Which place is cheaper, California or North Carolina?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit North Carolina or California?
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 North Carolina and California can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: North Carolina or California?
North Carolina
North Carolina is a diverse state in the southern United States. The state has a variety of landscapes, with mountains, forests, and beaches all represented. The state's elevation ranges from sea level to 6,684 feet on Mount Mitchell, which is the highest point in North America east of the Mississippi. There are large cosmopolitan cities like Charlotte, and there are quaint college towns like Chapel Hill. North Carolina is the nineth most populous state in the country and the economy is currently centered around engineering, energy, biotechnology, and finance. Historically, the state's economy developed from the tobacco, textile, and furniture making industries.
California
California is the most populous state in the U.S. and is known for a variety of attractions such as Hollywood, warm beaches, the San Francisco bay area, Redwood trees, national parks, and stunning mountain vistas. With a variety of locations and activities to offer, California has become one of the premier travel destinations in the world.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in United States of America, The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America, and The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America.
-
North Carolina Prices
USA PricesCalifornia Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNorth Carolina $215California $284
The average daily cost (per person) in North Carolina is $215, while the average daily cost in California is $284. 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 North Carolina and California in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNorth Carolina $112California $116
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNorth Carolina $224California $232
Compare Hotels in North Carolina and California
Looking for a hotel in North Carolina or California? 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.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.North Carolina $36California $42
Hired Cars and Shuttles in California
Also for California, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- San Francisco Airport Transfer to SFO City (Special Offer): $31
- Private Arrival Transfer from John Wayne Orange County Airport SNA: $32
- Los Angeles Airport LAX Transfer to Long Beach Hollywood Irvine: $33
- Private Departure Transfer San Fransisco City to SFO Airport: $34
- Shared ride Arrival Transfer John Wayne airport to Anaheim hotels: $36
- Shared Airport Departure Transfer Anaheim and Orange County to John Wayne Airport: $36
- Private Departure Transfer to Los Angeles Airport LAX: $39
- Private Departure Transfer to Burbank Airport (BUR): $40
- Los Angeles Airport (LAX) to Los Angeles - Arrival Private Transfer: $41
- Los Angeles to Los Angeles Airport (LAX) - Departure Private Transfer: $41
- Private Transfer Los Angeles Internal Airport LAX From To LA: $41
- Private Arrival Transfer from San Francisco Airport SFO: $44
Is it cheaper to fly into North Carolina or California?
Prices for flights to both California and North Carolina 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
-
Food Meals for one dayNorth Carolina $75California $79
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in California
For California, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Santa Monica Delicious Donut Adventure and Walking Food Tour: $70
- Flavors of Venice Beach Food Tour By Junket: $74
- Melting Pot of the Mission District Food Tour: $74
- Sushi Making Cooking Class at a Local Brewery in San Diego: $75
- 2 Hour Ravioli Cooking Class With Local Chef in San Diego : $75
- Pirates Dinner Adventure Buena Park: $76
- Tijuana Street Food Tour for Foodies: $79
- Pizza and Gelato Tour in San Diego: $80
- Carlsbad Food Tour and Wine Tasting: $84
- San Francisco North Beach & Chinatown Food Tour with 5 Tastings: $85
- Mission District or North Beach & Chinatown Authentic Food Tours: $85
- North Park San Diego Walking Food Tour: $85
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.North Carolina $25California $69
Tours and Activities in California
For California, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Self-Guided Walking Tour in Los Angeles' Best-Kept Secrets: $3.57
- San Francisco Uncovered Self-Guided Adventure: $3.58
- Self-Guided Golden Gate Bridge Bike or Walking App Tour: $5.00
- San Francisco Private Car Tour: $5.00
- Self-Guided San Diego Walking or Bicycle Tour App: $5.00
- Missing Gem Quest Experience in Morgan Hill: $5.95
- Santa Monica Superhero Exploration Game and Tour: $5.96
- Historical San Anselmo: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Avalon City: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Hollywood Boulevard’s Haunting History and Hidden Gems: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- The Ghosts of San Francisco Haunted Audio App Walking Tour: $6.99
- Pasadena Puzzle Adventure: Stop the Bomb!: $7.16
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayNorth Carolina $29California $21
Sample the Local Flavors in California
Also in California, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Private Self Guided Tour and Bar Crawl in Chinatown San Francisco: $6.99
- Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt: Long Beach Boss Bar Crawl: $12
- Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt: Slammin' San Diego Bar Crawl: $13
- Palm Springs Bar Crawl: $15
- Scavenger Adventure and Lake Tahoe Bar Crawl: $15
- Santa Monica Bar Crawl: $15
- Vintner's Private Wine Tasting Experience: $20
- San Francisco Pub Crawl + Clubbing Experience: $27
- San Francisco Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl : $29
- Paso Robles Aria (Syrah Dominant) Flight Wine Tasting : $30
- Paso Robles Sonata(Red Blend) Flight Wine Tasting : $30
- Hillcrest: LGBTQ+ Pub Crawl with Local Drag Queen: $35
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between North Carolina and California, we can see that California is more expensive. And not only is North Carolina much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to North Carolina would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in North Carolina 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 California would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in California than you might in North Carolina.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is North Carolina Expensive? and Is California Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, North Carolina or California?
California has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of North Carolina. When comparing the sizes of North Carolina and California, 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.