Which place is cheaper, Bonaire 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.
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Should you visit Virginia Beach or Bonaire?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Virginia Beach or Bonaire, 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: Virginia Beach or Bonaire?
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.
Bonaire
An island municipality of the Netherlands, Bonaire resides in the Caribbean, east of Central America and north of Venezuela. It is a part of the ABC Islands together with Aruba and Curaçao, and is best known as a tropical vacation destination with many great dive spots, beaches, lagoons, and wildlife.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America.
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Virginia Beach Prices
USA PricesBonaire Prices
Caribbean Netherlands Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVirginia Beach $148Bonaire $299
The average daily cost (per person) in Virginia Beach is $148, while the average daily cost in Bonaire is $299. 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 Bonaire in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVirginia Beach $71Bonaire $155
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVirginia Beach $142Bonaire $310
Compare Hotels in Virginia Beach and Bonaire
Looking for a hotel in Virginia Beach or Bonaire? 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.
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 Bonaire Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Virginia Beach $39Bonaire $65
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Virginia Beach
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Virginia Beach:
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Beach Parking$10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bonaire
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bonaire:
- Airport Transfer Return Included: $80
- Private Transfer from Kralendijk Port to Bonaire Airport (BON): $59
- Private Transfer from Kralendijk Cruise Port to Kralendijk city : $59
- Private Transfers between Bonaire airport and any local address : $40
Is it cheaper to fly into Virginia Beach or Bonaire?
Prices for flights to both Bonaire 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
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Food Meals for one dayVirginia Beach $52Bonaire $101
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bonaire
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bonaire.
- Dinner at Sea: $95
- Discover the Flavors of Bonaire with the Bonaire Snack Food Tour: $130
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Virginia Beach $21Bonaire $40
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
Tours and Activities in Bonaire
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bonaire are as follows:
- 2 Hours Private Kitesurfing Adventure: $265
- 4 Hours Open Air Party Bus Tour with Beach Stop in Caribbean: $39
- 4 hour Individual Island Tour for 1 to 12 persons: $180
- Aquaspace Sunset Sail and Snorkel Tour on Bonaire with Diner: $130
- Bonaire Cave Tour: Walk, Climb & Swim: $75
- Bonaire CaveTour Climb, Snorkel & Explore the Hidden Gems : $83
- Bonaire Essentials Island Tour: $49
- Bonaire Landsailing Adventures: $79
- Bonaire Shore Excursion: The Bonaire Highlights Tour: $83
- Bonaire island adventure: $110
- Discover Scuba Diving Experience: $164
- North & South Highlights Guided Group Tour: $100
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVirginia Beach $11Bonaire $33
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Virginia Beach and Bonaire, we can see that Bonaire is more expensive. And not only is Virginia Beach much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Virginia Beach is in North America and Bonaire is in Caribbean Islands, 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 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 Bonaire would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bonaire 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 Bonaire Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Virginia Beach or Bonaire?
Virginia Beach has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Bonaire. When comparing the sizes of Virginia Beach and Bonaire, 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.