Which place is cheaper, Victoria or Ocean City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Ocean City or Victoria?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ocean City or Victoria? 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 Victoria?
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.
Victoria
The capital city of British Columbia, Canada, Victoria is positioned near the southern edge of Vancouver Island. It's a wonderfully pleasant city and has been nicknamed the Garden City because of its vast green space and public gardens. There is a population of just over 80,000 in the city proper and almost 350,000 in the greater metropolitan area. Dating back to 1843, it's also one of the oldest cities in the Pacific Northwest. As such, it has many historic buildings and beautiful architecture. It also has the second oldest Chinatown in North America, following San Francisco's.
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 Adventure Tours to Canada, and The Best Eco Tours in Canada.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayOcean City $160Victoria $182
The average daily cost (per person) in Ocean City is $160, while the average daily cost in Victoria is $182. 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 Victoria in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personOcean City $83Victoria $113
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomOcean City $166Victoria $226
Compare Hotels in Ocean City and Victoria
Looking for a hotel in Ocean City or Victoria? 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 Victoria Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ocean City $47Victoria $37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Victoria
Also for Victoria, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Victoria to Vancouver Ferry with Bus Transfer: $73
- Victoria to Vancouver - Coach Bus Transfer: $74
- Victoria to Vancouver - Vancouver Hotel Drop Off - Coach Bus Transfer: $83
- Victoria to Vancouver - Vancouver Airport (YVR) Drop Off - Coach Bus Transfer: $87
- Vancouver: Seaplane Transfer between Vancouver & Victoria: $206
- Seaplane Transfer between Victoria and Whistler: $219
Is it cheaper to fly into Ocean City or Victoria?
Prices for flights to both Victoria 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
-
Food Meals for one dayOcean City $49Victoria $27
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Victoria
For Victoria, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Chocolate Lovers Food Tour: $44
- Chinatown and Old Town Food Tour with Tastings: $58
- Hip & Hidden Chinatown + Old Town Food Tour Victoria: $59
- Victoria Delicious Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $73
- Sip, Savor, Stroll Evening Food Tour: $146
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ocean City $18Victoria $45
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 Victoria
For Victoria, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Victoria self-guided tour App - multilingual AudioGuide: $4.28
- Victoria Harbor: Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.11
- 2.5-hour Tips-Based City Walking Tour: $6.58
- Victoria, BC: Murder Mystery Detective Experience: $11
- Scavenger Hunt and City Highlights Walking Tour: $13
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
- Experience Victoria by Foot Walking Tour: $15
- Butterfly Gardens Admission Ticket: $15
- Ghostly Walking Tour in Victoria: $16
- Cultural & Historical Victoria Walking Tour: $16
- Malahat SkyWalk General Admission Tickets: $29
- Experience Victoria City Tour: $37
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayOcean City $14Victoria $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Victoria
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Victoria:
- Guided Pub Crawl with Ferry Rides and Appetizers: $48
- 3-Hour Street Art & Craft Beer Tour of Victoria, Brewery Tour & Tasting included: $101
- Victoria Wine Tour with Wine Tastings and Charcuterie: $134
- Cowichan Valley Premium Wine Tour: $439
When comparing the travel costs between Ocean City and Victoria, we can see that Victoria is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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 Victoria Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ocean City or Victoria?
Victoria has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Ocean City. When comparing the sizes of Ocean City and Victoria, 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 Victoria?
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 Victoria in the Summer?
Both Victoria and Ocean City during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Ocean City for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Ocean City is much warmer than Victoria in the summer. The daily temperature in Ocean City averages around 77°F (25°C) in July, and Victoria fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Ocean City. Ocean City usually gets more rain in July than Victoria. Ocean City gets 4.3 inches (110 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 13 mm (0.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyOcean City 77°F (25°C)Victoria 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Ocean City or Victoria in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Ocean City and Victoria. The autumn months attract visitors to Ocean City because of the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Ocean City is a little warmer than Victoria. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Ocean City in October average around 58°F (14°C), and Victoria averages at about 11°C (52°F).
In October, Ocean City usually receives more rain than Victoria. Ocean City gets 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberOcean City 58°F (14°C)Victoria 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Ocean City or Victoria in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Ocean City as well as Victoria. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Ocean City this time of year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Victoria. It's quite cold in Ocean City in the winter. In January, Ocean City is generally much colder than Victoria. Daily temperatures in Ocean City average around 35°F (2°C), and Victoria fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).
It's quite rainy in Victoria. Ocean City usually gets less rain in January than Victoria. Ocean City gets 3.6 inches (93 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryOcean City 35°F (2°C)Victoria 5°C (41°F)
Should I visit Ocean City or Victoria in the Spring?
Both Victoria and Ocean City are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Ocean City for the beaches.
Ocean City is a little warmer than Victoria in the spring. The daily temperature in Ocean City averages around 54°F (12°C) in April, and Victoria fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).
In April, Ocean City usually receives more rain than Victoria. Ocean City gets 3.2 inches (81 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilOcean City 54°F (12°C)Victoria 10°C (49°F)
Typical Weather for Victoria and Ocean City
| Ocean City | Victoria | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 35°F (2°C) | 3.6 inches (93 mm) | 5°C (41°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
| Feb | 37°F (3°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) | 7°C (44°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| Mar | 45°F (7°C) | 4.1 inches (103 mm) | 8°C (46°F) | 67 mm (2.7 in) |
| Apr | 54°F (12°C) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) | 10°C (49°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| May | 63°F (17°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) | 12°C (54°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jun | 72°F (22°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) | 14°C (58°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
| Jul | 77°F (25°C) | 4.3 inches (110 mm) | 16°C (60°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) |
| Aug | 76°F (24°C) | 5.3 inches (135 mm) | 16°C (61°F) | 19 mm (0.8 in) |
| Sep | 69°F (20°C) | 3.7 inches (94 mm) | 15°C (58°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Oct | 58°F (14°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) | 11°C (52°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Nov | 49°F (9°C) | 3.2 inches (80 mm) | 8°C (46°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Dec | 39°F (4°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 5°C (42°F) | 153 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.