A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Virginia Beach vs. Bangor for Families, Food, Nightlife, and Couples

Should you visit Virginia Beach or Bangor?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Virginia Beach or Bangor, 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.

Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach is a fun-filled, relaxing, and bustling coastal city. Virginia Beach offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Other popular activities here include nightlife and beaches. See Virginia Beach travel costs.

Bangor

Bangor is a welcoming, friendly, and laid back town. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. Visitors also love the shopping, museums, and food. See Bangor travel costs.

Virginia Beach and Bangor: Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Active nightlife
  • Nice resorts
  • Popular beach
  • Known for its beauty
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for couples and romance
  • Good for students
Pros
  • Popular museums and historical sights
  • Fun shopping
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for backpackers and budget travelers
Things to Consider
  • Less popular for nightlife
  • Less popular with couples


Is there more to do in Virginia Beach or Bangor?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Bangor. Although Virginia Beach and Bangor are both popular with visitors, Bangor has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Bangor is more popular for its museums and attractions, food, shopping, and small town charm, while Virginia Beach is known for its nightlife, resorts, beaches, and impressive beauty. Virginia Beach is more touristy than Bangor and is popular for its fun boardwalk, many seafood restaurants, and classic beach town vibe. Bangor is popular for its history as a lumber town. It is also home to the Paul Bunyan Statue.

How is Virginia Beach different from Bangor?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Virginia Beach or Bangor?

Virginia Beach
Bangor

Bangor is a nice place to visit for its historical sights. However, Virginia Beach does not have museums and landmarks.

Bangor offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There are a couple of museums around town that focus on culture and daily life in Maine.

Virginia Beach does not have museums and landmarks.


Is the Food Better in Virginia Beach or Bangor? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Virginia Beach
Bangor

Bangor is a nice place to visit for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Virginia Beach is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Bangor has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. For a small town, there are a range of dining options in the area such as seafood, international cuisine, and quick eats.

Virginia Beach may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. Seafood is plentiful around town and there are all-you-can-eat buffets as well as high end, waterfront seafood restaurants. Make sure you try the She Crab Soup, soft shell crabs, and oysters.

Is Virginia Beach or Bangor Better for Nightlife?

Virginia Beach
Bangor

Virginia Beach is a coastal city with good options for its evening party scene. However, Bangor is not a good town for nightlife.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Virginia Beach. While it's a family-friendly beach, there's still a great nightlife scene with many bars and clubs in the area. Popular places to hang out at night include Omega Bar, Peabody's Nightclub, and Sky Bar.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Bangor. There are breweries and bars with laid back vibes and a casual atmosphere.

Is Virginia Beach or Bangor Better for Resorts?

Virginia Beach
Bangor

Virginia Beach is a coastal city with good options for its resorts. However, Bangor is not a resort destination.

Virginia Beach has a few great resort options. Some of the best resorts in the area include the Historic Cavalier Hotel and Beach Club, the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront, and The Founders Inn and Spa.

Bangor is not a resort destination.


Is Virginia Beach or Bangor Better for Beaches?

Virginia Beach
Bangor

Virginia Beach is a coastal city with good options for the beach. However, Bangor is not a beach destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Virginia Beach. The beaches are long and sandy, but they can get crowded during the summer months. The waves are just the right size for playing in the surf and the water temperature is usually warm enough to swim well into the fall months.

Bangor is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Virginia Beach or Bangor?

Virginia Beach
Bangor

Bangor is a nice place to visit for its shopping opportunities. However, Virginia Beach is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Bangor. Head downtown for the widest selection of locally own shops and boutiques.

Virginia Beach is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Virginia Beach or Bangor More Beautiful?

Virginia Beach
Bangor

Virginia Beach is a coastal city with good options for its scenery and beauty. However, Bangor is not a destination known for its beauty.

Virginia Beach offers plenty of beauty for visitors. As a developed beach town, the city has its share of hotels along the beach, but it is still a beautiful setting to explore.

Bangor is not a destination known for its beauty.


Is Virginia Beach or Bangor Better for Families?

Virginia Beach
Bangor

Virginia Beach is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Bangor is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Virginia Beach is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. This is a popular family-friendly beach with a nice boardwalk, a fun waterpark, aquarium, and nice beaches. It attracts families in the area for its long beaches and fun atmosphere. Most restaurants have kid's menus and there are ice cream shops and minigolf around.

