Which place is cheaper, California or Maine?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Maine or California?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
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 Maine and California can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Maine or California?
Maine
The U.S. state of Maine is situated in the northeastern most region of the country. While it is known for its rugged rocky coastline and maritime history, the state also has a landscape of rolling mountains carpeted in thick pine forests, with many peaceful lakes popular with visitors seeking a close to nature kind of getaway. The capital city is Augusta, though the most populous is Portland, which has much to offer in sightseeing attractions and activities.
California
California is the most populous state in the U.S. and is known for a variety of attractions such as Hollywood, warm beaches, the San Francisco bay area, Redwood trees, national parks, and stunning mountain vistas. With a variety of locations and activities to offer, California has become one of the premier travel destinations in the world.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America, The Best Walking Tours in United States of America, and The Best Northern Lights Tours in Alaska.
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Maine Prices
USA PricesCalifornia Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMaine $241California $286
The average daily cost (per person) in Maine is $241, while the average daily cost in California is $286. 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 Maine and California in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMaine $107California $116
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMaine $214California $232
Compare Hotels in Maine and California
Looking for a hotel in Maine or California? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Maine $43California $42
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Maine
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Maine:
- Private Transfer from Rockland Cruise Port to Bangor City Hotels: $209
- Private Transfer from Rockland Cruise Port to Bangor Airport(BGR): $209
- Private Transfer from Portland city to Portland Cruise Port: $75
- Private Transfer from Portland Port to Portland Jetport (PWM): $135
- Private Transfer from Portland Cruise Port to Portland city: $75
- Private Transfer from Bangor city hotels to Rockland Cruise Port: $208
- Private Transfer from Bangor Airport(BGR) to Rockland Cruise Port: $208
- Portland to Portland Jetport (PWM) - Departure Private Transfer: $88
- Portland Jetport (PWM) to Portland - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $176
Hired Cars and Shuttles in California
Also for California, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Group Transfer From or To Los Angeles LAX Airport: $15
- San Francisco: SFO Airport Private Transfer to/from City Center: $31
- Port Of Long Beach Cruiseport Private Hotel Transfer up to 5 PAX: $33
- Shared ride Arrival Transfer John Wayne airport to Anaheim hotels: $36
- Los Angeles: Private Transfer to/from Los Angeles LAX Airport: $36
- Private Departure Transfer to Burbank Airport (BUR): $40
- Los Angeles to Los Angeles Airport (LAX) - Departure Private Transfer: $40
- Los Angeles Airport (LAX) to Los Angeles - Arrival Private Transfer: $40
- Private Arrival Transfer from San Francisco Airport SFO: $44
- Los Angeles Airport (LAX) to Anaheim - Arrival Private Transfer: $45
- Private Arrival Transfer from San Diego Airport SAN: $48
- Private Transfer from Cruise Port to San Francisco Airport (SFO): $48
Is it cheaper to fly into Maine or California?
Prices for flights to both California and Maine 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 dayMaine $85California $79
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in California
For California, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Dinner In San Francisco: $63
- Santa Monica Holiday Sweet Treats Food Tour: Donuts, Cheer & More: $70
- Santa Monica Sweet Treats Food Tour: Donuts, Churros, and More: $70
- Fun Pad Thai Cooking Class With a Local Chef in San Diego: $75
- Sacramento: Chicken Curry Cooking Class With a Local Chef: $75
- Tijuana Walking Street Food Tour with Wild Foodie Tours: $79
- Carlsbad Taco Tuesday Walking Food Tour with Margarita or Beer: $84
- Silverlake Food Tour with Comedian Guide: $85
- San Diego Holiday Sweet Treats, Donuts & Pastries Food Tour: $85
- San Francisco: Chinatown & Litte Italy Food Tour with 5 Dishes: $85
- Speakeasy Murder Mystery Dinner at Buena Park: $87
- San Diego Vegan Food Tour: $89
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Maine $33California $69
Tours and Activities in Maine
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Maine are as follows:
- 2-Hour Portland Old Port Ghost Walking Tour: $29
- 90 Minutes Ghost Walking Tour in Kennebunkport: $35
- 90-minute Ghost Walking Tour in Bar Harbor: $33
- A Walk Through Time Tour in Portland: $49
- Acadia Fat Tire Ebike Tours: $190
- Acadia Mount Desert Island Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $15
- Acadia National Park & Bar Harbor Self-Guided Driving & Walking Tour: $25
- Acadia National Park Ranger-led Bicycle Tour: $75
- Acadia National Park Self-Guided Audio Tour: $16
- Acadia National Park Self-Guided Ebike Tour: $129
- Acadia's Ocean Path Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $9.99
- Afternoon Lighthouse Cruise Along the Coast of Portland Maine: $64
Tours and Activities in California
For California, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Discover Yosemite National Park: A Self-Guided Tour: $1.16
- Discover San Diego: Self-Guided Walking Tour: $3.55
- Self-Guided Walking Tour in Los Angeles' Best-Kept Secrets: $3.55
- Downtown San Francisco Private Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- Los Angeles Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $5.00
- Self Guided Chinatown Tour: Food, History and Culture: $5.00
- San Jose State University: Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- Kid Led Interactive AR Adventure in Presidio National Park: $5.00
- San Francisco Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $5.00
- Los Angeles: Griffith Park Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- Yountville Art Walking Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- Private Walking Berkeley: Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMaine $23California $21
Sample the Local Flavors in Maine
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Maine:
- Private Group Sensory Wine Tasting or Wine and Yoga in Maine: $95
Sample the Local Flavors in California
Also in California, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- A Spectacular Bar Crawl: Long Beach Boss: $12
- An Epic Scavenger Hunt: Slammin' San Diego Bar Crawl: $13
- Awesome Bar Crawl in Lake Tahoe: $15
- Myka Estates Wine Tasting Reservation: $15
- Santa Barbara Wine Tour - Self-Guided GPS Audio Tour: $25
- San Francisco Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $29
- Sonoma County Wine Tour: Self-Guided GPS Audio Driving Guide: $30
- Paso Robles Aria (Syrah Dominant) Flight Wine Tasting: $30
- Paso Robles Sonata(Red Blend) Flight Wine Tasting: $30
- Paso Robles Wine Tour: Self-Guided GPS Audio Driving Guide: $40
- Napa Valley Wine Tour: Self-Guided GPS Audio Driving Guide: $40
- 2 Hours Party Bike Pub Crawl Tour in Glendale California: $55
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Maine and California, we can see that California is more expensive. And not only is Maine much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Maine would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Maine 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 California would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in California than you might in Maine.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Maine Expensive? and Is California Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, Maine or California?
California has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Maine. When comparing the sizes of Maine and California, 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.
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.