Which city is cheaper, Los Angeles or Big Sur?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Big Sur and Los Angeles can help you decide which place is right for you.
Big Sur is the 90-mile stretch of the California Central Coast which runs from the Carmel River in Monterey County south to San Carpoforo Creek in San Luis Obispo County and 20 miles east into the Santa Lucius Foothills.
However you look at it, California's Central Coast is beautiful and undoubtedly a huge tourist trap. If you're not willing to fork over big bucks for overnight stays on coastal hotels, be prepared ahead of time with your camping gear and get ready to go off the beaten track to avoid crowds as best you can and save your wallet.
While the weather in Central Coast is overall, mild and temperate, between 50 and 70 degrees year-round. The highs and lows during the year are in August and January, respectively, with dry summers and wet winters, making April through October the best times to visit but be warned: there will be crowds.
Los Angeles, California is probably one of the most well known cities in the United States. It is the second most populated metro area in the country with more than 17 million people. The city's diversity is wide reaching, giving it a character that is unique from any other place in the country. LA has many world famous sights and neighborhoods including Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, and Santa Monica, but there is really so much more to this city.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Big Sur is $0.00, while the average daily cost in Los Angeles is $203. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Big Sur and Los Angeles in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Big Sur or Los Angeles? 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.
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Los Angeles:
Also for Los Angeles, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Los Angeles and Big Sur 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.
For Los Angeles, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
For Los Angeles, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Los Angeles's activities, tours, and tickets:
For Los Angeles, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Los Angeles:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Big Sur and Los Angeles, we can see that Los Angeles is more expensive. And not only is Big Sur much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Big Sur would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Big Sur 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 Los Angeles would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Los Angeles than you might in Big Sur.
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.
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Big Sur and Los Angeles. Furthermore, most visitors come to Los Angeles for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Big Sur is cooler than Los Angeles in the summer. The temperature in Big Sur is usually 63°F (17°C) in July, and Los Angeles stays around 72°F (22°C).
In July, Big Sur usually receives more rain than Los Angeles. Big Sur gets 0 inches (1 mm) of rain, while Los Angeles receives 0 inches (0 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
The autumn brings many poeple to Big Sur as well as Los Angeles. Additionally, the autumn months attract visitors to Los Angeles because of the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.
In the autumn, Big Sur is around the same temperature as Los Angeles. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Big Sur in October are around 62°F (17°C), and Los Angeles is about 64°F (18°C).
Big Sur usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Los Angeles. Big Sur gets 0.6 inches (14 mm) of rain, while Los Angeles receives 0.6 inches (15 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Both Los Angeles and Big Sur are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine are the main draw to Los Angeles this time of year.
In January, Big Sur is generally cooler than Los Angeles. Temperatures in Big Sur average around 51°F (11°C), and Los Angeles stays around 55°F (13°C).
In January, Big Sur usually receives less rain than Los Angeles. Big Sur gets 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain, while Los Angeles receives 3.1 inches (79 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
Both Los Angeles and Big Sur during the spring are popular places to visit. Also, many travelers come to Los Angeles for the beaches and the activities around the city.
Big Sur is cooler than Los Angeles in the spring. The temperature in Big Sur is usually 56°F (13°C) in April, and Los Angeles stays around 61°F (16°C).
Big Sur usually gets more rain in April than Los Angeles. Big Sur gets 1.1 inches (29 mm) of rain, while Los Angeles receives 1 inches (25 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Big Sur | Los Angeles | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 51°F (11°C) | 2.3 inches (58 mm) | 55°F (13°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) |
Feb | 53°F (12°C) | 1.8 inches (47 mm) | 55°F (13°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) |
Mar | 54°F (12°C) | 2.1 inches (55 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
Apr | 56°F (13°C) | 1.1 inches (29 mm) | 61°F (16°C) | 1 inches (25 mm) |
May | 59°F (15°C) | 0.2 inches (4 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 0.4 inches (10 mm) |
Jun | 62°F (16°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) | 66°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
Jul | 63°F (17°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 0 inches (0 mm) |
Aug | 64°F (18°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 0 inches (0 mm) |
Sep | 64°F (18°C) | 0.2 inches (6 mm) | 70°F (21°C) | 0.2 inches (5 mm) |
Oct | 62°F (17°C) | 0.6 inches (14 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 0.6 inches (15 mm) |
Nov | 56°F (13°C) | 1.8 inches (45 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 1.2 inches (31 mm) |
Dec | 51°F (10°C) | 2 inches (51 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.6 inches (66 mm) |
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