Which place is cheaper, Victoria or Santa Barbara?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Santa Barbara or Victoria?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Santa Barbara or Victoria? 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: Santa Barbara or Victoria?
Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara is located in California, less than 100 miles from Los Angeles. It sits between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, giving it a stunning backdrop. The town has a population of just 90,000 but it still offers visitors many cultural, culinary, and shopping experiences that surpass many large cities. There are wide beaches along a beautiful coastline, impressive wineries, and many top rated restaurants. Many people see Santa Barbara as a hangout for the rich and famous, but with a university and diverse population, the city is much more relatable than you might expect, although travel prices here are still somewhat high.
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 Bicycle Tours in United States of America, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers 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 daySanta Barbara $162Victoria $182
The average daily cost (per person) in Santa Barbara is $162, 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 Santa Barbara and Victoria in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSanta Barbara $88Victoria $113
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSanta Barbara $176Victoria $226
Compare Hotels in Santa Barbara and Victoria
Looking for a hotel in Santa Barbara 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: Santa Barbara Hotel Prices and Victoria Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santa Barbara $42Victoria $37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Barbara
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santa Barbara:
- Private Transfer from Santa Barbara Port to Los Angeles Airport: $93
- Private Transfer from Santa Barbara Cruise Port to Los Angeles: $93
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 Santa Barbara or Victoria?
Prices for flights to both Victoria and Santa Barbara 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 daySanta Barbara $46Victoria $27
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.Santa Barbara $27Victoria $45
Tours and Activities in Santa Barbara
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santa Barbara are as follows:
- 2- Hour Pottery Workshop and Studio Tour in Ojai: $65
- 5 STARS: "Where The Locals Go!" Nature-History Tour: $95
- Authentic Funk Zone Tour: $125
- City & Sand Electric Bike Tour: $105
- Coastline Kayak Tour near Santa Barbara with Knowledgeable Guide: $122
- Downtown SB Walking Food & Drink Tour: $175
- Electric Bike Adventure in Santa Barbara Wine Country: $83
- Epic Zipline Tour Over The Santa Ynez Valley: $139
- Guided Kayak Wildlife Tour in the Santa Barbara Harbor: $55
- Kayak Tour of Santa Barbara with Experienced Guide: $55
- Montecito Coastline Electric Bike Guided Tour: $125
- Private Helicopter Tour in Santa Barbara: $149
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 daySanta Barbara $12Victoria $16
Typical Alcohol Prices in Santa Barbara
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Santa Barbara:
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Camping$20
Sample the Local Flavors in Santa Barbara
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Santa Barbara:
- Paranormal Pairing: Wine Tasting Walk with Ghost Storytelling: $105
- Solvang Valley Small Group All-Inclusive Wine Tour : $185
- Santa Ynez Valley Biking and Wine Tasting Tour: $194
- All-Inclusive Full-Day Wine Tasting Tour from Santa Ynez Valley: $199
- Wine Tasting Tour in Santa Ynez Valley (All-Inclusive & Full-Day): $215
- All-Inclusive Full-Day Wine Tasting Tour from Santa Barbara: $219
- Small-Group Wine Tasting Tour of Santa Barbara Wine Country: $235
- Santa Barbara Small-Group Wine Tour to Private Estates & Wineries: $235
- Small-Group Wine Tour to Private Locations in Santa Barbara : $235
- Santa Barbara/Santa Ynez Wine Tour (We Drive Your Vehicle): $300
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 comparing the travel costs between Santa Barbara and Victoria, we can see that Victoria 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 Santa Barbara Expensive? and Is Victoria Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santa Barbara or Victoria?
Victoria has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Santa Barbara. When comparing the sizes of Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara or Victoria in the Summer?
Both Victoria and Santa Barbara during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Santa Barbara for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Santa Barbara is a little warmer than Victoria in the summer. The daily temperature in Santa Barbara averages around 65°F (19°C) in July, and Victoria fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
Santa Barbara usually gets less rain in July than Victoria. Santa Barbara gets 0 inches (1 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 JulySanta Barbara 65°F (19°C)Victoria 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Santa Barbara or Victoria in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Santa Barbara and Victoria. The autumn months attract visitors to Santa Barbara because of the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Santa Barbara is much warmer than Victoria. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Santa Barbara in October average around 62°F (17°C), and Victoria averages at about 11°C (52°F).
In October, Santa Barbara usually receives less rain than Victoria. Santa Barbara gets 0.5 inches (13 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 OctoberSanta Barbara 62°F (17°C)Victoria 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Santa Barbara or Victoria in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Santa Barbara as well as Victoria. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Santa Barbara this time of year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Victoria. In January, Santa Barbara is generally much warmer than Victoria. Daily temperatures in Santa Barbara average around 52°F (11°C), and Victoria fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).
It's quite rainy in Victoria. Santa Barbara usually gets less rain in January than Victoria. Santa Barbara gets 3.2 inches (82 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 JanuarySanta Barbara 52°F (11°C)Victoria 5°C (41°F)
Should I visit Santa Barbara or Victoria in the Spring?
Both Victoria and Santa Barbara are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Santa Barbara for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
Santa Barbara is a little warmer than Victoria in the spring. The daily temperature in Santa Barbara averages around 57°F (14°C) in April, and Victoria fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).
In April, Santa Barbara usually receives less rain than Victoria. Santa Barbara gets 1.1 inches (27 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 AprilSanta Barbara 57°F (14°C)Victoria 10°C (49°F)
Typical Weather for Victoria and Santa Barbara
| Santa Barbara | Victoria | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 52°F (11°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 5°C (41°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
| Feb | 54°F (12°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) | 7°C (44°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| Mar | 55°F (13°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) | 8°C (46°F) | 67 mm (2.7 in) |
| Apr | 57°F (14°C) | 1.1 inches (27 mm) | 10°C (49°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| May | 59°F (15°C) | 0.2 inches (4 mm) | 12°C (54°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jun | 62°F (17°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) | 14°C (58°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
| Jul | 65°F (19°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) | 16°C (60°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) |
| Aug | 67°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) | 16°C (61°F) | 19 mm (0.8 in) |
| Sep | 66°F (19°C) | 0.5 inches (12 mm) | 15°C (58°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Oct | 62°F (17°C) | 0.5 inches (13 mm) | 11°C (52°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Nov | 57°F (14°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) | 8°C (46°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Dec | 52°F (11°C) | 2.2 inches (56 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.