Nantucket vs Martha’s Vineyard
Everyone assumes the Vineyard is the expensive one. The numbers say otherwise. Here’s the honest comparison.
In this guide
01 — The misconception
Everyone assumes Martha’s Vineyard is the expensive one. They’re wrong.
Martha’s Vineyard has the celebrity associations that make everyone assume it’s the pricier island. The Obamas vacation there. Jackie Onassis had a home there. James Taylor, Carly Simon, the old money families of the Northeast — the Vineyard has carried that reputation for decades. When most people think “expensive New England island,” they think Martha’s Vineyard.
I’ve been to both islands. Like most people, I assumed the Vineyard was the pricier of the two. The numbers say otherwise — and the difference is significant enough to change your decision if money is part of the calculation.
Nantucket is more expensive across the board. The ferry costs nearly four times as much for a family. The hotels are pricier. The restaurants are pricier. Even the groceries cost more. The celebrity associations led everyone to the wrong conclusion — including me.
“Everyone assumes Martha’s Vineyard is the expensive island — the Obamas, Jackie O, the old money crowd. The numbers say otherwise. Nantucket costs nearly four times as much just to get there by ferry.”
02 — The quick answer
Two completely different islands. One right answer for each type of traveler.
The one-sentence rule
If you have one day — Nantucket. The ferry drops you in town and everything is walkable. If you have three or more days — Martha’s Vineyard. Six towns reward the time and you’ll leave wishing you had more of it.
03 — Getting there
The ferry from Hyannis. And the flights most people don’t know about.
Both islands are ferry-dependent — or accessible by small plane — from the Massachusetts mainland. Most visitors drive to Cape Cod and take the ferry from Hyannis or the surrounding area. This is where the first major cost difference appears.
By ferry
The family ferry math
Round trip ferry for a family of four to Nantucket on the high-speed: approximately 00. Round trip to Martha’s Vineyard from Woods Hole: approximately 60-200. That’s a 00 difference before you’ve paid for a single meal or a hotel room. For a week-long trip, that adds up fast.
By air
Both islands have small airports with surprisingly good service from major cities — a fact most visitors don’t know about.
From New York
JetBlue flies seasonally to both Nantucket (ACK) from JFK, LGA, and EWR. Martha’s Vineyard round trips from New York start around 47. Nantucket from 91 but peaks significantly higher in July and August. American and Delta also serve both islands seasonally.
From Boston
Cape Air flies year-round from Boston to both islands — the most frequent service and the most reliable option from New England. Tradewind Aviation added seasonal Boston-area service from Hanscom Field starting June 2026 — private terminal, no TSA lines, 30-minute check-in.
From Washington DC
JetBlue flies seasonally from DCA (Reagan National) to Nantucket. United flies from Dulles (IAD) to Nantucket seasonally. Martha’s Vineyard has less direct DC service — most DC travelers connect through Boston or New York.
The fog factor
Both islands are prone to fog delays that affect flights and ferries. Build flexibility into your schedule — especially on departure day. A morning departure gives you the best odds of beating the afternoon fog that rolls in off the Atlantic.
04 — The real cost
Nantucket is more expensive. Across the board.
| Category | Nantucket | Martha’s Vineyard |
|---|---|---|
| Ferry (round trip, walk-on, 2 people) | ~86–196 | ~4 |
| Hotel (avg. peak August/night) | 21+ | 32+ |
| Mid-range dinner (per person) | 0–70 | 5–60 |
| Cocktails | 6–20 | 4–18 |
| Budget hotel options | None — no hostel | Yes — HI hostel from 8 |
| Vacation rental (peak week) | Higher overall | More price range |
| Groceries | More expensive | Moderate |
The bottom line on cost
Nantucket has no hostel. No budget hotel option. The White Elephant starts at ,310/night. The Wauwinet at ,526/night. Martha’s Vineyard has the Charlotte Inn from 25, the Harbor View from 00, and a HI hostel from 8. The Vineyard has genuine options at every price point. Nantucket does not.
05 — The character
One cohesive aesthetic vs six completely different towns.
This is the real difference between the islands — and it has nothing to do with price.
Nantucket
One town. One aesthetic. Grey-shingled buildings, white trim, cobblestone streets, the historic whaling district. The National Park Service calls it “the finest surviving architectural and environmental example of a late 18th and early 19th century New England seaport town.” Everything feels intentional and cohesive.
Flat, bikeable, entirely walkable from the ferry. You can see the whole town in a day. The beaches, the Whaling Museum, Sconset village — all reachable by the island’s 35 miles of bike paths.
More buttoned-up, more preppy, more uniform. The “Nantucket reds” khakis exist because this is genuinely that kind of island.
Martha’s Vineyard
Six towns, each genuinely different. Edgartown — white clapboard elegance, upscale restaurants, traditional New England charm. Oak Bluffs — colorful gingerbread Victorian cottages, the Flying Horses carousel (oldest in America, 1876), a livelier energy. Aquinnah — dramatic 150-foot clay cliffs above the Atlantic. Chilmark and West Tisbury — farm country, rolling hills, the up-island quiet that celebrities specifically seek out.
Hilly, varied, requires a car or bike to see properly. One day barely scratches the surface. Three days starts to reveal what the island actually is.
