Which city is cheaper, Los Angeles or Miami?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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 Miami and Los Angeles can help you decide which place is right for you.
Miami is a high energy, glamorous, and exciting beach city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. It's also popular because of the live music, food, and beaches.
Los Angeles is a diverse, multicultural, and sprawling city. It's an amazing and huge city with tons of activities and things to do. It's also known for nightlife, live music, and food.
Picking the best between Miami and Los Angeles can be difficult as they are each unique in their own way.
Miami has long been recognized as a culinary destination. The city's food scene is as diverse as its population. It is known for its Stone Crabs, fish sandwiches, Cuban sandwiches, and Key Lime pie.
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.
Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in Miami and Los Angeles.
Miami has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. From the posh nightlife clubs in South Beach, to the local salsa dancing venues in Little Havana, Miami is a city that thrives with energy.
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.
Live music enthusiatsts will find something to enjoy in either Miami or Los Angeles.
Miami is a world class music destination. Popular live music venues include Ball and Chain, Cafe La Trova, Flamingo Theater Bar.
Los Angeles has become a mecca for musicians from around the world. Music, movies, and show business - it's all part of what Los Angeles is known for. Several famous music venues include The Greek Theatre, Whiskey a Go Go, and The Roxy Theatre.
Luxury resorts are fairly comparable in Miami and Los Angeles.
If you're looking for a fantastic resort destination, Miami is a perfect choice. Known for it's luxury, you'll find many resorts in the area. Popular options include The Ritz-Carlton South Beach, Fontainebleau, and Carillon Miami.
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.
Los Angeles is considered to be a more popular beach destination.
With world-famous beaches, Los Angeles is a very popular vacation destination. 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.
Miami offers a nice beach destination. If you're looking for long sandy beaches, luxury yacht clubs, and fine dining restaurants, the area's beaches have them all.
Shopping in a popular activity in both Los Angeles and Miami.
Miami is a famous shopping destination with plenty of stores. The city has every high end brand you could want, along with diverse neighborhoods with local finds and unique purchases.
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.
Los Angeles offers a wider variety of activities for kids than Miami.
Los Angeles is one of the most popular family destinations. 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.
Miami is not always a place people visit with their families. Because it's so big, you'll find some kid-friendly options in the area. There are kid-friendly museums and activities around the city.
Both Miami and Los Angeles are good destinations to visit as a couple.
Couples visit Miami frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. For couples who love nightlife, wining and dining, and high end beach clubs, this is the place to be.
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.
Miami and Los Angeles are comparable places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.
Miami is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. This city is large enough to have something for everyone, so you'll find several hostels in the area that bring in the backpackers.
Many backpackers visit Los Angeles. The city is a major travel destination for all types, and backpackers will find no shortage of hostels or budget friendly accommodation around town.
Students usually think of Los Angeles as better than Miami.
Students come from all over the world to visit Los Angeles. 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.
Plenty of students visit Miami. Spring break in Miami is the stuff of legends.
You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Miami and Los Angeles.
You'll find some public transit in Miami, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There's an elevated metrorail as well as buses around the city.
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.
Miami and Los Angeles both are comparable when exploring on foot.
Miami is very walkable. Many parts of city are surprisingly walkable and pedestrian friendly, allowing you to eat out, go shopping, or explore without the need for a car.
Los Angeles is a somewhat walkable beach 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.
Both Miami and Los Angeles have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Los Angeles than Miami.
The ideal length of time for a trip to Miami is 7 days, and the ideal length of time for a trip to Los Angeles is 5-7 days.
Miami is a high energy beach city where you can fill many days. 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 area has lots to do.
In Los Angeles, many people enjoy the theater and nightlife that this multicultural big city offers. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.
Miami is a glamorous big city where you can fill many days. It's also a relaxing resort destination. This beach city offers something for everyone. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Los Angeles. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.
Miami is a bustling beach city where you can fill many days. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. Since there is so much to do in the area, five days is probably not enough for all of it. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.
Los Angeles is a fun place to experience. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. This would be the perfect place to spend five days, as it has just the right amount of activities.
Many people enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting Miami. 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.
In Los Angeles, many people enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling that this multicultural big city offers. Plenty of people spend one week here when traveling. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. Take your pick from the many activities offered around the area. One week is often enough time to spend here.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Miami is $165, while the average daily cost in Los Angeles is $192. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Miami and Los Angeles in more detail.
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Miami are as follows:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Miami:
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Los Angeles:
Also for Los Angeles, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Los Angeles and Miami 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.
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Miami:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Miami.
For Los Angeles, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
For Los Angeles, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Here are a few actual costs in Miami for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Los Angeles's activities, tours, and tickets:
For Los Angeles, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Miami are as follows:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Miami:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Los Angeles:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Miami and Los Angeles, we can see that Los Angeles is more expensive. And not only is Miami much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Miami would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Miami 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 Los Angeles would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Los Angeles than you might in Miami.
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