Which place is cheaper, Santa Monica or San Diego?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for San Diego and Santa Monica. 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.
For many visitors and locals alike, San Diego is a paradise. Located in southern California, not far from Los Angeles, it has the perfect climate, wonderful beaches, and a culturally rich environment. It's surrounded by beautiful landscape and has a strong focus on wildlife conservation and eco-friendly living. Home to about 1.3 million residents, it is California's second largest city. It also has many universities, a large tech industry, and a thriving economy. Despite its size, many people perceive San Diego as a slower, more relaxed city with a pleasant vibe away from the chaos of a large city.
When it comes to visiting Los Angeles, Santa Monica is high on the must-see-and-do list. Chances are you'll recognize the iconic ferris wheel from Pacific Park in films and TV shows, and nothing beats the relaxed yet bustling vibe of this laid-back city.
Santa Monica is a popular and diverse beach town, cultural hub, fitness venue, shopping district, and neighborhood full of unique and trendy restaurants, all rolled into one. Visited by more than 6 million people a year, it's no wonder you'll always find a crowd there.
So whether you're up for a high-end shopping spree, bicycling down the waterfront, an eclectic food crawl or simply a stroll down the promenade, Santa Monica is sure to have something in store for you.
The weather in Santa Monica is moderate, with average summer highs in the low to mid 70s and winter climate that rests comfortably around the low 50s. Though flip flops and sandals are considered year-round footwear in Los Angeles, bring comfortable walking shoes for browsing galleries, malls, and boutiques. Santa Monica is the perfect place to break out your California-casual wardrobe.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in San Diego is $202, while the average daily cost in Santa Monica is $210. 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 San Diego and Santa Monica in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in San Diego or Santa Monica? 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.
Also for San Diego, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santa Monica:
Prices for flights to both Santa Monica and San Diego 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.
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to San Diego:
For San Diego, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santa Monica.
For San Diego, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Diego.
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santa Monica are as follows:
Also in San Diego, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
Also in Santa Monica, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When comparing the travel costs between San Diego and Santa Monica, we can see that Santa Monica is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Diego Expensive? and Is Santa Monica Expensive?.
San Diego has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Santa Monica. When comparing the sizes of San Diego and Santa Monica, 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.
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.
Both Santa Monica and San Diego during the summer are popular places to visit. The beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to San Diego this time of year.
San Diego is around the same temperature as Santa Monica in the summer. The daily temperature in San Diego averages around 71°F (22°C) in July, and Santa Monica fluctuates around 70°F (21°C).
San Diego usually gets more rain in July than Santa Monica. San Diego gets 0 inches (1 mm) of rain, while Santa Monica receives 0 inches (0 mm) of rain this time of the year.
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both San Diego and Santa Monica. Many travelers come to San Diego for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, San Diego is around the same temperature as Santa Monica. Typically, the autumn temperatures in San Diego in October average around 68°F (20°C), and Santa Monica averages at about 67°F (20°C).
In October, San Diego usually receives more rain than Santa Monica. San Diego gets 0.4 inches (9 mm) of rain, while Santa Monica receives 0.2 inches (6 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
The winter brings many poeple to San Diego as well as Santa Monica. Many visitors come to San Diego in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, San Diego is generally around the same temperature as Santa Monica. Daily temperatures in San Diego average around 57°F (14°C), and Santa Monica fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).
San Diego usually gets more rain in January than Santa Monica. San Diego gets 1.8 inches (46 mm) of rain, while Santa Monica receives 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Both Santa Monica and San Diego are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to San Diego for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty during these months.
San Diego is around the same temperature as Santa Monica in the spring. The daily temperature in San Diego averages around 62°F (17°C) in April, and Santa Monica fluctuates around 61°F (16°C).
In April, San Diego usually receives more rain than Santa Monica. San Diego gets 0.8 inches (20 mm) of rain, while Santa Monica receives 0.2 inches (4 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
San Diego | Santa Monica | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 57°F (14°C) | 1.8 inches (46 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 0.7 inches (17 mm) |
Feb | 59°F (15°C) | 1.5 inches (39 mm) | 58°F (15°C) | 0.9 inches (24 mm) |
Mar | 59°F (15°C) | 1.8 inches (45 mm) | 58°F (15°C) | 0.4 inches (10 mm) |
Apr | 62°F (17°C) | 0.8 inches (20 mm) | 61°F (16°C) | 0.2 inches (4 mm) |
May | 64°F (18°C) | 0.2 inches (5 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) |
Jun | 67°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) | 66°F (19°C) | 0 inches (0 mm) |
Jul | 71°F (22°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) | 70°F (21°C) | 0 inches (0 mm) |
Aug | 73°F (23°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) | 71°F (22°C) | 0 inches (0 mm) |
Sep | 71°F (22°C) | 0.2 inches (6 mm) | 70°F (21°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) |
Oct | 68°F (20°C) | 0.4 inches (9 mm) | 67°F (20°C) | 0.2 inches (6 mm) |
Nov | 62°F (17°C) | 1.5 inches (37 mm) | 62°F (17°C) | 0.2 inches (5 mm) |
Dec | 57°F (14°C) | 1.6 inches (40 mm) | 58°F (14°C) | 0.6 inches (15 mm) |