Should you visit Vermont or California?
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.
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.
Which city is cheaper, California or Vermont?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Vermont is $229, while the average daily cost in California is $198. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Vermont and California in more detail.
Accommodation
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $268 in Vermont For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
For a normal double-occupancy room in California, $184 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in California, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $92, such as in a hostel.
Local Transportation
Vermont's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $77 per person, per day on transportation in Vermont.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in California than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $32 on transportation in California on average per day.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in California
Also for California, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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SUV Airport Transfer from SFO to St Helena (one way):
$499
-
SUV Airport Transfer from St Helena to SFO (one way):
$499
-
Sedan Airport Transfer from SFO to Calistoga (one way):
$499
-
Sedan Airport Transfer from SFO to St Helena(one way):
$497
-
Sedan Airport Transfer from St Helena to SFO (one way):
$497
-
SUV Airport Transfer from SFO to Napa (one way):
$449
-
SUV Airport Transfer from SFO to Yountville (one way):
$449
-
SUV Airport Transfer from Yountville to SFO (one way):
$449
-
SUV Airport Transfer from Napa to SFO (one way):
$449
-
Sedan Airport Transfer Sonoma to SFO(one way):
$423
-
Carmel 1-Way Transfer to/from San Francisco Airport:
$410
-
Sedan Airport Transfer from SFO to Sonoma (one way):
$376
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 in Vermont costs travelers about $32 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
On average, meal and food prices in California cost around $37 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $15.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Vermont $32
California $37
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in California
For California, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Carlsbad Village: 3-Hour Local Food Tour:
$70
-
San Francisco: Mission District Walking Food Tour:
$75
-
San Francisco North Beach Food Tour:
$75
-
San Francisco: Farmers' Market & Ferry Building Food Tour:
$79
-
North Beach: Curated 4-Course Food Tour:
$99
-
Monterey: Guided Walking Food Tour with Tastings:
$150
-
Napa Valley Wine Train: Gourmet Express Lunch or Dinner:
$175
-
Los Angeles: 3-Hour Secret Food Tour:
$217
-
Napa or Sonoma Dinner Transportation:
$500
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Vermont can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $24 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Sightseeing expenses in California, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $49 per day, per person.
Tours and Activities in California
For California, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
6-Hour Private Sedan Napa or Sonoma Wine Country Tour from Napa:
$557
-
90-Minute San Diego SEAL Tour:
$44
-
Amazing Temecula Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$27
-
Bay Area Sight Seeing Tours:
$500
-
Bay Area Tour With A Cantonese Interpreter:
$225
-
Bay Area Tour With A Chinese Interpreter:
$225
-
Bay Area Tour With A Farsi Interpreter:
$225
-
Bay Area Tour With A French Interpreter:
$239
-
Bay Area Tour With A Mandarin Interpreter:
$225
-
Bay Area Tour With A Pashto Interpreter:
$252
-
Bay Area Tour With A Persian Interpreter:
$225
-
Bay Area Tour With A Portuguese Interpreter:
$252
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Vermont, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $15.
Typically, people visiting California spend on average $17 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in California
Also in California, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Healdsburg Wine Tasting and Food Pairing Guided Walking Tour:
$119
-
San Francisco: Napa and Sonoma Valley Wine Tour:
$149
-
Malibu: Vintage VW Hippie Sightseeing Tour with Wine Tasting:
$179
-
Golf Somm - A Sommelier-Led Golf and Wine Tour in Napa Valley:
$308
-
6-Hours Customized Private NAPA Valley Wine Tour From San Francisco Bay Area:
$480
-
6-Hour Customized Private LIVERMORE Valley Wine Tour From San Francisco Bay Area:
$480
-
6-Hours Customized Private RUSSIAN RIVER Valley Wine Tour From San Francisco Bay:
$480
-
6-Hours Customized Private SONOMA Valley Wine Tour From San Francisco Bay Area:
$480
-
Napa Wine Tour:
$500
-
Sonoma Wine Tours:
$500
-
Napa Valley Wine Tour Planning and Transportation:
$513
-
8-Hour Napa Valley Wine Tour:
$570
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.
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