Which place is cheaper, Whistler or Cocoa Beach?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cocoa Beach or Whistler?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Cocoa Beach and Whistler. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Cocoa Beach or Whistler?
Cocoa Beach
Cocoa Beach, Florida has long been a favorite vacation spot for travelers looking for sun, sand, and waves. The location was also made famous as the setting for the 1960's television show, "I Dream of Jeannie". The town of just over 11,000 is located in Brevard County along the Atlantic coast. Many people visit the area because of its excellent surfing. There are many surfing festivals and competitions held here yearly and the famous Ron Jon's surf shop receives about 2 million visitors a year. The city is also home to the East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame.
Whistler
Located in the province of British Columbia in Canada, Whistler is most famous as the largest ski area in North America. It is also only a short distance from the city of Vancouver, and offers countless opportunities for snow boarding and other winter sports. The town has a permanent population of almost 10,000 and there is a larger seasonal population of workers that come from all over the world. Whistler is a major travel destination with more than two million people visiting the town yearly. As such, there are countless amenities available to visitors. Hotels can vary dramatically in price and quality. There are some budget options, including a couple of hostels in the area, but most people do not visit Whistler as a budget travel destination. It's usually an expensive vacation, but few would argue that it isn't worth the cost.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, The Best Contiki Tours to Canada, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCocoa Beach $145Whistler $125
The average daily cost (per person) in Cocoa Beach is $145, while the average daily cost in Whistler is $125. 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 Cocoa Beach and Whistler in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCocoa Beach $85Whistler $65
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCocoa Beach $170Whistler $130
Compare Hotels in Cocoa Beach and Whistler
Looking for a hotel in Cocoa Beach or Whistler? 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Cocoa Beach Hotel Prices and Whistler Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cocoa Beach $26Whistler $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cocoa Beach
Also for Cocoa Beach, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Cocoa Beach/Cape Canaveral Hotel transfers : $47
- Private Transfer from Cocoa to Orlando (MCO) Airport: $277
- Private Transfer from Melbourne to Orlando (MCO) Airport: $279
- Private Transfer from Melbourne to Orlando-Sanford (SFB) Airport: $293
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Whistler
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Whistler:
- Vancouver: Seaplane Transfer between Vancouver & Whistler: $161
- Private Transfer from Whistler to Richmond BC: $633
- Private Transfer from Whistler to Downtown Vancouver: $570
Is it cheaper to fly into Cocoa Beach or Whistler?
Prices for flights to both Whistler and Cocoa Beach 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 dayCocoa Beach $43Whistler $30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cocoa Beach
For Cocoa Beach, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Guided Walking Food Tour in Cocoa Beach: $79
- 3-Hour Indian River Queen Cruise with Dinner: $79
- Guided Walking Food Tour in Cocoa Beach: $79
- Village Food Tours Lunch & History Tour: $100
Typical Food Prices in Whistler
Some typical examples of dining costs in Whistler are as follows:
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Coffee at Starbucks$12
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Tim Hortons Breakfast$12
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Coffee at Timmy's$3.63
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Whistler
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Whistler.
- Finer Things: 4-Course Dinner Tour in Whistler: $131
- Finer Things Dinner Tour in Whistler: $144
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cocoa Beach $16Whistler $78
Tours and Activities in Cocoa Beach
For Cocoa Beach, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Palm Bay by 3Quest Challenge: $10
- 1 Hour Historic Riverboat Shared Cruise in Cocoa City: $25
- Banana River Sunset Cruise w/ Dolphin Watching: $40
- Sunset Cruise on the Beautiful Banana River: $40
- Cocoa Beach Dolphin Tours on the Banana River: $40
- Thousand Islands Banana River Boat Cruise: $40
- Dolphin Tours along and near the beautiful Indian River Lagoon : $40
- Manatee and Dolphin Kayak Tour: $45
- Dolphin Tour with Local Expert: $45
- 2 hour Dolphin Sightseeing Tour in Melbourne Florida : $45
- Wildlife Refuge Dolphin, Manatee & Mangrove Kayak or Paddleboarding Tour!: $48
- Wildlife Refuge Manatee, Dolphin & Mangrove Kayak or Paddleboarding Tour!: $48
Typical Entertainment Prices in Whistler
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Whistler are as follows:
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Driving Range$15
Tours and Activities in Whistler
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Whistler are as follows:
- 2 Hour Late Afternoon Winter Zipline Adventure: $111
- Audain Art Museum Admission Ticket: $16
- Call of the Wild ATV Tour: $155
- Callaghan Cruiser Snowmobile Tour : $218
- Fishing Adventure in Whistler: $140
- Full Day Fly Fishing Tour: $249
- Full Day Spin Fishing Tour: $249
- Glacier Sightseeing Experience by Seaplane from Whistler: $183
- Guided Lunch Tour in Whistler: $88
- Half Day Fly Fishing Tour: $196
- Half Day Spin Fishing Tour: $194
- Ice Fishing Adventure in Whistler: $140
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCocoa Beach $20Whistler $8.72
Sample the Local Flavors in Cocoa Beach
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Cocoa Beach:
- Waterfront Happy Hour Bar Crawl: $39
Sample the Local Flavors in Whistler
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Whistler:
- Whistler Distillery Tour & Tasting Experience: $66
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cocoa Beach and Whistler, we can see that Cocoa Beach is more expensive. And not only is Whistler much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Whistler would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Whistler 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 Cocoa Beach would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cocoa Beach than you might in Whistler.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cocoa Beach Expensive? and Is Whistler Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cocoa Beach or Whistler?
