Which place is cheaper, Quebec City or Santa Cruz?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Santa Cruz or Quebec City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Santa Cruz or Quebec City? 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 Quebec City?
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.
Quebec City
Quebec City is the capital of the Quebec province. It has a dramatic location on the cliffs by St. Lawrence Seaway and the city's Old Town has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Quebec is a mid sized city with a population of about 700,000. Most of the economy is administrative and bureaucratic, but the city has a very impressive history as the fortress capital of New France. French is the official language of the entire province, but most people in the tourist areas of Quebec City speak English.
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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Canada, and The Best Northern Lights Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySanta Cruz $126Quebec City $126
The average daily cost (per person) in Santa Cruz is $126, while the average daily cost in Quebec City is $126. 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 Quebec City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSanta Cruz $61Quebec City $73
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSanta Cruz $122Quebec City $146
Compare Hotels in Santa Cruz and Quebec City
Looking for a hotel in Santa Cruz or Quebec City? 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 Quebec City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santa Cruz $40Quebec City $16
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Quebec City
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Quebec City are as follows:
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Parking in Quebec City$3.63
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quebec City
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Quebec City:
- Private Transfer from Jean Lesage Airport to Québec City: $51
- Private Transfer from Québec City to Jean Lesage Airport: $51
- Le Terminal Quebec Port to Québec Airport (YQB) - Departure Private Transfer: $57
- Québec Airport (YQB) to Le Terminal Cruise Port -Arrival Transfer: $57
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Quebec Airport (YQB) - Quebec City Center: $71
- Private Transfer from Quebec City Hotels to Saguenay Cruise Port: $93
- Private Transfer from Quebec City Airport (YQB) to Saguenay Port: $93
- YQB Airport Transfer: $97
- Le Terminal Quebec Cruise Port to Quebec - Arrival Private Transfer: $97
- Le Terminal Quebec Port to Quebec city - Arrival Private Transfer: $97
- Quebec to Le Terminal Quebec Port - Departure Private Transfer: $97
- Quebec city private transfer: $97
Is it cheaper to fly into Santa Cruz or Quebec City?
Prices for flights to both Quebec City 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 $41Quebec City $37
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quebec City
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Quebec City.
- 5-Course Dinner Cruise with Music & VIP Option: $160
- Old Quebec 5-Course Gourmet Food Tour: $189
- Combo Historical and Food Tour of the Old Quebec City: $192
- Evening Gourmet Tour 5 Course Dinner - History and Food in Old Quebec City: $192
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santa Cruz $18Quebec City $24
Tours and Activities in Santa Cruz
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santa Cruz are as follows:
- Santa Cruz Must Sees: A Self-Guided Driving Tour: $3.99
- Self Guided UC Santa Cruz Walking Tour: Unlock Secret Stories : $20
- Santa Cruz:City Scavenger Hunt Tour with Remote Guide: $25
- Capitola Private 2-Hour Walking Tour: $30
- Half Day Private Beach Tour in Santa Cruz: $35
- Santa Cruz Guided E-Bike Ride & Most Fun Ebike Tour: $120
- Santa Cruz Family Friendly Guided E-bike Tour: $120
- Santa Cruz 2Hour Guided E-bike Tour for Small Groups: $120
- Mermaid Experience & Photoshoot: $190
- Capitola Watercolor Journaling Experience: $297
Tours and Activities in Quebec City
Here are a few actual costs in Quebec City for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Old Québec: First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $4.28
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $4.28
- Québec City: Artillery Park Tour: $6.58
- Walking Tour: Crimes, Revelations & Anecdotes in Quebec: $6.69
- APP Self-Guided Tours Quebec with Audioguide: $8.74
- Québec City: Saint-Louis Forts and Châteaux Guided Site Tour: $8.77
- Uncover History of In-App Audio Tour: $11
- Uncover History of In-App Audio Tour: $11
- Observatoire de la Capitale Entry Ticket: $11
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- MNBAQ National Fine Arts Museum Entry Ticket: $12
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySanta Cruz $8.57Quebec City $18
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Quebec City
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Quebec City:
- Honey and Distillery Tour with Tasting: $21
- Craft Brewery and Beer Tasting Tour: $50
- Island of Orleans Wine Tour: $91
- Wine Tasting on Ile d'Orleans: $92
- Quebec City : eTandem Rental on Ile d'Orleans-wine tasting: $116
When comparing the travel costs between Santa Cruz and Quebec City, 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 Quebec City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santa Cruz or Quebec City?
Quebec City has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Santa Cruz. When comparing the sizes of Santa Cruz and Quebec City, 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.
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.