Is Santa Barbara expensive to visit?
Santa Barbara is a moderately priced destination with an average daily cost of $162. Compared to the rest of North America, which is known to be an expensive region, it is a moderately priced place to visit. It's ranked in the top 50% of cities in North America for its travel costs, comparable to places like Grand Teton National Park and Roanoke.
The Santa Barbara Courthouse
How expensive is Santa Barbara?
On average, visitors spend about $162 per day when visiting Santa Barbara (U.S. Dollars). Two travelers together would spend an average of $325 per day. Prices vary dramatically by travel style and length of trip, but if you stay at moderately priced hotels, eat at affordable restaurants, and use public transportation when possible, you can expect to stay close to this budget. See more travel costs for Santa Barbara here.
How expensive is a weekend trip (three days) to Santa Barbara?
A weekend trip to Santa Barbara costs about $487 per person on average, based on the previous expenses of other travelers. This includes accommodation, sightseeting activities, transportation, food, and nightlife. For two people, a weekend trip costs $974.
How expensive is a one week (7-day) trip to Santa Barbara?
Based on the travel expenses of others, a one week trip to Santa Barbara costs around $1,137 on average, per person. This includes food, sightseeing, local transportation, accommodation, and nightlife. For two people, a one week trip costs $2,274.
Is it expensive to backpack in Santa Barbara?
While Santa Barbara attracts a few backpackers, traveling on a budget can be challenging because there are only a few hostels around town. The average cost of a hostel in Santa Barbara is $54 per night. The cheapest beds cost about $54 and the most expensive rooms cost around $54. (See hostel prices in Santa Barbara here.)
Here are a few sample prices from popular hostels in Santa Barbara.
- $54 for a dorm bed at ITH Santa Barbara Beach Hostel
Are hotels expensive in Santa Barbara?
From our analysis of hotel prices in Santa Barbara, we can see that they are moderate and on par in comparison to the rest of the world. On average, a night in a hotel room costs approximately $253. The area hosts around 2 five-star hotels, averaging $780 per night. For those with an eye on both comfort and economy, three-star hotels present a reasonable choice at an average of $307 per night, while two-star hotels offer an even more economical option at $193 per night.
Hotels by star rating in Santa Barbara
| Rating | Number of Hotels | Average Hotel Price |
|---|---|---|
| 5 stars | 2 | $780 |
| 4 stars | 9 | $333 |
| 3 stars | 26 | $307 |
| 2 stars | 23 | $193 |
| 1 star | 1 | $144 |
How expensive are sightseeing activities in Santa Barbara?
Activities and things to do in Santa Barbara can vary in price depending on the type of activity, length, and location. Below are a number of popular activities to give you an idea of what to expect when visiting. Generally, previous travelers have spent $27 per day on sightseeing activities and things to do when visiting, which is less than the country's average of $55.
- Taco Tour Santa Barbara: $125
- Private Santa Barbara History and Architecture Walking Tour: $99
- Sea Lion Kayak Tour - Santa Barbara Harbor: $72
- Epic Zipline Tour Over The Santa Ynez Valley: $139
- Santa Barbara's Original Afternoon Winery Tour: $159
- Tours of Santa Barbara: $239
- 5 STARS: "Where The Locals Go!" Nature-History Tour: $95
- Private Helicopter Tour in Santa Barbara: $149
Is food expensive in Santa Barbara?
Food in Santa Barbara can vary in price depending on the restaurant and food options available. Generally, other travelers have spent $46 on food per person per day, which is less than the country's average of $58. To save money, eat at less expensive restaurants, try street food, or cook your own meals when possible.
Is transportation expensive in Santa Barbara?
Exploring local transportation in Santa Barbara shows that the price can vary greatly by the type of transportation used. On average, previous travelers have spent $42 per person per day, which is less than the country's average of $46. If you want to save money, use public transit as it's much cheaper than taxis or private drivers.
More for Santa Barbara
If you're planning a trip to Santa Barbara, California, check out these other informative travel guides.
We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
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.