Which place is cheaper, Virginia or South Carolina?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit South Carolina or Virginia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between South Carolina and Virginia can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: South Carolina or Virginia?
South Carolina
The U.S. state of South Carolina is a part of the American South-rich in all the culture, cuisine, and countryside that make up the region. From the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains to a stunning coastline with many charming towns in between, the landscape of South Carolina is full of things to do and see. There are many great opportunities to dive into the past while indulging in the culture that thrives today.
Virginia
One of the original thirteen British colonies, Virginia is a place of rich history and varied environments. You might explore the historic settlement of Colonial Williamsburg, dive into the current culture of its major cities, or get lost in nature along the coast or in the scenic landscape of the Appalachian Mountains. There's a little something for everyone.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America, The Best Historical Tours in United States of America, The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySouth Carolina $207Virginia $161
The average daily cost (per person) in South Carolina is $207, while the average daily cost in Virginia is $161. 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 South Carolina and Virginia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSouth Carolina $96Virginia $80
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSouth Carolina $192Virginia $160
Compare Hotels in South Carolina and Virginia
Looking for a hotel in South Carolina or Virginia? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.South Carolina $33Virginia $49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in South Carolina
Some specific examples of transportation prices in South Carolina:
- Private Departure Transfer to Myrtle Beach Airport (MYR): $36
- Private Arrival Transfer from Myrtle Beach Airport MYR: $36
- Greenville to Greenville-Spartanburg Airport (GSP) - Departure Private Transfer: $37
- Greenville-Spartanburg Airport (GSP) to Greenville - Arrival Private Transfer: $37
- Myrtle Beach to Myrtle Beach Intl. Airport (MYR) - Departure Private Transfer: $52
- Private Transfer from Charleston Cruise Port to Charleston city: $54
- Private Transfer from Charleston City to Charleston Cruise Port: $54
- Greenville-Spartanburg Airport (GSP) to Greenville - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $74
- Charleston city to Charleston Airport (CHS) - Departure Private Transfer: $87
- Charleston Airport (CHS) to Folly Beach - Arrival Private Transfer: $103
- Charleston Airport to Isle of Palms/Sullivans Island– Arrival Private Transfer: $103
- Folly Beach to Charleston Airport (CHS) - Departure Private Transfer: $103
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Virginia
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Virginia:
- Richmond Airport (RIC) to Richmond city - Arrival Private Transfer: $36
- Richmond City to Richmond Airport (RIC) - Departure Private Transfer: $38
- Private Arrival Transfer from Charlotteville Airport (CHO): $50
- Private Departure Transfer to Charlottesville Airport (CHO): $50
- Richmond Airport (RIC) to Richmond City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $72
- Private Transfer To or From Reston and Dulles International Airport: $180
- Airport Transfer to or from Mclean, VA and Reagan Airport(DCA): $188
- Airport Transfer to or from Mclean, VA and Dulles Airport: $195
- Private transfer to or from Reston and Ronald Reagan National Airport: $200
- Bamville Transportation (Private & Airport Transfers): $275
Is it cheaper to fly into South Carolina or Virginia?
Prices for flights to both Virginia and South Carolina 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 daySouth Carolina $53Virginia $37
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in South Carolina
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in South Carolina.
- Murder Mystery Dinner Show in Myrtle Beach: $50
- Charleston Sunset Blues & BBQ Dinner Cruise: $63
- Polynesian Fire Luau and Dinner Show Ticket in Myrtle Beach: $67
- Charleston Harbor Luxury Dinner Cruise with Live Music: $88
- Charleston Food Tour: $99
- Sunset Hibachi Dinner Cruise : $102
- Hilton Head Sunset Dinner Cruise: $106
- Charleston Farm-to-Table Food Tour and Chef's Challenge: $109
- Charleston Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $110
- Downtown Charleston Food Tour: $110
- Savor the Flavors of Charleston Walking Food Tour: $110
- Charleston's Savor the Flavors of Upper King Street Walking Food Tour: $110
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Virginia
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Virginia.
- Taste of Williamsburg Food Tour by Junket: $79
- The Carytown Food Tour in Richmond: $80
- Church Hill Food Tour in Richmond, VA: $80
- Arts District Food Tour in Richmond: $85
- Delicious Pizza & Ice Cream Tour of Richmond: $90
- Norfolk Buffet Dinner Cruise : $101
- Norfolk Father's Day Buffet Dinner Cruise: $126
- The UVA Corner Food Tour: Private Walking Food Tour in Charlottesville: $139
- The Downtown Mall Food Tour: $149
- Roanoke Ebike Food Tour: $150
- Norfolk Mother's Day Signature Dinner Cruise: $162
- Norfolk 4th of July Buffet Dinner Cruise: $182
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.South Carolina $25Virginia $24
Tours and Activities in South Carolina
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for South Carolina are as follows:
- Self-Guided "The French Quarter Charleston" Solo Walking Tour: $7.50
- 300 Years of War and Peacetime in Charleston: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
- Greenville Scavenger Hunt: Greenville Adventure: $12
- Kazoo Factory Tour & Museum : $15
- Charleston Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $15
- Murder Mystery Detective Experience Myrtle Beach, SC: $15
- Trolley Tour in Wadmalaw Island of South Carolina: $17
- Charleston Water Taxi Cruise with Dolphin Sighting: $17
- Evening History Tour: $20
- Highlights of Charleston Guided Walking Tour: $23
- Behind the Scenes of Shem Creek Shrimp Walking Tour: $25
- Historic Charleston Guided Sightseeing Walking Tour: $27
Tours and Activities in Virginia
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Virginia are as follows:
- Historical Fredericksburg SmartPhone App Self Guided Walking Tour: $6.50
- Charlottesville Historic Downtown APP/GPS Smartphone Walking Tour: $7.75
- Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia Audio Driving Tour: $9.99
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Richmond by 3Quest Challenge: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Richmond by Crazy Dash: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Richmond by Wacky Walks: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Williamsburg by Wacky Walks: $10
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Virginia Beach by Wacky Walks: $10
- Shenandoah: Self-Guided Audio Tour: $13
- Williamsburg West Tour: $15
- Colonial Williamsburg Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $15
- Blue Ridge Parkway (Roanoke to Afton) Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySouth Carolina $30Virginia $19
Sample the Local Flavors in South Carolina
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in South Carolina:
- Charleston Women and Wine Tour: $20
- Spooky & Haunted Paranormal Bar Crawl Downtown Greenville: $32
- Bay Street Bastards Pub Crawl Shared Tour in Charleston : $35
- Hilton Head's ONLY Distillery Experience: $55
- Charleston Brewery District Cruise (Public Tour): $95
- Half Day Party Bus Brewery Tour of Charleston: $140
Sample the Local Flavors in Virginia
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Virginia:
- Richmond Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl : $34
- Colonial Ghosts Boos and Brews Haunted Pub Crawl : $35
- The Murder Tour and Pub Crawl: $48
- Richmond Craft Brewery Crawl By Junket: $74
- Drink Richmond Craft Brewery Crawl: $74
- Private Wine Tours (Minimum 3 & Maximum 6 ) Pickup Maximum 30 Mi : $85
- Brewery Tour of Richmond, VA: $90
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between South Carolina and Virginia, we can see that South Carolina is more expensive. And not only is Virginia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Virginia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Virginia 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 South Carolina would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in South Carolina than you might in Virginia.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is South Carolina Expensive? and Is Virginia Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, South Carolina or Virginia?
Virginia has a larger population, and is about 81% larger than the population of South Carolina. When comparing the sizes of South Carolina and Virginia, 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.
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.