Which place is cheaper, Santa Monica or Fairfield?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Fairfield or Santa Monica?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Fairfield and Santa Monica can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Fairfield or Santa Monica?
Fairfield
The city of Fairfield is in Solano County, California, in the Sacramento Valley area. It's a medium sized city that is home to the Travis Air Force Base. It's also halfway between San Francisco and Sacramento along Interstate 80. There are a handful of interesting activities in the area. Consider visiting either the Grizzly Island Wildlife Area or the Hill Slough Wildlife Area both of which have hiking, fishing, birdwatching, and boating opportunities. You can also take a tour of the Jelly Belly Factory which is in town, or tour the Anheuser-Busch Brewery which includes two complimentary beers and a limitless supply of pretzels. On Thursdays you can take a guided tour of the Travis Air Force Base. If you're interested in visited a working ranch, Rush Ranch is open to the public and can be a fun experience with an opportunity to visit with the animals.
Santa Monica
When it comes to visiting Los Angeles, Santa Monica is high on the must-see-and-do list. Chances are you'll recognize the iconic ferris wheel from Pacific Park in films and TV shows, and nothing beats the relaxed yet bustling vibe of this laid-back city.
Santa Monica is a popular and diverse beach town, cultural hub, fitness venue, shopping district, and neighborhood full of unique and trendy restaurants, all rolled into one. Visited by more than 6 million people a year, it's no wonder you'll always find a crowd there.
So whether you're up for a high-end shopping spree, bicycling down the waterfront, an eclectic food crawl or simply a stroll down the promenade, Santa Monica is sure to have something in store for you.
The weather in Santa Monica is moderate, with average summer highs in the low to mid 70s and winter climate that rests comfortably around the low 50s. Though flip flops and sandals are considered year-round footwear in Los Angeles, bring comfortable walking shoes for browsing galleries, malls, and boutiques. Santa Monica is the perfect place to break out your California-casual wardrobe.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America, The Best Walking Tours in United States of America, The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, and The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFairfield $131Santa Monica $210
The average daily cost (per person) in Fairfield is $131, while the average daily cost in Santa Monica is $210. 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 Fairfield and Santa Monica in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFairfield $97Santa Monica $123
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFairfield $194Santa Monica $246
Compare Hotels in Fairfield and Santa Monica
Looking for a hotel in Fairfield or Santa Monica? 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: Fairfield Hotel Prices and Santa Monica Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Fairfield -Santa Monica $50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Monica
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santa Monica:
- Santa Monica to Long Beach Airport (LGB) - Deparure Private Transfer: $80
- Santa Monica to Los Angeles Airport Departure Private Transfer: $74
- Santa Monica to Los Angeles Airport (LAX) - Departure Private Transfer: $68
Is it cheaper to fly into Fairfield or Santa Monica?
Prices for flights to both Santa Monica and Fairfield 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 dayFairfield $30Santa Monica $52
Typical Food Prices in Fairfield
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Fairfield:
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El Pollo Loco Lunch (for 3)$17
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Hometown Buffet Dinner (for 3)$44
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Monica
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santa Monica.
- Flavors of Venice Beach Food Tour: $96
- Los Angeles Premier Dinner Cruise from Marina del Rey: $124
- Marina del Rey Christmas Eve Buffet Dinner Cruise: $175
- Marina del Rey Christmas Day Buffet Dinner Cruise: $175
- Marina del Rey Father's Day Plated Dinner Cruise: $222
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Fairfield $13Santa Monica $38
Tours and Activities in Santa Monica
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santa Monica are as follows:
- 15 Passengers Open Ocean/Harbor Cruise Party Boat Marina Del Rey: $129
- 2 Hour Sailing Adventure From Marina Del Rey: $160
- 3-Hour Santa Monica and Venice Beach Bike Guided Tour : $72
- 4.5 Hour Venice Beach Open Air Van Tour: $65
- 5.5-Hour Exclusive Malibu Stars Homes & Beautiful Beach Tour: $80
- All Day Tour 6.5 Hour : $111
- Bring-Your-Own-Food and Drinks Marina del Rey Boat Tour: $80
- City Tour of Los Angeles from Torrance and El Segundo: $122
- Dolphin Sighting Sunset Tour: $90
- Exotic Tijuana Massage Tour in LA: $250
- Explore Malibu's Coast: PCH & Beyond - Self Guided Audio Tour: $15
- Half-Day Private Guided Los Angeles Coastal Tour: $299
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayFairfield -Santa Monica $21
Sample the Local Flavors in Fairfield
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Fairfield:
- Olive Oil, Cheese, and Wine Tasting with Local Expert: $133
Sample the Local Flavors in Santa Monica
Also in Santa Monica, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Private Vintage VW Hippie Tour to Malibu with wine tasting: $195
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Fairfield and Santa Monica, we can see that Santa Monica is more expensive. And not only is Fairfield much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Fairfield would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Fairfield 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 Santa Monica would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santa Monica than you might in Fairfield.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Fairfield Expensive? and Is Santa Monica Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Fairfield or Santa Monica?
