Should add there is currently sheet vinyl on floor..the kind that comes on roll in hardware stores. We are renovating kitchen...final piece in puzzle!

According to the Janka hardness test for wood, pine is one of the softest woods available - not good for high traffic areas. If you want a durable wood, I would look into hickory, Brazilian walnut or cherry. Even oak flooring would be better than pine. You would probably end up spending a lot of time trying to maintain your pine floors by having to refinish and seal it often. It would probably become more costly for you in the long run!

Good points. I once had a post and beam house in Vermont and it had pine floors, but we weren't there long enough to wear them out! Is oak fairly affordable...our kitchen is about 225 feet...

Oak can be very affordable. Red Oak is the least expensive. You can probably find thin strip Red Oak flooring for under $1.80 SQ FT.