California is a cultural destination known for its beauty, culture, food, and exciting activities. In this travel cost guide, we'll cover everything you need to know to plan your travel budget and have an amazing trip without spending too much. This guide includes average trip costs from previous travelers, typical hotel prices, food and dining costs, entertainment and sightseeing prices, and information about transportation.
You should plan to spend around $283 per day on your vacation in California. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
A one week trip to California for two people costs, on average, $3,962. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
A one week trip to California usually costs around $1,981 for one person and $3,962 for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
A two week trip to California on average costs around $3,962 for one person and $7,924 for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in California will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.
A one month trip to California on average costs around $8,490 for one person and $16,980 for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.
California is a smaller destination that attracts travelers with diverse styles, spending habits, and budgetary preferences. Accommodation options range from budget-friendly hostels to mid-range hotels to high-end luxury properties.
California can be very expensive if you want it to be, but there are ways to cut down on your costs, like looking for discounts and coupons.
On average, budget travelers spend $110 per day, mid-range travelers spend $283 per day, and luxury travelers spend around $739 per day. These costs are calculated from the expenses of previous travelers to California.
Within North America, which is known to be an expensive region, California is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to many other destinations.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is California Expensive?
The average California trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these California travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers. Also, you can see more details at How much does a trip to California cost?
| Category | Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Accommodation 1
For 1 person in double occupancy |
$46 | $116 | $297 |
| Local Transportation 1 | $16 | $43 | $118 |
| Food 2 | $32 | $79 | $191 |
| Entertainment 1 | $21 | $65 | $236 |
| Alcohol 2 | $4-12 | $10-31 | $28-83 |
Setting realistic expectations for your travel budget is important. Many people think they can visit California on a tight budget, but most travelers aren't comfortable with a low "shoestring" budget. Think about what you enjoy during your vacations and how you typically travel. Do you prefer resorts, vacation rentals, or hostels? Do you want to visit museums, sights, and participate in activities? Is dining out a priority? These factors will shape both your budget and your itinerary.
While you might think you're a budget traveler, without giving up many of your usual comforts, you'll likely need to spend more than the $110 per day that backpackers often spend.
Backpackers often work within this tight budget by staying in hostel dorms, eating fast food or street food, using public transit, and mainly visiting free attractions.
If you're a couple or a family on a fun getaway, you might want to choose a mid-range hotel, enjoy meals at well-liked restaurants, and visit the key museums and attractions that come with entry fees. Those traveling to California often aim to see the major attractions, museums, and noteworthy landmarks. Most activities are not free, after all. Therefore, it's realistic to plan on a daily budget of about $283 per person, per day.
If you're looking for a higher-end vacation filled with high-end amenities and exceptional service, plan for a daily expense of approximately $739. Staying at nicer hotels, savoring meals at top-rated restaurants, splurging on lavish outings, and utilizing taxis or private drivers in the destination means you'll need a more luxurious budget. Also, higher-end tours are common with luxury travelers, such as Private Walking Tour in Stanford University - offered by Viator.
Hotel prices in California can really fluctuate, especially between budget and luxury options. Expect higher costs during peak season, when rates climb from an off-season average of $0 up to around $0. From $0 for budget options to $0 for luxury hotels, there's something for everyone. Hostels, particularly dorms, are typically cheaper. Book early or travel in the low season for better prices.
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid in California for two people for a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $232. For one person sharing a room, the average price paid for a hotel room is $116 per night. These costs are from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in California? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Choosing to travel outside of and in the low or shoulder season will give you lower hotel prices and less tourist congestion.
California lacks an efficient public transit system.
Calculated from travelers like you
On average, past travelers have spent $43 per person, per day, on local transportation in California. The cost of a taxi ride or rideshare service (Uber/Lyft) in California is significantly more than public transportation.
Ensure that your hotel has easy parking arrangements if you're planning to drive.
Some of the standard hotel transfers and transport options include:
Food is a major attraction for travelers, so make sure you don't miss out on the local culinary delights.
