Which place is cheaper, Virginia Beach or Chattanooga?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Should I visit Chattanooga or Virginia Beach? 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.
Chattanooga is a thriving, bustling, and outdoorsy city. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food. See Chattanooga travel costs.
Virginia Beach is a fun-filled, relaxing, and bustling coastal city. Virginia Beach offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Other popular activities here include nightlife and beaches. See Virginia Beach travel costs.
Travelers will generally find more things to do in Chattanooga than Virginia Beach. While Virginia Beach is larger than Chattanooga, Chattanooga has more sights and attractions for tourists. Chattanooga is more popular for its museums and attractions, food, hiking, and shopping, while Virginia Beach is known for its resorts, beaches, and impressive beauty. Chattanooga is popular for it's hikes, railways, and nearby natural areas. It is also home to Rock City. 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 Chattanooga. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Chattanooga is a nice place to visit for its historical sights. However, Virginia Beach does not have museums and landmarks.
Chattanooga offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. It's a thriving city and there are a number of museums to explore. The Hunter Museum of American Art is great for art enthusiasts. There's also the Creative Discovery Museum, the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, and the 6th Cavalry Museum, as well as several smaller museums that you can visit.
Virginia Beach does not have museums and landmarks.
Chattanooga is a nice place to visit for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Virginia Beach is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.
Chattanooga has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. There are a growing number of restaurants that range from local dives to fine dining. Fried food is common, but you'll also find Mexican and classic hamburgers. Popular dishes that are local to the area include catfish, southern barbecue, and hush puppies.
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.
It's hard to distinguish whether Chattanooga or Virginia Beach has a better nightlife scene.
Chattanooga has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. You'll find plenty of bars and clubs around town. There are also a number of comedy and improv clubs that are fun to check out.
If you're looking for night time activities Virginia Beach has a few options to choose from. 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 popular place for its resorts. However, Chattanooga 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.
Chattanooga is not a resort destination.
Virginia Beach is a popular place for the beach. However, Chattanooga is not a beach destination.
Virginia Beach is a good option for a beach vacation. 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.
Chattanooga is not a beach destination.
Chattanooga is great for hiking. However, Virginia Beach is not a hiking destination.
Many visitors go to Chattanooga for the hiking trails. It's proximity to the mountains means that you don't have to go far to find good hiking. Within a half hour of town there are more than 50 trailheads. Lookout Mountain and Signal Mountain are both hiking destinations. Several trails have swimming spots and many pass through nice forests or head to impressive viewpoints.
Virginia Beach is not a hiking destination.
Chattanooga is a nice place to visit for its shopping opportunities. However, Virginia Beach is not a noteworthy shopping destination.
Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Chattanooga. Head downtown for local shops or to the larger malls if you want mainstream stores. Many visitors enjoy antiquing while they're in town, but there are also farmer's markets and thrift stores.
Virginia Beach is not a noteworthy shopping destination.
Virginia Beach is a popular place for its scenery and beauty. However, Chattanooga is not a destination known for its beauty.
Virginia Beach offers plenty of beauty for visitors. As a developed beach town, the city has its share of hotels along the beach, but it is still a beautiful setting to explore.
Chattanooga is not a destination known for its beauty.
Virginia Beach is a great destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Chattanooga is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.
Virginia Beach is known to be 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.
Chattanooga offers lots of family activities. Many people enjoy a visit to the Tennessee Aquarium, which has a touch tank and a butterfly exhibit, among other things. Near downtown, Coolidge Park is a great place for kids to get their energy out. There's also the popular Lookout Mountain Incline Railway as well as many hiking trails in the area.
With fun activities for couples, both Chattanooga and Virginia Beach make for a good place to visit.
Chattanooga is a good city for couples to visit. Many couples enjoy staying at a local inn and then dining in a nice restaurant or visiting a winery. There's an eclectic art district to explore as well as horse drawn carriages and plenty of nearby hiking trails.
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.
Virginia Beach is a popular place for students. However, Chattanooga is not popular with students.
Virginia Beach is popular with students. It's not as popular as more southern beach towns, but you'll still find students heading here for the spring break holidays.
Chattanooga is not popular with students.
Chattanooga is great for times when you don't have a car. However, Virginia Beach is not a good destination for its public transit.
The public transit in Chattanooga can get you around easily. The city has a convenient and free electric shuttle service. It travels through the downtown and has stops at many points of interest such as the Chattanooga Choo Choo and the Tennessee Aquarium.
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.
Chattanooga is great for its high level of walkability. However, Virginia Beach is not a good destination for its ease of walking around.
Chattanooga is a very walkable city. The city has put a lot of effort into improving its walkability. In particular, the downtown is nice to explore on foot.
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 Chattanooga Worth Visiting? and Is Virginia Beach Worth Visiting?.
Both Chattanooga 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 Chattanooga. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Chattanooga, and 5-7 days is enough time in Virginia Beach.
Families should spend more time in Virginia Beach than Chattanooga. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Virginia Beach, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Chattanooga than Virginia Beach. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Chattanooga that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Chattanooga 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 Chattanooga.
