Which place is cheaper, Kamloops or Santa Cruz?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Santa Cruz or Kamloops?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Santa Cruz or Kamloops? 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 Kamloops?
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.
Kamloops
In British Columbia, Canada, Kamloops is perhaps most famous for the large number of tournaments it hosts, everything from the Strauss Canada Cup of Curling, to the World Fly Fishing Championships. It also hosts Skate Canada, Tim Horton's Olympic Qualifying Bike Race, and the World Junior Hockey Championships among others. The city is in the south central part of the province and it sits near the confluence of the two branches of the Thompson River near Kamloops Lake. The city has a population of about 85,000 and it's the largest community in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District.
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 Train & Rail Tours in Canada, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySanta Cruz $126Kamloops $81
The average daily cost (per person) in Santa Cruz is $126, while the average daily cost in Kamloops is $81. 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 Kamloops in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSanta Cruz $61Kamloops $44
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSanta Cruz $122Kamloops $88
Compare Hotels in Santa Cruz and Kamloops
Looking for a hotel in Santa Cruz or Kamloops? 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 Kamloops Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santa Cruz $40Kamloops $20
Is it cheaper to fly into Santa Cruz or Kamloops?
Prices for flights to both Kamloops 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
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Food Meals for one daySanta Cruz $41Kamloops $24
Typical Food Prices in Kamloops
For Kamloops, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Pastries$5.81
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Lunch for Two$25
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Coffee and Gelato$12
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santa Cruz $18Kamloops $13
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 Kamloops
For Kamloops, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Vancouver and Smartphone Audio Driving Tour: $6.21
- Smartphone Audio Driving Tour between Kamloops and Vancouver: $6.31
- Smartphone Audio Driving Tour between Kamloops & Revelstoke: $6.33
- Skip the Line: Kamloops BC Wildlife Park Admission Ticket: $14
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Kamloops by Zombie Scavengers: $21
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySanta Cruz $8.57Kamloops $6.77
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 Santa Cruz and Kamloops, we can see that Santa Cruz is more expensive. And not only is Kamloops much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kamloops would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kamloops 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 Santa Cruz would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santa Cruz than you might in Kamloops.
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 Kamloops Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santa Cruz or Kamloops?
Kamloops has a larger population, and is about 26% larger than the population of Santa Cruz. When comparing the sizes of Santa Cruz and Kamloops, 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 Kamloops?
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 Kamloops in the Summer?
Both Kamloops and Santa Cruz during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Santa Cruz in the summer for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Santa Cruz is cooler than Kamloops. Typically, the summer temperatures in Santa Cruz in July average around 67°F (19°C), and Kamloops averages at about 23°C (73°F).
Santa Cruz usually gets less rain in July than Kamloops. Santa Cruz gets 0.1 inches (1 mm) of rain, while Kamloops receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySanta Cruz 67°F (19°C)Kamloops 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Santa Cruz or Kamloops in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Santa Cruz and Kamloops. Most visitors come to Santa Cruz for the hiking trails and the shopping scene during these months.
In October, Santa Cruz is generally much warmer than Kamloops. Daily temperatures in Santa Cruz average around 63°F (17°C), and Kamloops fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
In October, Santa Cruz usually receives more rain than Kamloops. Santa Cruz gets 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain, while Kamloops receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSanta Cruz 63°F (17°C)Kamloops 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Santa Cruz or Kamloops in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Santa Cruz as well as Kamloops. The winter months attract visitors to Santa Cruz because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
It's quite cold in Kamloops in the winter. Santa Cruz is much warmer than Kamloops in the winter. The daily temperature in Santa Cruz averages around 51°F (10°C) in January, and Kamloops fluctuates around -3°C (27°F).
Santa Cruz usually gets more rain in January than Kamloops. Santa Cruz gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Kamloops receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySanta Cruz 51°F (10°C)Kamloops -3°C (27°F)
Should I visit Santa Cruz or Kamloops in the Spring?
Both Kamloops and Santa Cruz are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The beaches are the main draw to Santa Cruz this time of year.
In the spring, Santa Cruz is a little warmer than Kamloops. Typically, the spring temperatures in Santa Cruz in April average around 58°F (14°C), and Kamloops averages at about 12°C (53°F).
In April, Santa Cruz usually receives more rain than Kamloops. Santa Cruz gets 1 inches (26 mm) of rain, while Kamloops receives 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSanta Cruz 58°F (14°C)Kamloops 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Kamloops and Santa Cruz
| Santa Cruz | Kamloops | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 51°F (10°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) | -3°C (27°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Feb | 54°F (12°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) | 2°C (35°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 55°F (13°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) | 7°C (44°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 58°F (14°C) | 1 inches (26 mm) | 12°C (53°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| May | 62°F (16°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) | 16°C (61°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Jun | 65°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) | 21°C (69°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jul | 67°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (1 mm) | 23°C (73°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Aug | 67°F (20°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) | 23°C (73°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Sep | 67°F (19°C) | 0.2 inches (6 mm) | 17°C (63°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Oct | 63°F (17°C) | 0.8 inches (21 mm) | 11°C (51°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Nov | 56°F (13°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) | 4°C (39°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Dec | 51°F (10°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) | -1°C (30°F) | 33 mm (1.3 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.