Should you visit Berkeley or Sacramento?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Berkeley or Sacramento, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Berkeley
Berkeley is considered to be perhaps the most progressive or liberal city in the United States. The town has deep roots in the Free Speech movement of the 1960s. Visitors, students, and locals alike will find an eclectic mix of cultures and viewpoints. The city's free-thinking environment has witnessed the creation of quality attractions, great food from many world cultures, and of course the internationally renowned University of California, Berkeley (also known as "Cal" or "Cal Berkeley").
Sacramento
Sacramento is the capital city and one of the oldest cities in the state of California. It was founded in 1849 in the midst of the Gold Rush, and has since grown to a population of over 500,000 people. The atmosphere is more laid back than most major cities, and its heritage is rooted in the Gold Rush and Transcontinental Railroad era.
Which city is cheaper, Sacramento or Berkeley?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Berkeley is $152, while the average daily cost in Sacramento is $225. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Berkeley and Sacramento in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Berkeley is about $210 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
The prices for places to stay in Sacramento can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $88, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $176.
Food
The price of a meal in Berkeley can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $29 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $12 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
While meal prices in Sacramento can vary, the average travelers spends about $42 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Sacramento should cost around $17 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Sacramento is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
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Food
Meals for one day
Berkeley $29
Sacramento $42
Typical Food prices in Berkeley
Some typical examples of dining costs in Berkeley are as follows:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Berkeley
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Berkeley.
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Learn to Make New Orleans-Style Gumbo in a Private Berkeley Cooking Class:
$66
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Best of North Berkeley Food Tour:
$110
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North 3-Hour Food Tour:
$116
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sacramento
For Sacramento, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Downtown Sacramento Historical Food Tour:
$82
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Midtown Sacramento Arts and Food Tour:
$85
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $24 per day to get around in Berkeley.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Sacramento than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $41 on transportation in Sacramento on average per day.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sacramento
Also for Sacramento, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Sacramento Airport (SMF) to Sacramento hotel/address - Arrival Private Transfer:
$72
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Sacramento City to Sacramento Airport (SMF) - Departure Private Transfer:
$72
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Sacramento Executive Airport to Sacramento City - One Way:
$73
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Sacramento Airport (SMF) to Sacramento hotel/address- RoundTrip Private Transfer:
$144
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Sacramento Executive Airport to Roseville City - One Way:
$144
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Private Sacramento Transfer Hotel to Airport:
$150
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Private Sacramento Transfer Airport to Hotel:
$150
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Sacramento Airport (SMF) to Napa, CA - Arrival Private Transfer:
$228
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Private transfer from Sacramento to SFO:
$340
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Sacramento Airport (SMF) to Napa, CA - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$455
Is it cheaper to fly into Berkeley or Sacramento?
Prices for flights to both Sacramento and Berkeley 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.
Entertainment
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $24 per person, per day in Berkeley. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Sightseeing expenses in Sacramento, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $15 per day, per person.
Tours and Activities in Sacramento
For Sacramento, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Sacramento Urban Murals: Cycle the streets of Sacramento with an audio tour:
$5.00
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California Gold Rush: The Sacramento Grid on a Self-Guided Bicycle Audio Tour:
$8.30
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Sacramento Historic River Cruise:
$20
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Sacramento Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$21
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Sacramento Sutter District History and Food Walking Tour:
$78
Alcohol
The average person spends about $10 on alcoholic beverages in Berkeley per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Typically, people visiting Sacramento spend on average $9.31 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Sacramento
Also in Sacramento, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Sacramento Bar Hunt: Sacramento Sprint Bar Crawl:
$12
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Bk Best Wine Tasting Tours Amador County 4 Hour Chevrolet Suburban Passengers 7:
$385
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4 Hour Private Amador County Wine Tasting Tours Mercedes Sprinter Passengers Van:
$409
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Amador Wine Tour from Sacramento:
$436
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6 Hour Wine Tasting Tours Napa Valley Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Passengers Van:
$625
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Berkeley and Sacramento, we can see that Sacramento is more expensive. And not only is Berkeley much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Berkeley would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Berkeley 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 Sacramento would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sacramento than you might in Berkeley.
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