Which place is cheaper, Kamloops or Santa Monica?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Santa Monica or Kamloops?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Santa Monica 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 Monica or Kamloops?
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.
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 from New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage, 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 Monica $210Kamloops $81
The average daily cost (per person) in Santa Monica is $210, 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 Monica and Kamloops in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSanta Monica $123Kamloops $44
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSanta Monica $246Kamloops $88
Compare Hotels in Santa Monica and Kamloops
Looking for a hotel in Santa Monica 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 Monica Hotel Prices and Kamloops Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santa Monica $50Kamloops $20
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Santa Monica or Kamloops?
Prices for flights to both Kamloops 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 $52Kamloops $24
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 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 Monica $38Kamloops $13
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 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 Monica $21Kamloops $6.77
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 Kamloops, we can see that Santa Monica 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 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 Kamloops.
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 Kamloops Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santa Monica or Kamloops?
Santa Monica has a larger population, and is about 29% larger than the population of Kamloops. When comparing the sizes of Santa Monica 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 Monica 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 Monica or Kamloops in the Summer?
Both Kamloops and Santa Monica during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Santa Monica in the summer for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.
Santa Monica is around the same temperature as Kamloops in the summer. The daily temperature in Santa Monica averages around 70°F (21°C) in July, and Kamloops fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
Santa Monica usually gets less rain in July than Kamloops. Santa Monica gets 0 inches (0 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 Monica 70°F (21°C)Kamloops 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Santa Monica or Kamloops in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Santa Monica and Kamloops. Most visitors come to Santa Monica for the shopping scene during these months.
In the autumn, Santa Monica is much warmer than Kamloops. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Santa Monica in October average around 67°F (20°C), and Kamloops averages at about 11°C (51°F).
In October, Santa Monica usually receives less rain than Kamloops. Santa Monica gets 0.2 inches (6 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 Monica 67°F (20°C)Kamloops 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Santa Monica or Kamloops in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Santa Monica as well as Kamloops. The winter months attract visitors to Santa Monica because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
It's quite cold in Kamloops in the winter. In January, Santa Monica is generally much warmer than Kamloops. Daily temperatures in Santa Monica average around 57°F (14°C), and Kamloops fluctuates around -3°C (27°F).
Santa Monica usually gets less rain in January than Kamloops. Santa Monica gets 0.7 inches (17 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 Monica 57°F (14°C)Kamloops -3°C (27°F)
Should I visit Santa Monica or Kamloops in the Spring?
Both Kamloops and Santa Monica are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The beaches are the main draw to Santa Monica this time of year.
Santa Monica is a little warmer than Kamloops in the spring. The daily temperature in Santa Monica averages around 61°F (16°C) in April, and Kamloops fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
In April, Santa Monica usually receives less rain than Kamloops. Santa Monica gets 0.2 inches (4 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 Monica 61°F (16°C)Kamloops 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Kamloops and Santa Monica
| Santa Monica | Kamloops | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 57°F (14°C) | 0.7 inches (17 mm) | -3°C (27°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Feb | 58°F (15°C) | 0.9 inches (24 mm) | 2°C (35°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 58°F (15°C) | 0.4 inches (10 mm) | 7°C (44°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 61°F (16°C) | 0.2 inches (4 mm) | 12°C (53°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| May | 63°F (17°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) | 16°C (61°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Jun | 66°F (19°C) | 0 inches (0 mm) | 21°C (69°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jul | 70°F (21°C) | 0 inches (0 mm) | 23°C (73°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Aug | 71°F (22°C) | 0 inches (0 mm) | 23°C (73°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Sep | 70°F (21°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) | 17°C (63°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Oct | 67°F (20°C) | 0.2 inches (6 mm) | 11°C (51°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Nov | 62°F (17°C) | 0.2 inches (5 mm) | 4°C (39°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Dec | 58°F (14°C) | 0.6 inches (15 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.