Which place is cheaper, Halifax or New Bern?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit New Bern or Halifax?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit New Bern 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: New Bern or Halifax?
New Bern
New Bern is a town in the coastal region of North Carolina. The town, which has a population of about 30,000, is the county seat of Craven County. It sits at the confluence of the Trent and Neuse Rivers close to the North Carolina coast, although there is no coastline in town. The town makes a nice daytrip from Raleigh, which is 112 miles away, and Wilmington, which is 87 miles away. It's also 162 miles from Norfolk, Virginia.
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 2-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best 3-Week Tours in 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 dayNew Bern $140Halifax $114
The average daily cost (per person) in New Bern is $140, 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 New Bern and Halifax in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNew Bern $76Halifax $65
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNew Bern $152Halifax $130
Compare Hotels in New Bern and Halifax
Looking for a hotel in New Bern 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: New Bern Hotel Prices and Halifax Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.New Bern $34Halifax $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Halifax
Also for Halifax, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Peggy’s Cove Small-Group Tour with Transfers: $80
- Halifax Airport (YHZ) to Halifax Cruise Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $68
- Halifax Cruise Port: Private Transfer to Halifax hotels: $133
- Halifax Stanfield Airport (YHZ) to Halifax Port-Arrival Transfer: $34
- Halifax Stanfield Airport (YHZ): Transfer to Halifax Port: $209
- Halifax Stanfield Airport(YHZ) to Halifax Port - Arrival Transfer: $34
- Transfer to/from Stanfield International Airport: $44
- Private Transfer from Halifax Stanfield Airport to Halifax: $36
Is it cheaper to fly into New Bern or Halifax?
Prices for flights to both Halifax and New Bern 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 dayNew Bern $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.New Bern $26Halifax $28
Tours and Activities in Halifax
For Halifax, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Discover the Halifax Explosion Audio Walking Tour: $5.11
- Churches, Gardens, & Graveyards Smartphone Tour: $5.11
- Halifax Boardwalk and Seaport: Smartphone Audio Tour: $5.11
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Exlore Halifax with 3 Unique Smartphone Audio Walking Tours: $13
- Halifax self-guided walking tour and scavenger hunt: $38
- From City and Peggy's Cove Sunset Guided Tour: $65
- City Segway Tour: $67
- Small-Group Tour with Citadel and Peggy's Cove: $94
- Small Group Walking Tour with Citadel & Museum: $102
- From Small Group Lunenberg Express Tour: $120
- Guided Harbourfront Food Walking Tour: $120
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNew Bern $30Halifax $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between New Bern and Halifax, we can see that New Bern 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 New Bern would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in New Bern 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 New Bern Expensive? and Is Halifax Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, New Bern or Halifax?
Halifax has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of New Bern. When comparing the sizes of New Bern 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 New Bern or Halifax?
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 New Bern or Halifax in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to New Bern as well as Halifax. Many travelers come to New Bern for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.
New Bern is a little warmer than Halifax in the summer. The daily temperature in New Bern averages around 80°F (27°C) in July, and Halifax fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
New Bern receives a lot of rain in the summer. New Bern usually gets more rain in July than Halifax. New Bern gets 6.6 inches (169 mm) of rain, while Halifax receives 99 mm (3.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyNew Bern 80°F (27°C)Halifax 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit New Bern or Halifax in the Autumn?
Both Halifax and New Bern are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to New Bern in the autumn for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere.
In the autumn, New Bern is much warmer than Halifax. Typically, the autumn temperatures in New Bern in October average around 65°F (18°C), and Halifax averages at about 10°C (49°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Halifax. In October, New Bern usually receives less rain than Halifax. New Bern gets 3.4 inches (85 mm) of rain, while Halifax receives 121 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberNew Bern 65°F (18°C)Halifax 10°C (49°F)
Should I visit New Bern or Halifax in the Winter?
Both Halifax and New Bern during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to New Bern for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
The weather in Halifax can be very cold. In January, New Bern is generally much warmer than Halifax. Daily temperatures in New Bern average around 44°F (7°C), and Halifax fluctuates around -4°C (24°F).
Halifax gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in New Bern. New Bern usually gets less rain in January than Halifax. New Bern gets 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain, while Halifax receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryNew Bern 44°F (7°C)Halifax -4°C (24°F)
Should I visit New Bern or Halifax in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both New Bern and Halifax. The spring months attract visitors to New Bern because of the small town charm.
It's quite cold in Halifax in the spring. New Bern is much warmer than Halifax in the spring. The daily temperature in New Bern averages around 62°F (16°C) in April, and Halifax fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).
Halifax receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, New Bern usually receives less rain than Halifax. New Bern gets 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain, while Halifax receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilNew Bern 62°F (16°C)Halifax 4°C (39°F)
Typical Weather for Halifax and New Bern
| New Bern | Halifax | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 44°F (7°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) | -4°C (24°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) |
| Feb | 46°F (8°C) | 3.8 inches (97 mm) | -5°C (24°F) | 108 mm (4.2 in) |
| Mar | 54°F (12°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) | -1°C (31°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Apr | 62°F (16°C) | 2.9 inches (74 mm) | 4°C (39°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| May | 69°F (21°C) | 5.1 inches (129 mm) | 9°C (48°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Jun | 76°F (25°C) | 5 inches (126 mm) | 14°C (57°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Jul | 80°F (27°C) | 6.6 inches (169 mm) | 18°C (64°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Aug | 79°F (26°C) | 7.6 inches (192 mm) | 18°C (65°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Sep | 75°F (24°C) | 5.1 inches (129 mm) | 15°C (58°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Oct | 65°F (18°C) | 3.4 inches (85 mm) | 10°C (49°F) | 121 mm (4.7 in) |
| Nov | 56°F (13°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 5°C (40°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Dec | 48°F (9°C) | 3.8 inches (96 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.