Which place is cheaper, Victoria or Pasadena?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Pasadena or Victoria?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Pasadena and Victoria. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Pasadena or Victoria?
Pasadena
Pasadena, California is adjacent to Los Angeles and is probably most famous as the host for the New Year's Day Rose Parade and Rose Bowl football game. As such, it has become known as the City of Roses. Year around Pasadena is known to have a vibrant night life. It has a great Old Town area that has impressive shopping and many excellent restaurants. It's also home to the California Institute of Technology and has many museums, theaters, and independent films that make it a cultural haven for the area. Also make sure you visit the Huntington Library which has an impressive art collection and over 150 acres of botanical gardens. It's been featured in several Hollywood Films.
Victoria
The capital city of British Columbia, Canada, Victoria is positioned near the southern edge of Vancouver Island. It's a wonderfully pleasant city and has been nicknamed the Garden City because of its vast green space and public gardens. There is a population of just over 80,000 in the city proper and almost 350,000 in the greater metropolitan area. Dating back to 1843, it's also one of the oldest cities in the Pacific Northwest. As such, it has many historic buildings and beautiful architecture. It also has the second oldest Chinatown in North America, following San Francisco's.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America, The Best Adventure Tours to Canada, and The Best Eco Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPasadena $62Victoria $182
The average daily cost (per person) in Pasadena is $62, while the average daily cost in Victoria is $182. 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 Pasadena and Victoria in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPasadena $25Victoria $113
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPasadena $50Victoria $226
Compare Hotels in Pasadena and Victoria
Looking for a hotel in Pasadena or Victoria? 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: Pasadena Hotel Prices and Victoria Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pasadena $21Victoria $37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Victoria
Also for Victoria, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Victoria to Vancouver Ferry with Bus Transfer: $73
- Victoria to Vancouver - Coach Bus Transfer: $74
- Victoria to Vancouver - Vancouver Hotel Drop Off - Coach Bus Transfer: $83
- Victoria to Vancouver - Vancouver Airport (YVR) Drop Off - Coach Bus Transfer: $87
- Vancouver: Seaplane Transfer between Vancouver & Victoria: $206
- Seaplane Transfer between Victoria and Whistler: $219
Is it cheaper to fly into Pasadena or Victoria?
Prices for flights to both Victoria and Pasadena 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 dayPasadena $19Victoria $27
Typical Food Prices in Pasadena
Some typical examples of dining costs in Pasadena are as follows:
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Casual Dinner Out (family of 4)$58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Victoria
For Victoria, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Chocolate Lovers Food Tour: $44
- Chinatown and Old Town Food Tour with Tastings: $58
- Hip & Hidden Chinatown + Old Town Food Tour Victoria: $59
- Victoria Delicious Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $73
- Sip, Savor, Stroll Evening Food Tour: $146
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pasadena -Victoria $45
Tours and Activities in Pasadena
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Pasadena are as follows:
- LA: East Side Guided Film Locations Tour: $350
- Haunted Walking Tour: $33
- Old Pasadena Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour: $49
Tours and Activities in Victoria
For Victoria, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Victoria self-guided tour App - multilingual AudioGuide: $4.28
- Victoria Harbor: Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.11
- 2.5-hour Tips-Based City Walking Tour: $6.58
- Victoria, BC: Murder Mystery Detective Experience: $11
- Scavenger Hunt and City Highlights Walking Tour: $13
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
- Experience Victoria by Foot Walking Tour: $15
- Butterfly Gardens Admission Ticket: $15
- Ghostly Walking Tour in Victoria: $16
- Cultural & Historical Victoria Walking Tour: $16
- Malahat SkyWalk General Admission Tickets: $29
- Experience Victoria City Tour: $37
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPasadena -Victoria $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Victoria
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Victoria:
- Guided Pub Crawl with Ferry Rides and Appetizers: $48
- 3-Hour Street Art & Craft Beer Tour of Victoria, Brewery Tour & Tasting included: $101
- Victoria Wine Tour with Wine Tastings and Charcuterie: $134
- Cowichan Valley Premium Wine Tour: $439
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pasadena and Victoria, we can see that Victoria is more expensive. And not only is Pasadena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pasadena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pasadena 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 Victoria would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Victoria than you might in Pasadena.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pasadena Expensive? and Is Victoria Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Pasadena or Victoria?
Victoria has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Pasadena. When comparing the sizes of Pasadena and Victoria, 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 Pasadena or Victoria?
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 Pasadena or Victoria in the Summer?
Both Victoria and Pasadena during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Pasadena because of the family-friendly experiences.
Pasadena is a little warmer than Victoria in the summer. The daily temperature in Pasadena averages around 73°F (23°C) in July, and Victoria fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
Pasadena usually gets less rain in July than Victoria. Pasadena gets 0 inches (0 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 13 mm (0.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPasadena 73°F (23°C)Victoria 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Pasadena or Victoria in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Pasadena and Victoria. The shopping scene are the main draw to Pasadena this time of year.
In the autumn, Pasadena is much warmer than Victoria. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Pasadena in October average around 68°F (20°C), and Victoria averages at about 11°C (52°F).
In October, Pasadena usually receives less rain than Victoria. Pasadena gets 0.3 inches (7 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPasadena 68°F (20°C)Victoria 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Pasadena or Victoria in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Pasadena as well as Victoria. Many travelers come to Pasadena for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Victoria can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Pasadena is generally much warmer than Victoria. Daily temperatures in Pasadena average around 56°F (13°C), and Victoria fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).
It's quite rainy in Victoria. Pasadena usually gets less rain in January than Victoria. Pasadena gets 2.5 inches (63 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPasadena 56°F (13°C)Victoria 5°C (41°F)
Should I visit Pasadena or Victoria in the Spring?
Both Victoria and Pasadena are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
Pasadena is much warmer than Victoria in the spring. The daily temperature in Pasadena averages around 62°F (17°C) in April, and Victoria fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).
In April, Pasadena usually receives less rain than Victoria. Pasadena gets 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPasadena 62°F (17°C)Victoria 10°C (49°F)
Typical Weather for Victoria and Pasadena
| Pasadena | Victoria | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 56°F (13°C) | 2.5 inches (63 mm) | 5°C (41°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
| Feb | 58°F (14°C) | 2.5 inches (63 mm) | 7°C (44°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| Mar | 59°F (15°C) | 2 inches (50 mm) | 8°C (46°F) | 67 mm (2.7 in) |
| Apr | 62°F (17°C) | 0.7 inches (17 mm) | 10°C (49°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| May | 65°F (18°C) | 0.2 inches (4 mm) | 12°C (54°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jun | 69°F (20°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) | 14°C (58°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
| Jul | 73°F (23°C) | 0 inches (0 mm) | 16°C (60°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) |
| Aug | 74°F (24°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) | 16°C (61°F) | 19 mm (0.8 in) |
| Sep | 73°F (23°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) | 15°C (58°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Oct | 68°F (20°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) | 11°C (52°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Nov | 62°F (16°C) | 1.6 inches (42 mm) | 8°C (46°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Dec | 56°F (13°C) | 1.7 inches (43 mm) | 5°C (42°F) | 153 mm (6 in) |
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.