Which place is cheaper, California or North Carolina?
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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina and California can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: North Carolina or California?
North Carolina
North Carolina is a diverse state in the southern United States. The state has a variety of landscapes, with mountains, forests, and beaches all represented. The state's elevation ranges from sea level to 6,684 feet on Mount Mitchell, which is the highest point in North America east of the Mississippi. There are large cosmopolitan cities like Charlotte, and there are quaint college towns like Chapel Hill. North Carolina is the nineth most populous state in the country and the economy is currently centered around engineering, energy, biotechnology, and finance. Historically, the state's economy developed from the tobacco, textile, and furniture making industries.
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 Historical Tours in United States of America, The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America, and The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America.
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North Carolina Prices
USA PricesCalifornia Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNorth Carolina $213California $286
The average daily cost (per person) in North Carolina is $213, 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 North Carolina and California in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNorth Carolina $112California $116
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNorth Carolina $224California $232
Compare Hotels in North Carolina and California
Looking for a hotel in North Carolina 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.North Carolina $36California $42
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
- Private Arrival Transfer from John Wayne Orange County Airport SNA: $32
- Shared ride Arrival Transfer John Wayne airport to Anaheim hotels: $36
- Private Transfer Los Angeles Airport LAX From To LA: $36
- Los Angeles: Private Transfer to/from Los Angeles LAX Airport: $36
- Oakland Airport Private Hotel Transfer up to 5 passengers: $37
- Los Angeles to Los Angeles Airport (LAX) - Departure Private Transfer: $39
- Private Transfer From or To San Francisco SFO Airport: $39
- Private Departure Transfer to Burbank Airport (BUR): $40
- Sacramento Airport Private Hotel Transfer up to 5 passengers: $43
- Los Angeles Airport (LAX) to Anaheim - Arrival Private Transfer: $44
Is it cheaper to fly into North Carolina or California?
Prices for flights to both California and North Carolina 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 dayNorth Carolina $70California $79
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in California
For California, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Santa Monica Sweet Treats Food Tour: Donuts, Churros, and More: $70
- Santa Monica Holiday Sweet Treats Food Tour: Donuts, Cheer & More: $70
- Sacramento: Chicken Curry Cooking Class With a Local Chef: $75
- Fun Pad Thai Cooking Class With a Local Chef in San Diego: $75
- Chicken Curry Cooking Class With a Local Chef in Sacramento: $75
- Japanese Gyoza Cooking Class at a Local Brewery in LA: $75
- Sushi Making Cooking Class at a Local Brewery in San Diego: $75
- Flavors of Venice Beach Food Tour By Junket: $75
- Carlsbad Taco Tuesday Walking Food Tour with Margarita or Beer: $84
- San Diego Holiday Sweet Treats, Donuts & Pastries Food Tour: $85
- San Francisco: The Mission District Food Tour with 5 Local Dishes: $85
- San Francisco: Chinatown & Litte Italy Food Tour with 5 Dishes: $85
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.North Carolina $25California $69
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: $1.12
- Self-Guided Walking Tour in Los Angeles' Best-Kept Secrets: $3.42
- Solvang Princess Magical Family Adventure: $4.00
- Missing Walking Tour: Self-Guided City Game: $4.84
- Santa Monica Superhero Exploration Game and Tour: $4.86
- Secrets of Venice Boardwalk: Self-Guided Puzzle Adventure in LA: $4.86
- San Francisco Walking Tour: Self-Guided City Game: $4.86
- Self-Guided San Diego Walking or Bicycle Tour App: $5.00
- Downtown San Francisco Private Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- Los Angeles: Griffith Park Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- Self Guided Chinatown Tour: Food, History and Culture: $5.00
- San Jose State University: Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNorth Carolina $28California $21
Sample the Local Flavors in California
Also in California, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- An Epic Bar Hunt: Sacramento Sprint Bar Crawl: $12
- An Epic Scavenger Hunt: Slammin' San Diego Bar Crawl: $13
- Amazing Bar Crawl in Palm Springs: $15
- Awesome Bar Crawl in Lake Tahoe: $15
- Myka Estates Wine Tasting Reservation: $15
- Temecula Valley Wine Tour - Self-Guided GPS Audio Guide: $20
- Santa Barbara Wine Tour - Self-Guided GPS Audio Tour: $25
- LA Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $29
- Sonoma County Wine Tour: Self-Guided GPS Audio Driving Guide: $30
- Paso Robles Sonata(Red Blend) Flight Wine Tasting: $30
- Little Italy Pub Crawl: $30
- Paso Robles Aria (Syrah Dominant) Flight Wine Tasting: $30
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between North Carolina and California, we can see that California is more expensive. And not only is North Carolina much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to North Carolina would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in North Carolina 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 North Carolina.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is North Carolina Expensive? and Is California Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, North Carolina or California?
California has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of North Carolina. When comparing the sizes of North Carolina 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.