A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Boca Raton vs. Santa Barbara for Beaches, Hiking, Couples, and Attractions

Should you visit Boca Raton or Santa Barbara?

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 Boca Raton and Santa Barbara. 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.

Boca Raton

Boca Raton is a luxurious, posh, and outdoorsy coastal city. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is a stunning, wealthy, and opulent coastal town. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. As this is a very quaint destination, you'll find it has a special atmosphere. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Boca Raton and Santa Barbara: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Boca Raton or Santa Barbara?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Santa Barbara. Although Boca Raton and Santa Barbara are roughly the same size, Santa Barbara has more sights and attractions for tourists. Santa Barbara is very popular for its historical sights, hiking, shopping, big city activities, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Boca Raton attracts visitors for its nightlife and scuba diving & snorkeling. Santa Barbara is more touristy than Boca Raton and is popular for its historic missions, pristine beaches, world-class surfing, and scenic hikes that are full of coastal views. It is also well known for The Old Mission Santa Barbara. Boca Raton is famous for its golf courses, outdoor recreational activities, and safe atmosphere.

How is Boca Raton different from Santa Barbara?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Santa Barbara and Boca Raton. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Boca Raton or Santa Barbara?

You'll find a number of superb museums and attractions in both Santa Barbara and Boca Raton.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Boca Raton. While most visitors focus on the beaches and outdoor activities in the area, there are also a surprising number of museums that you can visit. On a rainy day head to the Boca Raton Museum of Art or the Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum. Sports enthusiasts will like the Sports Immortals Museum and kids will want to check out the Children's Science Explorium.

Santa Barbara offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The city is famous for its missions, with Mission Santa Barbara being the most iconic. Also visit the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and Sea Center.

Is the Food Better in Boca Raton or Santa Barbara? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Foodies will find both Boca Raton and Santa Barbara both to be superb destinations.

Boca Raton has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. You'll find a mix of local and international flavors with both casual and upscale dining available. Reservations are recommended, particularly on weekend nights. For the health-conscious, there's also a nice selection of healthy eateries to choose from.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Santa Barbara makes for a great culinary experience. The city is best known for its fine dining, particularly if you enjoy seafood. The scallops, oysters, clam chowder, and sea urchin (when available) are all world class. Head for a waterfront setting for the best views and some of the freshest seafood.

Is Boca Raton or Santa Barbara Better for Nightlife?

Boca Raton is a well-known place for its evening party scene. Also, Santa Barbara is not as famous, but is still a good coastal town to visit for nightlife.

Boca Raton offers plenty to do in the evening. You'll find plenty of upscale wine bars, cocktail bars, and live music venues that will keep you entertained late into the evening.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Santa Barbara. For the best nightlife in the city, head downtown to State Street. This is where you'll find the most active bars and biggest crowds. There's a large student population in town, so you'll find much of the nightlife scene is focused on the younger population.

Is Boca Raton or Santa Barbara Better for Resorts?

There are superb resorts to choose from in both Boca Raton and Santa Barbara.

There are plenty of resorts in Boca Raton to choose from. You'll find many luxury beachside resorts that offer all of the amenities, from access to golf course to family-friendly kids clubs.

Santa Barbara is known as a popular and fun resort destination. Many people enjoy the luxurious vacation rentals around Santa Barbara, but there are also a number of high end resorts including the Rosewood Miramar Beach Resort, The Ritz-Carlton, and Hotel Californian.

Is Boca Raton or Santa Barbara Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Boca Raton is a popular place for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Santa Barbara is not a good coastal town for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling.

Boca Raton has a few good snorkeling spots. Head to the "Aqua Zoo", which is just to the south of Boca Inlet to see stingrays, groupers, and moray eels. Red Reef Park offers excellent snorkeling as well.

It's possible to go snorkeling in Santa Barbara. Snorkeling areas not far from town include Refugio State Beach and Tajiguas. You'll see a few fish, beautiful rocks, and anemones that are unique and impressive.

Is Boca Raton or Santa Barbara Better for Beaches?

Boca Raton and Santa Barbara both offer amazing beaches.

