A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Nags Head vs. Charleston for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Nags Head or Charleston?

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

Should I visit Nags Head or Charleston? 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: Nags Head or Charleston?

Nags Head

Nags Head is a popular tourist destination in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The town, with a population of almost 3,000, has many nice beaches and is also where you'll find Jockey's Ridge, which has the tallest active sand dune system in the eastern United States. It's also the most visited park within the North Carolina park system.

Charleston

Charleston is a beautiful, southern city and seaport town in South Carolina. It has a wonderful, historic downtown area that the city government works hard to maintain. Located on a peninsula that is created by two rivers, the city is a stunning setting with much character. It is a popular place to visit for its culture, architecture and cuisine. In recent years Charleston has gained popularity and it continues to grow as both a regional and international travel destination. With its rising popularity comes increasing costs. Travel costs continue to go up as restaurants and hotels raise their prices, particularly during the peak travel season and holiday periods.

Which city is cheaper, Charleston or Nags Head?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Nags Head is $119, while the average daily cost in Charleston is $136. 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 city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Nags Head and Charleston in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Nags Head $64
    Charleston $72
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Nags Head $128
    Charleston $144
Compare Hotels in Nags Head and Charleston

Looking for a hotel in Nags Head or Charleston? 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 Nags Head


Hotels in Charleston


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Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Nags Head Hotel Prices and Charleston Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Nags Head $32
    Charleston $26

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Charleston

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Charleston:

  • Private transfer: Charleston to Charleston Airport (CHS): $622
  • Charleston city to Charleston Airport (CHS) - Departure Private Transfer: $124
  • Private Departure Transfer to Charleston Airport (CHS): $52

Is it cheaper to fly into Nags Head or Charleston?

Prices for flights to both Charleston and Nags Head 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
    Nags Head $33
    Charleston $46

Typical Food prices in Charleston

Some typical examples of dining costs in Charleston are as follows:


  • Lunch in downtown Charleston for two
    $21
  • Breakfast
    $26

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Charleston

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Charleston.

  • Downtown Charleston Culinary Walking Food Tour: $73
  • Savor the Flavors of Charleston Walking Food Tour: $75
  • Charleston's Savor the Flavors of Upper King Street Walking Food Tour: $75
  • Charleston Chef's Kitchen Guided Walking Food Tour: $75
  • Charleston Harbor: Luxury Dinner Cruise: $77
  • Savor the Flavors Upper King Street Food Tour: $95
  • Private Tour: Secret Food Tours Charleston: $129
  • Undiscovered 1/2 Day Food, Wine & History Tour with Cooking Class: $154
  • 3-Hour Secret Food Tour in Charleston w/ Private Tour Option: $277

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Nags Head $11
    Charleston $17

Typical Entertainment prices in Charleston

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Charleston are as follows:


  • Patriots Point (for 2)
    $60

Tours and Activities in Charleston

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Charleston are as follows:

  • 2-Hour Guided Kayaking Eco Tour in Charleston: $48
  • 2-Hour Paddle Board Eco Tour of Charleston Lowcountry: $48
  • 90-Minute Historic Walking Tour of Charleston: $25
  • Amazing Ladies of Charleston Walking Tour: $35
  • Best of Historic Charleston Walking Tour: $35
  • Boone Hall Plantation Admission & Tour with Transportation from Charleston: $61
  • Bruce Knows Insider Walking Tour of Downtown: $26
  • Car Service: Airport to / from Cruise Port: $130
  • Charleston Attraction & Tour Pass for 1, 2, or 3 Days: $73
  • Charleston Boo Hag & Brews Walking Ghost and Bar Tour: $29
  • Charleston Chicora Walking Tour: $26
  • Charleston City Bus Tour with Charleston Museum Admission: $32

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Nags Head $9.71
    Charleston $28

Sample the Local Flavors in Charleston

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Charleston:

  • Charleston Bar Hunt: Charleston Chase Bar Crawl: $12
  • Ghost Walking Tour and Pub Crawl in Haunted Charleston: $27
  • Haunted Pub Crawl of the Market: $37

About these numbers

When comparing the travel costs between Nags Head and Charleston, we can see that Charleston is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.


