A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Mandeville vs. Durham for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Mandeville or Durham?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Mandeville or Durham? 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: Mandeville or Durham?

Mandeville

Mandeville is a small, quiet town in the mountains of Jamaica with a population of about 50,000. The town is situated on a plateau west of Kingston. It is the largest town in the parish of Manchester and the fifth largest urban center in the country.

Durham

Durham is a city in central North Carolina with about 230,000 residents. Together with Raleigh and Chapel Hill, it forms the Research Triangle area. Durham is often referred to as the "City of Medicine" and is home to the famous Duke University.

Durham's history is rooted in tobacco. The Duke family established American Tobacco, which controlled 90% of all cigarette production in the US during the second half of the 19th century. The family donated money to Trinity College, which changed its name to Duke University in 1924.

Today much of Durham's economy is centered around the university and Research Triangle Park. The area has many technology and pharmaceutical jobs and the economy continues to grow.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mandeville and Durham, we can see that Durham is more expensive. And not only is Mandeville much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Mandeville is in Caribbean Islands and Durham is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Mandeville would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mandeville 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 Durham would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Durham than you might in Mandeville.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mandeville Expensive? and Is Durham Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Mandeville or Durham?

Durham has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Mandeville. When comparing the sizes of Mandeville and Durham, 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 Mandeville or Durham?

Durham has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Mandeville experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Mandeville or Durham in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Mandeville as well as Durham. Mandeville attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to Durham for the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Mandeville is around the same temperature as Durham. Typically, the summer temperatures in Mandeville in July average around 29°C (83°F), and Durham averages at about 79°F (26°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Durham. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mandeville this time of the year. In the summer, Mandeville often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Durham. Mandeville gets 257 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Durham receives 259 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Durham. Mandeville usually gets less rain in July than Durham. Mandeville gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Durham receives 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Mandeville or Durham in the Autumn?

Both Durham and Mandeville are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Mandeville throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Durham in the autumn for the shopping scene.

In October, Mandeville is generally much warmer than Durham. Daily temperatures in Mandeville average around 28°C (82°F), and Durham fluctuates around 61°F (16°C).

It's quite sunny in Durham. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mandeville. Mandeville usually receives more sunshine than Durham during autumn. Mandeville gets 233 hours of sunny skies, while Durham receives 211 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Mandeville. In October, Mandeville usually receives more rain than Durham. Mandeville gets 160 mm (6.3 in) of rain, while Durham receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Mandeville or Durham in the Winter?

Both Durham and Mandeville during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Mandeville because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Durham for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Durham can be very cold during winter. Mandeville is much warmer than Durham in the winter. The daily temperature in Mandeville averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Durham fluctuates around 40°F (5°C).

It's quite sunny in Mandeville. In the winter, Mandeville often gets more sunshine than Durham. Mandeville gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Durham receives 162 hours of full sun.

Mandeville usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Durham. Mandeville gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Durham receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Mandeville or Durham in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Mandeville and Durham. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Mandeville year-round.

In the spring, Mandeville is much warmer than Durham. Typically, the spring temperatures in Mandeville in April average around 26°C (80°F), and Durham averages at about 60°F (16°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Durham this time of the year. In Mandeville, it's very sunny this time of the year. Mandeville usually receives less sunshine than Durham during spring. Mandeville gets 225 hours of sunny skies, while Durham receives 251 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Mandeville usually receives less rain than Durham. Mandeville gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Durham receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Durham and Mandeville