Boca Raton offers stunning beaches that attract visitors from around the world. There's a two mile stretch of beautiful sandy beaches that are all monitored by lifeguards. The beaches offer all of the facilities that you might need such as picnic areas, restrooms, and showers. Many beaches are part of park land and some offer nice snorkeling. Some of the most popular beaches in the area include Spanish River Park, Bark Park Dog Beach, Red Reef Beach, and South Beach Park.

Travelers come from around the world to visit the beaches in Santa Barbara. The city is famous for its pristine, sandy beaches. Whether you want to enjoy world class surfing or enjoy a gentle ocean setting, Santa Barbara has many options.

Is Boca Raton or Santa Barbara Better for its Old Town?

Santa Barbara is a good destination for its historic old town charm. However, Boca Raton does not have a historic old town.

Santa Barbara has an old town worth visiting. The city's downtown "Old Town" is a high end, pedestrian-friendly area with plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment options.

Boca Raton does not have a historic old town.

Is Boca Raton or Santa Barbara Better for Hiking?

Santa Barbara is a world-class destination for hiking. Also, Boca Raton is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for the nearby hiking options.

Santa Barbara is well-known for its hiking and trekking. Just outside of town are countless hiking opportunities that offer spectacular ocean views. Popular hikes include Inspiration Point, San Ysidro Trail, and Cold Spring East Fork.

Boca Raton is a good destination for hiking. There's a surprising number of nature parks in the area that have hiking trails, nature walks, and beach paths that are fun to explore.

Is the Shopping Better in Boca Raton or Santa Barbara?

Santa Barbara is a world-class destination for its shopping areas. Also, Boca Raton is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for shopping.

Many people travel to Santa Barbara specifically to go shopping. The city is famous as a high end shopping destination. Head to State Street for a palm tree lined street with local boutiques.

Boca Raton is an extremely popular place for shoppers. It's an upscale area, and you'll find no shortage of luxury shopping around town. Popular areas for shopping include Downtown Boca, Mizner Park, and the Town Center at Boca Raton.

Is Boca Raton or Santa Barbara Better for Families?

Both Boca Raton and Santa Barbara are superb family-friendly destinations.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Boca Raton. It's an upscale area with a family-friendly atmosphere and plenty of outdoor activities to choose from. Many of the hotels have kids clubs that will keep the young ones entertained. The area also has nature centers, children's museums, and waterparks that will ensure everyone stays entertained.

Santa Barbara is a very family-friendly place to visit. The city has some nice family-friendly activities including a zoo, some cool museums, and even whale watching. There are also many beautiful beaches where everyone can run around and play, as well as parks and other outdoor settings. For animal-lovers, there are wildlife centers and sea life opportunities.

Is Boca Raton or Santa Barbara Better for Couples?

Santa Barbara is a world-class destination for couples. Also, Boca Raton is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for romance.

Santa Barbara is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. The town is a stunningly beautiful destination with beautiful beaches, excellent shopping, and nice resorts that make for a great honeymoon or romantic trip.

Boca Raton is a very popular place to visit for couples. There's an upscale vibe with plenty of nature trails and nice beaches. Many of the hotels offer a touch of luxury that honeymooning couples will appreciate. You can also head to the downtown area for music, events, and museums.

Is Boca Raton or Santa Barbara Better for Students?

Santa Barbara is great for its student-friendly activities. However, Boca Raton is not popular with students.

Many students visit Santa Barbara. With a major university right in town, there's plenty of student life that international students or locals can enjoy.

Boca Raton is not popular with students.

Is Boca Raton or Santa Barbara Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Boca Raton and Santa Barbara both offer nice public transit to get you around.

While Boca Raton offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. The Downtowner is a fleet of free, oversized golf cars that shuttle visitors around town, passing by many top sites such as Mizner Park, Red Reef Park, and the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center. There's also a public bus system, Palm Tran, that offers service around town.

Santa Barbara has a few public transit options. Transit options include buses, trolleys and water taxis.

Is Boca Raton or Santa Barbara a more walkable city?

Santa Barbara is great for its ease of walking around. Also, Boca Raton is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for its walkability.

Santa Barbara is a very walkable destination. The downtown area is very pedestrian-friendly and best explored on foot.

