Which place is cheaper, Santa Monica or Berkshires?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Berkshires or Santa Monica?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Berkshires and Santa Monica can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Berkshires or Santa Monica?
Berkshires
The Berkshires are a popular highland destination in the western part of Massachusetts and northwest Connecticut. The region has scenic landscape, hiking, lakes, recreational opportunities and other outdoor experiences. The Berkshires also has an impressive cultural scene with music, arts, museums, and live theaters.
The Berkshires can be a bit expensive to visit if you stay at a luxury resort and take advantage of the award winning restaurants in the area. Alternatively, the experience can be equally rewarding by camping, picnicking, and spending your time hiking and enjoying the beautiful natural setting.
Santa Monica
When it comes to visiting Los Angeles, Santa Monica is high on the must-see-and-do list. Chances are you'll recognize the iconic ferris wheel from Pacific Park in films and TV shows, and nothing beats the relaxed yet bustling vibe of this laid-back city.
Santa Monica is a popular and diverse beach town, cultural hub, fitness venue, shopping district, and neighborhood full of unique and trendy restaurants, all rolled into one. Visited by more than 6 million people a year, it's no wonder you'll always find a crowd there.
So whether you're up for a high-end shopping spree, bicycling down the waterfront, an eclectic food crawl or simply a stroll down the promenade, Santa Monica is sure to have something in store for you.
The weather in Santa Monica is moderate, with average summer highs in the low to mid 70s and winter climate that rests comfortably around the low 50s. Though flip flops and sandals are considered year-round footwear in Los Angeles, bring comfortable walking shoes for browsing galleries, malls, and boutiques. Santa Monica is the perfect place to break out your California-casual wardrobe.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Photography Tours in United States of America, The Best Camping Tours in United States of America, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, and The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBerkshires $244Santa Monica $210
The average daily cost (per person) in Berkshires is $244, while the average daily cost in Santa Monica is $210. 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 Berkshires and Santa Monica in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBerkshires $141Santa Monica $123
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBerkshires $282Santa Monica $246
Compare Hotels in Berkshires and Santa Monica
Looking for a hotel in Berkshires or Santa Monica? 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: Berkshires Hotel Prices and Santa Monica Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Berkshires $47Santa Monica $50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Monica
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santa Monica:
- Santa Monica to Long Beach Airport (LGB) - Deparure Private Transfer: $80
- Santa Monica to Los Angeles Airport Departure Private Transfer: $74
Is it cheaper to fly into Berkshires or Santa Monica?
Prices for flights to both Santa Monica and Berkshires 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 dayBerkshires $73Santa Monica $52
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Monica
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santa Monica.
- Flavors of Venice Beach Food Tour: $96
- Los Angeles Premier Dinner Cruise from Marina del Rey: $124
- Marina del Rey Christmas Day Buffet Dinner Cruise: $175
- Marina del Rey Christmas Eve Buffet Dinner Cruise: $175
- Marina del Rey Father's Day Plated Dinner Cruise: $222
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Berkshires $25Santa Monica $38
Tours and Activities in Berkshires
Here are a few actual costs in Berkshires for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2-Hour Guided Private Forest Bathing Experience Lenox: $40
Tours and Activities in Santa Monica
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santa Monica are as follows:
- LA & Self-Guided Aerospace Legacy Audio Tour: $15
- Explore Malibu's Coast: PCH & Beyond - Self Guided Audio Tour: $15
- Santa Monica Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour and Game: $22
- Santa Monica Ghosts Haunted Ghost Tour on the Pier: $30
- Santa Monica Puzzling Adventure: $35
- Santa Monica Downtown Walking Tour: $40
- Santa Monica Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour: $44
- Virtual Reality Escape Room Experience: $45
- Onewheel Board Experience: $60
- Los Angeles: Latin Dance Club Crawl Experience: $65
- 4.5 Hour Venice Beach Open Air Van Tour: $65
- Sights and Sips Cruise Tour in Marina del Rey: $69
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBerkshires $31Santa Monica $21
Sample the Local Flavors in Santa Monica
Also in Santa Monica, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Private Vintage VW Hippie Tour to Malibu with wine tasting: $195
- Vintage VW Hippie Shared Tour to Malibu with Wine Tasting: $199
- Charcuterie Board and Wine Tasting in Marina Bay: $300
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Berkshires and Santa Monica, we can see that Berkshires is more expensive. And not only is Santa Monica much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Santa Monica would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Monica 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 Berkshires would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Berkshires than you might in Santa Monica.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Berkshires Expensive? and Is Santa Monica Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Berkshires or Santa Monica?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Berkshires or Santa Monica in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Berkshires and Santa Monica. Furthermore, many visitors come to Santa Monica in the summer for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.
