Is Santa Cruz expensive to visit?
Santa Cruz is a moderately priced destination with an average daily cost of $156. Compared to the rest of North America, which is known to be an expensive region, it is a reasonably affordable place to visit. It's ranked in the top 25% of cities in North America for its affordability, comparable to places like Beaufort and Vancouver.
Santa Cruz, California
How expensive is Santa Cruz?
On average, visitors spend about $156 per day when visiting Santa Cruz (U.S. Dollars). Two travelers together would spend an average of $311 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 Cruz here.
How expensive is a weekend trip (three days) to Santa Cruz?
A weekend trip to Santa Cruz costs about $467 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 $933.
How expensive is a one week (7-day) trip to Santa Cruz?
Based on the travel expenses of others, a one week trip to Santa Cruz costs around $1,089 on average, per person. This includes food, sightseeing, local transportation, accommodation, and nightlife. For two people, a one week trip costs $2,177.
Is it expensive to backpack in Santa Cruz?
While Santa Cruz 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 Cruz is $46 per night. The cheapest beds cost about $46 and the most expensive rooms cost around $46. (See hostel prices in Santa Cruz here.)
Here are a few sample prices from popular hostels in Santa Cruz.
- $46 for a dorm bed at Santa Cruz Hostel
Are hotels expensive in Santa Cruz?
Hotel prices in Santa Cruz are somewhat more affordable compared to hotels in other cities. You can expect to spend about $187 per night for a room on average. There are around [5_STAR_COUNT] five star hotels in the city and they average [5_STAR_PRICE] per night. Three star hotels average $239 a night and two star hotels average $187 per night.
Hotels by star rating in Santa Cruz
| Rating | Number of Hotels | Average Hotel Price |
|---|---|---|
| 4 stars | 2 | $303 |
| 3 stars | 8 | $239 |
| 2 stars | 34 | $187 |
How expensive are sightseeing activities in Santa Cruz?
Activities and things to do in Santa Cruz 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 $18 per day on sightseeing activities and things to do when visiting, which is less than the country's average of $55.
- Mermaid Experience & Photoshoot: $190
- Capitola Watercolor Journaling Experience: $297
- Santa Cruz Guided eBike Ride & Most Fun Bike e-Bike Tour : $110
- Santa Cruz 2Hour Guided eBike Tour for Small E-Bike Groups: $110
- Capitola Private 2-Hour Walking Tour: $30
- Self Guided UC Santa Cruz Walking Tour: Unlock Secret Stories : $20
- Half Day Private Beach Tour in Santa Cruz: $35
- Santa Cruz Family Friendly Guided Electric Bike Tour (eBike): $110
Is food expensive in Santa Cruz?
Food in Santa Cruz can vary in price depending on the restaurant and food options available. Generally, other travelers have spent $70 on food per person per day, which is less than the country's average of $96. To save money, eat at less expensive restaurants, try street food, or cook your own meals when possible.
Is transportation expensive in Santa Cruz?
Local transportation in Santa Cruz can vary in price depending on the type of transit used. Generally, other travelers have spent $40 on local transportation per person per day, which is less than the country's average of $46. To save money, take public transit whenever possible, as it will almost always be cheaper than a taxi or private driver.
More for Santa Cruz
If you're planning a trip to Santa Cruz, 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.