Should you visit Napa Valley or Palm Springs?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Napa Valley and Palm Springs can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
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.
Palm Springs
Palm Springs is a desert resort town located about two hours east of Los Angeles, most famously known as Hollywood's playground, where stars and starlets could escape for rest and relaxation but still be close enough to return for impromptu work.
It's no wonder that Palm Springs is increasingly popular as a weekend getaway for special occasions, and even for bachelor and bachelorette parties. Closer than the typical Las Vegas weekend for Southern California residents, Palm Springs provides a desert getaway with endless possibilities of activities, whether visitors want to gamble, shop, hike, or wander through an art gallery.
Climate in the high-desert is generally warm with highs in the 100s during the hot and dry summers, and lows in the mid 40s in the winter months, with sparse rainfall. However, if you're visiting during winter, be sure to pack versatile attire and layers as the days may be warm, but the nights in the low desert can get chilly enough to convince you to change into long pants.
Which city is cheaper, Palm Springs or Napa Valley?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Napa Valley is $230, while the average daily cost in Palm Springs is $165. 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 Napa Valley and Palm Springs in more detail.
Accommodation
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.
Palm Springs's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $192. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $96.
Food
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.
On average, meal and food prices in Palm Springs cost around $42 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $17.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Napa Valley $50
Palm Springs $42
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Palm Springs
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Palm Springs.
-
Private French-Inspired Cooking Class with a Fun Local:
$72
Local Transportation
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.
The cost of a taxi ride in Palm Springs is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $42 per person, per day, on local transportation in Palm Springs.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Palm Springs
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Palm Springs:
-
Palm Springs Airport (PSP) to LOS ANGELES - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$970
-
Palm Springs Airport (PSP) to SANTA ANA - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$729
-
Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) to ONTARIO -Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$597
-
Departure Private Transfer Palm Springs/San Diego to Los Angeles LAX by Minibus:
$556
-
Departure Private Transfer Palm Springs/San Diego to Los Angeles LAX by Luxury C:
$524
-
Palm Springs Airport (PSP) to LOS ANGELES - Arrival Private Transfer:
$485
-
Departure Private Transfer Palm Springs/San Diego to Los Angeles LAX by Exec SUV:
$467
-
Departure Private Transfer Palm Springs or San Diego to Los Angeles LAX by SUV:
$440
-
Palm Springs Private Transfer To San Diego, CA.:
$398
-
Departure Private Transfer Palm Springs or San Diego to Los Angeles LAX by Sedan:
$378
-
Los Angeles Private Transfer From Palm Springs.:
$375
-
Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) to SANTA ANA - Arrival Private Transfer:
$365
Is it cheaper to fly into Napa Valley or Palm Springs?
Prices for flights to both Palm Springs and Napa Valley 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 Napa Valley can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $22 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Entertainment and activities in Palm Springs typically cost an average of $23 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Tours and Activities in Palm Springs
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Palm Springs are as follows:
-
Indian Canyons Walking Tour by Jeep from Palm Desert:
$250
-
Indian Canyons Walking Tour by Jeep from Palm Springs:
$250
-
Modern & More Bike Tours Palm Springs:
$55
-
Mods & Icons Tour of Palm Springs:
$127
-
Palm Springs All-City Tour:
$323
-
Palm Springs Day Tour and Outlet Shopping from Los Angeles:
$169
-
Palm Springs Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour:
$29
-
Palm Springs Windmill Self-Driving Tour Interactive Fun Safe:
$49
-
Playground of the Stars Palm Springs Tour:
$323
-
Private Golden Days Tour of Palm Springs:
$323
-
Private Tour of Joshua Tree National Park from Palm Springs:
$495
-
The Legends & Icons Tour of Palm Springs:
$114
Alcohol
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.
The average person spends about $10 on alcoholic beverages in Palm Springs per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Napa Valley and Palm Springs, we can see that Napa Valley is more expensive. And not only is Palm Springs much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Palm Springs would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Palm Springs 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 Palm Springs.
Related Articles for Napa Valley
Related Articles for Palm Springs
