Which city is cheaper, Los Angeles or Washington?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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 Washington and Los Angeles can help you decide which place is right for you.
Washington is a diverse, active, and monument-filled city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. As this is a very quaint destination, you'll find it has a special atmosphere. It's also popular because of the theater, nightlife, and live music.
Los Angeles is a energetic, dynamic, and glamourous city. It's an amazing and huge city with tons of activities and things to do. Other reasons to visit include nightlife, live music, and food.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Los Angeles and Washington. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Spend time exploring the sights and museums in either Washington or Los Angeles.
Travelers visit Washington from around the world to see its many world-famous attractions. The city has world class museums that are often free. The Smithsonian Museums are arguably some of the most impressive museums in the United States. The city also has a large collection of monuments that are dedicated to past presidents or historical events.
The museums, monuments, and landmarks in Los Angeles are among the most recognizable in the world. The city has an eclectic list of monuments and museums. Notable landmarks include the famous Hollywood sign, Griffith Observatory, the Getty Center, and the Petersen Automotive Museum.
There are theater venues available in both Washington and Los Angeles.
Washington has a number of performance venues where you can see a variety of shows. Theater is popular in the city. From major theaters like the Kennedy Center and Ford's Theater, to lesser known smaller venues, there are options for everyone.
Many visitors plan to see a show while visiting Los Angeles. While most people think of Hollywood when they think of LA, the city also has a thriving stage presence. Musicals and plays are popular throughout the city.
Foodies will find both Washington and Los Angeles both to be unique destinations.
Washington has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. You can find restaurants from almost any cuisine here, so it's worth exploring and stepping out of your comfort zone.
Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Los Angeles is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. As a huge and diverse city, there is no shortage of amazing food options around town. Popular dishes include Cobb Salads, Mexican Tacos, and the French Dip Sandwich.
The vibe at night is comparable in Washington and Los Angeles.
Many people head to Washington for the nightlife scene. Head into Dupont Circle, U Street, and even Arlington to enjoy some of the area's best nightlife.
The nightlife in Los Angeles is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. The city's nightlife scene is as diverse as the city itself. There are glamorous clubs where you might spot a celebrity, as well as local dives with a more down-to-earth vibe. Some of the most famous clubs in the city include Academy, Avalon, and Boardner's.
Los Angeles generally offers more live music options than Washington.
Los Angeles is known as a music capital around the world. Music, movies, and show business - it's all part of what Los Angeles is known for. Several famous music venues include The Greek Theatre, Whiskey a Go Go, and The Roxy Theatre.
The music scene helps keep Washington active and fun. Notable live music venues include the 9:30 Club, the Anthem, and Union Stage.
Most people pick Los Angeles for the hiking over Washington.
Many people visit Los Angeles specifically for its hiking. In and around the city you'll find world class urban hiking with views of the mountains and the ocean. Some of the most well-known hikes include the Charlie Turner Trail to Mount Hollywood, Runyon Canyon, and the Sara Wan Trailhead at Corral Canyon.
Many visitors include a hike while visiting Washington. Just outside of Washington DC you'll find plenty of places to go hiking. There's also an elaborate bike and walking trail system in the city. To enjoy a bit of nature, head to Teddy Roosevelt Island.
If you're looking to go shopping, Washington and Los Angeles both offer plenty of spots.
Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Washington. Head to Georgetown and Dupont Circle for some of the city's best local shopping.
The abundance of shops in Los Angeles make it a world-class shopping destination. Famous for Rodeo Drive, there are many other shopping venues throughout the city. Other famous shopping areas include Robertson Blvd and the Grove.
You'll find kid-friendly activities in either Washington or Los Angeles.
Washington is a very family-friendly destination. It is a fun and educational destination where kids can explore world class museums and try unique foods from all around the world.
Los Angeles is an amazing family-friendly city to visit. With its many amusement parks, including nearby Disneyland, and its countless family friendly parks and playgrounds, there is no shortage of things to do with kids around the city.
Both Washington and Los Angeles are good destinations to visit as a couple.
Washington is a nice destination for couples. The city lights up at night, so couples will enjoy wandering by the monuments in the evening or taking in a dinner and show.
Los Angeles is a very popular place to visit for couples. It is a large, sprawling city with tucked away romantic scenes that are perfect for a couple's getaway or a dream honeymoon.
For students, both Washington and Los Angeles are fairly comparable places to visit.
Students come from all over the world to visit Washington. International students come from around the world to study, learn, intern, and work in the capital of the United States.
Los Angeles is a great destination for students. International students have long flocked to this for its major universities and diverse setting. Major universities in the area include UCLA, the University of Southern California, and the California Institute of Technology.
Washington has better public transit to get you around.
With a huge network, the transit system in Washington can get you around easily. The metro system and the bus system are reliable and efficient ways to explore the city.
