Which place is cheaper, Ontario or California?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit California or Ontario?
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 Ontario. 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 Ontario?
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.
Ontario
Chances are when you think of Canada, the things that come to mind are all located in the province of Ontario. Ontario has the highest population of any province in the country, and is the heart of Canadian tourism. As the home of Toronto, Niagara Falls and Lake Superior, this area is a major tourist destination.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, The Best Camping Tours in Canada, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCalifornia $252Ontario $211
The average daily cost (per person) in California is $252, while the average daily cost in Ontario is $211. 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 Ontario in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCalifornia $116Ontario $112
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCalifornia $232Ontario $224
Compare Hotels in California and Ontario
Looking for a hotel in California or Ontario? 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 $43Ontario $26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in California
Also for California, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Los Angeles Airport (LAX) to Buena Park: $298
- Mammoth Mountain to Sacramento Airport Private Departure Transfer: $295
- San Francisco (SFO) to Calistoga Resorts Round-Trip Transfer: $295
- Private Airport Transfer from Sonoma to SFO (One-way): $286
- Private Airport Transfer From SFO to Sonoma (One-way): $280
- San José Airport (SJC) to San Francisco - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $280
- Private Round-trip Airport Transfer: Long Beach Airport to & from Anaheim Hotels: $277
- Departure Private Transfer: Los Angeles to Ontario Airport ONT in Luxury Van: $272
- Departure Private Transfer: Los Angeles to Airport LAX in Luxury Car: $272
- Palm Springs Airport to Snow Summit - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $262
- Sedan Airport Transfer from SFO to East Bay (one way): $262
- John Wayne Airport to Snow Summit: Round-Trip Private Transfer: $262
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ontario
Also for Ontario, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer in Private Minivan from Niagara Falls Ontario to Toronto (YYZ) Airport: $159
- Transfer Toronto,Canada (Downtown) to Niagara on the Lake,Canada: $178
- Transfer Toronto,Canada (Downtown) to Niagara Falls, Canada: $178
- Transfer Toronto Pearson International Airport YYZ to Niagara-on-the-Lake,Canada: $160
- Transfer Toronto Pearson International Airport YYZ to Niagara Falls, Canada: $160
- Transfer Private Vehicle from Toronto Pearson Airport to Niagara Falls (Ontario): $145
- Transfer Private Minivan from Toronto Pearson Airport to Niagara Falls (Ontario): $159
- Transfer Niagara-on-the-Lake,Canada to Buffalo Niagara Int Airport (BUF): $107
- Transfer Niagara-on-the-Lake Canada to Toronto Pearson International Airport YYZ: $160
- Transfer Niagara Falls, Canada to Toronto, Canada (Downtown): $178
- Transfer Niagara Falls, Canada to Toronto Pearson International Airport YYZ: $160
- Toronto Private Pearson Airport Transfers to Niagara Falls: $141
Is it cheaper to fly into California or Ontario?
Prices for flights to both Ontario 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 $48Ontario $46
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in California
For California, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- San Francisco Virtual Food Tour with Local Guide: $19
- Encinitas Food Tour: $70
- Carlsbad Food Tour and Wine Tasting: $75
- Pirates Dinner Adventure Buena Park: $79
- Pizza and Gelato Tour in San Diego: $80
- San Diego Vegan Food Tour: $85
- San Francisco North Beach and Chinatown - Secret Food Tours: $89
- San Francisco Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $89
- San Francisco Chinatown Food Tour: $89
- Venice Beach LA Food Tour: $89
- Gaslamp Quarter Downtown San Diego Food Tour: $89
- West Hollywood Food Tour: $89
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ontario
For Ontario, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Toronto Food Tour: Taste the World in Kensington Market: $66
- Must Do Toronto Food Tour: $66
- Oh Canada Eh!? Dinner Musical : $71
- Toronto Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $74
- Toronto's Fusion Food Tour: $80
- Kensington Market -Toronto's Neighborhood International Food Tour: $80
- European Evening Walking Food Tour in London, Ontario: $93
- Walking Food Tour in Niagara Falls: $108
- Toronto Premier Dinner Cruise on Odyssey in Toronto Harbour: $109
- Light up The Falls Small Group Tour with Fallsview Dinner: $155
- Niagara Falls Day and Evening Tour With Boat Cruise & Dinner (optional): $155
- Sunset Niagara-on-the-Lake Small Group Wine Tour with Dinner: $178
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.California $63Ontario $22
Tours and Activities in California
For California, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2 Hour Private Tour in Malibu Majesty: $35
- 2hr - SUNSET Sailing Experience on San Francisco Bay: $149
- Guided Hiking Tour in Big Bear with Sunset Champagne toast on Private Dock: $75
- Maritime Museum of San Diego Admission Ticket: $24
- Private Walking Tour in Muir Woods and Tickets : $20
- #1 Sonoma Walking Food, Wine & History Tour (Small Groups): $179
- "Drink, Ride, Sing, & Dance!" Bar Tour (4 bars included): $33
- "Summer of Love" tour in Haight-Ashbury in French: $63
- 1 Day Hop-On Hop-Off Tour: $73
- 1 Hour GPS Guided Scooter Tour: Harbor/Gaslamp Quarter: $92
- 1-Hour Monterey and Cannery Row Sea Car Tour: $79
- 1-Hour Private Ferrari Driving Tour: Hollywood to Beverly Hills: $289
Tours and Activities in Ontario
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ontario.
