Should you visit Dallas or Los Angeles?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Dallas and Los Angeles can help you decide which place is right for you.
Dallas
Located in the north central part of the state, Dallas is a prominent city in Texas and is one of the most populated metropolitan areas in the United States of America. The business reputation of Dallas rose from its historical status as the center for cotton and oil industries. It was also positioned among numerous railroads.
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California is probably one of the most well known cities in the United States. It is the second most populated metro area in the country with more than 17 million people. The city's diversity is wide reaching, giving it a character that is unique from any other place in the country. LA has many world famous sights and neighborhoods including Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, and Santa Monica, but there is really so much more to this city.
Which city is cheaper, Los Angeles or Dallas?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Dallas is $103, while the average daily cost in Los Angeles is $190. 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 Dallas and Los Angeles in more detail.
Accommodation
Dallas's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $116. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $58.
For a normal double-occupancy room in Los Angeles, $222 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Los Angeles, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $111, such as in a hostel.
Food
The price of a meal in Dallas can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $28 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $11 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
The price of a meal in Los Angeles can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $35 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
Dallas $28
Los Angeles $35
Typical Food prices in Dallas
Some typical examples of dining costs in Dallas are as follows:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dallas
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Dallas.
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Live from Eggs Benedict Brunch Cooking Class with Bri from MasteChef:
$33
-
Live from Eggs Benedict Cooking Class with Bri from MasterChef:
$33
-
Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament Admission Ticket in Dallas:
$73
-
Secret Food Tour of Dallas w/ Private Tour Option:
$221
-
Dallas Secret Food Tour:
$224
Typical Food prices in Los Angeles
For Los Angeles, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Los Angeles
For Los Angeles, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
How to Cook the Perfect Steak Virtual Cooking Class:
$42
-
Downtown Food Tour:
$75
-
West Hollywood Food Tour:
$75
-
Downtown Los Angeles Food Tour:
$77
-
Private Tour: Secret Food Tours Los Angeles Venice Beach:
$96
-
Private Authentic Middle Eastern Cooking Class in Reseda, Los Angeles:
$102
-
Luxury Vegan Food Tours of Los Angeles:
$125
-
Secret Food Tour of Venice Beach, Los Angeles w/ Private Tour Option:
$207
-
3-Hour Secret Food Tour:
$209
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Dallas is $23 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Los Angeles's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $29 per person, per day on transportation in Los Angeles.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dallas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dallas:
-
Transfer in private minivan from Dallas Love Field Airport to City Center:
$93
-
Transfer in private minivan from Dallas City Center to Love Field Airport:
$93
-
Transfer in private minivan from Dallas City Center to Fort Worth Airport:
$93
-
Transfer in executive private car from Dallas Love Field Airport to City Center:
$73
-
Transfer in executive private car from Dallas City Center to Love Field Airport:
$73
-
Transfer in executive private car from Dallas City Center to Fort Worth Airport:
$70
-
Transfer from Dallas Love Field to Dallas:
$100
-
RoundTrip transfer in executive private car from-to Love Field Airpt-Dallas City:
$147
-
Round trip transfer in private minivan from-to Love Field Airport in Dallas City:
$187
-
Private transfer: Dallas to Dallas Airport (DAL):
$622
-
Private Transfer Downtown Dallas to Fort Worth Airport DFW Luxury Vehicle:
$63
-
Private Transfer Dallas Airport DAL to Las Colinas, Irving by Luxury Vehicle:
$54
Typical Local Transportation prices in Los Angeles
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Los Angeles:
-
Hotel Parking for a Day
$22
-
Taxi to Airport
$55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Los Angeles
Also for Los Angeles, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Private Arrival Transfer from Los Angeles Airport LAX:
$30
-
Private Departure Transfer to Los Angeles Airport LAX:
$30
-
Los Angeles Arrival Private Transfer: LAX Airport:
$31
-
Small-Group Amazing Hollywood Sign Tour with Transfer:
$32
-
Transfer to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX):
$39
-
Los Angeles Airport (LAX) to Santa Monica - Arrival Private Transfer:
$41
-
Private Airport Transfer: from Los Angeles to Los Angeles Int. Airport (LAX):
$52
-
Private Van Airport Arrival Transfer: LAX Airport to Anaheim Resort Area:
$53
-
Private Departure Transfer from Los Angeles City to Los Angeles Airport:
$53
-
Private Arrival Transfer from Los Angeles Airport to Los Angeles City:
$57
-
Los Angeles Airport (LAX) to Los Angeles - Arrival Private Transfer:
$61
-
Los Angeles to Los Angeles Airport (LAX) - Departure Private Transfer:
$61
Is it cheaper to fly into Dallas or Los Angeles?
