Which place is cheaper, Virginia Beach or Miami?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Miami and Virginia Beach can help you decide which place is right for you.
Miami is a diverse, bustling, and high energy beach city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. Visitors also love the shopping, nightlife, and live music.
Virginia Beach is a relaxing, bustling, and fun-filled coastal city. It's a gorgeous place to visit. It's also known for nightlife and beaches.
Travelers will usually find more to do in Miami. Although Miami and Virginia Beach are popular destinations, Miami has more sights and attractions for tourists. Miami is very popular for its food, nightlife, music, resorts, beaches, shopping, and big city activities, while Virginia Beach attracts visitors for its impressive beauty. Miami is more touristy than Virginia Beach and is popular for its long sandy beaches, glitzy nightlife scene, diverse cultures, and award-winning restaurants. It is also well known for South Beach. Virginia Beach is famous 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 Miami. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Miami is terrific for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Virginia Beach is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.
Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Miami is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. The city's food scene is as diverse as its population. It is a blend of Caribbean, Latin American, and South American flavors and it is a melting pot of cultures and cuisines. There is everything from award-winning restaurants to local dives that offer excellent dishes and experiences. The city is known for its stone crabs, fish sandwiches, Cuban sandwiches, and key lime pie.
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.
Miami is terrific for nightlife and partying. Also, Virginia Beach is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for its evening party scene.
Miami is a must-see party destination. From the posh nightlife clubs in South Beach, to the local salsa dancing venues in Little Havana, Miami is a city that thrives with energy. There are many world-renowned clubs that keep the music and drinks flowing through the entire night. There's also a glitzy and glamourous scene where the wealthy like to see and be seen.
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.
Miami is terrific for its live music scene. However, Virginia Beach is not a live music destination.
With so many music venues, you're guaranteed a show any night of the week in Miami. Popular live music venues include Ball and Chain, Cafe La Trova, Flamingo Theater Bar.
Virginia Beach is not a live music destination.
Miami is terrific for its luxury resorts. Also, Virginia Beach is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for its resorts.
Miami offers an unforgettable resort vacation. Known for it's luxury, you'll find many resorts in the area. Popular options include The Ritz-Carlton South Beach, Fontainebleau, and Carillon Miami.
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.
Miami is terrific for the beache. Also, Virginia Beach is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for the beach.
The beaches in Miami are among the best in the world. If you're looking for long sandy beaches, luxury yacht clubs, and fine dining restaurants, the area's beaches have them all. Some of the best beaches in the area include the world-famous South Beach, the North Beach Oceanside Park, Sunny Isles Beach, and Surfside. Many beaches are lined with high rise hotels that offer an urban beach experience.
Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Virginia Beach. 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.
Miami is terrific for its shopping opportunities. However, Virginia Beach is not a noteworthy shopping destination.
Known for shopping, Miami draws large crowds to its stores. The city has every high end brand you could want, along with diverse neighborhoods with local finds and unique purchases. You'll find many diverse shopping opportunities that are influenced by the city's cultural scene. You'll also find many souvenir stands and t-shirt shops.
Virginia Beach is not a noteworthy shopping destination.
You'll find excellent kid-friendly activities in either Miami or Virginia Beach.
Miami is a very family-friendly place to visit. Because it's so big, you'll find a number of kid-friendly activities in the area. There's the Miami Zoo, various waterparks, the Everglades Alligator Park, Miccosukee Indian Village, and plenty of indoor playgrounds in case the weather doesn't cooperate.
Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Virginia Beach is very family-friendly. 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.
Miami is great for its romantic activities. Also, Virginia Beach is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for couples.
Miami is a great beach city if you're traveling as a couple. For couples who love nightlife, wining and dining, and high end beach clubs, this is the place to be. There are many award-winning restaurants and plenty of glitz and glam that make for a great romantic getaway.
Virginia Beach is a good beach 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.
Miami is a nice place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Virginia Beach is not a backpacker-friendly destination.
It's common for backpackers to visit Miami. This city is large enough to have something for everyone, so you'll find several hostels in the area that bring in the backpackers.
Virginia Beach is not a backpacker-friendly destination.
Miami and Virginia Beach are nice places to visit for students.
Miami is popular with students. Spring break in Miami is the stuff of legends.
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.
Miami is a nice place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Virginia Beach is not a good destination for its public transit.
While Miami offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There's an elevated metrorail as well as buses around the city.
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.
Miami is great for its high level of walkability. However, Virginia Beach is not a good destination for its ease of walking around.
Miami is a very walkable beach city. Many parts of city are surprisingly walkable and pedestrian friendly, allowing you to eat out, go shopping, or explore without the need for a car.
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.
Both Miami 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 Miami. Usually, 7 days is a good amount of time for Miami, and 5-7 days is enough time in Virginia Beach.
