Should you visit Wilmington or Hilton Head Island?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Wilmington or Hilton Head Island, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Wilmington
Wilmington is a port city in southeastern North Carolina. It's a great city to visit for it's nearby beaches, large historic district, and quaint atmosphere. The city has a population of about 115,000 and it's the eighth largest city in the state.
Wilmington is also home to the University of North Carolina at Wilmington as well as the EUE Screen Gems Studios. This is the largest domestic television and movie production facility outside of California. The studio, which opened in 1984, helped grow Wilmington into a major base for film and television production. The city has been the backdrop for many movies and tv shows including Iron Man 3, Sleepy Hollow, One Tree Hill, and Revolution.
Hilton Head Island
Hilton Head, also called Hilton Head Island, is primarily a resort and beach town off the coast of South Carolina. Located on a barrier island, the place is best known for its beaches and golf courses overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
Which city is cheaper, Hilton Head Island or Wilmington?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Wilmington is $163, while the average daily cost in Hilton Head Island is $195. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Wilmington and Hilton Head Island in more detail.
Accommodation
The prices for places to stay in Wilmington can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $96, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $192.
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $206 in Hilton Head Island For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
Wilmington food costs typically run travelers around $45 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
Food in Hilton Head Island costs travelers about $48 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
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Food
Meals for one day
Wilmington $45
Hilton Head Island $48
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hilton Head Island
For Hilton Head Island, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Hilton Head Coligny Beach Walking Food Tour:
$60
Local Transportation
To get around in Wilmington, the average visitor spends $38 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Hilton Head Island's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $27 per person, per day on transportation in Hilton Head Island.
Is it cheaper to fly into Wilmington or Hilton Head Island?
Prices for flights to both Hilton Head Island and Wilmington 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.
Entertainment
In Wilmington, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $14 per person, per day.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Hilton Head Island can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $19 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Tours and Activities in Hilton Head Island
For Hilton Head Island, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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2-Hour Guided Kayak Nature Tour of Hilton Head:
$40
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3-Hour Private Customized Small-Group Fishing, Dolphin Watching, or Nature Tours:
$497
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Avocado Electric Beach Cruiser Rental at Hilton Head Island:
$50
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Creek Cat Tour:
$119
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Daufuskie Island: Ferry Ticket and Optional Golf Cart Rental:
$45
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Disappearing Island Dolphin Tour:
$48
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Dolphins & Donuts Cruise:
$59
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Guided Kayak Eco Tour:
$40
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Guided Mini Boat Dolphin Tour:
$250
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Guided Stand Up Paddleboard Tour:
$40
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Hidden Hilton Head Private Tours:
$185
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Hilton Head Fireworks Boat Cruise:
$50
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Wilmington, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $31.
Typically, people visiting Hilton Head Island spend on average $21 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Wilmington and Hilton Head Island, we can see that Hilton Head Island is more expensive. And not only is Wilmington much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Wilmington would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Wilmington 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 Hilton Head Island would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hilton Head Island than you might in Wilmington.
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