Berkshires is around the same temperature as Santa Monica in the summer. The daily temperature in Berkshires averages around 72°F (22°C) in July, and Santa Monica fluctuates around 70°F (21°C).
In July, Berkshires usually receives more rain than Santa Monica. Berkshires gets 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain, while Santa Monica receives 0 inches (0 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBerkshires 72°F (22°C)Santa Monica 70°F (21°C)
Should I visit Berkshires or Santa Monica in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Berkshires as well as Santa Monica. Additionally, most visitors come to Santa Monica for the shopping scene during these months.
In the autumn, Berkshires is much colder than Santa Monica. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Berkshires in October average around 51°F (11°C), and Santa Monica averages at about 67°F (20°C).
Berkshires usually gets more rain in October than Santa Monica. Berkshires gets 2.6 inches (67 mm) of rain, while Santa Monica receives 0.2 inches (6 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBerkshires 51°F (11°C)Santa Monica 67°F (20°C)
Should I visit Berkshires or Santa Monica in the Winter?
Both Santa Monica and Berkshires are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Santa Monica because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Berkshires can be very cold during winter. In January, Berkshires is generally much colder than Santa Monica. Daily temperatures in Berkshires average around 22°F (-6°C), and Santa Monica fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).
In January, Berkshires usually receives more rain than Santa Monica. Berkshires gets 1.9 inches (49 mm) of rain, while Santa Monica receives 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBerkshires 22°F (-6°C)Santa Monica 57°F (14°C)
Should I visit Berkshires or Santa Monica in the Spring?
Both Santa Monica and Berkshires during the spring are popular places to visit. Also, the beaches are the main draw to Santa Monica this time of year.
Berkshires is much colder than Santa Monica in the spring. The daily temperature in Berkshires averages around 47°F (9°C) in April, and Santa Monica fluctuates around 61°F (16°C).
Berkshires usually gets more rain in April than Santa Monica. Berkshires gets 2.6 inches (66 mm) of rain, while Santa Monica receives 0.2 inches (4 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBerkshires 47°F (9°C)Santa Monica 61°F (16°C)
Typical Weather for Santa Monica and Berkshires
| Berkshires | Santa Monica | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 22°F (-6°C) | 1.9 inches (49 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 0.7 inches (17 mm) |
| Feb | 24°F (-4°C) | 2 inches (51 mm) | 58°F (15°C) | 0.9 inches (24 mm) |
| Mar | 35°F (2°C) | 2.5 inches (63 mm) | 58°F (15°C) | 0.4 inches (10 mm) |
| Apr | 47°F (9°C) | 2.6 inches (66 mm) | 61°F (16°C) | 0.2 inches (4 mm) |
| May | 59°F (15°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) |
| Jun | 67°F (20°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 66°F (19°C) | 0 inches (0 mm) |
| Jul | 72°F (22°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) | 70°F (21°C) | 0 inches (0 mm) |
| Aug | 70°F (21°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) | 71°F (22°C) | 0 inches (0 mm) |
| Sep | 62°F (17°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) | 70°F (21°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) |
| Oct | 51°F (11°C) | 2.6 inches (67 mm) | 67°F (20°C) | 0.2 inches (6 mm) |
| Nov | 41°F (5°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) | 62°F (17°C) | 0.2 inches (5 mm) |
| Dec | 28°F (-2°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) | 58°F (14°C) | 0.6 inches (15 mm) |
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.