Which city is cheaper, Myrtle Beach or Wilmington?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Wilmington vs. Myrtle Beach for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Wilmington or Myrtle Beach?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Wilmington or Myrtle Beach, 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.
Where Should I go: Wilmington or Myrtle Beach?
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.
Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach is one of the most popular and touristy beach destinations on the South Atlantic coast. It's a popular spring break destination for college kids and there is no shortage of hotels and entertainment options along the beach front. It's also well known as a golfing destination, and it has some wonderful seafood restaurants and shopping areas. If you're looking for a natural, relaxed beach destination, Myrtle Beach is not your best option, but if you're looking for the thrills of club hopping, wonderful food options, and souvenir shopping opportunities, then Myrtle Beach is where it's at.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayWilmington $204Myrtle Beach $173
The average daily cost (per person) in Wilmington is $204, while the average daily cost in Myrtle Beach is $173. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Wilmington and Myrtle Beach in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personWilmington $120Myrtle Beach $88
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomWilmington $240Myrtle Beach $176
Compare Hotels in Wilmington and Myrtle Beach
Looking for a hotel in Wilmington or Myrtle Beach? 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: Wilmington Hotel Prices and Myrtle Beach Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Wilmington $47Myrtle Beach $24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Myrtle Beach
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Myrtle Beach:
- Myrtle Beach Intl. Airport (MYR) to Myrtle Beach - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $291
- Myrtle Beach to Myrtle Beach Intl. Airport (MYR) - Departure Private Transfer: $146
- Myrtle Beach Intl. Airport (MYR) to Myrtle Beach - Arrival Private Transfer: $146
- Private Departure Transfer to Myrtle Beach Airport (MYR): $38
- Private Arrival Transfer from Myrtle Beach Airport MYR: $38
Is it cheaper to fly into Wilmington or Myrtle Beach?
Prices for flights to both Myrtle Beach 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayWilmington $56Myrtle Beach $56
Typical Food prices in Myrtle Beach
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Myrtle Beach:
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Dinner for Two$49
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Diner Breakfast for Two$21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Myrtle Beach
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Myrtle Beach.
- Polynesian Fire Luau and Dinner Show Ticket in Myrtle Beach: $50
- Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament Admission Ticket in Myrtle Beach: $53
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Wilmington $17Myrtle Beach $46
Typical Entertainment prices in Myrtle Beach
Here are a few typical costs in Myrtle Beach for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Mini Golf for Two$18
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Beach Chairs$15
Tours and Activities in Myrtle Beach
Here are a few actual costs in Myrtle Beach for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Charleston Sightseeing Day Trip with Lunch from Myrtle Beach: $139
- Early Myrtle Beach and The War Years Trolley Tour: $40
- Guided Myrtle Beach Kayak Tour: $56
- Guided Stand-Up Paddleboard Tour: $55
- Local Folklore and Family Fortunes Near Myrtle Beach Trolley Tour: $40
- Myrtle Beach Boardwalk Food & Sightseeing Tour: $276
- Myrtle Beach History, Movies and Music Trolley Tour: $40
- Myrtle Beach Military History Trolley Tour: $40
- Waccamaw River Nature & Wildlife Tours: $32
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayWilmington $39Myrtle Beach $16
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Wilmington and Myrtle Beach, we can see that Wilmington is more expensive. And not only is Myrtle Beach much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Myrtle Beach would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Myrtle 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 Wilmington would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Wilmington than you might in Myrtle Beach.
When is the best time to visit Wilmington or Myrtle Beach?
