Which place is cheaper, Halifax or Nags Head?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Nags Head or Halifax?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Nags Head or Halifax? 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 Halifax?
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.
Halifax
The quaint and charming coastal town of Halifax, Nova Scotia has an interesting personality. While it caters to travelers from all over the world, it maintains the pace and lifestyle of a small town.
Steeped in maritime history, Halifax is the capital of Nova Scotia, and one of the world's greatest natural harbors. This busy seaport serves as the economic and cultural hub of Eastern Canada.
When planning your trip keep in mind that this city has a climate like other coastal cities. Summers are nice with the occasional humidity. Winters are mild, but still full of snow and wind. The best time of year to visit is most certainly the fall.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America, The Best G Adventures Tours to Canada, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Vancouver.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNags Head $149Halifax $114
The average daily cost (per person) in Nags Head is $149, while the average daily cost in Halifax is $114. 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 Nags Head and Halifax in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNags Head $80Halifax $65
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNags Head $160Halifax $130
Compare Hotels in Nags Head and Halifax
Looking for a hotel in Nags Head or Halifax? 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.
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 Halifax Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nags Head $40Halifax $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Halifax
Also for Halifax, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Halifax Stanfield Airport (YHZ): Transfer to Halifax Port: $209
- Halifax Cruise Port: Private Transfer to Halifax hotels: $133
- From Peggy’s Cove Small-Group Tour with Transfers: $80
- Halifax Airport (YHZ) to Halifax Cruise Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $68
- Transfer to/from Stanfield International Airport: $44
- Private Transfer from Halifax Stanfield Airport to Halifax: $36
- Halifax Stanfield Airport (YHZ) to Halifax Port-Arrival Transfer: $34
- Halifax Stanfield Airport(YHZ) to Halifax Port - Arrival Transfer: $34
Is it cheaper to fly into Nags Head or Halifax?
Prices for flights to both Halifax 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
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Food Meals for one dayNags Head $41Halifax $31
Typical Food Prices in Halifax
For Halifax, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Bluenose II Restaurant$45
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Halifax
For Halifax, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Peggy's Cove Small Group Night Tour with Dinner: $160
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nags Head $14Halifax $28
Tours and Activities in Nags Head
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Nags Head.
- 2-hour Outer Banks Wild Horse Tour by 4WD Truck: $57
- Alligator River Kayak Adventure: $59
- Cape Hatteras Kayak Adventure in Rodanthe: $59
- Cape Hatteras National Seashore Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour: $15
- Cape Hatteras National Seashore: A Self-Guided Driving Tour: $12
- Corolla Kayak Adventure: $59
- Kitty Hawk Maritime Forest Kayak Tour: $49
- Manteo Historic Walking Tour: $28
- OBX Ghost Tours: $25
- Outer Banks Audio Driving Tour: $13
- Outer Banks Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $25
- Wright Brothers Carolina Dunes Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $15
Tours and Activities in Halifax
For Halifax, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Exlore Halifax with 3 Unique Smartphone Audio Walking Tours: $13
- From City and Peggy's Cove Sunset Guided Tour: $65
- From Small Group Lunenberg Express Tour: $120
- Halifax Boardwalk and Seaport: Smartphone Audio Tour: $5.11
- Halifax self-guided walking tour and scavenger hunt: $38
- Churches, Gardens, & Graveyards Smartphone Tour: $5.11
- City Segway Tour: $67
- Discover the Halifax Explosion Audio Walking Tour: $5.11
- Full Day City Sightseeing Tour: $1,675
- Guided Harbourfront Food Walking Tour: $120
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Small Group Walking Tour with Citadel & Museum: $102
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNags Head $12Halifax $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nags Head and Halifax, we can see that Nags Head is more expensive. And not only is Halifax much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Halifax would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Halifax 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 Nags Head would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nags Head than you might in Halifax.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Nags Head Expensive? and Is Halifax Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nags Head or Halifax?
Halifax has a larger population, and is about 110 times larger than the population of Nags Head. When comparing the sizes of Nags Head and Halifax, 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 Nags Head or Halifax?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Nags Head or Halifax in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Nags Head and Halifax. Many travelers come to Nags Head for the family-friendly experiences.
Nags Head is a little warmer than Halifax in the summer. The daily temperature in Nags Head averages around 78°F (26°C) in July, and Halifax fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Halifax this time of the year. In Nags Head, it's very sunny this time of the year. Nags Head usually receives more sunshine than Halifax during summer. Nags Head gets 274 hours of sunny skies, while Halifax receives 230 hours of full sun in the summer.
Nags Head gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Nags Head usually receives more rain than Halifax. Nags Head gets 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain, while Halifax receives 99 mm (3.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyNags Head 78°F (26°C)Halifax 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Nags Head or Halifax in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Nags Head as well as Halifax.
In the autumn, Nags Head is much warmer than Halifax. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Nags Head in October average around 62°F (16°C), and Halifax averages at about 10°C (49°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Nags Head this time of the year. In the autumn, Nags Head often gets more sunshine than Halifax. Nags Head gets 205 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Halifax receives 148 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Halifax. Nags Head usually gets less rain in October than Halifax. Nags Head gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Halifax receives 121 mm (4.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberNags Head 62°F (16°C)Halifax 10°C (49°F)
Should I visit Nags Head or Halifax in the Winter?
Both Halifax and Nags Head are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Nags Head for the cuisine during these months.
The weather in Halifax can be very cold. Nags Head can be very cold during winter. In January, Nags Head is generally much warmer than Halifax. Daily temperatures in Nags Head average around 41°F (5°C), and Halifax fluctuates around -4°C (24°F).
Nags Head usually receives more sunshine than Halifax during winter. Nags Head gets 147 hours of sunny skies, while Halifax receives 111 hours of full sun in the winter.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Halifax. It's quite rainy in Nags Head. In January, Nags Head usually receives less rain than Halifax. Nags Head gets 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain, while Halifax receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryNags Head 41°F (5°C)Halifax -4°C (24°F)
Should I visit Nags Head or Halifax in the Spring?
Both Halifax and Nags Head during the spring are popular places to visit.
It's quite cold in Halifax in the spring. Nags Head is much warmer than Halifax in the spring. The daily temperature in Nags Head averages around 59°F (15°C) in April, and Halifax fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).
It's quite sunny in Nags Head. In the spring, Nags Head often gets more sunshine than Halifax. Nags Head gets 262 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Halifax receives 148 hours of full sun.
Halifax gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Nags Head usually gets less rain in April than Halifax. Nags Head gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Halifax receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilNags Head 59°F (15°C)Halifax 4°C (39°F)
Typical Weather for Halifax and Nags Head
| Nags Head | Halifax | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 41°F (5°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) | -4°C (24°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) |
| Feb | 42°F (6°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) | -5°C (24°F) | 108 mm (4.2 in) |
| Mar | 50°F (10°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) | -1°C (31°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Apr | 59°F (15°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) | 4°C (39°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| May | 67°F (19°C) | 4.6 inches (117 mm) | 9°C (48°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Jun | 74°F (23°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) | 14°C (57°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Jul | 78°F (26°C) | 5.4 inches (137 mm) | 18°C (64°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Aug | 78°F (25°C) | 5 inches (127 mm) | 18°C (65°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Sep | 72°F (22°C) | 4.7 inches (119 mm) | 15°C (58°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Oct | 62°F (16°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 10°C (49°F) | 121 mm (4.7 in) |
| Nov | 53°F (12°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) | 5°C (40°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Dec | 45°F (7°C) | 3.4 inches (85 mm) | -1°C (29°F) | 152 mm (6 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.