Which place is cheaper, Santa Cruz 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 Cruz?
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 Cruz can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Duck Key or Santa Cruz?
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 Cruz
On the central coast of California in between Monterey Bay and San Jose lies Santa Cruz, California, a laid-back coastal college town with a reputation of locals open to liberal views and accepting of alternative lifestyles. Among its residents are University of California, Santa Cruz students, a large artist colony, and professional surfers.
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 Cruz Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDuck Key $175Santa Cruz $156
The average daily cost (per person) in Duck Key is $175, while the average daily cost in Santa Cruz is $156. 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 Cruz in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDuck Key $56Santa Cruz $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDuck Key $112Santa Cruz $122
Compare Hotels in Duck Key and Santa Cruz
Looking for a hotel in Duck Key or Santa Cruz? 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 Cruz Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Duck Key $69Santa Cruz $40
Is it cheaper to fly into Duck Key or Santa Cruz?
Prices for flights to both Santa Cruz 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 Cruz $70
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Cruz
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santa Cruz.
- Capitola Friday Night Food Tour: $129
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Duck Key $30Santa Cruz $18
Tours and Activities in Santa Cruz
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santa Cruz are as follows:
- Capitola Private 2-Hour Walking Tour: $30
- Capitola Watercolor Journaling Experience: $297
- Half Day Private Beach Tour in Santa Cruz: $35
- Mermaid Experience & Photoshoot: $220
- Santa Cruz 2Hour Guided eBike Tour for Small E-Bike Groups: $110
- Santa Cruz Family Friendly Guided Electric Bike Tour (eBike): $110
- Santa Cruz Guided eBike Ride & Most Fun Bike e-Bike Tour : $110
- Guided eBike Tour: $120
- Self Guided UC Santa Cruz Walking Tour: Unlock Secret Stories : $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDuck Key $7.99Santa Cruz $8.57
Sample the Local Flavors in Santa Cruz
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Santa Cruz:
- Wine Tasting Experience: $25
- Private Brewery Tour: $500
When comparing the travel costs between Duck Key and Santa Cruz, we can see that Duck Key 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 Cruz Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Duck Key or Santa Cruz?
Santa Cruz has a larger population, and is about 110 times larger than the population of Duck Key. When comparing the sizes of Duck Key and Santa Cruz, 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 Cruz?
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 Cruz in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Duck Key as well as Santa Cruz. Additionally, the summer months attract visitors to Santa Cruz because of the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Duck Key is generally much warmer than Santa Cruz. Daily temperatures in Duck Key average around 84°F (29°C), and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 67°F (19°C).
Duck Key usually gets more rain in July than Santa Cruz. Duck Key gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 0.1 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyDuck Key 84°F (29°C)Santa Cruz 67°F (19°C)
Should I visit Duck Key or Santa Cruz in the Autumn?
Both Santa Cruz and Duck Key are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the hiking trails and the shopping scene are the main draw to Santa Cruz this time of year.
Duck Key is much warmer than Santa Cruz in the autumn. The daily temperature in Duck Key averages around 80°F (27°C) in October, and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).
It's quite rainy in Duck Key. In October, Duck Key usually receives more rain than Santa Cruz. Duck Key gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberDuck Key 80°F (27°C)Santa Cruz 63°F (17°C)
Should I visit Duck Key or Santa Cruz in the Winter?
Both Santa Cruz and Duck Key during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, many travelers come to Santa Cruz for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Duck Key is much warmer than Santa Cruz. Typically, the winter temperatures in Duck Key in January average around 70°F (21°C), and Santa Cruz averages at about 51°F (10°C).
Duck Key usually gets less rain in January than Santa Cruz. Duck Key gets 1.7 inches (43 mm) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryDuck Key 70°F (21°C)Santa Cruz 51°F (10°C)
Should I visit Duck Key or Santa Cruz in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Duck Key and Santa Cruz. Also, many visitors come to Santa Cruz in the spring for the beaches.
In April, Duck Key is generally much warmer than Santa Cruz. Daily temperatures in Duck Key average around 77°F (25°C), and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).
In April, Duck Key usually receives less rain than Santa Cruz. Duck Key gets 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 1 inches (26 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilDuck Key 77°F (25°C)Santa Cruz 58°F (14°C)
Typical Weather for Santa Cruz and Duck Key
| Duck Key | Santa Cruz | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 70°F (21°C) | 1.7 inches (43 mm) | 51°F (10°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Feb | 71°F (21°C) | 1.4 inches (36 mm) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) |
| Mar | 74°F (23°C) | 1.7 inches (42 mm) | 55°F (13°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) |
| Apr | 77°F (25°C) | 0.8 inches (21 mm) | 58°F (14°C) | 1 inches (26 mm) |
| May | 81°F (27°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) | 62°F (16°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) |
| Jun | 83°F (28°C) | 4.5 inches (114 mm) | 65°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Jul | 84°F (29°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 67°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (1 mm) |
| Aug | 84°F (29°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) | 67°F (20°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Sep | 83°F (29°C) | 5.7 inches (144 mm) | 67°F (19°C) | 0.2 inches (6 mm) |
| Oct | 80°F (27°C) | 5.1 inches (129 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 0.8 inches (21 mm) |
| Nov | 76°F (24°C) | 2 inches (50 mm) | 56°F (13°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
| Dec | 72°F (22°C) | 1.4 inches (35 mm) | 51°F (10°C) | 2.1 inches (53 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.