Should you visit Washington or Los Angeles?
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
Washington, DC is the capital city of the United States of America. It is also a city rich in history and culture. The city dates back to 1791 when the states of Maryland and Virginia donated the land to create the capital. In 1846, Congress returned the land that was ceded by Virginia and in 1871 it created a single municipal government with the remaining area. Today, Washington, DC has a population of over 600,000 people. The metropolitan area includes suburbs in Maryland and Virginia and has a population of about 5.8 million.
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California is probably one of the most well known cities in the United States. It is the second most populated metro area in the country with more than 17 million people. The city's diversity is wide reaching, giving it a character that is unique from any other place in the country. LA has many world famous sights and neighborhoods including Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, and Santa Monica, but there is really so much more to this city.
Which city is cheaper, Los Angeles or Washington?
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 $190. 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 Washington and Los Angeles in more detail.
Accommodation
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $182 in Washington For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
For a normal double-occupancy room in Los Angeles, $222 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Los Angeles, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $111, such as in a hostel.
Food
The average traveler spends about $30 per day in Washington for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
The price of a meal in Los Angeles can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $35 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $14 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Washington $30
Los Angeles $35
Typical Food prices in Washington
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Washington:
-
Water
$2.00
-
Snacks on Monuments Tour
$6.15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Washington
For Washington, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Washington D.C.: 3.5-Hour Georgetown Food Tour:
$65
-
Washington DC: 3-Hour Italian Food Tour:
$65
-
Washington DC Food Tour: Italian Cuisine in Dupont Circle:
$65
-
Adams Morgan Food Tour:
$76
-
Lonely Planet Experiences: DC Morning Food Tour on H Street:
$79
-
Washington DC: Private Food Tour Experience:
$79
-
Capitol Hill Walking Food Tour:
$79
-
Washington, DC: The Original Brew Tour with Tasting & Dinner:
$81
-
U Street Neighborhood Food Tour:
$89
-
Washington DC Odyssey Dinner Cruise:
$100
-
Private French Cooking Class with an Expert in the Heart of Washington DC:
$108
-
Washington, DC 3-Hour Dinner Buffet Cruise:
$122
Typical Food prices in Los Angeles
For Los Angeles, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Los Angeles
For Los Angeles, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
How to Cook the Perfect Steak Virtual Cooking Class:
$42
-
Downtown Food Tour:
$75
-
West Hollywood Food Tour:
$75
-
Downtown Los Angeles Food Tour:
$77
-
Private Tour: Secret Food Tours Los Angeles Venice Beach:
$96
-
Private Authentic Middle Eastern Cooking Class in Reseda, Los Angeles:
$102
-
Luxury Vegan Food Tours of Los Angeles:
$125
-
Secret Food Tour of Venice Beach, Los Angeles w/ Private Tour Option:
$207
-
3-Hour Secret Food Tour:
$209
Local Transportation
To get around in Washington, the average visitor spends $37 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Los Angeles'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 $29 per person, per day on transportation in Los Angeles.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Washington
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Washington are as follows:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Washington
Also for Washington, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Washington, DC: Private Airport Transfer(SUV): To or From: (DCA) Reagan National:
$180
-
Washington, DC: Potomac Mills Outlet Private Transfer:
$357
-
Washington to Washington R. Reagan Airport (DCA) - Departure Private Transfer:
$61
-
Washington to Washington Dulles Airport (IAD) - Departure Private Transfer:
$97
-
Washington to Newark International Airport (EWR) - Departure Private Transfer:
$491
-
Washington to New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA) - Departure Private Transfer:
$535
-
Washington to New York J.F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) - Departure Private Transfer:
$535
-
Washington to Baltimore Washington Airport (BWI) - Departure Private Transfer:
$109
-
Washington Reagan Airport Transfer to Baltimore & D. C.:
$15
-
Washington DC: Private Transfer to Airports or Baltimore:
$130
-
Washington City to Philadelphia City - Private Car Transfer:
$392
-
Washington City to New York City - Private Car Transfer:
$516
Typical Local Transportation prices in Los Angeles
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Los Angeles:
-
Hotel Parking for a Day
$22
-
Taxi to Airport
$55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Los Angeles
Also for Los Angeles, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Arrival Private Transfer Los Angeles Airport LAX to Las Vegas by Minibus:
$1,883
-
Arrival Private Transfer Los Angeles Airport LAX to Las Vegas by SUV:
$1,616
-
Arrival Private Transfer Los Angeles Airport LAX to Las Vegas by Executive SUV:
$1,598
-
Arrival Private Transfer Los Angeles LAX to Palm Springs or San Diego by Minibus:
$569
-
Arrival Private Transfer Los Angeles LAX to Palm Springs/San Diego by Luxury Car:
$524
-
LOS ANGELES to Palm Springs Airport (PSP) - Departure Private Transfer:
$485
-
Arrival Private Transfer Los Angeles LAX to Palm Springs/San Diego by Exec. SUV:
$480
-
Arrival Private Transfer Los Angeles LAX to Palm Springs or San Diego by SUV:
$453
-
Los Angeles Private Transfer To Coechella Valley, CA.:
$439
-
Private Transfer - LAX Airport to San Diego/ Las Vegas in a Luxurious SUV:
$420
-
San Diego Private Transfer From Hollywood or Burbank.:
$398
-
Los Angeles Private Transfer To Tijuana Border Crossing.:
$398
Is it cheaper to fly into Washington or Los Angeles?
