Which place is cheaper, California or Vermont?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVermont $0.00California $252
The average daily cost (per person) in Vermont is $0.00, while the average daily cost in California is $252. 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 -California $116
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVermont $0.00California $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 -California $43
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vermont
Also for Vermont, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Killington/Okemo to Boston Logan Airport (BOS)-Departure Transfer: $282
- Killington/Okemo to Albany Airport - Departure Private Transfer: $217
- Killington and Okemo to Bradley Airport BDL -Departure Transfer: $282
- Burlington Airport(BTV) to Killington/Okemo - Round-Trip Transfer: $261
- Arrival Transfer from Burlington Airport to Killington and Okemo: $130
- Private Transfer: Killington/Okemo to Burlington Airport: $130
Hired Cars and Shuttles in California
Also for California, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Los Angeles Airport Transfer and Transportation : $300
- Private Transfer from Los Angeles Airport (LAX) to Garden Groove: $297
- Private Transfer from Los Angeles Airport (LAX) to Buena Park: $297
- Private Transfer from LAX to Anaheim / Buena Park / Garden Groove: $297
- Mammoth Mountain to Sacramento Airport Private Departure Transfer: $293
- Round Trip Private Transfer in Sacramento Airport to Calistoga: $293
- San Francisco (SFO) to Calistoga Resorts Round-Trip Transfer: $293
- Arrival Private Transfer: Ontario Airport ONT to Los Angeles in Luxury SUV: $282
- Arrival Private Transfer: Airport LAX to Los Angeles in Luxury Car: $280
- Private Airport Transfer From SFO to Sonoma (One-way): $280
- Private Round-trip Airport Transfer: Long Beach Airport to & from Anaheim Hotels: $277
- Departure Private Transfer: Los Angeles to Airport LAX in Luxury Car: $271
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 -California $48
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in California
For California, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- San Francisco Virtual Food Tour with Local Guide: $19
- Encinitas Food Tour: $70
- Carlsbad Food Tour and Wine Tasting: $75
- Pirates Dinner Adventure Buena Park: $79
- Santa Monica Delicious Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $82
- Little Italy Food and Drink Walking Tour - Pizza, Pasta & Piazzas: $85
- San Francisco Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $89
- Gaslamp Quarter Downtown San Diego Food Tour: $89
- Mission District Food Tour: $89
- Downtown Los Angeles Food Tour: $89
- San Francisco Food Tour: Ferry Building and Ferry Plaza Farmers Market: $90
- Historic Old Sacramento Walking Food Tour: $95
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Vermont -California $63
Tours and Activities in Vermont
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vermont.
- Murder Mystery Detective Experience Burlington, VT: $15
- Smartphone-Guided Walking Tour of Burlington: $28
Tours and Activities in California
For California, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2 Hour Private Tour in Malibu Majesty: $35
- 2hr - SUNSET Sailing Experience on San Francisco Bay: $149
- Guided Hiking Tour in Big Bear with Sunset Champagne toast on Private Dock: $75
- Maritime Museum of San Diego Admission Ticket: $24
- #1 Sonoma Walking Food, Wine & History Tour (Small Groups): $179
- "Summer of Love" tour in Haight-Ashbury in French: $63
- 1 Day Hop-On Hop-Off Tour: $73
- 1 Hour GPS Guided Scooter Tour: Harbor/Gaslamp Quarter: $92
- 1-Hour Monterey and Cannery Row Sea Car Tour: $79
- 1-Hour Private Scenic Tandem Sidecar Tour in San Diego: $99
- 1-Hour Voodoo Escape Room Experience in San Diego: $35
- 1.5 Hour Walking Tour from La Jolla in San Diego: $59
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayVermont -California $21
Sample the Local Flavors in Vermont
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Vermont:
- Vermont Brewery Tour in Stowe: $103
- 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:
- Long Beach Bar Hunt: Long Beach Boss Bar Crawl: $12
- Sacramento Bar Hunt: Sacramento Sprint Bar Crawl: $12
- San Diego Bar Hunt: Slammin' San Diego Bar Crawl: $13
- Vintner's Private Wine Tasting Experience: $20
- Gaslamp Bar Crawls and Events: $20
- Sunset Distillery with Local Whiskey or Cocktail Tasting: $40
- Walk with Spirits: A Haunted Pub Crawl in San Francisco: $45
- Wine Tasting Around the World: $48
- Large Group Wine Tasting Tour (For 6+ Guests • We Drive Your Car): $60
- 4 Hour Livermore Valley Wine Tour: $100
- Paranormal Pairing: Wine Tasting Walk with Ghost Storytelling: $105
- 6 Hour Wine Tour in Napa & Sonoma with Pick-Up from Napa: $109
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vermont and California, we can see that California is more expensive. And not only is Vermont much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Vermont would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vermont 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 California would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in California than you might in Vermont.
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.