In July, Atlanta is generally around the same temperature as Virginia Beach. Daily temperatures in Atlanta average around 82°F (28°C), and Virginia Beach fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).
It's quite sunny in Virginia Beach. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Atlanta. Atlanta usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Virginia Beach during summer. Atlanta gets 271 hours of sunny skies, while Virginia Beach receives 279 hours of full sun in the summer.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Virginia Beach. It's quite rainy in Atlanta. In July, Atlanta usually receives less rain than Virginia Beach. Atlanta gets 5.2 inches (133 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 5.7 inches (145 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
Both Virginia Beach and Atlanta during the autumn are popular places to visit. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Atlanta this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Virginia Beach for the natural beauty of the area.
Atlanta is a little warmer than Virginia Beach in the autumn. The daily temperature in Atlanta averages around 66°F (19°C) in October, and Virginia Beach fluctuates around 62°F (16°C).
In Virginia Beach, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Atlanta. In the autumn, Atlanta often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Virginia Beach. Atlanta gets 222 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Virginia Beach receives 211 hours of full sun.
Atlanta usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Virginia Beach. Atlanta gets 3 inches (77 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain this time of the year.
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Atlanta and Virginia Beach. Many travelers come to Atlanta for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Virginia Beach in the winter for the cuisine.
Virginia Beach can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Atlanta is much warmer than Virginia Beach. Typically, the winter temperatures in Atlanta in January average around 45°F (7°C), and Virginia Beach averages at about 39°F (4°C).
Atlanta usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Virginia Beach during winter. Atlanta gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Virginia Beach receives 168 hours of full sun in the winter.
Atlanta gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Atlanta usually receives more rain than Virginia Beach. Atlanta gets 4.7 inches (120 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 3.3 inches (85 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
The spring brings many poeple to Atlanta as well as Virginia Beach. Many visitors come to Atlanta in the spring for the activities around the city. Additionally, most visitors come to Virginia Beach for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months.
In April, Atlanta is generally a little warmer than Virginia Beach. Daily temperatures in Atlanta average around 65°F (18°C), and Virginia Beach fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Virginia Beach. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Atlanta this time of the year. In the spring, Atlanta often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Virginia Beach. Atlanta gets 262 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Virginia Beach receives 253 hours of full sun.
Atlanta receives a lot of rain in the spring. Atlanta usually gets more rain in April than Virginia Beach. Atlanta gets 4.1 inches (104 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Atlanta | Virginia Beach | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 45°F (7°C) | 4.7 inches (120 mm) | 39°F (4°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
Feb | 49°F (9°C) | 4.8 inches (123 mm) | 41°F (5°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) |
Mar | 57°F (14°C) | 5.8 inches (147 mm) | 49°F (10°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) |
Apr | 65°F (18°C) | 4.1 inches (104 mm) | 58°F (14°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
May | 73°F (23°C) | 4.2 inches (107 mm) | 67°F (19°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
Jun | 80°F (27°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) | 74°F (24°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) |
Jul | 82°F (28°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) | 79°F (26°C) | 5.7 inches (145 mm) |
Aug | 82°F (28°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) | 78°F (25°C) | 5.9 inches (150 mm) |
Sep | 76°F (25°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 4.2 inches (107 mm) |
Oct | 66°F (19°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) | 62°F (16°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) |
Nov | 57°F (14°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) | 53°F (12°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) |
Dec | 48°F (9°C) | 4.4 inches (111 mm) | 44°F (7°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) |