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.
Entertainment
In Washington, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $19 per person, per day.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Los Angeles can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $64 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Tours and Activities in Washington
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Washington.
-
"HEROES OF FREEDOM" PRIVATE TOUR (4 Hour Military Tribute):
$658
-
"SHINING CITY" PRIVATE TOUR (3 Hour Evening Tour):
$658
-
2 Day Grand Tour with George Washington's Mount Vernon:
$95
-
2-Day Colonial Williamsburg Guided Tour from Washington DC:
$330
-
24/48-Hour Washington, D.C. Hop-on Hop-off Tour:
$49
-
3-Hour "DC After Dark" Night-Time Guided Bus Tour with Stops at Top Attractions:
$35
-
3-Hour Private Jeep Tour of Washington D.C.:
$495
-
3-Hour Washington DC "Monuments By Night" Guided Night-Time Sightseeing Bus Tour:
$49
-
3-Hour Washington DC "Morning Monuments" Guided Sightseeing Walking & Bus Tour:
$64
-
3-Hour Washington, D.C Urban Adventure Scavenger Hunt:
$44
-
30-Minutes Supercar Driving Pilot Experience in Washington DC:
$275
-
Advance Tickets to Washington, D.C.'s Newseum:
$24
Typical Entertainment prices in Los Angeles
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Los Angeles's activities, tours, and tickets:
Tours and Activities in Los Angeles
For Los Angeles, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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1 Hour Instagram Pics Hollywood Sign Tour:
$39
-
10-Minute Hollywood Sign Helicopter Tour:
$124
-
15 mins Driving Tour in a Ferrari California T spider in hollywood:
$69
-
1HOUR FERRARI CALIFORNIA driving Tour from Hollywood to Beverly Hills:
$300
-
2 Hour Celebrity Homes Tour:
$39
-
2 Hour Venice Beach Bike Tour:
$61
-
2 hour Horseback Riding Tour near the Hollywood Sign with Transportation:
$127
-
2-Hour Hollywood Bike Tour:
$60
-
2-Hour Hollywood Walking and Hiking Tour with Skyline Views:
$34
-
3 Hour Hollywood to Beverly Hills small group Tour:
$41
-
3 Hour Venice Beach Bike Tour:
$71
-
3 Hours Los Angeles VIP Tour:
$49
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 Washington, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $15.
Typically, people visiting Los Angeles spend on average $11 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Washington
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Washington:
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Epic Washington DC Bar Crawl: By Let’s Roam:
$12
-
Haunted Washington D.C. Ghost and Pub Walking Tour:
$27
-
DC: 'New York Times Journeys' Walking Tour with Beer, Cheese and Wine Tasting:
$120
-
NOVA Private Custom Wine Tours & Tasting from DMV:
$645
-
6 Hours Northern VA Wine Tour:
$920
Sample the Local Flavors in Los Angeles
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Los Angeles:
-
Brews Cruise- DTLA Brewery tour by bike:
$50
-
Brewery Walking Tour -- Downtown / Arts District:
$81
-
Malibu: Exclusive Wine Tasting and Falconry Experience:
$109
-
Malibu: Vintage VW Hippie Sightseeing Tour with Wine Tasting:
$139
-
Santa Barbara Wine Tasting Day Tour from Los Angeles:
$249
-
Los Angeles Wine Tour:
$250
-
The Private Malibu Wine Tour:
$419
-
Food and Wine Tasting Party:
$750
-
Private Tour: Malibu Wine Tasting for Two by Limousine from Los Angeles:
$999
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.
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