Prices for flights to both Los Angeles and Dallas 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
Dallas's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $10 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Los Angeles can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $64 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Tours and Activities in Dallas
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Dallas are as follows:
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2-Hour Dallas and JFK Limousine Tour:
$70
-
2-Hour Historic Dallas Segway Tour:
$59
-
3-Hour Small-Group Dallas Cowboys Stadium Tour:
$90
-
Best of Dallas Sightseeing Bus Tour: Reunion Tower GeO-Deck or CityPass:
$60
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Create Your Own Dallas Ft. Worth Combination Tour:
$129
-
Dallas City Highlights Tour:
$29
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Dallas City Tour:
$51
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Dallas Cruizer Tour:
$25
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Dallas Food and Culture Tour:
$36
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Dallas Highlights Tour:
$69
-
Dallas JFK and West Village Restaurant Walking Tour:
$78
-
Dallas Shopping Tour:
$106
Typical Entertainment prices in Los Angeles
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Los Angeles's activities, tours, and tickets:
Tours and Activities in Los Angeles
For Los Angeles, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
Hollywood Boulevard’s Haunting History and Hidden Gems: A Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$5.00
-
Gambling Built the Sunset Strip: A Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour:
$5.13
-
Hollywood Legends: A self-guided audio tour of the Sunset Strip:
$5.99
-
Hollywood Celebrity & Star Homes Self-Guided Driving Tour:
$6.40
-
City tour Los Angeles Chile:
$10
-
TCL Chinese Theatre VIP Tour:
$14
-
Petersen Automotive Museum Admission Ticket:
$16
-
Fun Self-Guided Tour of Hollywood in Los Angeles:
$19
-
Half Day Self-Guided Tour of Westwood in Los Angeles:
$19
-
Melrose Self-Guided Tour of Instagrammable Places:
$19
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Self-Guided Tour of Downtown Los Angeles with Fun Facts and Best Photo Ops:
$19
-
Venice Beach, CA WalkingTour:
$19
Alcohol
The average person spends about $9.82 on alcoholic beverages in Dallas per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Typically, people visiting Los Angeles spend on average $11 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Dallas
Also in Dallas, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Dallas Bar Hunt: Dallas Dynasty Bar Crawl:
$12
-
Haunted Dallas Ghost and Pub Walking Tour:
$27
-
Party Bike Pub Crawl in Deep Ellum and Downtown Dallas:
$55
Sample the Local Flavors in Los Angeles
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Los Angeles:
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Brews Cruise- DTLA Brewery tour by bike:
$50
-
Brewery Walking Tour -- Downtown / Arts District:
$81
-
Malibu: Exclusive Wine Tasting and Falconry Experience:
$109
-
Malibu: Vintage VW Hippie Sightseeing Tour with Wine Tasting:
$139
-
Santa Barbara Wine Tasting Day Tour from Los Angeles:
$249
-
Los Angeles Wine Tour:
$250
-
The Private Malibu Wine Tour:
$419
-
Food and Wine Tasting Party:
$750
-
Private Tour: Malibu Wine Tasting for Two by Limousine from Los Angeles:
$999
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dallas and Los Angeles, we can see that Los Angeles is more expensive. And not only is Dallas much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Dallas would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Dallas 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 Los Angeles would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Los Angeles than you might in Dallas.
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