Calculated from travelers like you
While restaurant and meal prices in California can vary significantly, the average cost of food in California is $79 per day, per person, based on the spending habits of previous travelers.
When dining out, the average daily cost for food in California is around $79 ($79) per person, with previous travelers spending from $32 to $191. Generally, breakfast and lunch cost less than dinner, but this will depend on the type of restaurant and what you order.
Typical meal prices in California are as follows:
California offers a wide variety of cuisine. In the south, much of the food is influenced by Mexico. It's common to find Mexican restaurants, especially those that are low cost and casual. Try a burrito if you're on a budget and you'll have a fresh, delicious meal that will sustain you until your next craving.
Many accommodations feature breakfast in their rates, while some may charge additional fees for it. The cost and quality can vary significantly from one hotel to another. Knowing this information ahead of time helps you decide if you need to spend extra money. A tasty hotel buffet could be worth the expense, or a nearby bakery or cafe might offer a more affordable choice.
Fill a water bottle rather than purchasing drinks constantly. It's a smart and eco-friendly choice.
When planning a tour, don't forget to look into which meals are covered. You may be responsible for some of your own food, which could impact your budget significantly.
If you want to experience the culture in California, a food tour or cooking class is a great way to do it. After all, cuisine is one of the reasons why so many people visit. A few of the best culinary activities here include:
Calculated from travelers like you
Sightseeing activities, entertainment, and entrance tickets in California typically cost an average of $65 per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
The city of San Francisco is unique in the U.S. with its European style streets, cable cars, and eclectic personality. Nearby is the city of San Jose, known as "Silicon Valley", the internet hub of the world. Not too far north is wine country, with Napa Valley and Sonoma at its heart. Just north of San Francisco are the Marin headlands, a natural protected area with rugged mountains, hiking trails, and Muir Woods.
In the far north of the state are several national parks, including Redwood National Park, famous for its massive and extremely tall trees.
Following the coast south from San Francisco will lead visitors to Monterey Bay, known for sea life and its aquarium. Nearby is Carmel, a nifty beach and golf town with a long stretch of attractive coastline. Further south is a stretch of coastline known as Big Sur, which showcases mountainous landscapes with green hills that plunge into the blue sea. Occasional hidden beaches can be found in some of the inlets. In fact, this area should definitely be part of your California Road Trip experience.
Los Angeles is one of the largest cities in the U.S. and has much to offer from Hollywood to the nearby beach areas of Santa Barbara and Long Beach, as well as Orange County, Beverly Hills, Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm, and the list goes on.
San Diego, in the far south near the Mexican border, offers the warmest weather, scenic beaches, and a historic downtown area (the Gaslamp quarter) and the world class San Diego Zoo.
Inland, California offers rugged terrain and national parks. Southern California has a wide area of desert, and visitors can visit Death Valley, Joshua Tree National Park, and the Mojave Desert. In central California, the Sierra Nevada range hosts Yosemite National Park, Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park, Lake Tahoe, and other state and local parks.
Popular activities in California include surfing on the many beaches, visiting the numerous national parks, exploring the famous cities, and even skiing in the winter.
Hiking in the summer months is very popular, especially in national parks such as Yosemite, Redwoods, Kings Canyon, and Joshua Tree. The inland desert areas of the southern part of the state are very popular destinations in the winter months.
The Lake Tahoe area is quite popular in the summer and winter. The winter months are terrific for skiing and snowboarding.
Local tours that last a few hours can be a great way to explore California. Prices vary by the type of activity or tour, the dates, and the size of the group. Here are a few of the highest rated tours by previous visitors:
Calculated from travelers like you
The average person spends about $21 on nightlife and alcoholic beverages in California per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Nightlife is a blast when traveling, but scaling back on drinks can really help stretch your travel budget.
Tasting tours and nightlife activities are very popular in California. A few of the favorites from previous visitors include:
Big Sur, California
California is the most populous state in the U.S. and is known for a variety of attractions such as Hollywood, warm beaches, the San Francisco bay area, Redwood trees, national parks, and stunning mountain vistas. With a variety of locations and activities to offer, California has become one of the premier travel destinations in the world.
We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
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.
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