A Travel Price Comparison for California Los Angeles vs. Santa Barbara for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Beaches

Should you visit Los Angeles or Santa Barbara?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. 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, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Los Angeles

Los Angeles is a sprawling, energetic, and dynamic city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. Other popular activities here include theater, nightlife, and live music.

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is a stunning, wealthy, and opulent coastal town. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. As this is a very quaint destination, you'll find it has a special atmosphere. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Los Angeles and Santa Barbara: Pros and Cons

How is Los Angeles different from Santa Barbara?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Los Angeles or Santa Barbara?

You'll find a number of museums and attractions in both Santa Barbara and Los Angeles.

With plenty of landmarks, attractions, and museums, Los Angeles has many famous sights for visitors. The city has an eclectic list of monuments and museums. Notable landmarks include the famous Hollywood sign, Griffith Observatory, the Getty Center, and the Petersen Automotive Museum.

Santa Barbara offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The city is famous for its missions, with Mission Santa Barbara being the most iconic. Also visit the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and Sea Center.

Is the Food Better in Los Angeles or Santa Barbara? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

For a nice culinary experience, head to Los Angeles, which is well known for it's local dishes and restaurants.

Eat your way through Los Angeles, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. As a huge and diverse city, there is no shortage of amazing food options around town. Popular dishes include Cobb Salads, Mexican Tacos, and the French Dip Sandwich.

Santa Barbara offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. The city is best known for its fine dining, particularly if you enjoy seafood. The scallops, oysters, clam chowder, and sea urchin (when available) are all world class.

Is Los Angeles or Santa Barbara Better for Nightlife?

Most visitors prefer the nightlife in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles is a destination that you simply have to visit at least once for nightlife. The city's nightlife scene is as diverse as the city itself. There are glamorous clubs where you might spot a celebrity, as well as local dives with a more down-to-earth vibe. Some of the most famous clubs in the city include Academy, Avalon, and Boardner's.

Santa Barbara has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. For the best nightlife in the city, head downtown to State Street. This is where you'll find the most active bars and biggest crowds.

Is Los Angeles or Santa Barbara Better for Resorts?

There are resorts to choose from in both Los Angeles and Santa Barbara.

There are plenty of resorts in Los Angeles to choose from. The city is home to a number of high end resorts including The Beverly Hill Hotel, The Langham Huntington Pasadena, and The Ritz-Carlton.

Santa Barbara is known as a popular and fun resort destination. Many people enjoy the luxurious vacation rentals around Santa Barbara, but there are also a number of high end resorts including the Rosewood Miramar Beach Resort, The Ritz-Carlton, and Hotel Californian.

Is Los Angeles or Santa Barbara Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

You'll find places where you can go scuba diving or snorkeling in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara.

Grab a mask and fins and explore the underwater scenery in Los Angeles. Popular snorkeling or diving spots near the city include Santa Catalina Island, Diver's Cove, and Crystal Cove State Park.

Santa Barbara has a few snorkeling spots. Snorkeling areas not far from town include Refugio State Beach and Tajiguas. You'll see a few fish, beautiful rocks, and anemones that are unique and impressive.

Is Los Angeles or Santa Barbara Better for Beaches?

Los Angeles and Santa Barbara both offer beautiful beaches.

Los Angeles offers stunning beaches that attract visitors from around the world. Ranging from beaches with stunning natural beauty to those with glamourous high energy, this city has a number of beaches to choose from. Some of the most popular are Santa Monica, Malibu, Huntington Beach, and Redondo Beach.

Travelers come from around the world to visit the beaches in Santa Barbara. The city is famous for its pristine, sandy beaches. Whether you want to enjoy world class surfing or enjoy a gentle ocean setting, Santa Barbara has options.

Is Los Angeles or Santa Barbara Better for Hiking?

Hiking trails can be found around both Los Angeles and Santa Barbara.

Los Angeles is well-known for its hiking and trekking. In and around the city you'll find world class urban hiking with views of the mountains and the ocean. Some of the most well-known hikes include the Charlie Turner Trail to Mount Hollywood, Runyon Canyon, and the Sara Wan Trailhead at Corral Canyon.

People visit Santa Barbara specifically for its hiking, as the natural beauty is well-known. Just outside of town are countless hiking opportunities that offer spectacular ocean views. Popular hikes include Inspiration Point, San Ysidro Trail, and Cold Spring East Fork.

Is the Shopping Better in Los Angeles or Santa Barbara?

Shoppers can find a variety of stores in both Los Angeles and Santa Barbara.

Many people travel to Los Angeles specifically to go shopping. Famous for Rodeo Drive, there are many other shopping venues throughout the city. Other famous shopping areas include Robertson Blvd and the Grove.

Santa Barbara is a famous shopping destination with plenty of stores. The city is famous as a high end shopping destination. Head to State Street for a palm tree lined street with local boutiques.