Fairfield has a larger population, and is about 20% larger than the population of Santa Monica. When comparing the sizes of Fairfield and Santa Monica, 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 Fairfield or Santa Monica?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Fairfield or Santa Monica in the Summer?
Both Santa Monica and Fairfield during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many visitors come to Santa Monica in the summer for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Fairfield is around the same temperature as Santa Monica. Typically, the summer temperatures in Fairfield in July average around 73°F (23°C), and Santa Monica averages at about 70°F (21°C).
Fairfield usually gets more rain in July than Santa Monica. Fairfield gets 0 inches (1 mm) of rain, while Santa Monica receives 0 inches (0 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyFairfield 73°F (23°C)Santa Monica 70°F (21°C)
Should I visit Fairfield or Santa Monica in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Fairfield and Santa Monica. Furthermore, most visitors come to Santa Monica for the shopping scene during these months.
In October, Fairfield is generally cooler than Santa Monica. Daily temperatures in Fairfield average around 62°F (17°C), and Santa Monica fluctuates around 67°F (20°C).
In October, Fairfield usually receives more rain than Santa Monica. Fairfield gets 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain, while Santa Monica receives 0.2 inches (6 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberFairfield 62°F (17°C)Santa Monica 67°F (20°C)
Should I visit Fairfield or Santa Monica in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Fairfield as well as Santa Monica. Additionally, the winter months attract visitors to Santa Monica because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Fairfield is much colder than Santa Monica in the winter. The daily temperature in Fairfield averages around 46°F (8°C) in January, and Santa Monica fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).
Fairfield usually gets more rain in January than Santa Monica. Fairfield gets 3.8 inches (97 mm) of rain, while Santa Monica receives 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryFairfield 46°F (8°C)Santa Monica 57°F (14°C)
Should I visit Fairfield or Santa Monica in the Spring?
Both Santa Monica and Fairfield are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the beaches are the main draw to Santa Monica this time of year.
In the spring, Fairfield is cooler than Santa Monica. Typically, the spring temperatures in Fairfield in April average around 56°F (13°C), and Santa Monica averages at about 61°F (16°C).
In April, Fairfield usually receives more rain than Santa Monica. Fairfield gets 1.3 inches (32 mm) of rain, while Santa Monica receives 0.2 inches (4 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilFairfield 56°F (13°C)Santa Monica 61°F (16°C)
Typical Weather for Santa Monica and Fairfield
| Fairfield | Santa Monica | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 46°F (8°C) | 3.8 inches (97 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 0.7 inches (17 mm) |
| Feb | 51°F (11°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) | 58°F (15°C) | 0.9 inches (24 mm) |
| Mar | 54°F (12°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) | 58°F (15°C) | 0.4 inches (10 mm) |
| Apr | 56°F (13°C) | 1.3 inches (32 mm) | 61°F (16°C) | 0.2 inches (4 mm) |
| May | 64°F (18°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) |
| Jun | 69°F (21°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) | 66°F (19°C) | 0 inches (0 mm) |
| Jul | 73°F (23°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) | 70°F (21°C) | 0 inches (0 mm) |
| Aug | 72°F (22°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) | 71°F (22°C) | 0 inches (0 mm) |
| Sep | 70°F (21°C) | 0.5 inches (12 mm) | 70°F (21°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) |
| Oct | 62°F (17°C) | 1.1 inches (27 mm) | 67°F (20°C) | 0.2 inches (6 mm) |
| Nov | 54°F (12°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) | 62°F (17°C) | 0.2 inches (5 mm) |
| Dec | 46°F (8°C) | 2.6 inches (65 mm) | 58°F (14°C) | 0.6 inches (15 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.