A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Houston vs. Virginia Beach for Nightlife, Families, Food, and Couples

Should you visit Houston or Virginia Beach?

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 Houston and Virginia Beach. 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.

Houston

Houston is a diverse, sprawling, and southern city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and live music.

Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach is a bustling, fun-filled, and relaxing coastal city. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the nightlife and beaches.

Houston and Virginia Beach: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Houston or Virginia Beach?

You'll generally find more things to do in Houston than Virginia Beach. Houston is bigger than Virginia Beach, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Houston is better known for its museums, food, nightlife, music, shopping, and big city activities, while Virginia Beach is more popular for its resorts, beaches, and impressive beauty. Virginia Beach is more touristy than Houston and is popular for its fun boardwalk, many seafood restaurants, and classic beach town vibe. Houston is well known for its sprawling size, its local Texas restaurants, and being the home to NASA. Also, Houston is famous for The Space Center Houston.

How is Houston different from Virginia Beach?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Virginia Beach and Houston. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Houston or Virginia Beach?

Houston is great for its historical sights. However, Virginia Beach does not have museums and landmarks.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Houston can be an interesting and educational experience. Head to Houston's Museum District to explore 19 different museums in a walkable area. A highlight of a trip to the city is a visit to the Space Center, but other popular museums include the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Houston Children's Museum.

Virginia Beach does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Houston or Virginia Beach? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Houston 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.

Houston has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. The city is famous for its Texas barbecue, Mexican food, and a wide diversity of other different ethnic foods. It's a surprisingly diverse city and this is reflected in the restaurant selection around town.

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.

Is Houston or Virginia Beach Better for Nightlife?

Houston 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 Houston for the nightlife scene. The nightlife is at its best on weekends when bars, dance clubs, and concert halls come to life. There are a diversity of venues around town including dance clubs, Honky Tonks, and cocktail bars. Some of the most active nightlife areas are Downtown, Midtown, Montrose, Washington Avenue, and Rice Village.

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.

Is Houston or Virginia Beach Better for Music?

Houston is a nice place to visit for its live music scene. However, Virginia Beach is not a live music destination.

The music scene helps keep Houston active and fun. Popular music venues include Fitzgerald's, Walter's Downtown, and The Continental Club.

Virginia Beach is not a live music destination.

Is Houston or Virginia Beach Better for Resorts?

Virginia Beach is a good destination for its resorts. However, Houston is not a resort destination.

With a selection of resorts, Virginia Beach makes a nice vacation spot. 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.

Houston is not a resort destination.

Is Houston or Virginia Beach Better for Beaches?

Virginia Beach is a good destination for the beache. However, Houston is not a beach destination.

Virginia Beach offers a nice beach destination. 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.

Houston is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Houston or Virginia Beach?

Houston 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 Houston. There are a number of upscale malls and shopping centers that have brand names, chain stores, and the occasional local shop where you can pick up items.

Virginia Beach is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Houston or Virginia Beach Better for Families?

Both Houston and Virginia Beach are great family-friendly destinations.

Houston is a very kid-friendly city. It is a large city with plenty of things that kids can enjoy including museums, theaters, a zoo, and even the Space Center. The Children's Museum of Houston is perfect for a rainy day. For science loving kids there's the Health Museum and the Museum of Natural Science. Houston also has a Six Flags nearby which the whole family can enjoy.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Virginia Beach. 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.

Is Houston or Virginia Beach Better for Couples?

Houston and Virginia Beach both notable destinations for a couple.

Houston makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There's a surprising diversity of restaurants around the city. There are also performing arts productions and many outdoor parks and gardens.

Virginia Beach is a good city for couples to visit. 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.

Is Houston or Virginia Beach Better for Students?

Houston and Virginia Beach are notable places to visit for students.

Houston is popular with students. It's a large city with a number of universities and a large student population.

It's common for students to visit Virginia Beach. It's not as popular as more southern beach towns, but you'll still find students heading here for the spring break holidays.

Is Houston or Virginia Beach Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Houston 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 Houston. The system includes buses and a limited light rail. Houston is known as a car-centric city and you really need a car to fully experience it.

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.

Is Houston or Virginia Beach a more walkable city?

Houston and Virginia Beach both are respectable when exploring on foot.

Houston is generally not very walkable. The most walkable neighborhood is the historic Houston Heights, but most parts of the city aren't very walkable.

Virginia Beach is generally not a very walkable city. 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 Houston Worth Visiting? and Is Virginia Beach Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Virginia Beach or Houston?

How long in Houston or Virginia Beach?

Both Houston 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 Houston. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Houston, and 5-7 days is enough time in Virginia Beach.

Couples should spend more time in Houston than Virginia Beach. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Houston that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Houston 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 Houston.

One day in Houston or Virginia Beach?

Because Houston 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.

A weekend in Houston or Virginia Beach?

Houston 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.

Five days in Houston or Virginia Beach?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Houston. 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.

A week in Houston or Virginia Beach?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the city of Houston. 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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Houston and Virginia Beach, we can see that Houston 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 Houston would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Houston 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 Houston Expensive? and Is Virginia Beach Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Houston or Virginia Beach?

Houston has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Virginia Beach. When comparing the sizes of Houston 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.

When is the best time to visit Houston or Virginia Beach?

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 Houston or Virginia Beach in the Summer?

Both Virginia Beach and Houston during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Houston in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Virginia Beach for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Houston is a little warmer than Virginia Beach in the summer. The daily temperature in Houston averages around 84°F (29°C) in July, and Virginia Beach fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).

Virginia Beach gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Houston. Houston usually gets less rain in July than Virginia Beach. Houston gets 4.8 inches (122 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 5.7 inches (145 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Houston or Virginia Beach in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Houston and Virginia Beach. Most visitors come to Houston for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Virginia Beach because of the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Houston is a little warmer than Virginia Beach. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Houston in October average around 71°F (22°C), and Virginia Beach averages at about 62°F (16°C).

Houston gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Houston usually receives more rain than Virginia Beach. Houston gets 4.2 inches (107 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Houston or Virginia Beach in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Houston as well as Virginia Beach. The winter months attract visitors to Houston because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the cuisine are the main draw to Virginia Beach this time of year.

It's quite cold in Virginia Beach in the winter. In January, Houston is generally much warmer than Virginia Beach. Daily temperatures in Houston average around 52°F (11°C), and Virginia Beach fluctuates around 39°F (4°C).

Houston usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Virginia Beach. Houston gets 3.6 inches (91 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 3.3 inches (85 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Houston or Virginia Beach in the Spring?

Both Virginia Beach and Houston are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The activities around the city are the main draw to Houston this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Virginia Beach for the beaches and the natural beauty.

Houston is a little warmer than Virginia Beach in the spring. The daily temperature in Houston averages around 70°F (21°C) in April, and Virginia Beach fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).

In April, Houston usually receives more rain than Virginia Beach. Houston gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Virginia Beach and Houston