Bangor is a family-friendly coastal city. You'll find a number of parks and walking trails nearby. There's also fruit picking and playgrounds to explore.

Is Virginia Beach or Bangor Better for Couples?

Virginia Beach
Bangor

Virginia Beach is a coastal city with good options for couples. However, Bangor is not a good town for romance.

Virginia Beach is a good coastal city for couples to visit. Couples will enjoy a nice escape to the beaches and boardwalk. There are many great seafood restaurants, some with waterfront settings. There's also a variety of activities ranging from many golf to dance clubs.

Bangor is not the best destination for a couple to visit. There are local restaurants and several museums in town that couples will enjoy.

Is Virginia Beach or Bangor Better for Students?

Virginia Beach
Bangor

Virginia Beach is a coastal city with good options for students. However, Bangor is not popular with students.

Virginia Beach is a good coastal city to visit for students. It's not as popular as more southern beach towns, but you'll still find students heading here for the spring break holidays.

Bangor is not popular with students.


Is Virginia Beach or Bangor Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Virginia Beach
Bangor

Bangor is adequate for times when you don't have a car. However, Virginia Beach is not a good destination for its public transit.

Public transit is mostly limited in Bangor. There's a bus system, but visitors usually use their own car to get around.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Virginia Beach. There is very limited public transit in the area so you'll need to have a car to get around.

Is Virginia Beach or Bangor a more walkable city?

Virginia Beach
Bangor

Bangor is a nice place to visit for its high level of walkability. However, Virginia Beach is not a good destination for its ease of walking around.

Bangor is a somewhat walkable place. The downtown is compact and easy to explore on foot.

Virginia Beach is generally not very walkable. Most people prefer to have a car but do note that parking can be a nightmare, particularly during the summer season.

For even more information, also check out Is Virginia Beach Worth Visiting? and Is Bangor Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Bangor or Virginia Beach?

How long in Virginia Beach or Bangor?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Virginia Beach or Bangor to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Virginia Beach than Bangor because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 5-7 days is a good amount of time for Virginia Beach, and 1-2 days is enough time in Bangor.

Families should spend more time in Virginia Beach than Bangor. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Virginia Beach, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Bangor than Virginia Beach 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 Bangor.


  • How many days in Virginia Beach or Bangor? Ideal Length of Stay
    Virginia Beach 5-7 
    Bangor 1-2

One day in Virginia Beach or Bangor?

Many travelers enjoy the nightlife when visiting the destination of Virginia Beach. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

In Bangor, you'll find food and shopping. So, one day is just the right amount of time to spend here.


A weekend in Virginia Beach or Bangor?

Virginia Beach is a great place to explore. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Bangor is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.

Five days in Virginia Beach or Bangor?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Virginia Beach. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bangor. It offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Virginia Beach or Bangor?

Many travelers enjoy the nightlife when visiting the relaxing destination of Virginia Beach. This coastal city offers a variety of activities to choose from. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the town of Bangor. Your budget might influence how long you stay. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.


For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America, The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Bangor or Virginia Beach?

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

  • Virginia Beach Prices
    USA Prices
    Bangor Prices
    USA Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Virginia Beach $148
    Bangor $237

The average daily cost (per person) in Virginia Beach is $148, while the average daily cost in Bangor is $237. 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 Virginia Beach and Bangor in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Virginia Beach $71
    Bangor $114
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Virginia Beach $142
    Bangor $228
Compare Hotels in Virginia Beach and Bangor

Looking for a hotel in Virginia Beach or Bangor? 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 Virginia Beach


Hotels in Bangor


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 and Bangor Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Virginia Beach $39
    Bangor $36
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Virginia Beach

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


  • Beach Parking
    $10

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bangor

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bangor:

  • Private Transfer from Bangor Airport(BGR) to Rockland Cruise Port: $210
  • Private Transfer from Bangor city hotels to Rockland Cruise Port: $210

Is it cheaper to fly into Virginia Beach or Bangor?

