Should you visit California or Virginia?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare 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. 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.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Virginia or California?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in California is $197, while the average daily cost in Virginia is $134. 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 Virginia in more detail.
Accommodation
For a normal double-occupancy room in California, $182 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in California, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $91, such as in a hostel.
Virginia's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $138. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $69.
Food
On average, meal and food prices in California cost around $37 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $15.
The average traveler spends about $29 per day in Virginia for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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Food
Meals for one day
California $37
Virginia $29
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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Napa or Sonoma Dinner Transportation:
$500
Local Transportation
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in California than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $32 on transportation in California on average per day.
The cost of a taxi ride in Virginia is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $39 per person, per day, on local transportation in Virginia.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in California
Also for California, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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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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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
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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
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Sedan Airport Transfer from Vallejo to SFO (one way):
$259
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Sedan Airport Transfer from SFO to East Bay (one way):
$262
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Virginia
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Virginia:
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Virginia Park Lodge to Dublin Airport or Dublin City Private Chauffeur Transfer.:
$312
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Virginia Park Lodge to Dublin Airport or Dublin City Private Chauffeur Transfer:
$256
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Virginia Park Lodge to Dublin Airport or Dublin City Private Chauffeur Transfer:
$398
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Virginia Park Lodge To Dublin Airport Or Dublin City Private Chauffeur Transfer:
$360
Entertainment
Sightseeing expenses in California, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $49 per day, per person.
Entertainment and activities in Virginia typically cost an average of $19 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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Guided Tour of Historic Virginia City and Carson City from South Lake Tahoe:
$55
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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
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Best of San Francisco Private Walking Tour:
$156
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City By The Bay San Francisco Tours With An Interpreter:
$187
-
Rappelling Adventure in Joshua Tree National Park (4 Hours):
$195
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Bay Area Tour With An Arabic Interpreter:
$200
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Bay Area Tour With A Spanish Interpreter:
$225
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Bay Area Tour With A Farsi Interpreter:
$225
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Bay Area Tour With A Persian Interpreter:
$225
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting California spend on average $17 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
The average person spends about $15 on alcoholic beverages in Virginia 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 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.
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