Which place is cheaper, Alaska or California?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit California or Alaska?
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 California and Alaska. 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: California or Alaska?
California
California is the most populous state in the U.S. and is known for a variety of attractions such as Hollywood, warm beaches, the San Francisco bay area, Redwood trees, national parks, and stunning mountain vistas. With a variety of locations and activities to offer, California has become one of the premier travel destinations in the world.
Alaska
Alaska joined the United States of America as the 49th state. The US purchased the area from the Russian Empire in 1867 for just 7.2 million dollars (about two cents an acre). It became an organized territory in 1912 and a state in 1959. It is separated from the rest of the country by Canada and, although it is the largest state, it is the least densely populated and for many years had the lowest population. It covers an area equal to California, Texas and Montana combined and lies on the Arctic Circle. Many people consider Alaska to be the United State's "final frontier" because of its vast wilderness. It is also where you will find the highest point in North America.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America.
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California Prices
USA PricesAlaska Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCalifornia $286Alaska $280
The average daily cost (per person) in California is $286, while the average daily cost in Alaska is $280. 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 California and Alaska in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCalifornia $116Alaska $135
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCalifornia $232Alaska $270
Compare Hotels in California and Alaska
Looking for a hotel in California or Alaska? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.California $42Alaska $51
Hired Cars and Shuttles in California
Also for California, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Group Transfer From or To Los Angeles LAX Airport: $15
- San Francisco: SFO Airport Private Transfer to/from City Center: $31
- Port Of Long Beach Cruiseport Private Hotel Transfer up to 5 PAX: $33
- Shared ride Arrival Transfer John Wayne airport to Anaheim hotels: $36
- Los Angeles: Private Transfer to/from Los Angeles LAX Airport: $36
- Private Departure Transfer to Burbank Airport (BUR): $40
- Los Angeles to Los Angeles Airport (LAX) - Departure Private Transfer: $40
- Los Angeles Airport (LAX) to Los Angeles - Arrival Private Transfer: $40
- Private Arrival Transfer from San Francisco Airport SFO: $44
- Los Angeles Airport (LAX) to Anaheim - Arrival Private Transfer: $45
- Private Arrival Transfer from San Diego Airport SAN: $48
- Private Transfer from Cruise Port to San Francisco Airport (SFO): $48
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alaska
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Alaska:
- Whittier to Anchorage Transfer on Sprinter Van: $199
- Whittier to Anchorage Shared Bus Transfer Service: $69
- Whittier to Anchorage Post Cruise Scenic Transfer Tour: $195
- Whittier to Anchorage Direct Transfer Tour: $80
- Whittier to Anchorage Cruise Transfer & Wildlife Tour: $197
- Whittier Cruise Transfer with Wildlife&Glacier tour to Anchorage: $199
- Seward to Anchorage Shared Bus Transfer Service: $75
- Seward to Anchorage Direct Transfer Tour: $85
- Seward to Anchorage Cruise Transfer & Wildlife Tour: $227
- Seward Cruise Transfer with Wildlife & Scenic Tour to Anchorage: $249
- Private Transfer, Anchorage to Seward Cruise Ship Terminal: $299
- Portage Glacier Express with Van Transfer from Anchorage: $123
Is it cheaper to fly into California or Alaska?
Prices for flights to both Alaska and California 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 dayCalifornia $79Alaska $94
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in California
For California, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Dinner In San Francisco: $63
- Santa Monica Holiday Sweet Treats Food Tour: Donuts, Cheer & More: $70
- Santa Monica Sweet Treats Food Tour: Donuts, Churros, and More: $70
- Fun Pad Thai Cooking Class With a Local Chef in San Diego: $75
- Sacramento: Chicken Curry Cooking Class With a Local Chef: $75
- Tijuana Walking Street Food Tour with Wild Foodie Tours: $79
- Carlsbad Taco Tuesday Walking Food Tour with Margarita or Beer: $84
- Silverlake Food Tour with Comedian Guide: $85
- San Diego Holiday Sweet Treats, Donuts & Pastries Food Tour: $85
- San Francisco: Chinatown & Litte Italy Food Tour with 5 Dishes: $85
- Speakeasy Murder Mystery Dinner at Buena Park: $87
- San Diego Vegan Food Tour: $89
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Alaska
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Alaska.