Prices for flights to both Bangor and Virginia Beach 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
    Virginia Beach $52
    Bangor $93

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Virginia Beach $21
    Bangor $45

Tours and Activities in Virginia Beach

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

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

Typical Entertainment Prices in Bangor

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Bangor are as follows:


  • Children's Museum (for 4)
    $32

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Virginia Beach $11
    Bangor $23


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


Which is Bigger, Virginia Beach or Bangor?

Virginia Beach has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Bangor. When comparing the sizes of Virginia Beach and Bangor, 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 Virginia Beach or Bangor?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Virginia Beach or Bangor in the Summer?

Both Bangor and Virginia Beach during the summer are popular places to visit. The beaches and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Virginia Beach this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Bangor for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Virginia Beach is a little warmer than Bangor. Typically, the summer temperatures in Virginia Beach in July average around 79°F (26°C), and Bangor averages at about 69°F (21°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Virginia Beach. Virginia Beach usually gets more rain in July than Bangor. Virginia Beach gets 5.7 inches (145 mm) of rain, while Bangor receives 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Virginia Beach 79°F (26°C) 
    Bangor 69°F (21°C)

Should I visit Virginia Beach or Bangor in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Virginia Beach and Bangor. Many travelers come to Virginia Beach for the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, many visitors come to Bangor in the autumn for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere.

In October, Virginia Beach is generally much warmer than Bangor. Daily temperatures in Virginia Beach average around 62°F (16°C), and Bangor fluctuates around 48°F (9°C).

In October, Virginia Beach usually receives less rain than Bangor. Virginia Beach gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Bangor receives 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Virginia Beach 62°F (16°C) 
    Bangor 48°F (9°C)

Should I visit Virginia Beach or Bangor in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Virginia Beach as well as Bangor. Many visitors come to Virginia Beach in the winter for the cuisine. Additionally, most visitors come to Bangor for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Bangor can be very cold during winter. Virginia Beach can get quite cold in the winter. Virginia Beach is much warmer than Bangor in the winter. The daily temperature in Virginia Beach averages around 39°F (4°C) in January, and Bangor fluctuates around 18°F (-8°C).

Virginia Beach usually gets more rain in January than Bangor. Virginia Beach gets 3.3 inches (85 mm) of rain, while Bangor receives 3 inches (77 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Virginia Beach 39°F (4°C) 
    Bangor 18°F (-8°C)

Should I visit Virginia Beach or Bangor in the Spring?

Both Bangor and Virginia Beach are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Virginia Beach for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Bangor because of the small town charm.

In the spring, Virginia Beach is much warmer than Bangor. Typically, the spring temperatures in Virginia Beach in April average around 58°F (14°C), and Bangor averages at about 43°F (6°C).

In April, Virginia Beach usually receives less rain than Bangor. Virginia Beach gets 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain, while Bangor receives 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Virginia Beach 58°F (14°C) 
    Bangor 43°F (6°C)

Typical Weather for Bangor and Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach Bangor
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 39°F (4°C) 3.3 inches (85 mm) 18°F (-8°C) 3 inches (77 mm)
Feb 41°F (5°C) 3.3 inches (84 mm) 20°F (-6°C) 2.9 inches (73 mm)
Mar 49°F (10°C) 3.4 inches (87 mm) 31°F (-1°C) 3.1 inches (80 mm)
Apr 58°F (14°C) 2.7 inches (69 mm) 43°F (6°C) 3.3 inches (84 mm)
May 67°F (19°C) 3.3 inches (85 mm) 54°F (12°C) 3.6 inches (91 mm)
Jun 74°F (24°C) 3.6 inches (92 mm) 64°F (18°C) 3.4 inches (85 mm)
Jul 79°F (26°C) 5.7 inches (145 mm) 69°F (21°C) 3.3 inches (84 mm)
Aug 78°F (25°C) 5.9 inches (150 mm) 67°F (20°C) 3.4 inches (85 mm)
Sep 72°F (22°C) 4.2 inches (107 mm) 59°F (15°C) 3.4 inches (87 mm)
Oct 62°F (16°C) 3.1 inches (78 mm) 48°F (9°C) 3.4 inches (87 mm)
Nov 53°F (12°C) 3 inches (75 mm) 37°F (3°C) 4.6 inches (116 mm)
Dec 44°F (7°C) 3.1 inches (79 mm) 24°F (-5°C) 4 inches (100 mm)