Should you visit Los Angeles or Napa Valley?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Los Angeles and Napa Valley. 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.
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.
Napa Valley
Napa Valley, in the Bay Area of California, is a popular destination for its wineries and beautiful scenery. The area, referred to as Wine Country, is just north of San Francisco and makes for a great day or weekend trip. Many honeymooners visit the area for its romantic setting and popular bed and breakfasts. The best time to visit is during the months of September and October when the grapes are wipe. This time is referred to as the harvest "crush." The summer months are also a popular time but the crowds are often overwhelming.
Which city is cheaper, Napa Valley or Los Angeles?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Los Angeles is $190, while the average daily cost in Napa Valley is $230. 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 Los Angeles and Napa Valley in more detail.
Accommodation
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.
Travelers usually pay around $202 for a double occupancy room in Napa Valley If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
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.
Food in Napa Valley costs travelers about $50 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
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Food
Meals for one day
Los Angeles $35
Napa Valley $50
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:
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How to Cook the Perfect Steak Virtual Cooking Class:
$42
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Downtown Food Tour:
$75
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West Hollywood Food Tour:
$75
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Downtown Los Angeles Food Tour:
$77
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Private Tour: Secret Food Tours Los Angeles Venice Beach:
$96
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Private Authentic Middle Eastern Cooking Class in Reseda, Los Angeles:
$102
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Luxury Vegan Food Tours of Los Angeles:
$125
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Secret Food Tour of Venice Beach, Los Angeles w/ Private Tour Option:
$207
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3-Hour Secret Food Tour:
$209
Local 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.
Napa Valley'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 $146 per person, per day on transportation in Napa Valley.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Los Angeles
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Los Angeles:
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Hotel Parking for a Day
$22
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Taxi to Airport
$55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Los Angeles
Also for Los Angeles, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Arrival Private Transfer Los Angeles Airport LAX to Las Vegas by Minibus:
$1,883
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Arrival Private Transfer Los Angeles Airport LAX to Las Vegas by SUV:
$1,616
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Arrival Private Transfer Los Angeles Airport LAX to Las Vegas by Executive SUV:
$1,598
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Arrival Private Transfer Los Angeles LAX to Palm Springs or San Diego by Minibus:
$569
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Arrival Private Transfer Los Angeles LAX to Palm Springs/San Diego by Luxury Car:
$524
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LOS ANGELES to Palm Springs Airport (PSP) - Departure Private Transfer:
$485
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Arrival Private Transfer Los Angeles LAX to Palm Springs/San Diego by Exec. SUV:
$480
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Arrival Private Transfer Los Angeles LAX to Palm Springs or San Diego by SUV:
$453
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Los Angeles Private Transfer To Coechella Valley, CA.:
$439
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Private Transfer - LAX Airport to San Diego/ Las Vegas in a Luxurious SUV:
$420
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San Diego Private Transfer From Hollywood or Burbank.:
$398
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Los Angeles Private Transfer To Tijuana Border Crossing.:
$398
Is it cheaper to fly into Los Angeles or Napa Valley?
Prices for flights to both Napa Valley and Los Angeles 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
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.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Napa Valley can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $22 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
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:
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1 Hour Instagram Pics Hollywood Sign Tour:
$39
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10-Minute Hollywood Sign Helicopter Tour:
$124
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15 mins Driving Tour in a Ferrari California T spider in hollywood:
$69
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1HOUR FERRARI CALIFORNIA driving Tour from Hollywood to Beverly Hills:
$300
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2 Hour Celebrity Homes Tour:
$39
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2 Hour Venice Beach Bike Tour:
$61
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2 hour Horseback Riding Tour near the Hollywood Sign with Transportation:
$127
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2-Hour Hollywood Bike Tour:
$60
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2-Hour Hollywood Walking and Hiking Tour with Skyline Views:
$34
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3 Hour Hollywood to Beverly Hills small group Tour:
$41
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3 Hour Venice Beach Bike Tour:
$71
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3 Hours Los Angeles VIP Tour:
$49
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Los Angeles spend on average $11 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Napa Valley, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $53.
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
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Brewery Walking Tour -- Downtown / Arts District:
$81
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Malibu: Exclusive Wine Tasting and Falconry Experience:
$109
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Malibu: Vintage VW Hippie Sightseeing Tour with Wine Tasting:
$139
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Santa Barbara Wine Tasting Day Tour from Los Angeles:
$249
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Los Angeles Wine Tour:
$250
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The Private Malibu Wine Tour:
$419
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Food and Wine Tasting Party:
$750
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Private Tour: Malibu Wine Tasting for Two by Limousine from Los Angeles:
$999
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Los Angeles and Napa Valley, we can see that Napa Valley is more expensive. And not only is Los Angeles much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Los Angeles would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Los Angeles 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 Napa Valley would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Napa Valley than you might in Los Angeles.
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