Which place is cheaper, Halifax or Norfolk?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Norfolk or Halifax?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Norfolk 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: Norfolk or Halifax?
Norfolk
The city of Norfolk in the U.S. state of Virginia is a port city holding a large Navy and shipping presence in its harbor. With a long history as a strategic military point, Norfolk is home to the largest Navy base in the world, Naval Station Norfolk. Other attractions include opportunities for dining, shopping, and entertainment as well as many parks and memorials.
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 10-Day Tours in United States of America, The Best One Week (7-Day) 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 dayNorfolk $166Halifax $114
The average daily cost (per person) in Norfolk is $166, 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 Norfolk and Halifax in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNorfolk $84Halifax $65
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNorfolk $168Halifax $130
Compare Hotels in Norfolk and Halifax
Looking for a hotel in Norfolk 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: Norfolk Hotel Prices and Halifax Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Norfolk $54Halifax $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Norfolk
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Norfolk:
- Bamville Transportation (Private & Airport Transfers): $275
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 Norfolk or Halifax?
Prices for flights to both Halifax and Norfolk 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 dayNorfolk $49Halifax $31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Norfolk
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Norfolk.
- Norfolk Buffet Dinner Cruise : $101
- Buffet Dinner Cruise: $101
- Norfolk Father's Day Buffet Dinner Cruise: $126
- Norfolk Mother's Day Signature Dinner Cruise: $169
- Norfolk 4th of July Buffet Dinner Cruise: $182
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.Norfolk $14Halifax $28
Tours and Activities in Norfolk
Here are a few actual costs in Norfolk for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Electric Bike Rental Downtown Norfolk (self guided tour) : $60
- Experience the season with a scavenger hunt in Norfolk with Holly Jolly Hunt: $20
- Neon District Contemporary Art Walking Tour: $32
- Norfolk Buffet Brunch Cruise : $84
- Norfolk Father's Day Buffet Brunch Cruise: $104
- Elizabeth River Candlelit Buffet Lunch Cruise: $67
- Elizabeth River Sunday Buffet Brunch Cruise: $95
- Virginia Zoo & Battleship Wisconsin Combo Ticket: $38
- Skip the Line: Virginia Living Museum Admission Ticket: $22
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 dayNorfolk $10Halifax $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Norfolk and Halifax, we can see that Norfolk 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 Norfolk would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Norfolk 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 Norfolk Expensive? and Is Halifax Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Norfolk or Halifax?
Halifax has a larger population, and is about 53% larger than the population of Norfolk. When comparing the sizes of Norfolk 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 Norfolk 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 Norfolk or Halifax in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Norfolk as well as Halifax. Many travelers come to Norfolk for the family-friendly experiences.
Norfolk is a little warmer than Halifax in the summer. The daily temperature in Norfolk averages around 79°F (26°C) in July, and Halifax fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Halifax. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Norfolk this time of the year. In the summer, Norfolk often gets more sunshine than Halifax. Norfolk gets 279 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Halifax receives 230 hours of full sun.
Norfolk receives a lot of rain in the summer. Norfolk usually gets more rain in July than Halifax. Norfolk gets 5.7 inches (145 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 JulyNorfolk 79°F (26°C)Halifax 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Norfolk or Halifax in the Autumn?
Both Halifax and Norfolk are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Norfolk in the autumn for the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Norfolk is much warmer than Halifax. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Norfolk in October average around 62°F (16°C), and Halifax averages at about 10°C (49°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Norfolk. Norfolk usually receives more sunshine than Halifax during autumn. Norfolk gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while Halifax receives 148 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Halifax. In October, Norfolk usually receives less rain than Halifax. Norfolk gets 3.1 inches (78 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 OctoberNorfolk 62°F (16°C)Halifax 10°C (49°F)
Should I visit Norfolk or Halifax in the Winter?
Both Halifax and Norfolk during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Norfolk for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
The weather in Halifax can be very cold. Norfolk can be very cold during winter. In January, Norfolk is generally much warmer than Halifax. Daily temperatures in Norfolk average around 39°F (4°C), and Halifax fluctuates around -4°C (24°F).
In the winter, Norfolk often gets more sunshine than Halifax. Norfolk gets 168 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Halifax receives 111 hours of full sun.
Halifax gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Norfolk usually gets less rain in January than Halifax. Norfolk gets 3.3 inches (85 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 JanuaryNorfolk 39°F (4°C)Halifax -4°C (24°F)
Should I visit Norfolk or Halifax in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Norfolk and Halifax.
It's quite cold in Halifax in the spring. Norfolk is much warmer than Halifax in the spring. The daily temperature in Norfolk averages around 58°F (14°C) in April, and Halifax fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).
In Norfolk, it's very sunny this time of the year. Norfolk usually receives more sunshine than Halifax during spring. Norfolk gets 253 hours of sunny skies, while Halifax receives 148 hours of full sun in the spring.
Halifax receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Norfolk usually receives less rain than Halifax. Norfolk gets 2.7 inches (69 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 AprilNorfolk 58°F (14°C)Halifax 4°C (39°F)
Typical Weather for Halifax and Norfolk
| Norfolk | Halifax | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 39°F (4°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) | -4°C (24°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) |
| Feb | 41°F (5°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) | -5°C (24°F) | 108 mm (4.2 in) |
| Mar | 49°F (10°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) | -1°C (31°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Apr | 58°F (14°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) | 4°C (39°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| May | 67°F (19°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) | 9°C (48°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Jun | 74°F (24°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) | 14°C (57°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Jul | 79°F (26°C) | 5.7 inches (145 mm) | 18°C (64°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Aug | 78°F (25°C) | 5.9 inches (150 mm) | 18°C (65°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Sep | 72°F (22°C) | 4.2 inches (107 mm) | 15°C (58°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Oct | 62°F (16°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) | 10°C (49°F) | 121 mm (4.7 in) |
| Nov | 53°F (12°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) | 5°C (40°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Dec | 44°F (7°C) | 3.1 inches (79 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.