A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Virginia Beach vs. Phoenix for Families, Food, Nightlife, and Couples

Should you visit Virginia Beach or Phoenix?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Virginia Beach or Phoenix, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach is a fun-filled, relaxing, and bustling coastal city. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the nightlife and beaches.

Phoenix

Phoenix is a desert, laid back, and sprawling city. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

Virginia Beach and Phoenix: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Virginia Beach or Phoenix?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Phoenix than Virginia Beach, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Phoenix is more popular for its museums, food, hiking, and shopping, while Virginia Beach is known for its resorts, beaches, and impressive beauty. Virginia Beach is more touristy than Phoenix and is known for its fun boardwalk, many seafood restaurants, and classic beach town vibe. Phoenix is popular for its desert landscapes, high number of golf courses, and year round warm weather. It is also home to Desert Botanical Garden.

How is Virginia Beach different from Phoenix?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Phoenix and Virginia Beach. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Virginia Beach or Phoenix?

Phoenix is a nice place to visit for its historical sights. However, Virginia Beach does not have museums and landmarks.

Phoenix offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. You'll find art, science, and cultural museums around town. Favorites include the Heard Museum, the Phoenix Art Museum, S'edav Va'aki Museum, and the Arizona Science Museum.

Virginia Beach does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Virginia Beach or Phoenix? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Phoenix is a nice place to visit for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Virginia Beach is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Phoenix has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. There are many mom-and-pop shops around town that serve everything from casual meals to quality steaks. There's also a huge selection of Mexican restaurants, as well as other international options such as sushi, dim sum, and Italian.

Virginia Beach may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. Seafood is plentiful around town and there are all-you-can-eat buffets as well as high end, waterfront seafood restaurants. Make sure you try the She Crab Soup, soft shell crabs, and oysters.

Is Virginia Beach or Phoenix Better for Nightlife?

The vibe at night is good in both Virginia Beach and Phoenix.

If you're looking for night time activities Virginia Beach has a few options to choose from. While it's a family-friendly beach, there's still a great nightlife scene with many bars and clubs in the area. Popular places to hang out at night include Omega Bar, Peabody's Nightclub, and Sky Bar.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Phoenix. The best nightlife scene is found in downtown and central Phoenix. There are bars, restaurants, and venues where you can catch a show. North Phoenix also has grown into a popular evening spot with cocktail bars and pubs.

Is Virginia Beach or Phoenix Better for Resorts?

Virginia Beach is a coastal city with good options for its luxury resorts. However, Phoenix is not a resort destination.

Virginia Beach has a few great resort options. Some of the best resorts in the area include the Historic Cavalier Hotel and Beach Club, the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront, and The Founders Inn and Spa.

Phoenix is not a resort destination.

Is Virginia Beach or Phoenix Better for Beaches?

Virginia Beach is a coastal city with good options for the beach. However, Phoenix is not a beach destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Virginia Beach. The beaches are long and sandy, but they can get crowded during the summer months. The waves are just the right size for playing in the surf and the water temperature is usually warm enough to swim well into the fall months.

Phoenix is not a beach destination.

Is Virginia Beach or Phoenix Better for Hiking?

Phoenix is a nice place to visit for hiking. However, Virginia Beach is not a hiking destination.

Phoenix has hiking trails worth exploring. You don't have to head far out of town for impressive hiking opportunities. You'll find trails that range from easy to challenging, and many pass through other-worldly landscapes. You'll find popular trails in Usery Mountain Regional Park, Papago Park, White Tank Mountain Regional Park, South Mountain Park and many others.

Virginia Beach is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Virginia Beach or Phoenix?

Phoenix is a nice place to visit for its shopping opportunities. However, Virginia Beach is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Phoenix. There are plenty of shopping centers, outlets, and malls where you'll find the standard chain stores. You'll also find farmer's markets around town.

Virginia Beach is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Virginia Beach or Phoenix Better for Families?

Virginia Beach is a great coastal city for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Phoenix is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Virginia Beach. This is a popular family-friendly beach with a nice boardwalk, a fun waterpark, aquarium, and nice beaches. It attracts families in the area for its long beaches and fun atmosphere. Most restaurants have kid's menus and there are ice cream shops and minigolf around.

Phoenix is a family-friendly place to visit. Kids will love the Phoenix Zoo, the Arizona Science Center, the SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium, and the Bearizona Wildlife Park. There's also a number of parks and gardens as well as a children's museum and several other interactive museums for kids.

Is Virginia Beach or Phoenix Better for Couples?

Virginia Beach and Phoenix are both good to visit as a couple.

Virginia Beach makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples will enjoy a nice escape to the beaches and boardwalk. There are many great seafood restaurants, some with waterfront settings. There's also a variety of activities ranging from many golf to dance clubs.

Phoenix is a good coastal city for couples to visit. There are many parks and gardens in town as well as beautiful hikes and outdoor activities that couples will enjoy. In the evening, there's theater, shows, and many romantic restaurants.

Is Virginia Beach or Phoenix Better for Students?

Virginia Beach is a coastal city with good options for its student-friendly activities. However, Phoenix is not popular with students.

It's common for students to visit Virginia Beach. It's not as popular as more southern beach towns, but you'll still find students heading here for the spring break holidays.

