A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Wilmington vs. Virginia Beach for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Wilmington or Virginia Beach?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Wilmington or Virginia 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 Virginia 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.

Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach sits on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay. It's a popular beach destination and has many of the characteristics of most southeastern beach towns. There are many activities that you can enjoy and there's a concrete boardwalk that runs parallel to the water for about three miles. The boardwalk is a fun place to walk or bicycle. The beach itself is wide and sandy and is a great place to soak up some sun. During the summer months and school holidays it can get quite crowded and you might struggle to find a place for your towel and beach chairs. There are also many beach side resorts that line the water front. Most have pools and hot tubs where you can relax and some hotels have indoor pools as well, which can be nice during the cool winter months.

Which city is cheaper, Virginia Beach or Wilmington?

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 Virginia Beach is $126. 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 Virginia Beach in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Wilmington $120
    Virginia Beach $71
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Wilmington $240
    Virginia Beach $142
Compare Hotels in Wilmington and Virginia Beach

Looking for a hotel in Wilmington or Virginia 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.

Hotels in Wilmington


Hotels in Virginia Beach


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 Virginia Beach Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Wilmington $47
    Virginia Beach $39

Typical Local Transportation prices in Virginia Beach

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Virginia Beach:


  • Beach Parking
    $10

Is it cheaper to fly into Wilmington or Virginia Beach?

Prices for flights to both Virginia 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Wilmington $56
    Virginia Beach $30

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Wilmington $17
    Virginia Beach $21

Tours and Activities in Virginia Beach

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Virginia Beach.

  • All-Inclusive, Autumn Weekend Tour for GROUPS of 10-16: $5,901
  • RIDE ALONG GREEK GODS & AQUATISM *Certified Tours*: $75
  • Small Group Dolphin Kayak Eco-Tour: $62
  • Sunset Dolphin Kayak Tours: $62
  • Sunset Stand Up Paddleboard Tour of Linkhorn Bay: $41
  • Tour of Virginia Beach (half day), for GROUPS of 10-16: $499
  • Tour of Virginia Beach, for GROUPS of 10-16: $831
  • Haunted Walking Ghost Tour: $22
  • Wetland Zip Tour: $61

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Wilmington $39
    Virginia Beach $11


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Wilmington and Virginia Beach, we can see that Wilmington 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 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 Virginia Beach.


When is the best time to visit Wilmington or Virginia Beach?

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 Wilmington or Virginia Beach in the Summer?

Both Virginia Beach and Wilmington are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, the beaches and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Virginia Beach this time of year.

In the summer, Wilmington is around the same temperature as Virginia Beach. Typically, the summer temperatures in Wilmington in July are around 81°F (27°C), and Virginia Beach is about 79°F (26°C).

It's quite sunny in Virginia Beach. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Wilmington. Wilmington usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Virginia Beach during summer. Wilmington gets 283 hours of sunny skies, while Virginia Beach receives 279 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Virginia Beach. It's quite rainy in Wilmington. In July, Wilmington usually receives more rain than Virginia Beach. Wilmington gets 8.1 inches (207 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 5.7 inches (145 mm) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Wilmington 81°F (27°C) 
    Virginia Beach 79°F (26°C)

Should I visit Wilmington or Virginia Beach in the Autumn?

Both Virginia Beach and Wilmington during the autumn are popular places to visit. Also, many travelers come to Virginia Beach for the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Wilmington is generally a little warmer than Virginia Beach. Temperatures in Wilmington average around 65°F (18°C), and Virginia Beach stays around 62°F (16°C).

In Virginia Beach, 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 Virginia Beach. Wilmington gets 227 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Virginia Beach receives 211 hours of full sun.

Wilmington usually gets less rain in October than Virginia Beach. Wilmington gets 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Wilmington 65°F (18°C) 
    Virginia Beach 62°F (16°C)

Should I visit Wilmington or Virginia Beach in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Wilmington and Virginia Beach. Also, many visitors come to Virginia Beach in the winter for the cuisine.

Virginia Beach can get quite cold in the winter. Wilmington is much warmer than Virginia Beach in the winter. The temperature in Wilmington is usually 45°F (7°C) in January, and Virginia Beach stays around 39°F (4°C).

Wilmington usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Virginia Beach during winter. Wilmington gets 180 hours of sunny skies, while Virginia Beach receives 168 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Wilmington usually receives more rain than Virginia Beach. Wilmington gets 3.9 inches (98 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 3.3 inches (85 mm) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Wilmington 45°F (7°C) 
    Virginia Beach 39°F (4°C)

Should I visit Wilmington or Virginia Beach in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Wilmington as well as Virginia Beach. Also, most visitors come to Virginia Beach for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months.

In the spring, Wilmington is a little warmer than Virginia Beach. Typically, the spring temperatures in Wilmington in April are around 63°F (17°C), and Virginia Beach is about 58°F (14°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Virginia Beach. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Wilmington this time of the year. In the spring, Wilmington often gets more sunshine than Virginia Beach. Wilmington gets 278 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Virginia Beach receives 253 hours of full sun.

Wilmington usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Virginia Beach. Wilmington gets 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Wilmington 63°F (17°C) 
    Virginia Beach 58°F (14°C)

Typical Weather for Virginia Beach and Wilmington

Wilmington Virginia Beach
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 45°F (7°C) 3.9 inches (98 mm) 39°F (4°C) 3.3 inches (85 mm)
Feb 47°F (9°C) 3.7 inches (94 mm) 41°F (5°C) 3.3 inches (84 mm)
Mar 55°F (13°C) 3.9 inches (99 mm) 49°F (10°C) 3.4 inches (87 mm)
Apr 63°F (17°C) 2.9 inches (73 mm) 58°F (14°C) 2.7 inches (69 mm)
May 70°F (21°C) 4.4 inches (113 mm) 67°F (19°C) 3.3 inches (85 mm)
Jun 77°F (25°C) 6 inches (152 mm) 74°F (24°C) 3.6 inches (92 mm)
Jul 81°F (27°C) 8.1 inches (207 mm) 79°F (26°C) 5.7 inches (145 mm)
Aug 80°F (27°C) 6.9 inches (176 mm) 78°F (25°C) 5.9 inches (150 mm)
Sep 75°F (24°C) 5 inches (128 mm) 72°F (22°C) 4.2 inches (107 mm)
Oct 65°F (18°C) 2.7 inches (68 mm) 62°F (16°C) 3.1 inches (78 mm)
Nov 56°F (14°C) 3.1 inches (79 mm) 53°F (12°C) 3 inches (75 mm)
Dec 49°F (9°C) 3.6 inches (92 mm) 44°F (7°C) 3.1 inches (79 mm)


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Wilmington vs. Virginia Beach Travel Comparison

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