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

Should you visit Big Pine Key or Virginia Beach?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Big Pine Key and Virginia Beach. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Big Pine Key or Virginia Beach?

Big Pine Key

If you are yearning for a slice of paradise without the hustle and bustle of an ever-growing tourist population, the calm, turquoise waters and the untouched sands of Big Pine Key will surely do. Located 100 miles south of Miami and 30 miles north of Key West, this small community huddled in the family of Florida keys is often overlooked by many. However, Big Pine Key is truly a gem for all who seek a tropical vacation as activities like boating, fishing, scuba diving and snorkeling are found throughout the town. Besides its oceanic wonders, Big Pine Key also boasts in containing some of the United States' best seafood restaurants. Enjoy the aquatic wonders of the Keys and stop at Big Pine Key!

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Northern Lights Tours in Alaska, The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, and The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Virginia Beach or Big Pine Key?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Big Pine Key Prices
    USA Prices
    Virginia Beach Prices
    USA Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Big Pine Key $174
    Virginia Beach $148

The average daily cost (per person) in Big Pine Key is $174, while the average daily cost in Virginia Beach is $148. 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 Big Pine Key and Virginia Beach in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Big Pine Key $64
    Virginia Beach $71
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Big Pine Key $128
    Virginia Beach $142
Compare Hotels in Big Pine Key and Virginia Beach

Looking for a hotel in Big Pine Key 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 Big Pine Key


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: Virginia Beach Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Big Pine Key $56
    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 Big Pine Key or Virginia Beach?

Prices for flights to both Virginia Beach and Big Pine Key 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
    Big Pine Key $72
    Virginia Beach $52

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Big Pine Key $42
    Virginia Beach $21

Tours and Activities in Virginia Beach

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

  • Buried Beneath the Boardwalk: Neptune Ghouls and Ghost Tours: $32
  • Buried Beneath the Boardwalk: Neptune Ghouls and Ghost Tours: $24
  • Small Group Dolphin Kayak Eco-Tour: $63
  • Sunset Dolphin Kayak Tours: $68
  • Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Virginia Beach by Wacky Walks: $10
  • Dolphin Kayak Tour: This is a Workout!: $90
  • Wetland Zip Tour: $65
  • Ziplining and Climbing at The Adventure Park at Virginia Aquarium: $64

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Big Pine Key $9.29
    Virginia Beach $11


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Big Pine Key and Virginia Beach, we can see that Big Pine Key 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 Big Pine Key would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Big Pine Key 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 Big Pine Key Expensive? and Is Virginia Beach Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Big Pine Key or Virginia Beach?

Virginia Beach has a larger population, and is about 80 times larger than the population of Big Pine Key. When comparing the sizes of Big Pine Key and Virginia Beach, 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 Big Pine Key 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 Big Pine Key or Virginia Beach in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Big Pine Key and Virginia Beach. Also, most visitors come to Virginia Beach for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Big Pine Key is a little warmer than Virginia Beach in the summer. The daily temperature in Big Pine Key averages around 84°F (29°C) in July, and Virginia Beach fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Virginia Beach this time of the year. In Big Pine Key, it's very sunny this time of the year. Big Pine Key usually receives more sunshine than Virginia Beach during summer. Big Pine Key gets 328 hours of sunny skies, while Virginia Beach receives 279 hours of full sun in the summer.

Virginia Beach receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Big Pine Key usually receives less rain than Virginia Beach. Big Pine Key gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 5.7 inches (145 mm) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Big Pine Key 84°F (29°C) 
    Virginia Beach 79°F (26°C)

Should I visit Big Pine Key or Virginia Beach in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Big Pine Key as well as Virginia Beach. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Virginia Beach because of the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Big Pine Key is much warmer than Virginia Beach. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Big Pine Key in October average around 80°F (27°C), and Virginia Beach averages at about 62°F (16°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Virginia Beach. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Big Pine Key this time of the year. In the autumn, Big Pine Key often gets more sunshine than Virginia Beach. Big Pine Key gets 258 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Virginia Beach receives 211 hours of full sun.

Big Pine Key receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Big Pine Key usually gets more rain in October than Virginia Beach. Big Pine Key gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Big Pine Key 80°F (27°C) 
    Virginia Beach 62°F (16°C)

Should I visit Big Pine Key or Virginia Beach in the Winter?

Both Virginia Beach and Big Pine Key are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, the cuisine are the main draw to Virginia Beach this time of year.

It's quite cold in Virginia Beach in the winter. In January, Big Pine Key is generally much warmer than Virginia Beach. Daily temperatures in Big Pine Key average around 70°F (21°C), and Virginia Beach fluctuates around 39°F (4°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Big Pine Key. Big Pine Key usually receives more sunshine than Virginia Beach during winter. Big Pine Key gets 252 hours of sunny skies, while Virginia Beach receives 168 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Big Pine Key usually receives less rain than Virginia Beach. Big Pine Key gets 1.7 inches (43 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 3.3 inches (85 mm) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Big Pine Key 70°F (21°C) 
    Virginia Beach 39°F (4°C)

Should I visit Big Pine Key or Virginia Beach in the Spring?

Both Virginia Beach and Big Pine Key during the spring are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many travelers come to Virginia Beach for the beaches and the natural beauty.

Big Pine Key is much warmer than Virginia Beach in the spring. The daily temperature in Big Pine Key averages around 77°F (25°C) in April, and Virginia Beach fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).

In Virginia Beach, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Big Pine Key. In the spring, Big Pine Key often gets more sunshine than Virginia Beach. Big Pine Key gets 326 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Virginia Beach receives 253 hours of full sun.

Big Pine Key usually gets less rain in April than Virginia Beach. Big Pine Key gets 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Big Pine Key 77°F (25°C) 
    Virginia Beach 58°F (14°C)

Typical Weather for Virginia Beach and Big Pine Key

Big Pine Key Virginia Beach
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 70°F (21°C) 1.7 inches (43 mm) 39°F (4°C) 3.3 inches (85 mm)
Feb 71°F (21°C) 1.4 inches (36 mm) 41°F (5°C) 3.3 inches (84 mm)
Mar 74°F (23°C) 1.7 inches (42 mm) 49°F (10°C) 3.4 inches (87 mm)
Apr 77°F (25°C) 0.8 inches (21 mm) 58°F (14°C) 2.7 inches (69 mm)
May 81°F (27°C) 2.7 inches (68 mm) 67°F (19°C) 3.3 inches (85 mm)
Jun 83°F (28°C) 4.5 inches (114 mm) 74°F (24°C) 3.6 inches (92 mm)
Jul 84°F (29°C) 3.3 inches (83 mm) 79°F (26°C) 5.7 inches (145 mm)
Aug 84°F (29°C) 3.9 inches (98 mm) 78°F (25°C) 5.9 inches (150 mm)
Sep 83°F (29°C) 5.7 inches (144 mm) 72°F (22°C) 4.2 inches (107 mm)
Oct 80°F (27°C) 5.1 inches (129 mm) 62°F (16°C) 3.1 inches (78 mm)
Nov 76°F (24°C) 2 inches (50 mm) 53°F (12°C) 3 inches (75 mm)
Dec 72°F (22°C) 1.4 inches (35 mm) 44°F (7°C) 3.1 inches (79 mm)