Which place is cheaper, Santa Barbara or Duck Key?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Duck Key or Santa Barbara?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
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 Duck Key and Santa Barbara can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Duck Key or Santa Barbara?
Duck Key
If you are thirsty for the taste of tropical splendor, Duck Key, Florida will surely quench your desires. Located in Monroe County, Florida, right beside its neighbor Conch Key, Duck Key stands. The community is chock full of everyone's favorite seaside activities, including fishing, jetskiing, scuba diving, canoeing, and kayaking. Though a quaint town, Duck Key attracts tourists from all over due to its quiet beaches and friendly locals. Whether you are looking to meet and greet with the dolphins or simply lie upon the sandy white beaches as the fire orange sun sets before you, Duck Key is truly a sweet and small subtropical diversion.
Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara is located in California, less than 100 miles from Los Angeles. It sits between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, giving it a stunning backdrop. The town has a population of just 90,000 but it still offers visitors many cultural, culinary, and shopping experiences that surpass many large cities. There are wide beaches along a beautiful coastline, impressive wineries, and many top rated restaurants. Many people see Santa Barbara as a hangout for the rich and famous, but with a university and diverse population, the city is much more relatable than you might expect, although travel prices here are still somewhat high.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco, The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America, and The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America.
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Duck Key Prices
USA PricesSanta Barbara Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDuck Key $175Santa Barbara $196
The average daily cost (per person) in Duck Key is $175, while the average daily cost in Santa Barbara is $196. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Duck Key and Santa Barbara in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDuck Key $56Santa Barbara $88
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDuck Key $112Santa Barbara $176
Compare Hotels in Duck Key and Santa Barbara
Looking for a hotel in Duck Key or Santa Barbara? 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Santa Barbara Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Duck Key $69Santa Barbara $42
Is it cheaper to fly into Duck Key or Santa Barbara?
Prices for flights to both Santa Barbara and Duck Key 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayDuck Key $77Santa Barbara $80
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Duck Key $30Santa Barbara $27
Tours and Activities in Santa Barbara
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santa Barbara are as follows:
- Tours of Santa Barbara ( Private touring ): $219
- 2- Hour Pottery Workshop and Studio Tour in Ojai: $65
- 3-Winery Tour Tastings & Lunch Included from Santa Barbara in SYV: $179
- 3-Winery Tour: Lunch Included from Santa Barbara in Santa Ynez: $119
- 3-Winery Tour: Lunch Included from Santa Ynez/Solvang/Buellton: $89
- 3-Winery Tour: Tastings & Lunch Included from Santa Ynez/Solvang: $149
- Beginner or Intermediate Mountain Bike Tour of Santa Barbara: $125
- Bellosguardo Estate Tour: $100
- Best of Santa Barbara Walking Tour with Ice Cream : $90
- City & Sand Electric Bike Tour: $105
- Coastal Cruise on Yacht in Santa Barbara: $40
- Epic Zipline Tour near Santa Barbara: $155
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDuck Key $7.99Santa Barbara $12
Typical Alcohol Prices in Santa Barbara
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Santa Barbara:
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Camping$20
Sample the Local Flavors in Santa Barbara
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Santa Barbara:
- Santa Barbara Craft Brewery and History Crawl: $140
- Private Vineyard Tour and Wine Tasting: $150
- Santa Ynez Valley Biking and Wine Tasting Tour: $175
- Solvang Santa Ynez Valley Small Group All-Inclusive Wine Tour : $180
- Small-Group Wine Tasting Tour of Santa Barbara Wine Country: $235
- Santa Barbara Small-Group Wine Tour to Private Estates & Wineries: $235
- Small-Group Wine Tour to Private Locations in Santa Barbara : $235
- Santa Ynez Wine Tour (All-Inclusive): $239
- Santa Ynez Cupcake & Wine Tour (All-Inclusive): $259
- Santa Barbara Wine Tour Experience - Authentic and Boutique : $265
When comparing the travel costs between Duck Key and Santa Barbara, we can see that Santa Barbara is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Duck Key Expensive? and Is Santa Barbara Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Duck Key or Santa Barbara?
Santa Barbara has a larger population, and is about 180 times larger than the population of Duck Key. When comparing the sizes of Duck Key and Santa Barbara, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Duck Key or Santa Barbara?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Duck Key or Santa Barbara in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Duck Key as well as Santa Barbara. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Santa Barbara because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Duck Key is much warmer than Santa Barbara. Typically, the summer temperatures in Duck Key in July average around 84°F (29°C), and Santa Barbara averages at about 65°F (19°C).
Duck Key usually gets more rain in July than Santa Barbara. Duck Key gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyDuck Key 84°F (29°C)Santa Barbara 65°F (19°C)
Should I visit Duck Key or Santa Barbara in the Autumn?
Both Santa Barbara and Duck Key are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Santa Barbara this time of year.
In October, Duck Key is generally much warmer than Santa Barbara. Daily temperatures in Duck Key average around 80°F (27°C), and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).
It's quite rainy in Duck Key. In October, Duck Key usually receives more rain than Santa Barbara. Duck Key gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 0.5 inches (13 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberDuck Key 80°F (27°C)Santa Barbara 62°F (17°C)
Should I visit Duck Key or Santa Barbara in the Winter?
Both Santa Barbara and Duck Key during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many travelers come to Santa Barbara for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Duck Key is much warmer than Santa Barbara in the winter. The daily temperature in Duck Key averages around 70°F (21°C) in January, and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).
Duck Key usually gets less rain in January than Santa Barbara. Duck Key gets 1.7 inches (43 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryDuck Key 70°F (21°C)Santa Barbara 52°F (11°C)
Should I visit Duck Key or Santa Barbara in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Duck Key and Santa Barbara. Furthermore, many visitors come to Santa Barbara in the spring for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Duck Key is much warmer than Santa Barbara. Typically, the spring temperatures in Duck Key in April average around 77°F (25°C), and Santa Barbara averages at about 57°F (14°C).
In April, Duck Key usually receives less rain than Santa Barbara. Duck Key gets 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilDuck Key 77°F (25°C)Santa Barbara 57°F (14°C)
Typical Weather for Santa Barbara and Duck Key
| Duck Key | Santa Barbara | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 70°F (21°C) | 1.7 inches (43 mm) | 52°F (11°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Feb | 71°F (21°C) | 1.4 inches (36 mm) | 54°F (12°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) |
| Mar | 74°F (23°C) | 1.7 inches (42 mm) | 55°F (13°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) |
| Apr | 77°F (25°C) | 0.8 inches (21 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 1.1 inches (27 mm) |
| May | 81°F (27°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) | 59°F (15°C) | 0.2 inches (4 mm) |
| Jun | 83°F (28°C) | 4.5 inches (114 mm) | 62°F (17°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) |
| Jul | 84°F (29°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 65°F (19°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) |
| Aug | 84°F (29°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) | 67°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
| Sep | 83°F (29°C) | 5.7 inches (144 mm) | 66°F (19°C) | 0.5 inches (12 mm) |
| Oct | 80°F (27°C) | 5.1 inches (129 mm) | 62°F (17°C) | 0.5 inches (13 mm) |
| Nov | 76°F (24°C) | 2 inches (50 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
| Dec | 72°F (22°C) | 1.4 inches (35 mm) | 52°F (11°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) |
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.