In Chattanooga, you'll find museums and nightlife. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.
Visitors enjoy the nightlife when visiting the fun-filled coastal city of Virginia Beach. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.
Chattanooga is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Hikers are also drawn to this area. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.
Visitors enjoy the nightlife when visiting the bustling destination of Virginia Beach. This coastal city offers something for everyone. 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 Chattanooga. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. It offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.
Visitors enjoy the nightlife when visiting the bustling coastal city of Virginia Beach. Many people spend five days here.If you enjoy all that's offered here, then five days is just the right amount of time to spend here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.
Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the city of Chattanooga. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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.
Visitors enjoy the nightlife when visiting the destination of Virginia Beach. Anyone can find something fun to do here. This is a popular place to visit for one week. In one week, you should have a good grasp of this coastal city.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America, The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
The average daily cost (per person) in Chattanooga is $225, while the average daily cost in Virginia Beach is $148. 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 Chattanooga and Virginia Beach in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Chattanooga 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 Chattanooga:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chattanooga:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Virginia Beach:
Prices for flights to both Virginia Beach and Chattanooga 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chattanooga.
Here are a few actual costs in Chattanooga for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Virginia Beach.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chattanooga and Virginia Beach, we can see that Chattanooga 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 Chattanooga would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Chattanooga 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 Chattanooga Expensive? and Is Virginia Beach Expensive?.
Virginia Beach has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Chattanooga. When comparing the sizes of Chattanooga 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 places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Both Virginia Beach and Chattanooga during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Chattanooga for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, many visitors come to Virginia Beach in the summer for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Chattanooga is generally around the same temperature as Virginia Beach. Daily temperatures in Chattanooga average around 81°F (27°C), and Virginia Beach fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).
In Virginia Beach, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Chattanooga. In the summer, Chattanooga often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Virginia Beach. Chattanooga gets 265 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Virginia Beach receives 279 hours of full sun.
Virginia Beach gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Chattanooga. Chattanooga usually gets less rain in July than Virginia Beach. Chattanooga gets 5.2 inches (131 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 5.7 inches (145 mm) of rain this time of the year.
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Chattanooga and Virginia Beach. Many visitors come to Chattanooga in the autumn for the hiking trails and the shopping scene. Furthermore, most visitors come to Virginia Beach for the natural beauty of the area during these months.
Chattanooga is around the same temperature as Virginia Beach in the autumn. The daily temperature in Chattanooga averages around 63°F (17°C) in October, and Virginia Beach fluctuates around 62°F (16°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Virginia Beach this time of the year. In Chattanooga, it's very sunny this time of the year. Chattanooga usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Virginia Beach during autumn. Chattanooga gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while Virginia Beach receives 211 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Chattanooga usually receives around the same amount of rain as Virginia Beach. Chattanooga gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
The winter brings many poeple to Chattanooga as well as Virginia Beach. Most visitors come to Chattanooga for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Additionally, the winter months attract visitors to Virginia Beach because of the cuisine.
The weather in Virginia Beach can be very cold. Chattanooga can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Chattanooga is a little warmer than Virginia Beach. Typically, the winter temperatures in Chattanooga in January average around 40°F (5°C), and Virginia Beach averages at about 39°F (4°C).
In the winter, Chattanooga often gets less sunshine than Virginia Beach. Chattanooga gets 145 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Virginia Beach receives 168 hours of full sun.
Chattanooga receives a lot of rain in the winter. Chattanooga usually gets more rain in January than Virginia Beach. Chattanooga gets 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 3.3 inches (85 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Both Virginia Beach and Chattanooga are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Virginia Beach this time of year.
In April, Chattanooga is generally a little warmer than Virginia Beach. Daily temperatures in Chattanooga average around 62°F (17°C), and Virginia Beach fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).
It's quite sunny in Virginia Beach. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Chattanooga. Chattanooga usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Virginia Beach during spring. Chattanooga gets 243 hours of sunny skies, while Virginia Beach receives 253 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Chattanooga. In April, Chattanooga usually receives more rain than Virginia Beach. Chattanooga gets 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
Chattanooga | Virginia Beach | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 40°F (5°C) | 5.4 inches (137 mm) | 39°F (4°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
Feb | 44°F (7°C) | 5.2 inches (132 mm) | 41°F (5°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) |
Mar | 53°F (12°C) | 5.6 inches (143 mm) | 49°F (10°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) |
Apr | 62°F (17°C) | 4.4 inches (112 mm) | 58°F (14°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
May | 70°F (21°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) | 67°F (19°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
Jun | 78°F (25°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 74°F (24°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) |
Jul | 81°F (27°C) | 5.2 inches (131 mm) | 79°F (26°C) | 5.7 inches (145 mm) |
Aug | 80°F (27°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 78°F (25°C) | 5.9 inches (150 mm) |
Sep | 74°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (94 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 4.2 inches (107 mm) |
Oct | 63°F (17°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) | 62°F (16°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) |
Nov | 53°F (12°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) | 53°F (12°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) |
Dec | 44°F (7°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) | 44°F (7°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) |