Phoenix is not popular with students.

Is Virginia Beach or Phoenix Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Phoenix is adequate for times when you don't have a car. However, Virginia Beach is not a good destination for its public transit.

Public transit is mostly limited in Phoenix. There's a bus and light rail system, but you really need your own vehicle to get around.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Virginia Beach. There is very limited public transit in the area so you'll need to have a car to get around.

Is Virginia Beach or Phoenix a more walkable city?

Virginia Beach and Phoenix are decent when it comes to walkability.

Virginia Beach is generally not a very walkable coastal city. Most people prefer to have a car but do note that parking can be a nightmare, particularly during the summer season.

Phoenix is generally not very walkable. It's a sprawling city and the only real area that's walkable is the downtown.

For even more information, also check out Is Virginia Beach Worth Visiting? and Is Phoenix Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Phoenix or Virginia Beach?

How long in Virginia Beach or Phoenix?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Virginia Beach and Phoenix. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Virginia Beach than in Phoenix. Usually, 5-7 days is a good amount of time for Virginia Beach, and 1-3 days is enough time in Phoenix.

Families should spend more time in Virginia Beach than Phoenix. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Virginia Beach, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Phoenix than Virginia Beach. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Phoenix that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Phoenix than Virginia Beach if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Phoenix.

One day in Virginia Beach or Phoenix?

In Virginia Beach, you'll find nightlife. This coastal city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

In Phoenix, you'll find museums and nightlife. So, one day is just the right amount of time to spend here.

A weekend in Virginia Beach or Phoenix?

In Virginia Beach, you'll find nightlife. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.

Phoenix is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.

Five days in Virginia Beach or Phoenix?

Virginia Beach is a great place to explore. It is common to spend five days here. Five days is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Virginia Beach has to offer. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Phoenix. It offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Virginia Beach or Phoenix?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Virginia Beach. In Virginia Beach, you'll find nightlife. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one week here.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the city of Phoenix. Your budget might influence how long you stay. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America, The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in United States of America, The Best Cultural Tours in United States of America, and The Best Photography Tours in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Virginia Beach and Phoenix, we can see that Phoenix is more expensive. And not only is Virginia Beach much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Virginia Beach would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Virginia Beach 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 Phoenix would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Phoenix than you might in Virginia Beach.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Virginia Beach Expensive? and Is Phoenix Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Virginia Beach or Phoenix?

Phoenix has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Virginia Beach. When comparing the sizes of Virginia Beach and Phoenix, 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 Virginia Beach or Phoenix?

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 Virginia Beach or Phoenix in the Summer?

Both Phoenix and Virginia Beach are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The beaches and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Virginia Beach this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Phoenix for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

Phoenix can become quite hot in the summer. In the summer, Virginia Beach is cooler than Phoenix. Typically, the summer temperatures in Virginia Beach in July average around 79°F (26°C), and Phoenix averages at about 98°F (36°C).

It's quite sunny in Phoenix. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Virginia Beach. Virginia Beach usually receives less sunshine than Phoenix during summer. Virginia Beach gets 279 hours of sunny skies, while Phoenix receives 380 hours of full sun in the summer.

It's quite rainy in Virginia Beach. In July, Virginia Beach usually receives more rain than Phoenix. Virginia Beach gets 5.7 inches (145 mm) of rain, while Phoenix receives 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Virginia Beach or Phoenix in the Autumn?

Both Phoenix and Virginia Beach during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Virginia Beach for the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, many visitors come to Phoenix in the autumn for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.

In October, Virginia Beach is generally much colder than Phoenix. Daily temperatures in Virginia Beach average around 62°F (16°C), and Phoenix fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).

In Phoenix, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Virginia Beach. In the autumn, Virginia Beach often gets less sunshine than Phoenix. Virginia Beach gets 211 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Phoenix receives 305 hours of full sun.

Virginia Beach usually gets more rain in October than Phoenix. Virginia Beach gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Phoenix receives 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Virginia Beach or Phoenix in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Virginia Beach and Phoenix. Many visitors come to Virginia Beach in the winter for the cuisine. Furthermore, most visitors come to Phoenix for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Virginia Beach can get quite cold in the winter. Virginia Beach is much colder than Phoenix in the winter. The daily temperature in Virginia Beach averages around 39°F (4°C) in January, and Phoenix fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Phoenix this time of the year. Virginia Beach usually receives less sunshine than Phoenix during winter. Virginia Beach gets 168 hours of sunny skies, while Phoenix receives 254 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Virginia Beach usually receives more rain than Phoenix. Virginia Beach gets 3.3 inches (85 mm) of rain, while Phoenix receives 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Virginia Beach or Phoenix in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Virginia Beach as well as Phoenix. Most visitors come to Virginia Beach for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months.

In the spring, Virginia Beach is much colder than Phoenix. Typically, the spring temperatures in Virginia Beach in April average around 58°F (14°C), and Phoenix averages at about 74°F (23°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Phoenix. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Virginia Beach this time of the year. In the spring, Virginia Beach often gets less sunshine than Phoenix. Virginia Beach gets 253 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Phoenix receives 355 hours of full sun.

Virginia Beach usually gets more rain in April than Phoenix. Virginia Beach gets 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain, while Phoenix receives 0.2 inches (6 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Phoenix and Virginia Beach