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 $285
The average daily cost (per person) in Maine is $241, while the average daily cost in California is $285. 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: $208
- Private Transfer from Rockland Cruise Port to Bangor Airport(BGR): $208
- 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: $207
- Private Transfer from Bangor Airport(BGR) to Rockland Cruise Port: $207
- Portland to Portland Jetport (PWM) - Departure Private Transfer: $88
- Portland Jetport (PWM) to Portland - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $175
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
- Private Intercity Transfer from and to Los Angeles: $15
- Private Arrival Transfer from John Wayne Orange County Airport SNA: $32
- Private Arrival Transfer from LAX Airport to Los Angeles Hotels: $33
- Private Departure Transfer San Fransisco City to SFO Airport: $34
- Shared Airport Departure Transfer Anaheim and Orange County to John Wayne Airport: $36
- 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 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
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 Maine
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Maine.
- Best of Bar Harbor: Guided Food Tour: $119
- Portland Explorer: Taste of Portland Food Tour: $130
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in California
For California, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Chocolate Making Cooking Class With a Local Chef in the Bay Area: $60
- Fun Gyoza Cooking Class With a Local Chef in Los Angeles: $60
- Fun Pad Thai Cooking Class With a Local Chef in San Diego: $75
- Tijuana Walking Street Food Tour for Foodies: $79
- Speakeasy Murder Mystery Dinner at Buena Park: $87
- Comedian Led Hidden Gems Food Tour: $87
- Downtown Los Angeles Food Tour: $89
- Los Angeles Taco Tour with To Live and Dine in LA Food Tours: $89
- Little Italy Food and Drink Walking Tour: Pizza, Pasta & Piazzas: $89
- San Francisco Food Tour: Ferry Building and Ferry Plaza Farmers Market: $95
- Carlsbad Food Tour: $96
- Encinitas Food Tour: $96
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
- 6 Hours Monroe Island Adventure Experience: $272
- 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 (weight limit 275 lbs): $190
- 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: $14
- Acadia's Ocean Path Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $9.99
- Afternoon Lighthouse Cruise Along the Coast of Portland Maine: $64
- Afternoon Windjammer Cruise Along the Coast of Portland Maine: $69
Tours and Activities in California
For California, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Self-Guided Walking Tour in Los Angeles' Best-Kept Secrets: $3.54
- Santa Monica Superhero Exploration Game and Tour: $4.98
- Golden Gate Bridge Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- Private Walking Berkeley: Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- UC Santa Cruz: Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- Los Angeles: Griffith Park Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- Self-Guided Golden Gate Bridge Bike or Walking App Tour: $5.00
- Coit Tower Hike Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- Venice Beach: Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- Agnews Historic Park Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- Missing Walking Tour: Self-Guided City Game: $5.86
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMaine $23California $21
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
- Awesome Bar Crawl in Santa Monica: $15
- LA Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $29
- San Francisco Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $29
- Paso Robles Aria (Syrah Dominant) Flight Wine Tasting: $30
- Paso Robles Sonata(Red Blend) Flight Wine Tasting: $30
- San Diego Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- DIY Candle Making Class at a Local Brewery in San Diego: $55
- Wine Tasting and Craft Experience in Laguna Beach: $55
- DIY Wine Tour Temecula (Private): $59
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.