Should you visit California or Idaho?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for California and Idaho. 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. So, let's dig into it.
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.
Idaho
Perhaps best known for its "Famous Potatoes," Idaho's true nickname is "The Gem State" and is full of a kind of wild beauty that comes with snow-capped mountains, raging rivers, placid lakes, and dense forests. Agriculture mostly lies in the eastern part of the state, while the wilderness of northern and central Idaho consists of some of the state's greatest natural treasures, dotted with a few cities and college towns.
Which city is cheaper, Idaho or California?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in California is $0.00, while the average daily cost in Idaho is $131. 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. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for California and Idaho in more detail.
Accommodation
For a normal double-occupancy room in California, $836 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in California, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $418, such as in a hostel.
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $67. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Idaho the cost is $134 on average.
Food
The price of a meal in Idaho can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $36 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $14 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
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Food
Meals for one day
California
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Idaho $36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in California
For California, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Carlsbad Village: 3-Hour Local Food Tour:
$70
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Napa or Sonoma Dinner Transportation:
$500
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Idaho is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $36 per person, per day, on local transportation in Idaho.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in California
Also for California, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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San Diego: Private Transfer to/from San Diego Airport (SAN):
$72
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Low Cost Private Transfer From San Francisco International Airport to San Mateo City - One Way:
$73
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Private Airport Transfer from SFO to San Francisco:
$79
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Departure Private Transfer to San Francisco Cruise Port by Business Car:
$84
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Orange County: 1-Way Private Transfer to/from Anaheim Resort:
$89
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Low Cost Private Transfer From San Francisco International Airport to Oakland City - One Way:
$105
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Private San Francisco Transfer: Hotel to Airport or Cruise Port:
$122
-
Low Cost Private Transfer From San Francisco International Airport to Union City - One Way:
$137
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Low Cost Private Transfer From San Francisco International Airport to Mountain View City - One Way:
$147
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Low Cost Private Transfer From San Francisco International Airport to San Francisco City - One Way:
$166
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Low Cost Private Transfer From San Francisco International Airport to San Jose City - One Way:
$194
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Sedan Airport Transfer from Walnut Creek to SFO (one way):
$199
Is it cheaper to fly into California or Idaho?
Prices for flights to both Idaho 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.
Entertainment
Entertainment and activities in Idaho typically cost an average of $28 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Tours and Activities in California
For California, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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La Jolla: Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour:
$6.00
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San Diego: Holiday Lights and Sights Trolley Tour:
$30
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Downtown Los Angeles: Food, Arts and Culture Walking Tour:
$35
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90-Minute San Diego SEAL Tour:
$44
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San Diego: Whale Watching Tours:
$45
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Los Angeles: Downtown Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour:
$49
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Guided Tour of Historic Virginia City and Carson City from South Lake Tahoe:
$55
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San Diego: Self-Guided Scooter Tour of Downtown & Old Town:
$82
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El Dorado Wine Country Tour from South Lake Tahoe:
$90
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Snowshoe Lake Tahoe Tour:
$100
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Golden Gate Park and Haight-Ashbury Tour from San Francisco:
$107
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Private San Francisco Walking Tour of Mission and Castro:
$128
Alcohol
The average person spends about $32 on alcoholic beverages in Idaho per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in California
Also in California, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Healdsburg Wine Tasting and Food Pairing Guided Walking Tour:
$119
-
Golf Somm - A Sommelier-Led Golf and Wine Tour in Napa Valley:
$308
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6-Hours Customized Private NAPA Valley Wine Tour From San Francisco Bay Area:
$480
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6-Hour Customized Private LIVERMORE Valley Wine Tour From San Francisco Bay Area:
$480
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6-Hours Customized Private RUSSIAN RIVER Valley Wine Tour From San Francisco Bay:
$480
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6-Hours Customized Private SONOMA Valley Wine Tour From San Francisco Bay Area:
$480
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Napa Wine Tour:
$500
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Sonoma Wine Tours:
$500
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Napa Valley Wine Tour Planning and Transportation:
$513
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8-Hour Napa Valley Wine Tour:
$570
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Sprinter Wine Tour:
$700
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Sonoma County and Napa Valley Private Wine Tour:
$775
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between California and Idaho, we can see that Idaho is more expensive. And not only is California much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to California would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in California 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 Idaho would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Idaho than you might in California.
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