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 Wilmington or Myrtle Beach in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Wilmington as well as Myrtle Beach. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Myrtle Beach because of the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Wilmington is generally around the same temperature as Myrtle Beach. Temperatures in Wilmington average around 81°F (27°C), and Myrtle Beach stays around 81°F (27°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Myrtle Beach. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Wilmington this time of the year. In the summer, Wilmington often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Myrtle Beach. Wilmington gets 283 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Myrtle Beach receives 283 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Myrtle Beach. Wilmington receives a lot of rain in the summer. Wilmington usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Myrtle Beach. Wilmington gets 8.1 inches (207 mm) of rain, while Myrtle Beach receives 8.1 inches (207 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyWilmington 81°F (27°C)Myrtle Beach 81°F (27°C)
Should I visit Wilmington or Myrtle Beach in the Autumn?
Both Myrtle Beach and Wilmington are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the shopping scene are the main draw to Myrtle Beach this time of year.
Wilmington is around the same temperature as Myrtle Beach in the autumn. The temperature in Wilmington is usually 65°F (18°C) in October, and Myrtle Beach stays around 65°F (18°C).
It's quite sunny in Myrtle Beach. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Wilmington. Wilmington usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Myrtle Beach during autumn. Wilmington gets 227 hours of sunny skies, while Myrtle Beach receives 227 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Wilmington usually receives around the same amount of rain as Myrtle Beach. Wilmington gets 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain, while Myrtle Beach receives 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberWilmington 65°F (18°C)Myrtle Beach 65°F (18°C)
Should I visit Wilmington or Myrtle Beach in the Winter?
Both Myrtle Beach and Wilmington during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many travelers come to Myrtle Beach for the shopping scene.
In the winter, Wilmington is around the same temperature as Myrtle Beach. Typically, the winter temperatures in Wilmington in January are around 45°F (7°C), and Myrtle Beach is about 45°F (7°C).
In the winter, Wilmington often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Myrtle Beach. Wilmington gets 180 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Myrtle Beach receives 180 hours of full sun.
Wilmington usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Myrtle Beach. Wilmington gets 3.9 inches (98 mm) of rain, while Myrtle Beach receives 3.9 inches (98 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryWilmington 45°F (7°C)Myrtle Beach 45°F (7°C)
Should I visit Wilmington or Myrtle Beach in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Wilmington and Myrtle Beach. Furthermore, many visitors come to Myrtle Beach in the spring for the beaches.
In April, Wilmington is generally around the same temperature as Myrtle Beach. Temperatures in Wilmington average around 63°F (17°C), and Myrtle Beach stays around 62°F (17°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Myrtle Beach this time of the year. In Wilmington, it's very sunny this time of the year. Wilmington usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Myrtle Beach during spring. Wilmington gets 278 hours of sunny skies, while Myrtle Beach receives 278 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Wilmington usually receives around the same amount of rain as Myrtle Beach. Wilmington gets 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain, while Myrtle Beach receives 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilWilmington 63°F (17°C)Myrtle Beach 62°F (17°C)
Typical Weather for Myrtle Beach and Wilmington
| Wilmington | Myrtle Beach | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 45°F (7°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) | 45°F (7°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) |
| Feb | 47°F (9°C) | 3.7 inches (94 mm) | 48°F (9°C) | 3.7 inches (94 mm) |
| Mar | 55°F (13°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) | 55°F (13°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
| Apr | 63°F (17°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) | 62°F (17°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) |
| May | 70°F (21°C) | 4.4 inches (113 mm) | 70°F (21°C) | 4.4 inches (113 mm) |
| Jun | 77°F (25°C) | 6 inches (152 mm) | 77°F (25°C) | 6 inches (152 mm) |
| Jul | 81°F (27°C) | 8.1 inches (207 mm) | 81°F (27°C) | 8.1 inches (207 mm) |
| Aug | 80°F (27°C) | 6.9 inches (176 mm) | 80°F (26°C) | 6.9 inches (176 mm) |
| Sep | 75°F (24°C) | 5 inches (128 mm) | 75°F (24°C) | 5 inches (128 mm) |
| Oct | 65°F (18°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) | 65°F (18°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
| Nov | 56°F (14°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) |
| Dec | 49°F (9°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) | 49°F (9°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) |
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