Los Angeles has a few public transit options. Many of the public transit options are overlooked by visitors for a number of reasons, but options include the subway, light rail, and buses.
Washington is generally more walkable than Los Angeles.
Washington is a very easy city to get around on foot. Many neighborhoods around the city are easy to explore on foot. Most tourists spend a lot of time in the Mall area, which is very pedestrian friendly.
Los Angeles is a somewhat walkable place. The city is sprawling, but some of the neighborhoods are more walkable than others. Some of the more walkable neighborhoods include Hollywood, Koreatown, Downtown, and MacArthur Park.
Both Washington and Los Angeles have a number of activities to choose from. You can spend a similar amount of time exploring either.
The ideal length of time for a trip to Washington is 3-7 days, and the ideal length of time for a trip to Los Angeles is 5-7 days.
Washington is a active city where you can fill many days. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.
With shopping and museums around the energetic city of Los Angeles, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.
Washington is a international big city where you can fill many days. This city offers something for everyone. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.
With museums and theater around the big city destination of Los Angeles, there's plenty to do. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. It offers something for everyone. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything.
Washington is a international city where you can fill many days. Many people spend five days here.If you enjoy all that's offered here, then five days is just the right amount of time to spend here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.
Los Angeles, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for five days. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. In five days, you should have a good grasp of this city. Your budget might influence how long you stay.
Washington is a big city destination where you can fill many days. Anyone can find something fun to do here. This is a popular place to visit for one week. In one week, you should have a good grasp of this city.
Los Angeles is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have one week, this city makes for a great vacation. One week should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Washington is $155, while the average daily cost in Los Angeles is $203. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Washington and Los Angeles in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Washington or Los Angeles? 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.
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Washington are as follows:
Also for Washington, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Los Angeles:
Also for Los Angeles, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Los Angeles and Washington 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.
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Washington:
For Washington, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
For Los Angeles, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
For Los Angeles, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Washington.
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Los Angeles's activities, tours, and tickets:
For Los Angeles, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Washington:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Los Angeles:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Washington and Los Angeles, we can see that Los Angeles is more expensive. And not only is Washington much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Washington would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Washington 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 Los Angeles would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Los Angeles than you might in Washington.
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Washington and Los Angeles. Many visitors come to Washington in the summer for the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, most visitors come to Los Angeles for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In July, Washington is generally a little warmer than Los Angeles. Temperatures in Washington average around 79°F (26°C), and Los Angeles stays around 72°F (22°C).
In July, Washington usually receives more rain than Los Angeles. Washington gets 3.5 inches (88 mm) of rain, while Los Angeles receives 0 inches (0 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
The autumn brings many poeple to Washington as well as Los Angeles. Most visitors come to Washington for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Additionally, the autumn months attract visitors to Los Angeles because of the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.
Washington is cooler than Los Angeles in the autumn. The temperature in Washington is usually 60°F (15°C) in October, and Los Angeles stays around 64°F (18°C).
Washington usually gets more rain in October than Los Angeles. Washington gets 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain, while Los Angeles receives 0.6 inches (15 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Both Los Angeles and Washington are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The winter months attract visitors to Washington because of the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine are the main draw to Los Angeles this time of year.
The weather in Washington can be very cold. In the winter, Washington is much colder than Los Angeles. Typically, the winter temperatures in Washington in January are around 35°F (1°C), and Los Angeles is about 55°F (13°C).
In January, Washington usually receives less rain than Los Angeles. Washington gets 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain, while Los Angeles receives 3.1 inches (79 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
Both Los Angeles and Washington during the spring are popular places to visit. The activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Washington this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Los Angeles for the beaches and the activities around the city.
In April, Washington is generally cooler than Los Angeles. Temperatures in Washington average around 56°F (14°C), and Los Angeles stays around 61°F (16°C).
Washington usually gets more rain in April than Los Angeles. Washington gets 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain, while Los Angeles receives 1 inches (25 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Washington | Los Angeles | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 35°F (1°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) | 55°F (13°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) |
Feb | 37°F (3°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) | 55°F (13°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) |
Mar | 47°F (8°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
Apr | 56°F (14°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) | 61°F (16°C) | 1 inches (25 mm) |
May | 66°F (19°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 0.4 inches (10 mm) |
Jun | 75°F (24°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 66°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
Jul | 79°F (26°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 0 inches (0 mm) |
Aug | 78°F (26°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 0 inches (0 mm) |
Sep | 71°F (22°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) | 70°F (21°C) | 0.2 inches (5 mm) |
Oct | 60°F (15°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 0.6 inches (15 mm) |
Nov | 50°F (10°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 1.2 inches (31 mm) |
Dec | 39°F (4°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.6 inches (66 mm) |
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