Which place is cheaper, Berkeley or Big Pine Key?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Big Pine Key or Berkeley?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Big Pine Key and Berkeley. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Big Pine Key or Berkeley?
Big Pine Key
If you are yearning for a slice of paradise without the hustle and bustle of an ever-growing tourist population, the calm, turquoise waters and the untouched sands of Big Pine Key will surely do. Located 100 miles south of Miami and 30 miles north of Key West, this small community huddled in the family of Florida keys is often overlooked by many. However, Big Pine Key is truly a gem for all who seek a tropical vacation as activities like boating, fishing, scuba diving and snorkeling are found throughout the town. Besides its oceanic wonders, Big Pine Key also boasts in containing some of the United States' best seafood restaurants. Enjoy the aquatic wonders of the Keys and stop at Big Pine Key!
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").
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America, The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBig Pine Key $144Berkeley $190
The average daily cost (per person) in Big Pine Key is $144, while the average daily cost in Berkeley is $190. 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 Big Pine Key and Berkeley in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBig Pine Key $64Berkeley $131
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBig Pine Key $128Berkeley $262
Compare Hotels in Big Pine Key and Berkeley
Looking for a hotel in Big Pine Key or Berkeley? 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: Berkeley Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Big Pine Key $56Berkeley $30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Berkeley
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Berkeley:
- Private Transfer: Oakland International Airport to Hotel: $200
- Private Departure Transfer to Oakland Airport OAK: $97
- Private Arrival Transfer from Oakland Airport (OAK) to Oakland: $93
- Oakland hotel or address to Oakland Airport (OAK) - Departure Private Transfer: $44
- Oakland Airport (OAK) to San Francisco hotel/address - Private Arrival Transfer: $64
- Oakland Airport (OAK) to Oakland hotel or address - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $88
- Arrival Transfer from Oakland Airport OAK to San Francisco by SUV: $232
Is it cheaper to fly into Big Pine Key or Berkeley?
Prices for flights to both Berkeley and Big Pine Key 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 dayBig Pine Key $42Berkeley $36
Typical Food Prices in Berkeley
Some typical examples of dining costs in Berkeley are as follows:
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Chocolates at Sweet Dreams$4.46
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Berkeley
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Berkeley.
- North 3-Hour Food Tour: $116
- Best of North Berkeley Food Tour: $130
- Black Food Tour - Downtown Oakland: $130
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Big Pine Key $42Berkeley $30
Tours and Activities in Berkeley
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Berkeley are as follows:
- 2 Hours Private Walking Tour in Berkeley: $20
- Classic Sausalito Wooden Boat Tour: $135
- Comedy Oakland at The Washington Inn Show Tickets: $20
- Historic Houseboat Tour: $65
- Oakland Athletics Baseball Game Ticket at RingCentral Coliseum: $14
- Oakland's Temescal Tastes Tour: $120
- Redwoods of Marin and Mt. Tamalpais Walking Tour with Local Guide: $59
- Ruth Bancroft Garden General Admission Ticket: $12
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Berkeley by Zombie Scavengers: $20
- Self-Guided Oakland Tour in an Urban Excursion: $20
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Antioch by Zombie Scavengers: $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBig Pine Key $9.29Berkeley $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Berkeley
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Berkeley:
- Guided Wine Tasting at Berkeley Wineries with Local Sommelière : $175
- Guided Wine Tasting with Local Sommelière: $175
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Big Pine Key and Berkeley, we can see that Berkeley is more expensive. And not only is Big Pine Key much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Big Pine Key would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Big Pine Key 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 Berkeley would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Berkeley than you might in Big Pine Key.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Big Pine Key Expensive? and Is Berkeley Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Big Pine Key or Berkeley?
Berkeley has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Big Pine Key. When comparing the sizes of Big Pine Key and Berkeley, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Big Pine Key or Berkeley?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Big Pine Key or Berkeley in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Big Pine Key as well as Berkeley. Also, most visitors come to Berkeley for the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Big Pine Key is much warmer than Berkeley. Typically, the summer temperatures in Big Pine Key in July average around 84°F (29°C), and Berkeley averages at about 63°F (17°C).
Big Pine Key usually gets more rain in July than Berkeley. Big Pine Key gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Berkeley receives 0.1 inches (2 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBig Pine Key 84°F (29°C)Berkeley 63°F (17°C)
Should I visit Big Pine Key or Berkeley in the Autumn?
Both Berkeley and Big Pine Key are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Berkeley because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Big Pine Key is generally much warmer than Berkeley. Daily temperatures in Big Pine Key average around 80°F (27°C), and Berkeley fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).
It's quite rainy in Big Pine Key. In October, Big Pine Key usually receives more rain than Berkeley. Big Pine Key gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Berkeley receives 1.3 inches (33 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBig Pine Key 80°F (27°C)Berkeley 63°F (17°C)
Should I visit Big Pine Key or Berkeley in the Winter?
Both Berkeley and Big Pine Key during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Berkeley this time of year.
Big Pine Key is much warmer than Berkeley in the winter. The daily temperature in Big Pine Key averages around 70°F (21°C) in January, and Berkeley fluctuates around 50°F (10°C).
Big Pine Key usually gets less rain in January than Berkeley. Big Pine Key gets 1.7 inches (43 mm) of rain, while Berkeley receives 3.8 inches (96 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBig Pine Key 70°F (21°C)Berkeley 50°F (10°C)
Should I visit Big Pine Key or Berkeley in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Big Pine Key and Berkeley. Furthermore, many travelers come to Berkeley for the natural beauty.
In the spring, Big Pine Key is much warmer than Berkeley. Typically, the spring temperatures in Big Pine Key in April average around 77°F (25°C), and Berkeley averages at about 58°F (14°C).
In April, Big Pine Key usually receives less rain than Berkeley. Big Pine Key gets 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain, while Berkeley receives 1.2 inches (31 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBig Pine Key 77°F (25°C)Berkeley 58°F (14°C)
Typical Weather for Berkeley and Big Pine Key
| Big Pine Key | Berkeley | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 70°F (21°C) | 1.7 inches (43 mm) | 50°F (10°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
| Feb | 71°F (21°C) | 1.4 inches (36 mm) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| Mar | 74°F (23°C) | 1.7 inches (42 mm) | 56°F (13°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| Apr | 77°F (25°C) | 0.8 inches (21 mm) | 58°F (14°C) | 1.2 inches (31 mm) |
| May | 81°F (27°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) | 60°F (15°C) | 0.2 inches (5 mm) |
| Jun | 83°F (28°C) | 4.5 inches (114 mm) | 62°F (17°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
| Jul | 84°F (29°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Aug | 84°F (29°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 0.1 inches (1 mm) |
| Sep | 83°F (29°C) | 5.7 inches (144 mm) | 66°F (19°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) |
| Oct | 80°F (27°C) | 5.1 inches (129 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 1.3 inches (33 mm) |
| Nov | 76°F (24°C) | 2 inches (50 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Dec | 72°F (22°C) | 1.4 inches (35 mm) | 51°F (11°C) | 2.7 inches (68 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.