When is the best time to visit Nags Head or Charleston?

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 Nags Head or Charleston in the Summer?

Both Charleston and Nags Head during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, many visitors come to Charleston in the summer for the beaches, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Nags Head is generally around the same temperature as Charleston. Temperatures in Nags Head average around 78°F (26°C), and Charleston stays around 82°F (28°C).

In Charleston, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Nags Head. In the summer, Nags Head often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Charleston. Nags Head gets 274 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Charleston receives 293 hours of full sun.

Charleston gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Nags Head. Nags Head usually gets less rain in July than Charleston. Nags Head gets 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain, while Charleston receives 6.9 inches (176 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Nags Head 78°F (26°C) 
    Charleston 82°F (28°C)

Should I visit Nags Head or Charleston in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Nags Head and Charleston. Also, most visitors come to Charleston for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

Nags Head is cooler than Charleston in the autumn. The temperature in Nags Head is usually 62°F (16°C) in October, and Charleston stays around 67°F (19°C).

In Nags Head, it's very sunny this time of the year. Nags Head usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Charleston during autumn. Nags Head gets 205 hours of sunny skies, while Charleston receives 197 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Nags Head usually receives more rain than Charleston. Nags Head gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Charleston receives 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Nags Head 62°F (16°C) 
    Charleston 67°F (19°C)

Should I visit Nags Head or Charleston in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Nags Head as well as Charleston. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Charleston because of the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Nags Head can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Nags Head is much colder than Charleston. Typically, the winter temperatures in Nags Head in January are around 41°F (5°C), and Charleston is about 47°F (9°C).

In the winter, Nags Head often gets less sunshine than Charleston. Nags Head gets 147 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Charleston receives 188 hours of full sun.

Nags Head receives a lot of rain in the winter. Nags Head usually gets more rain in January than Charleston. Nags Head gets 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain, while Charleston receives 3.3 inches (85 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Nags Head 41°F (5°C) 
    Charleston 47°F (9°C)

Should I visit Nags Head or Charleston in the Spring?

Both Charleston and Nags Head are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Charleston this time of year.

In April, Nags Head is generally cooler than Charleston. Temperatures in Nags Head average around 59°F (15°C), and Charleston stays around 64°F (18°C).

It's quite sunny in Charleston. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Nags Head. Nags Head usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Charleston during spring. Nags Head gets 262 hours of sunny skies, while Charleston receives 275 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Nags Head usually receives more rain than Charleston. Nags Head gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Charleston receives 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Nags Head 59°F (15°C) 
    Charleston 64°F (18°C)

Typical Weather for Charleston and Nags Head

Nags Head Charleston
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 41°F (5°C) 4.1 inches (105 mm) 47°F (9°C) 3.3 inches (85 mm)
Feb 42°F (6°C) 3.6 inches (92 mm) 50°F (10°C) 3.3 inches (85 mm)
Mar 50°F (10°C) 3.9 inches (98 mm) 58°F (14°C) 4.3 inches (110 mm)
Apr 59°F (15°C) 3 inches (75 mm) 64°F (18°C) 2.7 inches (69 mm)
May 67°F (19°C) 4.6 inches (117 mm) 72°F (22°C) 4.2 inches (106 mm)
Jun 74°F (23°C) 4.1 inches (105 mm) 78°F (26°C) 6.4 inches (163 mm)
Jul 78°F (26°C) 5.4 inches (137 mm) 82°F (28°C) 6.9 inches (176 mm)
Aug 78°F (25°C) 5 inches (127 mm) 81°F (27°C) 7.1 inches (181 mm)
Sep 72°F (22°C) 4.7 inches (119 mm) 76°F (25°C) 4.8 inches (121 mm)
Oct 62°F (16°C) 3.2 inches (82 mm) 67°F (19°C) 2.9 inches (74 mm)
Nov 53°F (12°C) 2.9 inches (73 mm) 58°F (15°C) 2.5 inches (63 mm)
Dec 45°F (7°C) 3.4 inches (85 mm) 51°F (10°C) 3.1 inches (78 mm)


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Nags Head vs. Charleston Travel Comparison

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