Which place is cheaper, Halifax or Santa Cruz?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Santa Cruz or Halifax?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Santa Cruz or Halifax? 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 Cruz or Halifax?
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.
Halifax
The quaint and charming coastal town of Halifax, Nova Scotia has an interesting personality. While it caters to travelers from all over the world, it maintains the pace and lifestyle of a small town.
Steeped in maritime history, Halifax is the capital of Nova Scotia, and one of the world's greatest natural harbors. This busy seaport serves as the economic and cultural hub of Eastern Canada.
When planning your trip keep in mind that this city has a climate like other coastal cities. Summers are nice with the occasional humidity. Winters are mild, but still full of snow and wind. The best time of year to visit is most certainly the fall.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best G Adventures Tours to Canada, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Vancouver.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySanta Cruz $126Halifax $114
The average daily cost (per person) in Santa Cruz is $126, while the average daily cost in Halifax is $114. 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 Cruz and Halifax in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSanta Cruz $61Halifax $65
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSanta Cruz $122Halifax $130
Compare Hotels in Santa Cruz and Halifax
Looking for a hotel in Santa Cruz or Halifax? 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 Cruz Hotel Prices and Halifax Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santa Cruz $40Halifax $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Halifax
Also for Halifax, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Halifax Stanfield Airport (YHZ) to Halifax Port-Arrival Transfer: $34
- Halifax Stanfield Airport(YHZ) to Halifax Port - Arrival Transfer: $34
- Private Transfer from Halifax Stanfield Airport to Halifax: $36
- Transfer to/from Stanfield International Airport: $44
- Halifax Airport (YHZ) to Halifax Cruise Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $68
- From Peggy’s Cove Small-Group Tour with Transfers: $80
- Halifax Cruise Port: Private Transfer to Halifax hotels: $133
- Halifax Stanfield Airport (YHZ): Transfer to Halifax Port: $209
Is it cheaper to fly into Santa Cruz or Halifax?
Prices for flights to both Halifax and Santa Cruz 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
-
Food Meals for one daySanta Cruz $41Halifax $31
Typical Food Prices in Halifax
For Halifax, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Bluenose II Restaurant$45
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Halifax
For Halifax, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Peggy's Cove Small Group Night Tour with Dinner: $160
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santa Cruz $18Halifax $28
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
Tours and Activities in Halifax
For Halifax, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Discover the Halifax Explosion Audio Walking Tour: $5.11
- Churches, Gardens, & Graveyards Smartphone Tour: $5.11
- Halifax Boardwalk and Seaport: Smartphone Audio Tour: $5.11
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Exlore Halifax with 3 Unique Smartphone Audio Walking Tours: $13
- Halifax self-guided walking tour and scavenger hunt: $38
- From City and Peggy's Cove Sunset Guided Tour: $65
- City Segway Tour: $67
- Small-Group Tour with Citadel and Peggy's Cove: $94
- Small Group Walking Tour with Citadel & Museum: $102
- From Small Group Lunenberg Express Tour: $120
- Guided Harbourfront Food Walking Tour: $120
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one daySanta Cruz $8.57Halifax $15
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 comparing the travel costs between Santa Cruz and Halifax, we can see that Santa Cruz 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 Cruz Expensive? and Is Halifax Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santa Cruz or Halifax?
Halifax has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Santa Cruz. When comparing the sizes of Santa Cruz and Halifax, 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 Cruz or Halifax?
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 Cruz or Halifax in the Summer?
Both Halifax and Santa Cruz during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Santa Cruz for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
Santa Cruz is around the same temperature as Halifax in the summer. The daily temperature in Santa Cruz averages around 67°F (19°C) in July, and Halifax fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
Santa Cruz usually gets less rain in July than Halifax. Santa Cruz gets 0.1 inches (1 mm) of rain, while Halifax receives 99 mm (3.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulySanta Cruz 67°F (19°C)Halifax 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Santa Cruz or Halifax in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Santa Cruz and Halifax. Many visitors come to Santa Cruz in the autumn for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Santa Cruz is much warmer than Halifax. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Santa Cruz in October average around 63°F (17°C), and Halifax averages at about 10°C (49°F).
Halifax receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Santa Cruz usually receives less rain than Halifax. Santa Cruz gets 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain, while Halifax receives 121 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSanta Cruz 63°F (17°C)Halifax 10°C (49°F)
Should I visit Santa Cruz or Halifax in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Santa Cruz as well as Halifax. Most visitors come to Santa Cruz for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
The weather in Halifax can be very cold. In January, Santa Cruz is generally much warmer than Halifax. Daily temperatures in Santa Cruz average around 51°F (10°C), and Halifax fluctuates around -4°C (24°F).
It's quite rainy in Halifax. Santa Cruz usually gets less rain in January than Halifax. Santa Cruz gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Halifax receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySanta Cruz 51°F (10°C)Halifax -4°C (24°F)
Should I visit Santa Cruz or Halifax in the Spring?
Both Halifax and Santa Cruz are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Santa Cruz because of the beaches.
It's quite cold in Halifax in the spring. Santa Cruz is much warmer than Halifax in the spring. The daily temperature in Santa Cruz averages around 58°F (14°C) in April, and Halifax fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Halifax. In April, Santa Cruz usually receives less rain than Halifax. Santa Cruz gets 1 inches (26 mm) of rain, while Halifax receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilSanta Cruz 58°F (14°C)Halifax 4°C (39°F)
Typical Weather for Halifax and Santa Cruz
| Santa Cruz | Halifax | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 51°F (10°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) | -4°C (24°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) |
| Feb | 54°F (12°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) | -5°C (24°F) | 108 mm (4.2 in) |
| Mar | 55°F (13°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) | -1°C (31°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Apr | 58°F (14°C) | 1 inches (26 mm) | 4°C (39°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| May | 62°F (16°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) | 9°C (48°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Jun | 65°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) | 14°C (57°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Jul | 67°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (1 mm) | 18°C (64°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Aug | 67°F (20°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) | 18°C (65°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Sep | 67°F (19°C) | 0.2 inches (6 mm) | 15°C (58°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Oct | 63°F (17°C) | 0.8 inches (21 mm) | 10°C (49°F) | 121 mm (4.7 in) |
| Nov | 56°F (13°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) | 5°C (40°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Dec | 51°F (10°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) | -1°C (29°F) | 152 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.