Which place is cheaper, Providence or Wilmington?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Wilmington or Providence, 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.
Wilmington is a welcoming, charming, and historic city. It's also popular because of the food, beaches, and shopping.
Providence is a friendly, fascinating, and active city. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food.
Visitors will generally find more to do in Wilmington than Providence. While Providence is larger than Wilmington, Wilmington has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Wilmington is better known for its beaches and historical sights, while Providence is more popular for its food. Wilmington is more touristy than Providence and is known for its laid back beaches, historical waterfront area, and university setting. Also, Wilmington is famous for the Battleship North Carolina. Providence is well known for its outdoor parks, historic atmosphere, and college town vibe.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Providence and Wilmington. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Spend time exploring the notable sights and museums in either Wilmington or Providence.
Wilmington is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are art, history, and science museums around town. The Battleship North Carolina is a popular destination. Science enthusiasts will enjoy a visit to the Cape Fear Museum of History and Science or the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher. For art, head to the Cameron Art Museum or Art in Bloom Gallery.
Providence offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There are several historical museums around town as well as art museums, zoos, a planetarium and natural history museum, and even a children's museum.
Providence is great for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Wilmington is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its local cuisine and restaurants.
The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Providence. The food scene around town has grown and diversified in recent years. You'll find a mix of international and local options and for such a small city, it really has a lot to offer.
Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Wilmington. Head to the waterfront for local seafood restaurants that offer outdoor seating and fresh caught fish. There are also farm-to-table restaurants and local diners with casual food.
The vibe at night is notable in both Wilmington and Providence.
If you're looking for night time activities Wilmington has a few options to choose from. Live music is popular around town. There are also bars, lounges and dance clubs. When the weather is warm, many places make use of the outdoor setting, which makes for a relaxed and fun evening.
There's a variety of activities in the evening in Providence. Comedy clubs, bars, and clubs keep the energy high during the evening hours. It's not hard to find something to do, particularly on weekend nights.
Wilmington is a great city for the beach. However, Providence is not a beach destination.
Many people visit Wilmington for it's beautiful beaches. Nearby you'll find Wrightsville Beach, Kure Beach, and Carolina Beach. They have long stretches of sand and great waves. The water is usually warm enough for swimming between the months of April and October. During these peak months parking can be challenging, but during the quieter times, you shouldn't have trouble.
Providence is not a beach destination.
Wilmington is a good destination for its historic old town charm. However, Providence does not have a historic old town.
Wilmington has an old town worth visiting. The Historic District is along the waterfront and has 18th and 19th century architecture. There are also great restaurants and interesting shops.
Providence does not have a historic old town.
If you're looking to go shopping, Wilmington and Providence both offer plenty of notable spots.
Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Wilmington. Head downtown for the most interesting local shops. You'll find boutiques and souvenir shops where you can pick up art, accessories, or antiques.
Providence offers some nice shopping areas. Malls, shopping centers, and boutiques all offer a range of shopping experiences around town.
Wilmington is a great city for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Providence 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 Wilmington. Near town you'll find several beaches - Wrightsville Beach, Kure Beach, and Carolina Beach. They're all family-friendly and perfect for a day's activity. The city also has the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, the Children's Museum of Wilmington, and the Wilmington Railroad Museum. For a rainy day there are also indoor play areas and entertainment centers.
Providence is a family-friendly place to visit. There are opportunities for kids to interact with animals at the Roger Williams Park Zoo, as well as plenty of places for kids to run around like Rocky Point Park or Goddard Memorial State Park. There's also the Providence Children's Museum, go carting, and entertainment centers.
Wilmington is a great city for couples. Also, Providence is not as popular, but is still a nice city for romance.
Wilmington is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. The beaches are great for a relaxing day of swimming and sunbathing. In the evening head into town and enjoy one of the local seafood restaurants on the waterfront. You'll also find great shopping and historical sights in the area.
Providence is a nice destination for couples. You can see a show at the Providence Performing Arts Center or visit some of the city's historic buildings and museums. There are also parks and coastal walks as well as many great restaurants.
Providence is great for its student-friendly activities. Also, Wilmington is not as popular, but is still a nice city for students.
Providence is a great city to visit as a student. There's a college town vibe to this small city because it's home to Brown University, which is a member of the Ivy League.
Wilmington is a good city to visit for students. The University of North Carolina at Wilmington is a popular school that brings many students to town.
Providence is a nice place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Wilmington is not a good destination for its public transit.
While Providence offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are RIPTA buses that travel around town.
Public transit is generally limited in Wilmington. There are public buses around town, but for practical reasons, you'll want to have your own vehicle.
Providence is great for its walkability. Also, Wilmington is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its high level of walkability.
