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

Should you visit Mandeville or Hilton Head Island?

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

Should I visit Mandeville or Hilton Head Island? 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 Hilton Head Island?

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.

Hilton Head Island

Hilton Head, also called Hilton Head Island, is primarily a resort and beach town off the coast of South Carolina. Located on a barrier island, the place is best known for its beaches and golf courses overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles.


Which place is cheaper, Hilton Head Island or Mandeville?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Mandeville is $81, while the average daily cost in Hilton Head Island is $212. 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 Mandeville and Hilton Head Island in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Mandeville $38
    Hilton Head Island $129
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Mandeville $76
    Hilton Head Island $258
Compare Hotels in Mandeville and Hilton Head Island

Looking for a hotel in Mandeville or Hilton Head Island? 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.

Hotels in Mandeville


Hotels in Hilton Head Island


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: Hilton Head Island Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Mandeville $31
    Hilton Head Island $34

Is it cheaper to fly into Mandeville or Hilton Head Island?

Prices for flights to both Hilton Head Island and Mandeville 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Mandeville $24
    Hilton Head Island $60

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hilton Head Island

For Hilton Head Island, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Dolphin Watching 3-Course Dinner Cruise: $70
  • Sunset Hibachi Dinner Cruise : $102
  • Hilton Head Sunset Dinner Cruise: $106
  • Sunset Dinner Cruise: $106

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Mandeville $8.31
    Hilton Head Island $23

Tours and Activities in Hilton Head Island

For Hilton Head Island, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • #1 Historical Horse Drawn Carriage Tour: $35
  • 1 Hour Private Dolphin Tour Hilton Head Island: $250
  • 2-Hour Hilton Head Guided Kayak Nature Tour: $45
  • 90 Minute Hilton Head Dolphin Tour: $48
  • 90 Minute Hilton Head Dolphin and Nature Cruise: $45
  • 90 minute Hilton Head Sunset Dolphin Cruise: $55
  • Beaufort City Minibus Tour: $35
  • Beaufort Ghost Walking Tours : $22
  • Beaufort Gullah Heritage Tour: $49
  • Beaufort’s #1 Horse & Carriage History Tour: $35
  • Complete History and Movie Walking Tour of Beaufort: $30
  • Daufuskie Island Daily Round Trip Ferry Tickets: $54

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Mandeville $6.51
    Hilton Head Island $26

Sample the Local Flavors in Hilton Head Island

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Hilton Head Island:

  • Hilton Head's ONLY Distillery Experience: $55


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


Which is Bigger, Mandeville or Hilton Head Island?

Mandeville has a larger population, and is about 37% larger than the population of Hilton Head Island. When comparing the sizes of Mandeville and Hilton Head Island, 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 Hilton Head Island?

Hilton Head Island 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 Hilton Head Island in the Summer?

Both Hilton Head Island and Mandeville are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Mandeville throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Hilton Head Island for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Mandeville is around the same temperature as Hilton Head Island. Typically, the summer temperatures in Mandeville in July average around 29°C (83°F), and Hilton Head Island averages at about 82°F (28°C).

It's quite sunny in Hilton Head Island. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mandeville. Mandeville usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Hilton Head Island during summer. Mandeville gets 257 hours of sunny skies, while Hilton Head Island receives 267 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Hilton Head Island. In July, Mandeville usually receives less rain than Hilton Head Island. Mandeville gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Hilton Head Island receives 7.9 inches (200 mm) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Mandeville 29°C (83°F) 
    Hilton Head Island 82°F (28°C)

Should I visit Mandeville or Hilton Head Island in the Autumn?

Both Hilton Head Island and Mandeville during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Mandeville because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Hilton Head Island in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Mandeville is generally a little warmer than Hilton Head Island. Daily temperatures in Mandeville average around 28°C (82°F), and Hilton Head Island fluctuates around 68°F (20°C).

In Hilton Head Island, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Mandeville. In the autumn, Mandeville often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Hilton Head Island. Mandeville gets 233 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hilton Head Island receives 223 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Mandeville. Mandeville usually gets more rain in October than Hilton Head Island. Mandeville gets 160 mm (6.3 in) of rain, while Hilton Head Island receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Mandeville 28°C (82°F) 
    Hilton Head Island 68°F (20°C)

Should I visit Mandeville or Hilton Head Island in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Mandeville and Hilton Head Island. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Mandeville year-round. Also, most visitors come to Hilton Head Island for the shopping scene and the cuisine during these months.

Mandeville is much warmer than Hilton Head Island in the winter. The daily temperature in Mandeville averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Hilton Head Island fluctuates around 48°F (9°C).

In Mandeville, it's very sunny this time of the year. Mandeville usually receives more sunshine than Hilton Head Island during winter. Mandeville gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Hilton Head Island receives 176 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Mandeville usually receives more rain than Hilton Head Island. Mandeville gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Hilton Head Island receives 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Mandeville 26°C (79°F) 
    Hilton Head Island 48°F (9°C)

Should I visit Mandeville or Hilton Head Island in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Mandeville as well as Hilton Head Island. Mandeville attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Hilton Head Island because of the beaches and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Mandeville is a little warmer than Hilton Head Island. Typically, the spring temperatures in Mandeville in April average around 26°C (80°F), and Hilton Head Island averages at about 67°F (19°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Hilton Head Island. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mandeville this time of the year. In the spring, Mandeville often gets less sunshine than Hilton Head Island. Mandeville gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hilton Head Island receives 275 hours of full sun.

Mandeville usually gets less rain in April than Hilton Head Island. Mandeville gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Hilton Head Island receives 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Mandeville 26°C (80°F) 
    Hilton Head Island 67°F (19°C)

Typical Weather for Hilton Head Island and Mandeville

Mandeville Hilton Head Island
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 26°C (79°F) 86 mm (3.4 in) 48°F (9°C) 2.9 inches (74 mm)
Feb 26°C (79°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 52°F (11°C) 2.9 inches (73 mm)
Mar 26°C (80°F) 41 mm (1.6 in) 58°F (15°C) 4.4 inches (112 mm)
Apr 26°C (80°F) 54 mm (2.1 in) 67°F (19°C) 2.9 inches (74 mm)
May 28°C (82°F) 101 mm (4 in) 73°F (23°C) 4.2 inches (107 mm)
Jun 27°C (81°F) 122 mm (4.8 in) 80°F (26°C) 5.9 inches (150 mm)
Jul 29°C (83°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 82°F (28°C) 7.9 inches (200 mm)
Aug 29°C (83°F) 96 mm (3.8 in) 81°F (27°C) 6.5 inches (164 mm)
Sep 29°C (83°F) 129 mm (5.1 in) 77°F (25°C) 5.6 inches (141 mm)
Oct 28°C (82°F) 160 mm (6.3 in) 68°F (20°C) 2.8 inches (71 mm)
Nov 28°C (82°F) 115 mm (4.5 in) 59°F (15°C) 1.9 inches (49 mm)
Dec 27°C (80°F) 104 mm (4.1 in) 52°F (11°C) 3.3 inches (83 mm)