Which place is cheaper, Santa Cruz or Fort-de-France?
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 Fort-de-France or Santa Cruz?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Fort-de-France and Santa Cruz can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Fort-de-France or Santa Cruz?
Fort-de-France
As the largest city and capital of Martinique, Fort-de-France serves as the main entryway for visitors traveling to the island. It is a busy city with a significant population, which creates an atmosphere bustling with traffic amidst its historic and cultural sights.
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 3-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America.
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Fort-de-France Prices
Martinique PricesSanta Cruz Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFort-de-France $228Santa Cruz $156
The average daily cost (per person) in Fort-de-France is $228, 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 Fort-de-France and Santa Cruz in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFort-de-France $92Santa Cruz $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFort-de-France $184Santa Cruz $122
Compare Hotels in Fort-de-France and Santa Cruz
Looking for a hotel in Fort-de-France 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: Fort-de-France Hotel Prices and Santa Cruz Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Fort-de-France $18Santa Cruz $40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Fort-de-France
Also for Fort-de-France, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Fort de France to Martinique Airport (FDF) - Departure Transfer: $66
- Martinique Airport (FDF) to Fort de France - Arrival Transfer: $69
- Transfer from Fort de France Port to Martinique Airport (FDF): $77
- Private Transfer Martinique Airport (FDF) to Fort de France Port: $77
- Private Transfer from Fort de France Port to Fort de France: $77
- Private Transfer from Fort de France to Fort de France Port: $77
Is it cheaper to fly into Fort-de-France or Santa Cruz?
Prices for flights to both Santa Cruz and Fort-de-France 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 dayFort-de-France $117Santa Cruz $70
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Fort-de-France
For Fort-de-France, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Food tour in the rainforest and St Pierre - Pile et Face: $104
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.Fort-de-France $36Santa Cruz $18
Tours and Activities in Fort-de-France
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Fort-de-France.
- Habitation Clement - entrance ticket: $15
- Small train tour of a banana farm in Martinique: $22
- Fort-de-France Private 2-Hour Walking Tour: $26
- Mangrove Guided Tour: $43
- Karaib Tour: $66
- Fort-de-France Food Tasting and Cultural Walking Tour: $71
- Martinique Shore Excursion - Unmissable Martinique North tour: $75
- Authentic Tour of Southern Martinique: $75
- Martinique Shore Excursion - Authentic Tour of Southern Martinique: $75
- Scenic Tropical Rainforest & Island Tour: $82
- Martinique: Coral and Turtle Coves Cruise: $84
- Half-Day Nature and Panorama Tour in Martinique: $108
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 dayFort-de-France $12Santa Cruz $8.57
Sample the Local Flavors in Fort-de-France
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Fort-de-France:
- Small-Group Tour: Unmissable Martinique with Rum Distillery, Ruins, and More: $75
- North Tour: rainforest, rum distillery, black sand beach etc: $120
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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Fort-de-France and Santa Cruz, we can see that Fort-de-France is more expensive. And not only is Santa Cruz much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Fort-de-France is in Caribbean Islands and Santa Cruz is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Santa Cruz would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Cruz and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Fort-de-France would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Fort-de-France than you might in Santa Cruz.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Fort-de-France Expensive? and Is Santa Cruz Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Fort-de-France or Santa Cruz?
Fort-de-France has a larger population, and is about 65% larger than the population of Santa Cruz. When comparing the sizes of Fort-de-France 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.
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.