Which place is cheaper, Halifax or New York City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit New York City or Halifax?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for New York City and Halifax. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: New York City or Halifax?
New York City
The most populated city in the United States, New York City, sits at the mouth of the Hudson River and encompasses both the island of Manhattan as well as the surrounding land on Long Island, most of which is known as Brooklyn. It's a cultural, culinary, theatrical, and art center that has much to offer domestic and international travelers alike. The city covers an area of 305 square miles and has a population of about 8.2 million people in the city proper with 18.7 million in the metropolitan area.
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 Under $1000 in United States of America, The Best Luxury 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 dayNew York City $326Halifax $114
The average daily cost (per person) in New York City is $326, 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 York City and Halifax in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNew York City $175Halifax $65
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNew York City $350Halifax $130
Compare Hotels in New York City and Halifax
Looking for a hotel in New York City 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 York City Hotel Prices and Halifax Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.New York City $49Halifax $17
Typical Local Transportation Prices in New York City
Some typical examples of transportation costs in New York City are as follows:
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Subway$4.50
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Taxi Ride$8.00
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Subway$2.50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in New York City
Also for New York City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer in private Minivan from New York (Manhattan) Airport to City: $122
- Skip-the-line Tickets to Bronx Zoo with Private Transfers: $410
- Skip-the-line One World Observatory Tour with Transfers: $296
- Skip-the-line Metropolitan Museum of Art Tour with Transfers: $276
- Skip the line One World Observatory Private Tour with Transfers : $296
- Private arrival OR departure transfer in New York (hotel OR airport pick-up): $288
- Private Transfers between LGA Airport and New York City: $105
- Private Transfers between EWR Airport and New York City: $140
- Private Transfer: between Manhattan and Philadelphia: $523
- Private Transfer: Newark Airport EWR to New York by Luxury SUV: $162
- Private Transfer: New York to Newark Airport EWR in Business Car: $152
- Private Transfer: New York to Newark Airport EWR by Luxury SUV: $163
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Halifax
Also for Halifax, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Halifax Stanfield Airport to Halifax: $36
- Transfer to/from Stanfield International Airport: $44
- 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
- Halifax Cruise Port: Private Transfer to Halifax hotels: $133
- Halifax Airport (YHZ) to Halifax Cruise Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $68
- From Peggy’s Cove Small-Group Tour with Transfers: $80
Is it cheaper to fly into New York City or Halifax?
Prices for flights to both Halifax and New York City 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 York City $50Halifax $31
Typical Food Prices in New York City
For New York City, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Gelato$7.50
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Snacks for Two at Yankees Game$34
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Coffee$6.53
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Smoothie$6.95
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in New York City
For New York City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- New York, Queens Culinary Stroll : Food Tour on Foot: $26
- Lower East Side and Essex Market Multicultural Food Tour: $39
- Half-Day Private Pizza Crawl in Manhattan: $40
- New York City Pizza Crawl: Best of Manhattan route: $41
- Ultimate Greenwich Village NYC Food Tour: $63
- NYC: Greenwich Village Guided Food Tour: $63
- Pizza Walking Tour of Downtown Brooklyn: $65
- West Village Pizza Walk: $65
- Greenwich Village NYC Pizza Walking Tour: $65
- East Village NYC Pizza Walking Tour: $65
- Downtown Brooklyn Pizza Walking Tour: $65
- East Village Pizza Walk: $65
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 York City $180Halifax $28
Typical Entertainment Prices in New York City
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for New York City's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Comedy Show Tickets$56
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City Map$8.00
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Broadway Musical$111
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Broadway Show Program$10
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Magazine$6.99
Tours and Activities in New York City
For New York City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2-Days Niagara Falls USA, Watkins Glen and Scenic Hotel Tour : $257
- 3 Hour Session at Williamsburg's Adventure Park Area 53: $42
- BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir and Amish FarmNHouse Tour from NY: $137
- Classic 1-Hour Central Park Pedicab Tour : $69
- Grand Central Terminal Walking Tour: $35
- Official Central Park Pedicab Tours: $50
- & Juliet on Broadway Ticket : $110
- & Juliet on Broadway Ticket with VIP Experience and Lunch: $299
- 1 Day Tour to Philadelphia and Hershey's Chocolate World: $195
- 1 Hour Private Guided Pedicab Tour in New York City: $45
- 1 pm Turkish Coffee + Fortune Telling Experience // East Village : $127
- 1-Day New York In-Depth Tour: $130
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
For more ideas for your next trip, check out The Best Things to do in New York City with Kids, Things to Do in Central Park in NYC, and The Best Museums in New York City.
