A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Charlottesville vs. Moncton for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Charlottesville or Moncton?

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 Charlottesville and Moncton. 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.

Charlottesville

Charlottesville is a collegiate, southern, and proud university town. With plenty of activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. Charlottesville offers plenty of beauty for visitors. As it offers a special and quaint atmosphere, visitors come from all over to experience this destination. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and hiking. See Charlottesville travel costs.

Moncton

Moncton is a compact, cultural, and quaint city. Visitors also love the shopping, museums, and food. See Moncton travel costs.

Charlottesville and Moncton: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Charlottesville or Moncton?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Charlottesville. Although Charlottesville and Moncton are both popular with visitors, Charlottesville has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Charlottesville is more popular for its nightlife, historical sights, hiking, small town charm, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Moncton is known for its food and shopping. Charlottesville is popular for being home to the University of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, and serving as a gateway to Shenandoah National Park. It is also home to The University of Virginia Campus. Moncton is popular for its unique sense of place and its cultural activities.

How is Charlottesville different from Moncton?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Moncton and Charlottesville. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Charlottesville or Moncton?

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Charlottesville and Moncton.

Charlottesville offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. A highlight of a trip to the area is a visit to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. The city is also famously home to the beautiful University of Virginia, which has a manicured and beautiful campus. History buffs will also appreciate visiting the Civil War Sites that are nearby as well.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Moncton. The city has a zoo at Magnetic Hill as well as several great museums and historic sites like Fort Beauséjour and the Acadian Museum.

Is the Food Better in Charlottesville or Moncton? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Moncton is a good destination for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Charlottesville is not known for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Moncton has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. You'll find a range of casual eateries around town as well as wine tasting and a few upscales places. Poutine is the local favorite, but you can also try fried seafood or a local stew.

Charlottesville may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. Head to the Historic Downtown Mall to enjoy an outdoor meal at a top rated restaurant. There are also restaurants that cater specifically to students and offer affordable and quick meals.

Is Charlottesville or Moncton Better for Nightlife?

Charlottesville is a good destination for its evening party scene. However, Moncton is not a good destination for nightlife.

If you're looking for night time activities Charlottesville has a few options to choose from. Charlottesville is a university town with an active nightlife. The best areas for nightlife are found around the Downtown Mall, Belmont neighborhood, the Corner, and University Ave west near the mall. Even though there are a number of activities to enjoy at night, this is still a small town and the nightlife scene reflects that.

Most people don't head to Moncton specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. Many of the local bars and clubs are geared toward a slightly younger crowd.

Is Charlottesville or Moncton Better for its Old Town?

Charlottesville is a good destination for its historic old town charm. However, Moncton does not have a historic old town.

Charlottesville has an old town worth visiting. The Historic Downtown Mall is filled with restaurants and shops. It's a pedestrian only area with a lot of character and energy.

Moncton does not have a historic old town.

Is Charlottesville or Moncton Better for Hiking?

Charlottesville is a good destination for hiking. However, Moncton is not a hiking destination.

Charlottesville offers some nice hiking trails. Just outside of town there are plenty of hiking opportunities including in and around Shenandoah National Park. Hiking is at its best during the fall season when the leaves are changing.

Moncton is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Charlottesville or Moncton?

Moncton is a good destination for its shopping opportunities. However, Charlottesville is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Moncton. There's a mix of independent shops and larger big box stores. Some of the largest shopping areas include Mapleton Plaza and Wheeler Park Power Centre.

Charlottesville is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Charlottesville or Moncton More Beautiful?

Charlottesville is a good destination for its scenery and beauty. However, Moncton is not a destination known for its beauty.

Charlottesville offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Surrounded by the Shenandoah Mountains, this is a beautiful town and home to the beautiful University of Virginia.

Moncton is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Charlottesville or Moncton Better for Families?

Both Charlottesville and Moncton are good family-friendly destinations.

Charlottesville offers lots of family activities. Wandering the campus of UVA, picking fruit at Carter Mountain Orchard or exploring the downtown mall, including the Virginia Discovery Museum are all activities that everyone can enjoy. There are also great hiking trails just outside of town.

Moncton is a family-friendly place to visit. It's a family-friendly town with indoor play spaces and outdoor parks. Highlights for families include a visit to Magnetic Hill Zoo and a stop at Butterfly World and the Boardwalk.

Is Charlottesville or Moncton Better for Couples?

Charlottesville and Moncton both good destinations for a couple.

Charlottesville makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The UVA campus is beautiful to explore, as is Monticello. The Downtown Mall has many great restaurants and activities that make for a nice date night and during the day, there's also beautiful hikes nearby that are at their peak during the fall season.

