Travel budget and cost of living in California how much does a trip cost?

Travel budget in California

California: calculate your travel budget

California: sample budgets by traveller type

These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in California for 2 people.

* Estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks. This represents an average across the country (budget may vary depending on the city or region visited).

Cost of living in California in 2023

Cost of living: California VS United States

On average, the cost of living in California in 2023 is 14% higher than in the United States (USA).

The graphic below shows the percentage of variation between prices United States in in the United States (USA) and United States by types of expenses:

Cost of living in California by city

See the table below for the variation in the cost of living in different cities in California compared to the national average.

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Local prices in California by expense type

California: Restaurant budget

Lunch

$ 23/person
($ 15 to $ 46)

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12% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 20

3 course dinner

$ 57/person
($ 34 to $ 84)

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41% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 40

McDonald's meal

$ 12/person
($ 10 to $ 14)

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1% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12

Local beer

$ 8.8 for 500ml
($ 6.1 to $ 12)

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61% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.5

Imported beer

$ 3.7 for 330ml
($ 1.7 to $ 6.7)

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1% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.7

Cappuccino

$ 5.9/cup
($ 4.4 to $ 7.8)

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13% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.2

Fizzy drink

$ 3/can
($ 2.3 to $ 4.4)

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19% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5

Water bottle

$ 2.5/bottle
($ 2 to $ 4.4)

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24% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2

California: Hotel and accommodation budget

1-star hotel

$ 139/night
($ 115 to $ 171)

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11% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 126

2-star hotel

$ 177/night
($ 113 to $ 298)

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22% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 146

3-star hotel

$ 263/night
($ 181 to $ 403)

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27% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 208

4-star hotel

$ 416/night
($ 290 to $ 622)

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37% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 305

5-star hotel

$ 839/night
($ 586 to $ 1275)

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29% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 653

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 147/month
($ 122 to $ 183)

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13% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 131

Room with kitchen

$ 277/month
($ 195 to $ 406)

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40% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 198

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 273/month
($ 159 to $ 469)

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47% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 187

Cottage or guest house

$ 317/month
($ 235 to $ 423)

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27% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 251

Family room

$ 294/month
($ 185 to $ 514)

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54% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 192

California: Supermarket food budget

Milk

$ 1.3/litre
($ 0.8 to $ 2)

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17% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1

Bread

$ 4.3/500g
($ 2.4 to $ 8.8)

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21% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6

Rice

$ 6/kg
($ 2.5 to $ 12)

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30% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.6

Eggs

$ 5.4/12 eggs
($ 2.3 to $ 8.1)

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19% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.6

Chicken

$ 14/kg
($ 5.5 to $ 23)

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6% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14

Apples

$ 4.8/kg
($ 1.9 to $ 7.3)

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10% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.4

Tomatoes

$ 4.5/kg
($ 1.9 to $ 9)

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9% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5

Potatoes

$ 3.1/kg
($ 1.2 to $ 4.9)

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1% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3

Water bottle

$ 2.4
($ 1.1 to $ 4.4)

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11% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.1

California: Public and private transport budget

Bus ticket

$ 2/ticket
($ 1.9 to $ 3.3)

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24% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.8

Taxi (per km)

$ 1.9/km
($ 1.9 to $ 4.2)

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3% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.9

Petrol

$ 1.6/litre
($ 1.3 to $ 1.8)

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37% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 4.4
($ 3.3 to $ 7.8)

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15% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.9

Car hire

$ 36/24hrs
($ 11 to $ 103)

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3% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 38

California: Leisure activity budget

Cinema

$ 17/ticket
($ 16 to $ 23)

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26% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14

Tennis

$ 12/hr
($ 12 to $ 23)

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43% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 21

California: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes

Cigarettes

$ 13/pack
($ 8.8 to $ 15)

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23% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 9.9

Levi's jeans

$ 69
($ 40 to $ 94)

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33% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 52

Summer dress

$ 46
($ 23 to $ 84)

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12% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 41

Plane ticket budget

London → Los Angeles

$ 622
(fair price: $ 578)

London → San Francisco

$ 591
(fair price: $ 548)

Sydney → Los Angeles

$ 1269
(fair price: $ 1054)

Dublin → Los Angeles

$ 740
(fair price: $ 617)

New York City → Los Angeles

$ 337
(fair price: $ 279)

New York City → San Francisco

$ 323
(fair price: $ 273)

Manchester → New York City

$ 543
(fair price: $ 487)

London → Miami (Florida)

$ 567
(fair price: $ 521)

London → New York City

$ 444
(fair price: $ 419)

London → Las Vegas

$ 748
(fair price: $ 691)

New York City → Las Vegas

$ 358
(fair price: $ 256)

Dublin → New York City

$ 452
(fair price: $ 410)