Which place is cheaper, Halifax or Ocean City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ocean City or Halifax?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ocean City 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: Ocean City or Halifax?
Ocean City
One of the most popular vacation areas of the U.S. east coast, Ocean City is a long-time resort town, taking roots as a getaway when the first beach-front cottage was built in 1869. The destination sits on a strip of land between the Atlantic Ocean and the Isle of Wight Bay. The Atlantic Hotel was the first major hotel, built in 1875 and still in business today. It has been family owned and operated since Charles W. Purnell bought it in 1923.
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 dayOcean City $160Halifax $114
The average daily cost (per person) in Ocean City is $160, 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 Ocean City and Halifax in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personOcean City $83Halifax $65
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomOcean City $166Halifax $130
Compare Hotels in Ocean City and Halifax
Looking for a hotel in Ocean 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: Ocean City Hotel Prices and Halifax Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ocean City $47Halifax $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Halifax
Also for Halifax, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Halifax Stanfield Airport (YHZ) to Halifax Port-Arrival Transfer: $34
- Halifax Stanfield Airport(YHZ) to Halifax Port - Arrival Transfer: $34
- Private Transfer from Halifax Stanfield Airport to Halifax: $36
- Transfer to/from Stanfield International Airport: $44
- Halifax Airport (YHZ) to Halifax Cruise Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $68
- From Peggy’s Cove Small-Group Tour with Transfers: $80
- Halifax Cruise Port: Private Transfer to Halifax hotels: $133
- Halifax Stanfield Airport (YHZ): Transfer to Halifax Port: $209
Is it cheaper to fly into Ocean City or Halifax?
Prices for flights to both Halifax and Ocean 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 dayOcean City $49Halifax $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.Ocean City $18Halifax $28
Tours and Activities in Ocean City
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ocean City are as follows:
- Assateague Island Morning Cruise: $79
- Atlantic Coastline Parasailing Adventure: $132
- Atlantic Ocean Catamaran Cruise with Crew: $125
- Banana Boat Fun Adventure: $33
- Bay Hopping Food Boat Tour with Tastings: $179
- Downtown and Boardwalk Foodie Walking Tour: $110
- Guided Happy Hour Bar Hopping Tour: $50
- High-Speed Sunrise Cruise and Dolphin Watching: $25
- High-Speed Sunset Cruise & Dolphin Watch: $36
- Midtown District Walking Foodie Tour: $110
- Speedboat Coastal Tour with Dolphin Spotting: $25
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 dayOcean City $14Halifax $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ocean City and Halifax, we can see that Ocean 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 Ocean City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ocean 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 Ocean City Expensive? and Is Halifax Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ocean City or Halifax?
Halifax has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Ocean City. When comparing the sizes of Ocean 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 Ocean City 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 Ocean City or Halifax in the Summer?
Both Halifax and Ocean City during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Ocean City for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Ocean City is a little warmer than Halifax. Typically, the summer temperatures in Ocean City in July average around 77°F (25°C), and Halifax averages at about 18°C (64°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Ocean City. Ocean City usually gets more rain in July than Halifax. Ocean City gets 4.3 inches (110 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 JulyOcean City 77°F (25°C)Halifax 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Ocean City or Halifax in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Ocean City and Halifax. Many visitors come to Ocean City in the autumn for the shopping scene.
In October, Ocean City is generally a little warmer than Halifax. Daily temperatures in Ocean City average around 58°F (14°C), and Halifax fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).
Halifax receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Ocean City usually receives less rain than Halifax. Ocean City gets 3.4 inches (87 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 OctoberOcean City 58°F (14°C)Halifax 10°C (49°F)
Should I visit Ocean City or Halifax in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Ocean City as well as Halifax. Most visitors come to Ocean City for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
The weather in Halifax can be very cold. Ocean City can be very cold during winter. Ocean City is much warmer than Halifax in the winter. The daily temperature in Ocean City averages around 35°F (2°C) in January, and Halifax fluctuates around -4°C (24°F).
It's quite rainy in Halifax. Ocean City usually gets less rain in January than Halifax. Ocean City gets 3.6 inches (93 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 JanuaryOcean City 35°F (2°C)Halifax -4°C (24°F)
Should I visit Ocean City or Halifax in the Spring?
Both Halifax and Ocean City are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Ocean City because of the beaches.
It's quite cold in Halifax in the spring. In the spring, Ocean City is much warmer than Halifax. Typically, the spring temperatures in Ocean City in April average around 54°F (12°C), and Halifax averages at about 4°C (39°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Halifax. In April, Ocean City usually receives less rain than Halifax. Ocean City gets 3.2 inches (81 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 AprilOcean City 54°F (12°C)Halifax 4°C (39°F)
Typical Weather for Halifax and Ocean City
| Ocean City | Halifax | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 35°F (2°C) | 3.6 inches (93 mm) | -4°C (24°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) |
| Feb | 37°F (3°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) | -5°C (24°F) | 108 mm (4.2 in) |
| Mar | 45°F (7°C) | 4.1 inches (103 mm) | -1°C (31°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Apr | 54°F (12°C) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) | 4°C (39°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| May | 63°F (17°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) | 9°C (48°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Jun | 72°F (22°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) | 14°C (57°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Jul | 77°F (25°C) | 4.3 inches (110 mm) | 18°C (64°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Aug | 76°F (24°C) | 5.3 inches (135 mm) | 18°C (65°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Sep | 69°F (20°C) | 3.7 inches (94 mm) | 15°C (58°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Oct | 58°F (14°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) | 10°C (49°F) | 121 mm (4.7 in) |
| Nov | 49°F (9°C) | 3.2 inches (80 mm) | 5°C (40°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Dec | 39°F (4°C) | 3.7 inches (93 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.