More laid back, more diverse, less dress-code energy. You don’t need to pack your finest to fit in on Martha’s Vineyard.
“Nantucket is one town with one cohesive aesthetic. Martha’s Vineyard is six different experiences on a single island — and the Obamas chose it precisely because it has room to disappear into.”
06 — The beaches
Both extraordinary. Different in character.
Nantucket beaches
All beaches are public and free — no residential access restrictions. Jetties Beach for families, Surfside Beach via the 2.2-mile bike path, Cisco Beach for surfing, Madaket for sunsets, Great Point for remote 4WD wilderness. Wide, pristine, and surprisingly uncrowded given the island’s popularity.
Martha’s Vineyard beaches
Over 120 miles of coastline — more variety than Nantucket. From calm harbor beaches perfect for young children to wild, wave-battered Atlantic shores. Important caveat: some of the best beaches are town-resident-only in peak summer. Always check access before you go.
Water temperature
Both islands share the same Atlantic — cold by Southern standards, genuinely swimmable in July and August. Nantucket’s south-shore beaches face the open Atlantic with stronger surf. Martha’s Vineyard has more sheltered harbor beaches that warm slightly faster.
The Aquinnah Cliffs
Martha’s Vineyard’s most dramatic feature — 150-foot multicolored clay cliffs at the island’s western tip, a National Historic Landmark. Nothing like this exists on Nantucket. Worth the drive up-island specifically to see them.
07 — Where to stay
More options at every price point on the Vineyard.
Nantucket — Luxury
The White Elephant
Waterfront resort on Nantucket Harbor — the landmark property, commanding views, multiple restaurants, full-service spa. From ,310/night in peak season. The definitive Nantucket experience.
Best for: special occasions, couples, those who want the complete Nantucket experience
Check Availability →Martha’s Vineyard — Upscale
Harbor View Hotel (Edgartown)
Historic grand hotel overlooking Edgartown Harbor — from 00/night in peak season. The classic Martha’s Vineyard upscale experience at a more accessible price than comparable Nantucket properties.
Best for: those who want the full island resort experience with more value
Check Availability →Both Islands — Best Value
Vacation Rentals
Both islands have genuine vacation rental inventory — grey-shingled cottages on Nantucket, historic homes across Martha’s Vineyard’s six towns. For families and groups, rentals beat hotel pricing significantly.
Best for: families, groups, those who want a kitchen and more space
Browse VRBO Nantucket →08 — Who should go where
The decision simplified.
Choose Nantucket if…
You have one day and want to feel like you actually saw the island. You want the ferry to drop you right in the middle of everything walkable. You love a cohesive, polished New England aesthetic. Architecture and history are your priorities. Budget is not a primary concern.
Choose Martha’s Vineyard if…
You have three or more days and want variety. You want six distinct towns with six distinct personalities. You’re traveling with a family on a budget — more price options at every level. You want dramatic landscape including the Aquinnah Cliffs. You prefer laid-back over buttoned-up.
Choose Nantucket for a day trip
Nantucket is the clear winner for day trips — the ferry drops you in town, everything is walkable within minutes, and you can genuinely feel satisfied with one day. Martha’s Vineyard as a day trip feels rushed across six spread-out towns.
Choose Martha’s Vineyard for a week
A full week on the Vineyard reveals what the island actually is — the up-island quiet, the farm stands, the different energy of each town at different hours. Nantucket is wonderful for a week but it’s a smaller canvas.
09 — Side by side
The full comparison at a glance.
| Category | Nantucket | Martha’s Vineyard |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 44 square miles | 96 square miles |
| Towns | 1 | 6 |
| Ferry from Hyannis | 8–50 one way (fast) | 0–25 one way |
| Round trip ferry (2 people) | ~86–196 | ~4 |
| Average hotel (peak August) | 21+/night | 32+/night |
| Budget hotel option | None | HI Hostel from 8 |
| Terrain | Flat — great for biking | Hilly — varied, more dramatic |
| Beach access | All beaches public & free | Some resident-only in peak season |
| Best for day trips | Yes — walkable from ferry | Harder — 6 spread-out towns |
| Celebrity factor | Upscale, preppy | Obama, Jackie O, old money |
| Vibe | Polished, uniform, upscale | Diverse, laid-back, varied |
| Flights from NYC | JetBlue, American, Delta, United | JetBlue, American, Cape Air |
| Flights from DC | JetBlue (DCA), United (IAD) | Connect via Boston or NYC |
The island that surprised everyone — including me.
I went to both islands and assumed Martha’s Vineyard was the expensive one. The presidents. Jackie O. The celebrity associations run so deep that the assumption feels reasonable. It isn’t. Nantucket costs more to reach, more to sleep in, more to eat in, and has no budget options whatsoever. The Vineyard — for all its famous summer residents — is genuinely more accessible.
What that means practically: if you have one day and want to feel like you actually experienced a New England island, take the ferry to Nantucket. If you have more time and want variety, different landscapes, six different towns, and more room in the budget for the trip itself — Martha’s Vineyard rewards every extra day you give it.
Neither island is wrong. They’re just different trips — and now you know which one actually costs more to take.
One day — Nantucket.
Three days or more — Martha’s Vineyard.
Either way, the Atlantic is waiting.
Team Nantucket or Team Martha’s Vineyard? And did you have the same misconception about which island costs more?