Which place is cheaper, Santa Cruz or North Conway?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit North Conway or Santa Cruz?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit North Conway or Santa Cruz? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: North Conway or Santa Cruz?
North Conway
North Conway is a small town in New Hampshire in the Mount Washington Valley (MWV). The entire valley is a popular vacation area year-round due to the multiple ski resorts and summer activities including amusement parks, hiking, outdoor activities, and more.
Santa Cruz
On the central coast of California in between Monterey Bay and San Jose lies Santa Cruz, California, a laid-back coastal college town with a reputation of locals open to liberal views and accepting of alternative lifestyles. Among its residents are University of California, Santa Cruz students, a large artist colony, and professional surfers.
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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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNorth Conway $224Santa Cruz $126
The average daily cost (per person) in North Conway is $224, while the average daily cost in Santa Cruz is $126. 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 Conway and Santa Cruz in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNorth Conway $125Santa Cruz $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNorth Conway $250Santa Cruz $122
Compare Hotels in North Conway and Santa Cruz
Looking for a hotel in North Conway or Santa Cruz? 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: North Conway Hotel Prices and Santa Cruz Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.North Conway $52Santa Cruz $40
Is it cheaper to fly into North Conway or Santa Cruz?
Prices for flights to both Santa Cruz and North Conway 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 Conway $64Santa Cruz $41
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.North Conway $38Santa Cruz $18
Tours and Activities in North Conway
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for North Conway.
- Kancamagus Highway: Audio Driving Tour: $12
- Kancamagus Scenic Byway Audio Driving Tour Guide: $17
- 3-Hour Private Sightseeing Outdoor Escape Game in Littleton, NH: $39
- Meet the Winemakers - Seven Birches Winery Tour: $40
Tours and Activities in Santa Cruz
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santa Cruz are as follows:
- Capitola Private 2-Hour Walking Tour: $30
- Capitola Watercolor Journaling Experience: $297
- Half Day Private Beach Tour in Santa Cruz: $35
- Mermaid Experience & Photoshoot: $190
- Santa Cruz 2Hour Guided E-bike Tour for Small Groups: $120
- Santa Cruz Family Friendly Guided E-bike Tour: $120
- Santa Cruz Guided E-Bike Ride & Most Fun Ebike Tour: $120
- Santa Cruz Must Sees: A Self-Guided Driving Tour: $3.99
- Santa Cruz:City Scavenger Hunt Tour with Remote Guide: $25
- Self Guided UC Santa Cruz Walking Tour: Unlock Secret Stories : $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNorth Conway $33Santa Cruz $8.57
Sample the Local Flavors in Santa Cruz
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Santa Cruz:
- Sidecar Wine Tour with Guide and Wine Tasting: $199
- Private Brewery Tour: $500
- Private Custom Wine Tour with Hotel Pickup: $750
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between North Conway and Santa Cruz, we can see that North Conway is more expensive. And not only is Santa Cruz much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Santa Cruz would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Cruz 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 North Conway would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in North Conway than you might in Santa Cruz.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is North Conway Expensive? and Is Santa Cruz Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, North Conway or Santa Cruz?
Santa Cruz has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of North Conway. When comparing the sizes of North Conway and Santa Cruz, 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.
When is the best time to visit North Conway or Santa Cruz?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit North Conway or Santa Cruz in the Summer?
Both Santa Cruz and North Conway during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Santa Cruz this time of year.
In July, North Conway is generally around the same temperature as Santa Cruz. Daily temperatures in North Conway average around 69°F (20°C), and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 67°F (19°C).
North Conway usually gets more rain in July than Santa Cruz. North Conway gets 2.6 inches (66 mm) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 0.1 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyNorth Conway 69°F (20°C)Santa Cruz 67°F (19°C)
Should I visit North Conway or Santa Cruz in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both North Conway and Santa Cruz. Also, many travelers come to Santa Cruz for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.
North Conway is much colder than Santa Cruz in the autumn. The daily temperature in North Conway averages around 49°F (9°C) in October, and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).
In October, North Conway usually receives more rain than Santa Cruz. North Conway gets 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberNorth Conway 49°F (9°C)Santa Cruz 63°F (17°C)
Should I visit North Conway or Santa Cruz in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to North Conway as well as Santa Cruz. Also, many visitors come to Santa Cruz in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in North Conway. In the winter, North Conway is much colder than Santa Cruz. Typically, the winter temperatures in North Conway in January average around 21°F (-6°C), and Santa Cruz averages at about 51°F (10°C).
North Conway usually gets more rain in January than Santa Cruz. North Conway gets 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryNorth Conway 21°F (-6°C)Santa Cruz 51°F (10°C)
Should I visit North Conway or Santa Cruz in the Spring?
Both Santa Cruz and North Conway are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Santa Cruz for the beaches during these months.
In April, North Conway is generally much colder than Santa Cruz. Daily temperatures in North Conway average around 43°F (6°C), and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).
In April, North Conway usually receives more rain than Santa Cruz. North Conway gets 3.3 inches (85 mm) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 1 inches (26 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilNorth Conway 43°F (6°C)Santa Cruz 58°F (14°C)
Typical Weather for Santa Cruz and North Conway
| North Conway | Santa Cruz | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 21°F (-6°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) | 51°F (10°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Feb | 24°F (-5°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) |
| Mar | 33°F (1°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) | 55°F (13°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) |
| Apr | 43°F (6°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) | 58°F (14°C) | 1 inches (26 mm) |
| May | 53°F (12°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) | 62°F (16°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) |
| Jun | 63°F (17°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) | 65°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Jul | 69°F (20°C) | 2.6 inches (66 mm) | 67°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (1 mm) |
| Aug | 67°F (20°C) | 2.6 inches (66 mm) | 67°F (20°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Sep | 59°F (15°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) | 67°F (19°C) | 0.2 inches (6 mm) |
| Oct | 49°F (9°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 0.8 inches (21 mm) |
| Nov | 39°F (4°C) | 4.8 inches (123 mm) | 56°F (13°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
| Dec | 27°F (-3°C) | 4.1 inches (103 mm) | 51°F (10°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
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.