Which place is cheaper, Santa Cruz or Dayton?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Dayton or Santa Cruz?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Dayton or Santa Cruz, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Dayton or Santa Cruz?
Dayton
Located in southwest Ohio, Dayton is known as the "Gem City." It's the original home of Orville and Wilbur Wright, the brothers who designed the first airplane. You'll also find the Dayton Aviation Heritage Park here, which is one of the only multi-site National Parks in the United States. The cities climate has four different seasons, winter, spring, summer and fall. The winter months are quite cold and you can expect a decent amount of snow in the area. Spring remains cool and there are infrequent showers. This is also the peak time for tornadoes in the area. Summer is hot and humid and can be unpleasant at times, but fall is crisp and refreshing with occasional storms and infrequent tornadoes.
Santa Cruz
On the central coast of California in between Monterey Bay and San Jose lies Santa Cruz, California, a laid-back coastal college town with a reputation of locals open to liberal views and accepting of alternative lifestyles. Among its residents are University of California, Santa Cruz students, a large artist colony, and professional surfers.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America, and The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDayton $323Santa Cruz $126
The average daily cost (per person) in Dayton is $323, while the average daily cost in Santa Cruz is $126. 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 Dayton and Santa Cruz in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDayton $250Santa Cruz $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDayton $500Santa Cruz $122
Compare Hotels in Dayton and Santa Cruz
Looking for a hotel in Dayton or Santa Cruz? 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Dayton Hotel Prices and Santa Cruz Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dayton $25Santa Cruz $40
Is it cheaper to fly into Dayton or Santa Cruz?
Prices for flights to both Santa Cruz and Dayton 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 dayDayton $61Santa Cruz $41
Typical Food Prices in Dayton
Some typical examples of dining costs in Dayton are as follows:
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Noodle Company Lunch (for 2)$17
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Indian Food Dinner (for 2)$34
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dayton -Santa Cruz $18
Tours and Activities in Dayton
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Dayton are as follows:
- Daytona Beach: Guided Kayaking or Standup Paddling Tour: $65
Tours and Activities in Santa Cruz
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santa Cruz are as follows:
- Santa Cruz Must Sees: A Self-Guided Driving Tour: $3.99
- Self Guided UC Santa Cruz Walking Tour: Unlock Secret Stories : $20
- Santa Cruz:City Scavenger Hunt Tour with Remote Guide: $25
- Capitola Private 2-Hour Walking Tour: $30
- Half Day Private Beach Tour in Santa Cruz: $35
- Santa Cruz Guided E-Bike Ride & Most Fun Ebike Tour: $120
- Santa Cruz Family Friendly Guided E-bike Tour: $120
- Santa Cruz 2Hour Guided E-bike Tour for Small Groups: $120
- Mermaid Experience & Photoshoot: $190
- Capitola Watercolor Journaling Experience: $297
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDayton -Santa Cruz $8.57
Sample the Local Flavors in Dayton
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dayton:
- Dive Bar Bus Crawl: $38
Sample the Local Flavors in Santa Cruz
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Santa Cruz:
- Sidecar Wine Tour with Guide and Wine Tasting: $199
- Private Brewery Tour: $500
- Private Custom Wine Tour with Hotel Pickup: $750
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dayton and Santa Cruz, we can see that Dayton is more expensive. And not only is Santa Cruz much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Santa Cruz would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Cruz 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 Dayton would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dayton than you might in Santa Cruz.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dayton Expensive? and Is Santa Cruz Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dayton or Santa Cruz?
Dayton has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Santa Cruz. When comparing the sizes of Dayton and Santa Cruz, 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.
When is the best time to visit Dayton or Santa Cruz?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Dayton or Santa Cruz in the Summer?
Both Santa Cruz and Dayton are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Santa Cruz for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Dayton is a little warmer than Santa Cruz. Typically, the summer temperatures in Dayton in July average around 78°F (26°C), and Santa Cruz averages at about 67°F (19°C).
In July, Dayton usually receives more rain than Santa Cruz. Dayton gets 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 0.1 inches (1 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyDayton 78°F (26°C)Santa Cruz 67°F (19°C)
Should I visit Dayton or Santa Cruz in the Autumn?
Both Santa Cruz and Dayton during the autumn are popular places to visit. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Santa Cruz because of the hiking trails and the shopping scene.
In October, Dayton is generally cooler than Santa Cruz. Daily temperatures in Dayton average around 57°F (14°C), and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).
Dayton usually gets more rain in October than Santa Cruz. Dayton gets 2.5 inches (64 mm) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberDayton 57°F (14°C)Santa Cruz 63°F (17°C)
Should I visit Dayton or Santa Cruz in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Dayton and Santa Cruz. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Santa Cruz this time of year.
The weather in Dayton can be very cold. Dayton is much colder than Santa Cruz in the winter. The daily temperature in Dayton averages around 30°F (-1°C) in January, and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 51°F (10°C).
In January, Dayton usually receives less rain than Santa Cruz. Dayton gets 2.1 inches (54 mm) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryDayton 30°F (-1°C)Santa Cruz 51°F (10°C)
Should I visit Dayton or Santa Cruz in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Dayton as well as Santa Cruz. Also, many travelers come to Santa Cruz for the beaches.
In the spring, Dayton is cooler than Santa Cruz. Typically, the spring temperatures in Dayton in April average around 55°F (13°C), and Santa Cruz averages at about 58°F (14°C).
Dayton usually gets more rain in April than Santa Cruz. Dayton gets 3.5 inches (88 mm) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 1 inches (26 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilDayton 55°F (13°C)Santa Cruz 58°F (14°C)
Typical Weather for Santa Cruz and Dayton
| Dayton | Santa Cruz | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 30°F (-1°C) | 2.1 inches (54 mm) | 51°F (10°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Feb | 33°F (1°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) |
| Mar | 44°F (7°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) | 55°F (13°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) |
| Apr | 55°F (13°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) | 58°F (14°C) | 1 inches (26 mm) |
| May | 65°F (18°C) | 4 inches (102 mm) | 62°F (16°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) |
| Jun | 74°F (23°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) | 65°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Jul | 78°F (26°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) | 67°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (1 mm) |
| Aug | 76°F (25°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 67°F (20°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Sep | 69°F (21°C) | 2.6 inches (65 mm) | 67°F (19°C) | 0.2 inches (6 mm) |
| Oct | 57°F (14°C) | 2.5 inches (64 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 0.8 inches (21 mm) |
| Nov | 47°F (8°C) | 3.1 inches (80 mm) | 56°F (13°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
| Dec | 35°F (2°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) | 51°F (10°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
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.