Is Los Angeles or Santa Barbara Better for Families?

Families may find more to do in Los Angeles than Santa Barbara.

With a huge array of activities for kids, Los Angeles is very family-friendly. With its many amusement parks, including nearby Disneyland, and its countless family friendly parks and playgrounds, there is no shortage of things to do with kids around the city.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Santa Barbara. The city has some nice family-friendly activities including a zoo, some cool museums, and even whale watching.

Is Los Angeles or Santa Barbara Better for Couples?

Los Angeles and Santa Barbara both fun destinations for a couple.

Los Angeles makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It is a large, sprawling city with tucked away romantic scenes that are perfect for a couple's getaway or a dream honeymoon.

Santa Barbara makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. The town is a stunningly beautiful destination with beautiful beaches, excellent shopping, and nice resorts that make for a great honeymoon or romantic trip.

Is Los Angeles or Santa Barbara Better for Students?

Both Los Angeles and Santa Barbara are popular destinations for students.

Los Angeles is a very popular place to visit for students. International students have long flocked to this for its major universities and diverse setting. Major universities in the area include UCLA, the University of Southern California, and the California Institute of Technology.

Santa Barbara is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. With a major university right in town, there's plenty of student life that international students or locals can enjoy.

Is Los Angeles or Santa Barbara Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Visitors will find public transit in both Los Angeles and Santa Barbara.

Los Angeles has some public transit options. Many of the public transit options are overlooked by visitors for a number of reasons, but options include the subway, light rail, and buses.

You'll find some public transit in Santa Barbara, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. Transit options include buses, trolleys and water taxis.

Is Los Angeles or Santa Barbara a more walkable city?

Los Angeles and Santa Barbara are similar when it comes to walkability.

Los Angeles is a somewhat walkable city. The city is sprawling, but some of the neighborhoods are more walkable than others. Some of the more walkable neighborhoods include Hollywood, Koreatown, Downtown, and MacArthur Park.

Santa Barbara is very walkable. The downtown area is very pedestrian friendly and best explored on foot.

Should I spend more time in Santa Barbara or Los Angeles?

How long in Los Angeles or Santa Barbara?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Los Angeles than Santa Barbara.

The ideal length of time for a trip to Los Angeles is 5-7 days, and the ideal length of time for a trip to Santa Barbara is 2-3 days.

One day in Los Angeles or Santa Barbara?

Los Angeles is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. It's also a relaxing resort destination. Your budget might influence how long you stay. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the affluent coastal town of Santa Barbara. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A weekend in Los Angeles or Santa Barbara?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Los Angeles. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the wealthy destination of Santa Barbara. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. This coastal town offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Five days in Los Angeles or Santa Barbara?

Los Angeles is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. If you have five days, this is a great place to go. Five days is usually enough time to experience most activities.

The wealthy coastal town of Santa Barbara offers shopping and museums. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A week in Los Angeles or Santa Barbara?

Los Angeles is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. Plenty of people spend one week in the area when traveling.So, one week is just the right amount of time to spend here. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Santa Barbara. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

When is the best time to visit Los Angeles or Santa Barbara?

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 Los Angeles or Santa Barbara in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Los Angeles as well as Santa Barbara. The beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Los Angeles this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Santa Barbara for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

Los Angeles is a little warmer than Santa Barbara in the summer. The temperature in Los Angeles is usually 72°F (22°C) in July, and Santa Barbara stays around 65°F (19°C).

Los Angeles usually gets less rain in July than Santa Barbara. Los Angeles gets 0 inches (0 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Los Angeles or Santa Barbara in the Autumn?

Both Santa Barbara and Los Angeles are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Los Angeles for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene. Also, many visitors come to Santa Barbara in the autumn for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Los Angeles is around the same temperature as Santa Barbara. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Los Angeles in October are around 64°F (18°C), and Santa Barbara is about 62°F (17°C).

In October, Los Angeles usually receives more rain than Santa Barbara. Los Angeles gets 0.6 inches (15 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 0.5 inches (13 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Los Angeles or Santa Barbara in the Winter?

Both Santa Barbara and Los Angeles during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Los Angeles in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Santa Barbara for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

In January, Los Angeles is generally a little warmer than Santa Barbara. Temperatures in Los Angeles average around 55°F (13°C), and Santa Barbara stays around 52°F (11°C).

Los Angeles usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Santa Barbara. Los Angeles gets 3.1 inches (79 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Los Angeles or Santa Barbara in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. Most visitors come to Los Angeles for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Santa Barbara because of the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.

Los Angeles is a little warmer than Santa Barbara in the spring. The temperature in Los Angeles is usually 61°F (16°C) in April, and Santa Barbara stays around 57°F (14°C).

In April, Los Angeles usually receives less rain than Santa Barbara. Los Angeles gets 1 inches (25 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Santa Barbara and Los Angeles