Cocoa Beach has a larger population, and is about 18% larger than the population of Whistler. When comparing the sizes of Cocoa Beach and Whistler, 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.
When is the best time to visit Cocoa Beach or Whistler?
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.
Should I visit Cocoa Beach or Whistler in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Cocoa Beach as well as Whistler. Many visitors come to Cocoa Beach in the summer for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Cocoa Beach is much warmer than Whistler. Typically, the summer temperatures in Cocoa Beach in July average around 81°F (27°C), and Whistler averages at about 18°C (64°F).
Cocoa Beach receives a lot of rain in the summer. Cocoa Beach usually gets more rain in July than Whistler. Cocoa Beach gets 8.3 inches (211 mm) of rain, while Whistler receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyCocoa Beach 81°F (27°C)Whistler 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Cocoa Beach or Whistler in the Autumn?
Both Whistler and Cocoa Beach are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Cocoa Beach for the shopping scene during these months.
In October, Cocoa Beach is generally much warmer than Whistler. Daily temperatures in Cocoa Beach average around 77°F (25°C), and Whistler fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Whistler. It's quite rainy in Cocoa Beach. In October, Cocoa Beach usually receives less rain than Whistler. Cocoa Beach gets 4.1 inches (103 mm) of rain, while Whistler receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn. June to November is the hurricane season in Cocoa Beach.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCocoa Beach 77°F (25°C)Whistler 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Cocoa Beach or Whistler in the Winter?
Both Whistler and Cocoa Beach during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Cocoa Beach because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
It's quite cold in Whistler in the winter. Cocoa Beach is much warmer than Whistler in the winter. The daily temperature in Cocoa Beach averages around 63°F (17°C) in January, and Whistler fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).
Whistler gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Cocoa Beach usually gets less rain in January than Whistler. Cocoa Beach gets 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain, while Whistler receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCocoa Beach 63°F (17°C)Whistler 4°C (40°F)
Should I visit Cocoa Beach or Whistler in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Cocoa Beach and Whistler. The beaches are the main draw to Cocoa Beach this time of year.
In the spring, Cocoa Beach is much warmer than Whistler. Typically, the spring temperatures in Cocoa Beach in April average around 73°F (23°C), and Whistler averages at about 9°C (49°F).
Whistler receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Cocoa Beach usually receives less rain than Whistler. Cocoa Beach gets 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain, while Whistler receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the spring. June to November in Cocoa Beach is the hurricane season.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilCocoa Beach 73°F (23°C)Whistler 9°C (49°F)
Typical Weather for Whistler and Cocoa Beach
| Cocoa Beach | Whistler | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 63°F (17°C) | 2.3 inches (58 mm) | 4°C (40°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Feb | 62°F (17°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) | 6°C (42°F) | 179 mm (7.1 in) |
| Mar | 67°F (20°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) | 7°C (45°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) |
| Apr | 73°F (23°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) | 9°C (49°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| May | 77°F (25°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) | 13°C (55°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jun | 80°F (26°C) | 7.1 inches (181 mm) | 16°C (60°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jul | 81°F (27°C) | 8.3 inches (211 mm) | 18°C (64°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Aug | 81°F (27°C) | 6.7 inches (171 mm) | 18°C (64°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 81°F (27°C) | 7.2 inches (183 mm) | 15°C (59°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Oct | 77°F (25°C) | 4.1 inches (103 mm) | 11°C (51°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Nov | 69°F (21°C) | 1.6 inches (40 mm) | 7°C (44°F) | 234 mm (9.2 in) |
| Dec | 64°F (18°C) | 1.9 inches (48 mm) | 4°C (40°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) |
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.