Which place is cheaper, Fairfield or Ocean City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Should I visit Ocean City or Fairfield? 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.
One of the most popular vacation areas of the U.S. east coast, Ocean City is a long-time resort town, taking roots as a getaway when the first beach-front cottage was built in 1869. The destination sits on a strip of land between the Atlantic Ocean and the Isle of Wight Bay. The Atlantic Hotel was the first major hotel, built in 1875 and still in business today. It has been family owned and operated since Charles W. Purnell bought it in 1923.
The city of Fairfield is in Solano County, California, in the Sacramento Valley area. It's a medium sized city that is home to the Travis Air Force Base. It's also halfway between San Francisco and Sacramento along Interstate 80. There are a handful of interesting activities in the area. Consider visiting either the Grizzly Island Wildlife Area or the Hill Slough Wildlife Area both of which have hiking, fishing, birdwatching, and boating opportunities. You can also take a tour of the Jelly Belly Factory which is in town, or tour the Anheuser-Busch Brewery which includes two complimentary beers and a limitless supply of pretzels. On Thursdays you can take a guided tour of the Travis Air Force Base. If you're interested in visited a working ranch, Rush Ranch is open to the public and can be a fun experience with an opportunity to visit with the animals.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, and The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
The average daily cost (per person) in Ocean City is $196, while the average daily cost in Fairfield is $153. 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 Ocean City and Fairfield in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Ocean City or Fairfield? 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.
Prices for flights to both Fairfield and Ocean City 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.
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Fairfield:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ocean City and Fairfield, we can see that Ocean City is more expensive. And not only is Fairfield much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Fairfield would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Fairfield 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 Ocean City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ocean City than you might in Fairfield.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ocean City Expensive? and Is Fairfield Expensive?.
Fairfield has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Ocean City. When comparing the sizes of Ocean City and Fairfield, 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.
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.
The summer brings many poeple to Ocean City as well as Fairfield. Many visitors come to Ocean City in the summer for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Ocean City is around the same temperature as Fairfield. Typically, the summer temperatures in Ocean City in July average around 77°F (25°C), and Fairfield averages at about 73°F (23°C).
Ocean City receives a lot of rain in the summer. Ocean City usually gets more rain in July than Fairfield. Ocean City gets 4.3 inches (110 mm) of rain, while Fairfield receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Both Fairfield and Ocean City are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Ocean City for the shopping scene during these months.
In October, Ocean City is generally cooler than Fairfield. Daily temperatures in Ocean City average around 58°F (14°C), and Fairfield fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).
In October, Ocean City usually receives more rain than Fairfield. Ocean City gets 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain, while Fairfield receives 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
Both Fairfield and Ocean City during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Ocean City because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
The weather in Ocean City can be very cold. Ocean City is much colder than Fairfield in the winter. The daily temperature in Ocean City averages around 35°F (2°C) in January, and Fairfield fluctuates around 46°F (8°C).
Ocean City usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Fairfield. Ocean City gets 3.6 inches (93 mm) of rain, while Fairfield receives 3.8 inches (97 mm) of rain this time of the year.
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Ocean City and Fairfield. The beaches are the main draw to Ocean City this time of year.
In the spring, Ocean City is around the same temperature as Fairfield. Typically, the spring temperatures in Ocean City in April average around 54°F (12°C), and Fairfield averages at about 56°F (13°C).
In April, Ocean City usually receives more rain than Fairfield. Ocean City gets 3.2 inches (81 mm) of rain, while Fairfield receives 1.3 inches (32 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
Ocean City | Fairfield | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 35°F (2°C) | 3.6 inches (93 mm) | 46°F (8°C) | 3.8 inches (97 mm) |
Feb | 37°F (3°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) | 51°F (11°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) |
Mar | 45°F (7°C) | 4.1 inches (103 mm) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
Apr | 54°F (12°C) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) | 56°F (13°C) | 1.3 inches (32 mm) |
May | 63°F (17°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) |
Jun | 72°F (22°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) | 69°F (21°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
Jul | 77°F (25°C) | 4.3 inches (110 mm) | 73°F (23°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) |
Aug | 76°F (24°C) | 5.3 inches (135 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
Sep | 69°F (20°C) | 3.7 inches (94 mm) | 70°F (21°C) | 0.5 inches (12 mm) |
Oct | 58°F (14°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) | 62°F (17°C) | 1.1 inches (27 mm) |
Nov | 49°F (9°C) | 3.2 inches (80 mm) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
Dec | 39°F (4°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 46°F (8°C) | 2.6 inches (65 mm) |