Families should spend more time in Miami than Virginia Beach. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Miami, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Miami than Virginia Beach. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Miami that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Miami 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 Miami.
Because Miami is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. Most people come for the beaches. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.
In Virginia Beach, many people enjoy the nightlife that this bustling destination offers. This coastal city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.
Miami is a great place to explore. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. Anyone can find something fun to do here. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Virginia Beach. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Miami. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. It offers something for everyone. With so much to do, five days is probably not enough time to see everything.
Virginia Beach is a fun place to experience. In Virginia Beach, many people enjoy the nightlife that this destination offers. This would be the perfect place to spend five days, as it has just the right amount of activities.
Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the beach city of Miami. It's also a great beach destination, too. 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.
In Virginia Beach, many people enjoy the nightlife that this bustling destination offers. Plenty of people spend one week in the area when traveling. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is often enough time to do most activities.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Miami is $206, while the average daily cost in Virginia Beach is $126. 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 Miami and Virginia Beach in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Miami 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.
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Miami are as follows:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Miami:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Virginia Beach:
Prices for flights to both Virginia Beach and Miami 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.
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Miami:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Miami.
Here are a few actual costs in Miami for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Virginia Beach.
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Miami are as follows:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Miami:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Miami and Virginia Beach, we can see that Miami 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 Miami would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Miami than you might in Virginia Beach.
Virginia Beach is bigger, and its population is about 11% larger than the population of Miami. When comparing the population of Miami vs. 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 and the activities 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 Miami during the summer are popular places to visit. The beaches, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Miami this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Virginia Beach for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Miami is around the same temperature as Virginia Beach. Typically, the summer temperatures in Miami in July average around 83°F (28°C), and Virginia Beach averages at about 79°F (26°C).
In Virginia Beach, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Miami. In the summer, Miami often gets more sunshine than Virginia Beach. Miami gets 316 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 Miami. Miami usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Virginia Beach. Miami gets 5.9 inches (149 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 Miami and Virginia Beach. Many travelers come to Miami for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene. Also, many visitors come to Virginia Beach in the autumn for the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Miami is generally much warmer than Virginia Beach. Daily temperatures in Miami average around 78°F (26°C), 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 Miami, it's very sunny this time of the year. Miami usually receives more sunshine than Virginia Beach during autumn. Miami gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Virginia Beach receives 211 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Miami gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Miami usually receives more rain than Virginia Beach. Miami gets 5.6 inches (143 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 Miami as well as Virginia Beach. Many visitors come to Miami in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Virginia Beach for the cuisine during these months.
Virginia Beach can be very cold during winter. Miami is much warmer than Virginia Beach in the winter. The daily temperature in Miami averages around 67°F (20°C) in January, and Virginia Beach fluctuates around 39°F (4°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Miami this time of the year. In the winter, Miami often gets more sunshine than Virginia Beach. Miami gets 243 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Virginia Beach receives 168 hours of full sun.
Miami usually gets less rain in January than Virginia Beach. Miami gets 2.2 inches (55 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 3.3 inches (85 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Both Virginia Beach and Miami are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Miami for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Virginia Beach because of the beaches and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Miami is much warmer than Virginia Beach. Typically, the spring temperatures in Miami in April average around 75°F (24°C), and Virginia Beach averages at about 58°F (14°C).
It's quite sunny in Virginia Beach. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Miami. Miami usually receives more sunshine than Virginia Beach during spring. Miami gets 300 hours of sunny skies, while Virginia Beach receives 253 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Miami usually receives more rain than Virginia Beach. Miami gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
Miami | Virginia Beach | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 67°F (20°C) | 2.2 inches (55 mm) | 39°F (4°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
Feb | 68°F (20°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) | 41°F (5°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) |
Mar | 72°F (22°C) | 2.4 inches (61 mm) | 49°F (10°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) |
Apr | 75°F (24°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) | 58°F (14°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
May | 79°F (26°C) | 6.4 inches (162 mm) | 67°F (19°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
Jun | 81°F (27°C) | 9.4 inches (238 mm) | 74°F (24°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) |
Jul | 83°F (28°C) | 5.9 inches (149 mm) | 79°F (26°C) | 5.7 inches (145 mm) |
Aug | 83°F (28°C) | 7.5 inches (191 mm) | 78°F (25°C) | 5.9 inches (150 mm) |
Sep | 82°F (28°C) | 7.6 inches (194 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 4.2 inches (107 mm) |
Oct | 78°F (26°C) | 5.6 inches (143 mm) | 62°F (16°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) |
Nov | 73°F (23°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) | 53°F (12°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) |
Dec | 69°F (21°C) | 1.9 inches (48 mm) | 44°F (7°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) |
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