Which place is cheaper, Halifax or Santa Monica?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Santa Monica or Halifax?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Santa Monica 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 Monica or Halifax?
Santa Monica
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.
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 from New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage, The Best G Adventures Tours to Canada, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Vancouver.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySanta Monica $210Halifax $114
The average daily cost (per person) in Santa Monica is $210, 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 Monica and Halifax in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSanta Monica $123Halifax $65
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSanta Monica $246Halifax $130
Compare Hotels in Santa Monica and Halifax
Looking for a hotel in Santa Monica 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 Monica Hotel Prices and Halifax Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santa Monica $50Halifax $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Monica
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santa Monica:
- Santa Monica to Los Angeles Airport Departure Private Transfer: $74
- Santa Monica to Long Beach Airport (LGB) - Deparure Private Transfer: $80
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 Monica or Halifax?
Prices for flights to both Halifax and Santa Monica 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 Monica $52Halifax $31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Monica
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santa Monica.
- Flavors of Venice Beach Food Tour: $96
- Los Angeles Premier Dinner Cruise from Marina del Rey: $124
- Marina del Rey Christmas Day Buffet Dinner Cruise: $175
- Marina del Rey Christmas Eve Buffet Dinner Cruise: $175
- Marina del Rey Father's Day Plated Dinner Cruise: $222
Typical Food Prices in Halifax
For Halifax, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santa Monica $38Halifax $28
Tours and Activities in Santa Monica
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santa Monica are as follows:
- 15 Passengers Open Ocean/Harbor Cruise Party Boat Marina Del Rey: $129
- 2 Hour Sailing Adventure From Marina Del Rey: $160
- 3-Hour Santa Monica and Venice Beach Bike Guided Tour : $72
- 4.5 Hour Venice Beach Open Air Van Tour: $65
- 5.5-Hour Exclusive Malibu Stars Homes & Beautiful Beach Tour: $80
- All Day Tour 6.5 Hour : $111
- Bring-Your-Own-Food and Drinks Marina del Rey Boat Tour: $80
- City Tour of Los Angeles from Torrance and El Segundo: $122
- Dolphin Sighting Sunset Tour: $90
- Dolphins Whales and Sea Lion Wildlife Sightseeing Boat Tour: $90
- Explore Malibu's Coast: PCH & Beyond - Self Guided Audio Tour: $15
- Karaoke Boat Cruise ( Drinks included) LA's best attraction: $149
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
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySanta Monica $21Halifax $15
Sample the Local Flavors in Santa Monica
Also in Santa Monica, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Private Vintage VW Hippie Tour to Malibu with wine tasting: $195
- Vintage VW Hippie Shared Tour to Malibu with Wine Tasting: $199
- Charcuterie Board and Wine Tasting in Marina Bay: $300
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santa Monica and Halifax, we can see that Santa Monica is more expensive. And not only is Halifax much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Halifax would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Halifax 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 Monica would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santa Monica than you might in Halifax.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santa Monica Expensive? and Is Halifax Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santa Monica or Halifax?
Halifax has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Santa Monica. When comparing the sizes of Santa Monica 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 Monica 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 Monica or Halifax in the Summer?
Both Halifax and Santa Monica during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Santa Monica for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Santa Monica is generally a little warmer than Halifax. Daily temperatures in Santa Monica average around 70°F (21°C), and Halifax fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
Santa Monica usually gets less rain in July than Halifax. Santa Monica gets 0 inches (0 mm) of rain, while Halifax receives 99 mm (3.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySanta Monica 70°F (21°C)Halifax 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Santa Monica or Halifax in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Santa Monica and Halifax. Many visitors come to Santa Monica in the autumn for the shopping scene.
Santa Monica is much warmer than Halifax in the autumn. The daily temperature in Santa Monica averages around 67°F (20°C) in October, and Halifax fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).
Halifax receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Santa Monica usually receives less rain than Halifax. Santa Monica gets 0.2 inches (6 mm) of rain, while Halifax receives 121 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSanta Monica 67°F (20°C)Halifax 10°C (49°F)
Should I visit Santa Monica or Halifax in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Santa Monica as well as Halifax. Most visitors come to Santa Monica for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
The weather in Halifax can be very cold. In the winter, Santa Monica is much warmer than Halifax. Typically, the winter temperatures in Santa Monica in January average around 57°F (14°C), and Halifax averages at about -4°C (24°F).
It's quite rainy in Halifax. Santa Monica usually gets less rain in January than Halifax. Santa Monica gets 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain, while Halifax receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySanta Monica 57°F (14°C)Halifax -4°C (24°F)
Should I visit Santa Monica or Halifax in the Spring?
Both Halifax and Santa Monica are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Santa Monica because of the beaches.
It's quite cold in Halifax in the spring. In April, Santa Monica is generally much warmer than Halifax. Daily temperatures in Santa Monica average around 61°F (16°C), and Halifax fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Halifax. In April, Santa Monica usually receives less rain than Halifax. Santa Monica gets 0.2 inches (4 mm) of rain, while Halifax receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSanta Monica 61°F (16°C)Halifax 4°C (39°F)
Typical Weather for Halifax and Santa Monica
| Santa Monica | Halifax | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 57°F (14°C) | 0.7 inches (17 mm) | -4°C (24°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) |
| Feb | 58°F (15°C) | 0.9 inches (24 mm) | -5°C (24°F) | 108 mm (4.2 in) |
| Mar | 58°F (15°C) | 0.4 inches (10 mm) | -1°C (31°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Apr | 61°F (16°C) | 0.2 inches (4 mm) | 4°C (39°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| May | 63°F (17°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) | 9°C (48°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Jun | 66°F (19°C) | 0 inches (0 mm) | 14°C (57°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Jul | 70°F (21°C) | 0 inches (0 mm) | 18°C (64°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Aug | 71°F (22°C) | 0 inches (0 mm) | 18°C (65°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Sep | 70°F (21°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) | 15°C (58°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Oct | 67°F (20°C) | 0.2 inches (6 mm) | 10°C (49°F) | 121 mm (4.7 in) |
| Nov | 62°F (17°C) | 0.2 inches (5 mm) | 5°C (40°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Dec | 58°F (14°C) | 0.6 inches (15 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.