Which place is cheaper, California or Vermont?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Vermont or California?
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 Vermont and California can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Vermont or California?
Vermont
Located in the New England region of the United States, Vermont is best known for its quaint towns, maple syrup, stunning fall foliage, and the Green Mountains which offer great opportunities for hiking, skiing, and other outdoor activities.
California
California is the most populous state in the U.S. and is known for a variety of attractions such as Hollywood, warm beaches, the San Francisco bay area, Redwood trees, national parks, and stunning mountain vistas. With a variety of locations and activities to offer, California has become one of the premier travel destinations in the world.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America, The Best Walking Tours in United States of America, and The Best Northern Lights Tours in Alaska.
-
Vermont Prices
USA PricesCalifornia Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVermont $305California $286
The average daily cost (per person) in Vermont is $305, while the average daily cost in California is $286. 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 Vermont and California in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVermont $140California $116
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVermont $280California $232
Compare Hotels in Vermont and California
Looking for a hotel in Vermont or California? 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.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Vermont $53California $42
Hired Cars and Shuttles in California
Also for California, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private SUV Transfer from SAN to Legoland: $300
- Los Angeles Airport Transfer and Transportation: $300
- Arrival Private Transfer SFO Airport to San Francisco City by SUV: $293
- 【Japanese Driver Commitment】 Los Angeles International Airport⇒Down Hotel We provide Japanese hospitality and security with a transfer service.: $290
- Departure Private Transfer: Los Angeles to Ontario Airport ONT in Luxury Van: $285
- Sacramento Airport (SMF) to Napa, CA - Arrival Private Transfer: $283
- Private Round-trip Airport Transfer: Long Beach Airport to & from Anaheim Hotels: $280
- Convenient Long Beach Cruise Terminal Transfers to/from LAX: $275
- Private Transfer from Palm Springs Municipal Airport to Ontario: $275
- Private Airport Transfer in California: $269
- Private Transfer from Santa Barbara Cruise Port to Los Angeles: $268
- Private Transfer - Los Angeles Airport(LAX) to Santa Barbara Port: $268
Is it cheaper to fly into Vermont or California?
Prices for flights to both California and Vermont 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
-
Food Meals for one dayVermont $105California $79
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in California
For California, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Santa Monica Sweet Treats Food Tour: Donuts, Churros, and More: $70
- Fun Pad Thai Cooking Class With a Local Chef in San Diego: $75
- Sushi Making Cooking Class at a Local Brewery in San Diego: $75
- Japanese Gyoza Cooking Class at a Local Brewery in LA: $75
- Sacramento: Chicken Curry Cooking Class With a Local Chef: $75
- San Diego Sweet Treats Food Tour: Donuts, Pastries, & More: $79
- Carlsbad Taco Tuesday Walking Food Tour with Margarita or Beer: $84
- Silverlake Food Tour with Comedian Guide: $85
- San Francisco Chinatown History Culture And Food Tour: $85
- San Diego Holiday Sweet Treats, Donuts & Pastries Food Tour: $85
- San Francisco: The Mission District Food Tour with 5 Local Dishes: $85
- San Francisco: Chinatown & Litte Italy Food Tour with 5 Dishes: $85
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Vermont $44California $69
Tours and Activities in Vermont
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vermont.
- 1 Hour Narrated Burlington Trolley Tour: $37
- Burlington Scavenger Hunt Interactive Experience: $35
- Burlington's Famous Ghosts Smartphone Guided Walking Tour: $9.75
- Public Daytime Picnic Boat Cruise: $85
- Public Daytime Sailing Cruise: $85
- Public Sunset Picnic Boat Cruise on Lake Champlain: $95
- Public Sunset Sailing Cruise on Lake Champlain: $95
- Shared Foliage Trolley Tour: $100
Tours and Activities in California
For California, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- "Lake Tahoe 101" : See The Whole Lake! 6 HR Shared Tour by Van.: $207
- 1 Hour Shared Parasailing Adventure in Oceanside: $99
- 1.5 Hour Walking Tour from La Jolla in San Diego: $59
- 17 Mile Drive eBike Tour in Monterey: $59
- 17-Mile Drive Electric Bike Guided Tour: $75
- 17-Mile Drive, Monterey Peninsula&Carmel Premium Small Group Tour: $118
- 2 Hour Sailing Cruise on Lake Tahoe: $149
- 2 Hours Lake Tahoe Emerald Bay Sunset Shared Boat Tour: $209
- 2 Hours Santa Monica Private Surfing Experience: $145
- 2- Hour Pottery Workshop and Studio Tour in Ojai: $65
- 2-Day Alcatraz Visit + Golden Gate Bridge Bike Tour: $145
- 2-Day Alcatraz Visit + San Francisco E-Bike Tour: $180
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayVermont $22California $21
Sample the Local Flavors in Vermont
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Vermont:
- Burlington Signature Guided Brewery Tour: $105
Sample the Local Flavors in California
Also in California, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- An Epic Bar Hunt: Sacramento Sprint Bar Crawl: $12
- An Epic Scavenger Hunt: Slammin' San Diego Bar Crawl: $13
- Awesome Bar Crawl in Lake Tahoe: $15
- Amazing Bar Crawl in Palm Springs: $15
- Myka Estates Wine Tasting Reservation: $15
- Temecula Valley Wine Tour - Self-Guided GPS Audio Guide: $20
- Gaslamp Bar Crawl: $20
- Santa Barbara Wine Tour - Self-Guided GPS Audio Tour: $25
- San Francisco Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $29
- LA Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $29
- Sonoma County Wine Tour: Self-Guided GPS Audio Driving Guide: $30
- Paso Robles Sonata(Red Blend) Flight Wine Tasting: $30
When comparing the travel costs between Vermont and California, we can see that Vermont 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 Vermont Expensive? and Is California Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, Vermont or California?
California has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Vermont. When comparing the sizes of Vermont and California, 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.