Which place is cheaper, Virginia 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 Virginia?
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 Virginia. 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 Virginia?
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.
Virginia
One of the original thirteen British colonies, Virginia is a place of rich history and varied environments. You might explore the historic settlement of Colonial Williamsburg, dive into the current culture of its major cities, or get lost in nature along the coast or in the scenic landscape of the Appalachian Mountains. There's a little something for everyone.
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 PricesVirginia Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCalifornia $286Virginia $185
The average daily cost (per person) in California is $286, while the average daily cost in Virginia is $185. 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 Virginia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCalifornia $116Virginia $80
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCalifornia $232Virginia $160
Compare Hotels in California and Virginia
Looking for a hotel in California or Virginia? 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 $42Virginia $49
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
- Private Intercity Transfer from and to Los Angeles: $15
- San Francisco: SFO Airport Private Transfer to/from City Center: $31
- Private Arrival Transfer from John Wayne Orange County Airport SNA: $32
- Port Of Long Beach Cruiseport Private Hotel Transfer up to 5 PAX: $33
- Shared ride Arrival Transfer John Wayne airport to Anaheim hotels: $36
- Shared Airport Departure Transfer Anaheim and Orange County to John Wayne Airport: $36
- Private Transfer Los Angeles Airport LAX From To LA: $36
- Los Angeles: Private Transfer to/from Los Angeles LAX Airport: $36
- Oakland Airport Private Hotel Transfer up to 5 passengers: $37
- Los Angeles to Los Angeles Airport (LAX) - Departure Private Transfer: $39
- Private Transfer From or To San Francisco SFO Airport: $39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Virginia
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Virginia:
- Richmond City to Richmond Airport (RIC) - Departure Private Transfer: $168
- Private Departure Transfer to Charlottesville Airport (CHO): $50
- Private Arrival Transfer from Charlotteville Airport (CHO): $50
- Bamville Transportation (Private & Airport Transfers): $275
- Airport Transfers to or from Charlottesville Albemarle Airport: $80
Is it cheaper to fly into California or Virginia?
Prices for flights to both Virginia 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 $79Virginia $60
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in California
For California, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Santa Monica Sweet Treats Food Tour: Donuts, Churros, and More: $70
- Fun Pad Thai Cooking Class With a Local Chef in San Diego: $75
- Sushi Making Cooking Class at a Local Brewery in San Diego: $75
- Japanese Gyoza Cooking Class at a Local Brewery in LA: $75
- Sacramento: Chicken Curry Cooking Class With a Local Chef: $75
- San Diego Sweet Treats Food Tour: Donuts, Pastries, & More: $79
- Carlsbad Taco Tuesday Walking Food Tour with Margarita or Beer: $84
- Silverlake Food Tour with Comedian Guide: $85
- San Francisco Chinatown History Culture And Food Tour: $85
- San Diego Holiday Sweet Treats, Donuts & Pastries Food Tour: $85
- San Francisco: The Mission District Food Tour with 5 Local Dishes: $85
- San Francisco: Chinatown & Litte Italy Food Tour with 5 Dishes: $85
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Virginia
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Virginia.
- Speak Easy Murder Mystery Dinner Show at Kings Creek Williamsburg: $55
- The Carytown Food Tour with Discover Richmond Tours: $90
- Church Hill Food Tour with Discover Richmond Tours: $90
- Delicious Pizza & Ice Cream Tour of Richmond: $94
- City Cruises Norfolk: Buffet Dinner Cruise: $94
- Arts District Food Tour in Richmond with Discover Richmond: $100
- Richmond's Historic Market Food Tour with 5 Authentic Tastings: $109
- The Dairy Market Food Tour: $225
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.California $69Virginia $24
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: $1.12
- Self-Guided Walking Tour in Los Angeles' Best-Kept Secrets: $1.12
- Discover San Diego: Self-Guided Walking Tour: $1.12
- Santa Monica Superhero Exploration Game and Tour: $4.84
- Missing Walking Tour: Self-Guided City Game: $4.84
- San Francisco Walking Tour: Self-Guided City Game: $4.85
- Secrets of Venice Boardwalk: Self-Guided Puzzle Adventure in LA: $4.85
- Venice Beach: Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- Solvang City Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- Private Walking Berkeley: Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- Golden Gate Bridge Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- Pasadena Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $5.00
Tours and Activities in Virginia
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Virginia are as follows:
- 2-Hour Private Guided The best of Williamsburg Walking Tour: $278
- 3-Hour E-Bike Sightseeing and Breweries Tour in Roanoke: $109
- Adults Only The Dead Do Not Forget Richmond Ghost Tour: $35
- Blue Ridge Parkway Self-Guided Audio Tour Bundle: $22
- Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
- Broad Bay Island SUP Adventure in Virginia Beach: $35
- Buried Beneath the Boardwalk: Neptune Ghouls and Ghost Tours: $24
- Buried Beneath the Boardwalk: Neptune Ghouls and Ghost Tours: $26
- Busch Gardens Williamsburg Admission Ticket: $66
- Candle Making Experience at Sugared Mango: $55
- Chains, Coffins, & Curses: Charlottesville Ghost Tours: $26
- Church Hill Chillers Ghost Tour: $27
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCalifornia $21Virginia $19
Sample the Local Flavors in California
Also in California, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- An Epic Bar Hunt: Sacramento Sprint Bar Crawl: $12
- An Epic Scavenger Hunt: Slammin' San Diego Bar Crawl: $13
- Awesome Bar Crawl in Lake Tahoe: $15
- Amazing Bar Crawl in Palm Springs: $15
- Myka Estates Wine Tasting Reservation: $15
- Temecula Valley Wine Tour - Self-Guided GPS Audio Guide: $20
- Gaslamp Bar Crawl: $20
- Santa Barbara Wine Tour - Self-Guided GPS Audio Tour: $25
- San Francisco Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $29
- LA Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $29
- Sonoma County Wine Tour: Self-Guided GPS Audio Driving Guide: $30
- Paso Robles Sonata(Red Blend) Flight Wine Tasting: $30
Sample the Local Flavors in Virginia
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Virginia:
- An Electrifying Bar Crawl in Richmond: $15
- Awesome Bar Crawl in Norfolk: $15
- Williamsburg Ghosts and Brews Haunted Pub Crawls: $29
- Richmond Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
- Williamsburg Haunted Pub Crawl of Spirits and Stories: $35
- The Murder Tour and Pub Crawl: $48
- Richmond Craft Brewery Crawl By Junket: $69
- Brewery Tour of Richmond, VA: $90
- Special Private Wine Tours, for 2 or 3 people only: $125
- Private Charlottesville Area Wine Tour: $270
- 5 Hour Historic Thomas Jefferson Wine Tour: $270
- Private Wine Tours Transportation from 3 People and More: $280
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between California and Virginia, we can see that California is more expensive. And not only is Virginia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Virginia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Virginia 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 Virginia.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is California Expensive? and Is Virginia Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, California or Virginia?
California has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Virginia. When comparing the sizes of California and Virginia, 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.