Providence is very walkable. It's a walkable city and it's relatively easy to explore on foot.
Wilmington is a somewhat walkable place. The Historic District is best explored on foot. You can also get around Wrightsville Beach on foot, but traveling between these places requires a car.
For even more information, also check out Is Wilmington Worth Visiting? and Is Providence Worth Visiting?.
Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Wilmington and Providence. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Wilmington than in Providence. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Wilmington, and 2-3 days is enough time in Providence.
Families should spend more time in Wilmington than Providence. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Wilmington, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Wilmington than Providence. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Wilmington that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Providence than Wilmington 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 Providence.
With museums and nightlife around the welcoming city of Wilmington, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.
With museums and nightlife around the fascinating city of Providence, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.
With nightlife and food around the destination of Wilmington, there's plenty to do. It's also a great beach destination, too. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.
With nightlife and food around the destination of Providence, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.
Wilmington, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for five days. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. In five days, you should have a good grasp of this city. Your budget might influence how long you stay.
Providence, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.
Wilmington is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
Providence is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America, The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Wilmington is $204, while the average daily cost in Providence is $210. 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 Wilmington and Providence in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Wilmington or Providence? 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.
Also for Providence, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Providence 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.
For Providence, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Wilmington.
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Providence.
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Wilmington:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Providence:
When comparing the travel costs between Wilmington and Providence, we can see that Providence 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 Wilmington Expensive? and Is Providence Expensive?.
Providence has a larger population, and is about 92% larger than the population of Wilmington. When comparing the sizes of Wilmington and Providence, 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.
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.
Both Providence and Wilmington are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Wilmington for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Providence in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Wilmington is generally a little warmer than Providence. Daily temperatures in Wilmington average around 81°F (27°C), and Providence fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).
It's quite sunny in Providence. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Wilmington. Wilmington usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Providence during summer. Wilmington gets 283 hours of sunny skies, while Providence receives 293 hours of full sun in the summer.
It's quite rainy in Wilmington. In July, Wilmington usually receives more rain than Providence. Wilmington gets 8.1 inches (207 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
Both Providence and Wilmington during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Wilmington in the autumn for the shopping scene. Furthermore, most visitors come to Providence for the shopping scene during these months.
Wilmington is much warmer than Providence in the autumn. The daily temperature in Wilmington averages around 65°F (18°C) in October, and Providence fluctuates around 53°F (12°C).
In Providence, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Wilmington. In the autumn, Wilmington often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Providence. Wilmington gets 227 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Providence receives 211 hours of full sun.
Wilmington usually gets less rain in October than Providence. Wilmington gets 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain this time of the year.
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Wilmington and Providence. Most visitors come to Wilmington for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Providence because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
The weather in Providence can be very cold. In the winter, Wilmington is much warmer than Providence. Typically, the winter temperatures in Wilmington in January average around 45°F (7°C), and Providence averages at about 28°F (-2°C).
Wilmington usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Providence during winter. Wilmington gets 180 hours of sunny skies, while Providence receives 170 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Wilmington usually receives more rain than Providence. Wilmington gets 3.9 inches (98 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
The spring brings many poeple to Wilmington as well as Providence. The spring months attract visitors to Wilmington because of the beaches.
In April, Wilmington is generally much warmer than Providence. Daily temperatures in Wilmington average around 63°F (17°C), and Providence fluctuates around 48°F (9°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Providence. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Wilmington this time of the year. In the spring, Wilmington often gets more sunshine than Providence. Wilmington gets 278 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Providence receives 225 hours of full sun.
Wilmington usually gets less rain in April than Providence. Wilmington gets 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 3.7 inches (94 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Wilmington | Providence | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 45°F (7°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) | 28°F (-2°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) |
Feb | 47°F (9°C) | 3.7 inches (94 mm) | 30°F (-1°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) |
Mar | 55°F (13°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) | 38°F (3°C) | 4 inches (101 mm) |
Apr | 63°F (17°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) | 48°F (9°C) | 3.7 inches (94 mm) |
May | 70°F (21°C) | 4.4 inches (113 mm) | 58°F (15°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) |
Jun | 77°F (25°C) | 6 inches (152 mm) | 67°F (20°C) | 2.6 inches (67 mm) |
Jul | 81°F (27°C) | 8.1 inches (207 mm) | 73°F (23°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) |
Aug | 80°F (27°C) | 6.9 inches (176 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
Sep | 75°F (24°C) | 5 inches (128 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
Oct | 65°F (18°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) | 53°F (12°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
Nov | 56°F (14°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) | 44°F (7°C) | 4.5 inches (115 mm) |
Dec | 49°F (9°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) | 33°F (0°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) |