Which place is cheaper, Santa Monica or Veracruz?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Veracruz or Santa Monica?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Veracruz and Santa Monica can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Veracruz or Santa Monica?
Veracruz
Veracruz is the name of both a state and city in the country of Mexico. Locals often call the city "Puerto" (port) in order to differentiate the city from the state. The general area runs along the Gulf of Mexico and encompasses ruins, old colonial cities, lush green mountains, and delicious seafood.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen, The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVeracruz $122Santa Monica $210
The average daily cost (per person) in Veracruz is $122, while the average daily cost in Santa Monica is $210. 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 Veracruz and Santa Monica in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVeracruz $54Santa Monica $123
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVeracruz $108Santa Monica $246
Compare Hotels in Veracruz and Santa Monica
Looking for a hotel in Veracruz or Santa Monica? 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: Veracruz Hotel Prices and Santa Monica Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Veracruz $28Santa Monica $50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Veracruz
Also for Veracruz, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Colima Airport (CLQ) to Colima - Arrival Private Transfer: $14
- Shared Arrival Transfer: General Heriberto Jara International Airport to Veracruz Hotels: $23
- Airport Transfer: $25
- Colima Airport (CLQ) to Colima - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $28
- Transfer from Veracruz Airport to Hotel in Veracruz Port: $32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Monica
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santa Monica:
- Santa Monica to Long Beach Airport (LGB) - Deparure Private Transfer: $80
- Santa Monica to Los Angeles Airport Departure Private Transfer: $74
Is it cheaper to fly into Veracruz or Santa Monica?
Prices for flights to both Santa Monica and Veracruz 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 dayVeracruz $50Santa Monica $52
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Veracruz $15Santa Monica $38
Tours and Activities in Veracruz
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Veracruz.
- Hop-On Hop-Off Double-Decker Bus Tour: $7.87
- Panoramic Sightseeing Tour of Veracruz: $8.00
- San Juan de Ulua Fortress Skip-the-Line Ticket: $12
- San Juan de Ulua Fortress of Veracruz Skip-the-Line Ticket: $12
- Sightseeing City Tour and Aquarium: $22
- From Nature & Seafood Boat Tour to Madinga: $23
- 3-hour tour to the San Juan de Ulúa Fortress: $25
- Sightseeing City Tour and Wax & Ripley´s Museums: $25
- From San Juan de Ulua Prison Tour: $26
- Mandinga And Boat Trip Tour: $26
- Aquatico Inbursa Waterpark: Veracruz - Ticket: $27
- San Juan De Ulua Tour: $29
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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVeracruz $17Santa Monica $21
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 Veracruz and Santa Monica, we can see that Santa Monica is more expensive. And not only is Veracruz much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Veracruz would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Veracruz 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 Veracruz.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Veracruz Expensive? and Is Santa Monica Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Veracruz or Santa Monica?
Veracruz has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Santa Monica. When comparing the sizes of Veracruz and Santa Monica, 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 Veracruz or Santa Monica?
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 Veracruz or Santa Monica in the Summer?
Both Santa Monica and Veracruz during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Santa Monica because of the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.
Veracruz is a little warmer than Santa Monica in the summer. The daily temperature in Veracruz averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Santa Monica fluctuates around 70°F (21°C).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Veracruz. Veracruz usually gets more rain in July than Santa Monica. Veracruz gets 410 mm (16.1 in) of rain, while Santa Monica receives 0 inches (0 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyVeracruz 27°C (81°F)Santa Monica 70°F (21°C)
Should I visit Veracruz or Santa Monica in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Veracruz and Santa Monica. Furthermore, the shopping scene are the main draw to Santa Monica this time of year.
In the autumn, Veracruz is a little warmer than Santa Monica. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Veracruz in October average around 26°C (79°F), and Santa Monica averages at about 67°F (20°C).
Veracruz gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Veracruz usually receives more rain than Santa Monica. Veracruz gets 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Santa Monica receives 0.2 inches (6 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberVeracruz 26°C (79°F)Santa Monica 67°F (20°C)
Should I visit Veracruz or Santa Monica in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Veracruz as well as Santa Monica. Additionally, many travelers come to Santa Monica for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Veracruz is generally much warmer than Santa Monica. Daily temperatures in Veracruz average around 21°C (71°F), and Santa Monica fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).
Veracruz usually gets more rain in January than Santa Monica. Veracruz gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Santa Monica receives 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryVeracruz 21°C (71°F)Santa Monica 57°F (14°C)
Should I visit Veracruz or Santa Monica in the Spring?
Both Santa Monica and Veracruz are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Santa Monica in the spring for the beaches.
Veracruz is much warmer than Santa Monica in the spring. The daily temperature in Veracruz averages around 26°C (78°F) in April, and Santa Monica fluctuates around 61°F (16°C).
In April, Veracruz usually receives more rain than Santa Monica. Veracruz gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Santa Monica receives 0.2 inches (4 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilVeracruz 26°C (78°F)Santa Monica 61°F (16°C)
Typical Weather for Santa Monica and Veracruz
| Veracruz | Santa Monica | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 21°C (71°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 0.7 inches (17 mm) |
| Feb | 22°C (71°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 58°F (15°C) | 0.9 inches (24 mm) |
| Mar | 24°C (74°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 58°F (15°C) | 0.4 inches (10 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (78°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 61°F (16°C) | 0.2 inches (4 mm) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 290 mm (11.4 in) | 66°F (19°C) | 0 inches (0 mm) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 410 mm (16.1 in) | 70°F (21°C) | 0 inches (0 mm) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 351 mm (13.8 in) | 71°F (22°C) | 0 inches (0 mm) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 346 mm (13.6 in) | 70°F (21°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 67°F (20°C) | 0.2 inches (6 mm) |
| Nov | 25°C (76°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 0.2 inches (5 mm) |
| Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 58°F (14°C) | 0.6 inches (15 mm) |
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.