Moncton is a good university town for couples to visit. There are some great date night ideas like wine tasting at Magnetic Hill Winery or seeing a show at the theater.

Is Charlottesville or Moncton Better for Students?

Charlottesville is a world-class destination for its student-friendly activities. However, Moncton is not popular with students.

Charlottesville is a very popular place to visit for students. The town is home to the beautiful University of Virginia and it's a popular destination for international students as well as local students. Much of the town is focused around student life, and the city's proximity to Washington, DC means it has access to global opportunities.

Moncton is not popular with students.

Is Charlottesville or Moncton Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Charlottesville and Moncton both offer decent public transit to get you around.

Public transit is mostly limited in Charlottesville. There is a bus system that runs between campus, downtown, and several neighborhoods in Charlottesville.

Public transit is generally limited in Moncton. There is a bus system but it's better not to rely on it.

Is Charlottesville or Moncton a more walkable city?

Moncton is a good destination for its high level of walkability. However, Charlottesville is not known for its ease of walking around.

Moncton is a somewhat walkable place. It's relatively compact and dense enough to get around on foot in many parts.

Charlottesville is generally not very walkable. While the University of Virginia campus and the Downtown Mall are both very walkable, most of the town is not.

For even more information, also check out Is Charlottesville Worth Visiting? and Is Moncton Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Moncton or Charlottesville?

How long in Charlottesville or Moncton?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Charlottesville or Moncton to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Charlottesville than Moncton because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Charlottesville, and 1-2 days is enough time in Moncton.

Couples should spend more time in Charlottesville than Moncton. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Charlottesville that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Charlottesville than Moncton 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 Charlottesville.

One day in Charlottesville or Moncton?

Charlottesville is a small town with plenty to do. This university town offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

The quaint destination of Moncton offers shopping and museums. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Charlottesville or Moncton?

Charlottesville might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Charlottesville has to offer.

The city of Moncton offers museums and food. A weekend here is typical. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities.

Five days in Charlottesville or Moncton?

Charlottesville is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Moncton is a great place to explore. This city offers something for everyone. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Charlottesville or Moncton?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Charlottesville. Since Charlottesville is a small town, it's easily explored when your time is limited. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Many people enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting Moncton. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to United States of America, The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, The Best Camping Tours in Canada, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Canada.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Charlottesville and Moncton, we can see that Charlottesville is more expensive. And not only is Moncton much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Moncton would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Moncton 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 Charlottesville would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Charlottesville than you might in Moncton.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Charlottesville Expensive? and Is Moncton Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Charlottesville or Moncton?

Moncton has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Charlottesville. When comparing the sizes of Charlottesville and Moncton, 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 Charlottesville or Moncton?

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 Charlottesville or Moncton in the Summer?

Both Moncton and Charlottesville are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Charlottesville because of the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Moncton this time of year.

In the summer, Charlottesville is a little warmer than Moncton. Typically, the summer temperatures in Charlottesville in July average around 78°F (26°C), and Moncton averages at about 19°C (66°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Moncton. It's quite rainy in Charlottesville. In July, Charlottesville usually receives more rain than Moncton. Charlottesville gets 5 inches (128 mm) of rain, while Moncton receives 103 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Charlottesville or Moncton in the Autumn?

Both Moncton and Charlottesville during the autumn are popular places to visit. The hiking trails, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Charlottesville this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Moncton for the shopping scene.

In October, Charlottesville is generally much warmer than Moncton. Daily temperatures in Charlottesville average around 59°F (15°C), and Moncton fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

Moncton gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Charlottesville usually gets less rain in October than Moncton. Charlottesville gets 3.5 inches (90 mm) of rain, while Moncton receives 106 mm (4.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Charlottesville or Moncton in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Charlottesville and Moncton. Many travelers come to Charlottesville for the museums, the Christmas ambience, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Moncton in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Moncton can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Charlottesville. Charlottesville is much warmer than Moncton in the winter. The daily temperature in Charlottesville averages around 36°F (2°C) in January, and Moncton fluctuates around -8°C (17°F).

Moncton receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Charlottesville usually receives less rain than Moncton. Charlottesville gets 3.2 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Moncton receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Charlottesville or Moncton in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Charlottesville as well as Moncton. Many visitors come to Charlottesville in the spring for the small town charm and the natural beauty.

Moncton can be very cold during spring. In the spring, Charlottesville is much warmer than Moncton. Typically, the spring temperatures in Charlottesville in April average around 58°F (14°C), and Moncton averages at about 3°C (38°F).

It's quite rainy in Moncton. Charlottesville usually gets less rain in April than Moncton. Charlottesville gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Moncton receives 101 mm (4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Moncton and Charlottesville