A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Mandeville vs. Nags Head for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Mandeville or Nags Head?

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

Should I visit Mandeville or Nags Head? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Mandeville or Nags Head?

Mandeville

Mandeville is a small, quiet town in the mountains of Jamaica with a population of about 50,000. The town is situated on a plateau west of Kingston. It is the largest town in the parish of Manchester and the fifth largest urban center in the country.

Nags Head

Nags Head is a popular tourist destination in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The town, with a population of almost 3,000, has many nice beaches and is also where you'll find Jockey's Ridge, which has the tallest active sand dune system in the eastern United States. It's also the most visited park within the North Carolina park system.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage.


Which place is cheaper, Nags Head or Mandeville?

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

  • Mandeville Prices
    Jamaica Prices
    Nags Head Prices
    USA Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Mandeville $95
    Nags Head $179

The average daily cost (per person) in Mandeville is $95, while the average daily cost in Nags Head is $179. 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 Mandeville and Nags Head in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Mandeville $37
    Nags Head $80
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Mandeville $74
    Nags Head $160
Compare Hotels in Mandeville and Nags Head

Looking for a hotel in Mandeville or Nags Head? 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 Mandeville


Hotels in Nags Head


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: Nags Head Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Mandeville $30
    Nags Head $40

Is it cheaper to fly into Mandeville or Nags Head?

Prices for flights to both Nags Head and Mandeville 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
    Mandeville $41
    Nags Head $71

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Mandeville $8.01
    Nags Head $14

Tours and Activities in Nags Head

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Nags Head.

  • 2-hour Outer Banks Wild Horse Tour by 4WD Truck: $65
  • Alligator River Kayak Adventure: $59
  • Cape Hatteras Kayak Adventure in Rodanthe: $59
  • Cape Hatteras National Seashore Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour: $15
  • Kitty Hawk Maritime Forest Kayak Tour: $49
  • Nags Head Kayak Tour: $55
  • OBX Ghost Tours- The Original Ghost Tour of the Outer Banks: $25
  • OBX Ghost Tours: Lighthouse Wraiths & Dune Shadows: $26
  • Outer Banks Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $25
  • Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Outer Banks: $17
  • Stand Up Paddleboard Adventure on the Outer Banks : $65
  • Wright Brothers Carolina Dunes Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $15

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Mandeville $6.27
    Nags Head $12

Sample the Local Flavors in Nags Head

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Nags Head:

  • Wine Tasting And Boat Ride: $109


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mandeville and Nags Head, we can see that Nags Head is more expensive. And not only is Mandeville much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Mandeville is in Caribbean Islands and Nags Head is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Mandeville would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mandeville 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 Nags Head would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nags Head than you might in Mandeville.

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


Which is Bigger, Mandeville or Nags Head?

Mandeville has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Nags Head. When comparing the sizes of Mandeville and Nags Head, 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 Mandeville or Nags Head?

Nags Head has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Mandeville experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Mandeville or Nags Head in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Mandeville and Nags Head. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Mandeville year-round. Also, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Nags Head this time of year.

In July, Mandeville is generally a little warmer than Nags Head. Daily temperatures in Mandeville average around 29°C (83°F), and Nags Head fluctuates around 78°F (26°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Nags Head this time of the year. In Mandeville, it's very sunny this time of the year. Mandeville usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Nags Head during summer. Mandeville gets 257 hours of sunny skies, while Nags Head receives 274 hours of full sun in the summer.

Nags Head receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Mandeville usually receives less rain than Nags Head. Mandeville gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Nags Head receives 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Mandeville 29°C (83°F) 
    Nags Head 78°F (26°C)

Should I visit Mandeville or Nags Head in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Mandeville as well as Nags Head. Mandeville attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Mandeville is much warmer than Nags Head in the autumn. The daily temperature in Mandeville averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Nags Head fluctuates around 62°F (16°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Nags Head. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mandeville this time of the year. In the autumn, Mandeville often gets more sunshine than Nags Head. Mandeville gets 233 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nags Head receives 205 hours of full sun.

Mandeville receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Mandeville usually gets more rain in October than Nags Head. Mandeville gets 160 mm (6.3 in) of rain, while Nags Head receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Mandeville 28°C (82°F) 
    Nags Head 62°F (16°C)

Should I visit Mandeville or Nags Head in the Winter?

Both Nags Head and Mandeville are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Mandeville throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Nags Head in the winter for the cuisine.

Nags Head can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Mandeville is much warmer than Nags Head. Typically, the winter temperatures in Mandeville in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Nags Head averages at about 41°F (5°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mandeville. Mandeville usually receives more sunshine than Nags Head during winter. Mandeville gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Nags Head receives 147 hours of full sun in the winter.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Nags Head. In January, Mandeville usually receives less rain than Nags Head. Mandeville gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Nags Head receives 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Mandeville 26°C (79°F) 
    Nags Head 41°F (5°C)

Should I visit Mandeville or Nags Head in the Spring?

Both Nags Head and Mandeville during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Mandeville because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In April, Mandeville is generally much warmer than Nags Head. Daily temperatures in Mandeville average around 26°C (80°F), and Nags Head fluctuates around 59°F (15°C).

In Nags Head, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Mandeville. In the spring, Mandeville often gets less sunshine than Nags Head. Mandeville gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nags Head receives 262 hours of full sun.

Mandeville usually gets less rain in April than Nags Head. Mandeville gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Nags Head receives 3 inches (75 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Mandeville 26°C (80°F) 
    Nags Head 59°F (15°C)

Typical Weather for Nags Head and Mandeville

Mandeville Nags Head
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 26°C (79°F) 86 mm (3.4 in) 41°F (5°C) 4.1 inches (105 mm)
Feb 26°C (79°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 42°F (6°C) 3.6 inches (92 mm)
Mar 26°C (80°F) 41 mm (1.6 in) 50°F (10°C) 3.9 inches (98 mm)
Apr 26°C (80°F) 54 mm (2.1 in) 59°F (15°C) 3 inches (75 mm)
May 28°C (82°F) 101 mm (4 in) 67°F (19°C) 4.6 inches (117 mm)
Jun 27°C (81°F) 122 mm (4.8 in) 74°F (23°C) 4.1 inches (105 mm)
Jul 29°C (83°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 78°F (26°C) 5.4 inches (137 mm)
Aug 29°C (83°F) 96 mm (3.8 in) 78°F (25°C) 5 inches (127 mm)
Sep 29°C (83°F) 129 mm (5.1 in) 72°F (22°C) 4.7 inches (119 mm)
Oct 28°C (82°F) 160 mm (6.3 in) 62°F (16°C) 3.2 inches (82 mm)
Nov 28°C (82°F) 115 mm (4.5 in) 53°F (12°C) 2.9 inches (73 mm)
Dec 27°C (80°F) 104 mm (4.1 in) 45°F (7°C) 3.4 inches (85 mm)