Which place is cheaper, Santa Barbara or North Conway?
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 North Conway or Santa Barbara?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit North Conway or Santa Barbara? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: North Conway or Santa Barbara?
North Conway
North Conway is a small town in New Hampshire in the Mount Washington Valley (MWV). The entire valley is a popular vacation area year-round due to the multiple ski resorts and summer activities including amusement parks, hiking, outdoor activities, and more.
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 Camping Tours in United States of America, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America, and The Best Walking Tours in United States of America.
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North Conway Prices
USA PricesSanta Barbara Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNorth Conway $270Santa Barbara $196
The average daily cost (per person) in North Conway is $270, 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 North Conway and Santa Barbara in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNorth Conway $125Santa Barbara $88
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNorth Conway $250Santa Barbara $176
Compare Hotels in North Conway and Santa Barbara
Looking for a hotel in North Conway 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: North Conway Hotel Prices and Santa Barbara Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.North Conway $52Santa Barbara $42
Hired Cars and Shuttles in North Conway
Also for North Conway, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Pittsburgh Airport (PIT) to Pittsburgh hotel/address - Arrival Private Transfer: $100
- Pittsburgh City to Pittsburgh Airport (PIT) - Departure Private Transfer: $100
- Pittsburgh Airport (PIT) to Pittsburgh City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $200
Is it cheaper to fly into North Conway or Santa Barbara?
Prices for flights to both Santa Barbara and North Conway 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 dayNorth Conway $110Santa Barbara $80
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.North Conway $38Santa Barbara $27
Tours and Activities in North Conway
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for North Conway.
- Kancamagus highway GPS Smartphone Audio Driving Tour App : $9.50
- Kancamagus Scenic Byway Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour Guide: $15
- Meet the Cider Makers with Rhythm Cidery Lincoln Tour: $40
- Meet the Winemakers - Seven Birches Winery Tour: $40
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
- Coastal Cruise on Yacht in Santa Barbara: $40
- Epic Zipline Tour near Santa Barbara: $155
- Gaviota Coast Kayak Tour Near Santa Barbara (3.5 Hours): $122
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNorth Conway $33Santa 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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between North Conway and Santa Barbara, we can see that North Conway is more expensive. And not only is Santa Barbara much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Santa Barbara would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Barbara 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 North Conway would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in North Conway than you might in Santa Barbara.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is North Conway Expensive? and Is Santa Barbara Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, North Conway or Santa Barbara?
Santa Barbara has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of North Conway. When comparing the sizes of North Conway 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 North Conway 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 North Conway or Santa Barbara in the Summer?
Both Santa Barbara and North Conway during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Santa Barbara this time of year.
In the summer, North Conway is around the same temperature as Santa Barbara. Typically, the summer temperatures in North Conway in July average around 69°F (20°C), and Santa Barbara averages at about 65°F (19°C).
North Conway usually gets more rain in July than Santa Barbara. North Conway gets 2.6 inches (66 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 JulyNorth Conway 69°F (20°C)Santa Barbara 65°F (19°C)
Should I visit North Conway or Santa Barbara in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both North Conway and Santa Barbara. Furthermore, many travelers come to Santa Barbara for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, North Conway is generally much colder than Santa Barbara. Daily temperatures in North Conway average around 49°F (9°C), and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).
In October, North Conway usually receives more rain than Santa Barbara. North Conway gets 3.3 inches (84 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 OctoberNorth Conway 49°F (9°C)Santa Barbara 62°F (17°C)
Should I visit North Conway or Santa Barbara in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to North Conway as well as Santa Barbara. Additionally, many visitors come to Santa Barbara in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in North Conway. North Conway is much colder than Santa Barbara in the winter. The daily temperature in North Conway averages around 21°F (-6°C) in January, and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).
North Conway usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Santa Barbara. North Conway gets 3.4 inches (86 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 JanuaryNorth Conway 21°F (-6°C)Santa Barbara 52°F (11°C)
Should I visit North Conway or Santa Barbara in the Spring?
Both Santa Barbara and North Conway are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Santa Barbara for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty during these months.
In the spring, North Conway is much colder than Santa Barbara. Typically, the spring temperatures in North Conway in April average around 43°F (6°C), and Santa Barbara averages at about 57°F (14°C).
In April, North Conway usually receives more rain than Santa Barbara. North Conway gets 3.3 inches (85 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 AprilNorth Conway 43°F (6°C)Santa Barbara 57°F (14°C)
Typical Weather for Santa Barbara and North Conway
| North Conway | Santa Barbara | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 21°F (-6°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) | 52°F (11°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Feb | 24°F (-5°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) | 54°F (12°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) |
| Mar | 33°F (1°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) | 55°F (13°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) |
| Apr | 43°F (6°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 1.1 inches (27 mm) |
| May | 53°F (12°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) | 59°F (15°C) | 0.2 inches (4 mm) |
| Jun | 63°F (17°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) | 62°F (17°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) |
| Jul | 69°F (20°C) | 2.6 inches (66 mm) | 65°F (19°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) |
| Aug | 67°F (20°C) | 2.6 inches (66 mm) | 67°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
| Sep | 59°F (15°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) | 66°F (19°C) | 0.5 inches (12 mm) |
| Oct | 49°F (9°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) | 62°F (17°C) | 0.5 inches (13 mm) |
| Nov | 39°F (4°C) | 4.8 inches (123 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
| Dec | 27°F (-3°C) | 4.1 inches (103 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.