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNew York City $29Halifax $15
Sample the Local Flavors in New York City
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in New York City:
- NYC West Village Pub Crawl: $19
- NYC Pub Crawl and Rooftop Clubbing Experience: $29
- NYC: Brooklyn Nightlife Pub Crawl: $34
- New York Rooftop Pub Crawl: $39
- NYC: Manhattan's Only Whiskey Distillery Tour & Tasting: $42
- Little Italy Prohibition Pub Crawl: $64
- Lower East Side Prohibition Pub Crawl: $74
- Guided Brooklyn Craft Brewery Tour: $99
- 1920s Schooner Sail with Wine Tasting: $139
- Full day Long Island Brewery Tour : $150
- Long Island Wine Tour from Manhattan (3 Wineries & Tasty Lunch): $159
- Snow Tubing and Brewery Day Trip From NYC: $159
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between New York City and Halifax, we can see that New York City 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 York City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in New York City 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 York City Expensive? and Is Halifax Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, New York City or Halifax?
New York City has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Halifax. When comparing the sizes of New York City 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 York City 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 New York City or Halifax in the Summer?
Both Halifax and New York City are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to New York City in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
New York City is a little warmer than Halifax in the summer. The daily temperature in New York City averages around 77°F (25°C) in July, and Halifax fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
It's quite rainy in New York City. In July, New York City usually receives more rain than Halifax. New York City gets 4.5 inches (114 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 JulyNew York City 77°F (25°C)Halifax 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit New York City or Halifax in the Autumn?
Both Halifax and New York City during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to New York City for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In the autumn, New York City is a little warmer than Halifax. Typically, the autumn temperatures in New York City in October average around 57°F (14°C), and Halifax averages at about 10°C (49°F).
Halifax gets a good bit of rain this time of year. New York City usually gets less rain in October than Halifax. New York City gets 3.1 inches (78 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 OctoberNew York City 57°F (14°C)Halifax 10°C (49°F)
Should I visit New York City or Halifax in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both New York City and Halifax. The winter months attract visitors to New York City because of the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
It's quite cold in Halifax in the winter. The weather in New York City can be very cold. In January, New York City is generally much warmer than Halifax. Daily temperatures in New York City average around 31°F (-1°C), and Halifax fluctuates around -4°C (24°F).
Halifax receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, New York City usually receives less rain than Halifax. New York City gets 3.4 inches (86 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 JanuaryNew York City 31°F (-1°C)Halifax -4°C (24°F)
Should I visit New York City or Halifax in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to New York City as well as Halifax. The activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to New York City this time of year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Halifax. New York City is much warmer than Halifax in the spring. The daily temperature in New York City averages around 52°F (11°C) in April, and Halifax fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).
It's quite rainy in Halifax. New York City usually gets less rain in April than Halifax. New York City gets 3.8 inches (98 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 AprilNew York City 52°F (11°C)Halifax 4°C (39°F)
Typical Weather for Halifax and New York City
| New York City | Halifax | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 31°F (-1°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) | -4°C (24°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) |
| Feb | 33°F (1°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) | -5°C (24°F) | 108 mm (4.2 in) |
| Mar | 42°F (6°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) | -1°C (31°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Apr | 52°F (11°C) | 3.8 inches (98 mm) | 4°C (39°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| May | 63°F (17°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) | 9°C (48°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Jun | 72°F (22°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 14°C (57°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Jul | 77°F (25°C) | 4.5 inches (114 mm) | 18°C (64°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Aug | 76°F (24°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) | 18°C (65°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Sep | 68°F (20°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 15°C (58°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Oct | 57°F (14°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) | 10°C (49°F) | 121 mm (4.7 in) |
| Nov | 47°F (8°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) | 5°C (40°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Dec | 36°F (2°C) | 3.4 inches (88 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.