- 1 Hour Private Vineyard Dome Experience in Niagara-on-the-Lake: $45
- 1-Hour Private Guided Photography Tour in Toronto: $186
- 14-Minute Helicopter Tour Over Toronto: $200
- 2-Hour Ottawa Express City Bike Tour: $59
- 3 Hour VIP Electric Canoe Photography Tour (private, price is for 2 people): $222
- 3-day Eastern Canada Tour from Toronto: $259
- 30 Minute Niagara Falls Airplane Tour: $156
- 60-Minute Toronto Sightseeing Harbour Tour: $28
- 7-Minute Helicopter Tour over Toronto: $111
- A Self Guided Audio Tour of Ottawa's Hidden History: $6.99
- Admission Ticket: Explore Canada in Miniature Scale: $34
- African Gemstone Sculpture Experience: $22
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCalifornia $21Ontario $19
Sample the Local Flavors in California
Also in California, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Sacramento Bar Hunt: Sacramento Sprint Bar Crawl: $12
- Long Beach Bar Hunt: Long Beach Boss Bar Crawl: $12
- San Diego Bar Hunt: Slammin' San Diego Bar Crawl: $13
- Calaveras and Tuolumne Digital Wine Tasting Pass: $19
- Vintner's Private Wine Tasting Experience: $20
- San Francisco Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl : $35
- Wine Tasting Around the World: $48
- 2 to 3 Hour Bar Crawl in Castro San Francisco: $49
- Private Self-Guided Wine Tasting Tour in Sonoma: $50
- Large Group Wine Tasting Tour (For 6+ Guests • We Drive Your Car): $60
- The North Orange County Craft Brewery Tour: $91
- Private Wine Tour Napa or Sonoma from $99 per person up to 7 & Concierge Service: $99
Sample the Local Flavors in Ontario
Also in Ontario, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Epic Ottawa Bar Crawl: By Let’s Roam: $12
- Corktown and Distillery District Tour: $27
- Pub Crawl Toronto: $38
- Niagara Wine Tour and Tastings with Included Transportation : $56
- Small Group Niagara-on-the-Lake Wine Tasting Tour: $96
- Sip, Swirl and Savour Chocolate & Wine Tour : $103
- 3.5 Hours NOTL E-Bike Wine Tour: $111
- Half Day Wine & Cheese Tour - Niagara On The Lake Wine Tour: $119
- Toronto to Niagara Wine Tour : $133
- Full-Day Group Wine Tour (with cheese and charcuterie) in Niagara-on-the-Lake: $141
- Relaxing three courses Lunch & Wine Tour through Niagara's Wine Country: $148
- myWineCountry Experience Premium Wine Tours and Tastings: $148
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between California and Ontario, we can see that California is more expensive. And not only is Ontario much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ontario would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ontario 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 California would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in California than you might in Ontario.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is California Expensive? and Is Ontario Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, California or Ontario?
California has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Ontario. When comparing the sizes of California and Ontario, 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.