- Alaska Cabin Nite Dinner Theatre Experience: $95
- Aurora Viewing and Dinner: $120
- Ketchikan Fireside Feast: Open-Fire Salmon & Reindeer Dinner: $159
- Anchorage Sightseeing and Food Tour - Available All Year Long!: $195
- "Aurora Ice" - Ice Fishing & Salmon Dinner Tour: $239
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.California $69Alaska $65
Tours and Activities in California
For California, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Discover Yosemite National Park: A Self-Guided Tour: $1.16
- Discover San Diego: Self-Guided Walking Tour: $3.55
- Self-Guided Walking Tour in Los Angeles' Best-Kept Secrets: $3.55
- Downtown San Francisco Private Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- Los Angeles Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $5.00
- Self Guided Chinatown Tour: Food, History and Culture: $5.00
- San Jose State University: Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- San Francisco Private Car Tour: $5.00
- Kid Led Interactive AR Adventure in Presidio National Park: $5.00
- Los Angeles: Griffith Park Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- Yountville Art Walking Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- Private Walking Berkeley: Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
Tours and Activities in Alaska
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Alaska are as follows:
- 1 Hour Fairbanks Guided, Double Rider, Snowmobile Adventure: $260
- 1 Hour Fall Sled Dog Experience in Two Rivers: $130
- 1 Hour Snowmobile Adventure in Boreal Forest: $159
- 14 passenger Whale Watching Tours in Icy Strait aka Hoonah AK: $293
- 2 Hour Alaska Rainforest Walk and Totem Park Small Group Tour: $95
- 2 Hour Chichagof Island Guided Driving Tour: $125
- 2 Hour Private Marine Wildlife Tour: $200
- 2.5 Hour Tour in Ketchikan on the Tongass Trolley: $85
- 2.5-Hour Denali Wilderness ATV Adventure Tour: $146
- 3 Hour Guided Driving Tour in Hoonah Alaska: $150
- 3 Hour SHERP Tour: Denali Fat Truck Tours: $249
- 3 Hour Scenic Birding Cruise: $175
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCalifornia $21Alaska $20
Sample the Local Flavors in California
Also in California, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- A Spectacular Bar Crawl: Long Beach Boss: $12
- An Epic Scavenger Hunt: Slammin' San Diego Bar Crawl: $13
- Awesome Bar Crawl in Lake Tahoe: $15
- Myka Estates Wine Tasting Reservation: $15
- Santa Barbara Wine Tour - Self-Guided GPS Audio Tour: $25
- San Francisco Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $29
- Sonoma County Wine Tour: Self-Guided GPS Audio Driving Guide: $30
- Paso Robles Aria (Syrah Dominant) Flight Wine Tasting: $30
- Paso Robles Sonata(Red Blend) Flight Wine Tasting: $30
- Paso Robles Wine Tour: Self-Guided GPS Audio Driving Guide: $40
- Napa Valley Wine Tour: Self-Guided GPS Audio Driving Guide: $40
- 2 Hours Party Bike Pub Crawl Tour in Glendale California: $55
Sample the Local Flavors in Alaska
Also in Alaska, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Distillery Tour in the Heart of Anchorage: $25
- Craft Brews & Epic Views: Juneau's Brewery & Sightseeing Tour: $159
- Arctic Ale Trail: a Fairbanks Brewery Tour with Drinks & Pickup.: $189
When comparing the travel costs between California and Alaska, we can see that California is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is California Expensive? and Is Alaska Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, California or Alaska?
California has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Alaska. When comparing the sizes of California and Alaska, 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.
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.