Boca Raton is somewhat walkable. There are some communities within the city that are more walkable than others, particularly East Boca Raton, Royal Palm Place, and Mizner Park. There are also many pedestrian and bike paths around town. Even so, you really must have a car to explore the area in depth.

For even more information, also check out Is Boca Raton Worth Visiting? and Is Santa Barbara Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Santa Barbara or Boca Raton?

How long in Boca Raton or Santa Barbara?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Boca Raton and Santa Barbara. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Boca Raton than in Santa Barbara. Usually, 3-5 days is a good amount of time for Boca Raton, and 2-3 days is enough time in Santa Barbara.

Families should spend more time in Santa Barbara than Boca Raton. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Santa Barbara, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Santa Barbara than Boca Raton. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Santa Barbara that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Santa Barbara than Boca Raton if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Santa Barbara.

One day in Boca Raton or Santa Barbara?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the posh destination of Boca Raton. It's also a relaxing resort destination. Don't miss the beaches, as that's what most people do. Your budget might influence how long you stay. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

With museums and nightlife around the affluent coastal town of Santa Barbara, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Boca Raton or Santa Barbara?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Boca Raton. Most people come for the beaches. Don't miss the beaches, as that's what most people do. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

With nightlife and food around the destination of Santa Barbara, there's plenty to do. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this coastal town.

Five days in Boca Raton or Santa Barbara?

Many travelers enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the luxurious destination of Boca Raton. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. This coastal city offers a variety of activities to choose from. If you have five days, this is a great place to go. Five days is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Santa Barbara, a popular coastal town, is full of activities for travelers. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Boca Raton or Santa Barbara?

You'll find scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping around the coastal city of Boca Raton. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Santa Barbara is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in United States of America, The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America, and The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Boca Raton and Santa Barbara, we can see that Boca Raton is more expensive. And not only is Santa Barbara much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Santa Barbara would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Barbara 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 Boca Raton would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Boca Raton than you might in Santa Barbara.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Boca Raton Expensive? and Is Santa Barbara Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Boca Raton or Santa Barbara?

Santa Barbara has a larger population, and is about 7% larger than the population of Boca Raton. When comparing the sizes of Boca Raton and Santa Barbara, 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 Boca Raton or Santa Barbara?

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 Boca Raton or Santa Barbara in the Summer?

Both Santa Barbara and Boca Raton during the summer are popular places to visit. The beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Boca Raton this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Santa Barbara for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

Boca Raton is much warmer than Santa Barbara in the summer. The daily temperature in Boca Raton averages around 82°F (28°C) in July, and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 65°F (19°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Boca Raton. Boca Raton usually gets more rain in July than Santa Barbara. Boca Raton gets 6.5 inches (166 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Boca Raton or Santa Barbara in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Boca Raton and Santa Barbara. Many travelers come to Boca Raton for the hiking trails and the shopping scene. Furthermore, many visitors come to Santa Barbara in the autumn for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Boca Raton is much warmer than Santa Barbara. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Boca Raton in October average around 78°F (25°C), and Santa Barbara averages at about 62°F (17°C).

Boca Raton gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Boca Raton usually receives more rain than Santa Barbara. Boca Raton gets 8.7 inches (222 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 0.5 inches (13 mm) of rain each month for the autumn. June to November in Boca Raton is the hurricane season.

Should I visit Boca Raton or Santa Barbara in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Boca Raton as well as Santa Barbara. Many visitors come to Boca Raton in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Additionally, most visitors come to Santa Barbara for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

In January, Boca Raton is generally much warmer than Santa Barbara. Daily temperatures in Boca Raton average around 65°F (19°C), and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).

Boca Raton usually gets less rain in January than Santa Barbara. Boca Raton gets 2.6 inches (66 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Boca Raton or Santa Barbara in the Spring?

Both Santa Barbara and Boca Raton are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Boca Raton for the beaches during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Santa Barbara because of the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.

Boca Raton is much warmer than Santa Barbara in the spring. The daily temperature in Boca Raton averages around 74°F (23°C) in April, and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).

In April, Boca Raton usually receives more rain than Santa Barbara. Boca Raton gets 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain each month for the spring. The hurricane season in Boca Raton is June to November.

Typical Weather for Santa Barbara and Boca Raton