Which place is cheaper, Eugene or Santa Cruz?
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 Santa Cruz or Eugene?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Santa Cruz or Eugene? 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: Santa Cruz or Eugene?
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.
Eugene
At the southern end of the Willamette Valley, Eugene is most recognized as the home of the University of Oregon. It's a smaller city with a liberal population that is generally concerned about environmental issues. A popular experience in Eugene is to go to the Saturday Market, which has been around since 1970 and is the oldest open air market in the United States.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in United States of America.
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Santa Cruz Prices
USA PricesEugene Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySanta Cruz $156Eugene $190
The average daily cost (per person) in Santa Cruz is $156, while the average daily cost in Eugene is $190. 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 Santa Cruz and Eugene in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSanta Cruz $61Eugene $97
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSanta Cruz $122Eugene $194
Compare Hotels in Santa Cruz and Eugene
Looking for a hotel in Santa Cruz or Eugene? 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 and Eugene Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santa Cruz $40Eugene $37
Is it cheaper to fly into Santa Cruz or Eugene?
Prices for flights to both Eugene and Santa Cruz 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 daySanta Cruz $70Eugene $71
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
Typical Food Prices in Eugene
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Eugene:
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Sam Bonds Food and Music (for 2)$16
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Morning Glory Cafe Breakfast (for 2)$12
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santa Cruz $18Eugene -
Tours and Activities in Santa Cruz
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santa Cruz are as follows:
- Self Guided UC Santa Cruz Walking Tour: Unlock Secret Stories : $20
- Capitola Private 2-Hour Walking Tour: $30
- Half Day Private Beach Tour in Santa Cruz: $35
- Santa Cruz Guided eBike Ride & Most Fun Bike e-Bike Tour : $110
- Santa Cruz 2Hour Guided eBike Tour for Small E-Bike Groups: $110
- Santa Cruz Family Friendly Guided Electric Bike Tour (eBike): $110
- Guided eBike Tour: $120
- Mermaid Experience & Photoshoot: $220
- Capitola Watercolor Journaling Experience: $297
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySanta Cruz $8.57Eugene -
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 Santa Cruz and Eugene, we can see that Eugene is more expensive. And not only is Santa Cruz much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Eugene would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Eugene 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 Santa Cruz Expensive? and Is Eugene Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santa Cruz or Eugene?
Eugene has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Santa Cruz. When comparing the sizes of Santa Cruz and Eugene, 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 Santa Cruz or Eugene?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Santa Cruz or Eugene in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Santa Cruz and Eugene. Most visitors come to Santa Cruz for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Santa Cruz is around the same temperature as Eugene. Typically, the summer temperatures in Santa Cruz in July average around 67°F (19°C), and Eugene averages at about 68°F (20°C).
In July, Santa Cruz usually receives less rain than Eugene. Santa Cruz gets 0.1 inches (1 mm) of rain, while Eugene receives 0.3 inches (8 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySanta Cruz 67°F (19°C)Eugene 68°F (20°C)
Should I visit Santa Cruz or Eugene in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Santa Cruz as well as Eugene. The autumn months attract visitors to Santa Cruz because of the hiking trails and the shopping scene.
In October, Santa Cruz is generally a little warmer than Eugene. Daily temperatures in Santa Cruz average around 63°F (17°C), and Eugene fluctuates around 55°F (13°C).
It's quite rainy in Eugene. Santa Cruz usually gets less rain in October than Eugene. Santa Cruz gets 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain, while Eugene receives 4.3 inches (109 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSanta Cruz 63°F (17°C)Eugene 55°F (13°C)
Should I visit Santa Cruz or Eugene in the Winter?
Both Eugene and Santa Cruz are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Santa Cruz this time of year.
Santa Cruz is much warmer than Eugene in the winter. The daily temperature in Santa Cruz averages around 51°F (10°C) in January, and Eugene fluctuates around 41°F (5°C).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Eugene. In January, Santa Cruz usually receives less rain than Eugene. Santa Cruz gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Eugene receives 7.1 inches (181 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySanta Cruz 51°F (10°C)Eugene 41°F (5°C)
Should I visit Santa Cruz or Eugene in the Spring?
Both Eugene and Santa Cruz during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Santa Cruz for the beaches.
In the spring, Santa Cruz is a little warmer than Eugene. Typically, the spring temperatures in Santa Cruz in April average around 58°F (14°C), and Eugene averages at about 51°F (11°C).
Santa Cruz usually gets less rain in April than Eugene. Santa Cruz gets 1 inches (26 mm) of rain, while Eugene receives 2.2 inches (57 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSanta Cruz 58°F (14°C)Eugene 51°F (11°C)
Typical Weather for Eugene and Santa Cruz
| Santa Cruz | Eugene | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 51°F (10°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) | 41°F (5°C) | 7.1 inches (181 mm) |
| Feb | 54°F (12°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) | 45°F (7°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) |
| Mar | 55°F (13°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) | 48°F (9°C) | 4.6 inches (118 mm) |
| Apr | 58°F (14°C) | 1 inches (26 mm) | 51°F (11°C) | 2.2 inches (57 mm) |
| May | 62°F (16°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) | 56°F (13°C) | 2 inches (50 mm) |
| Jun | 65°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 1.3 inches (34 mm) |
| Jul | 67°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (1 mm) | 68°F (20°C) | 0.3 inches (8 mm) |
| Aug | 67°F (20°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) | 68°F (20°C) | 0.4 inches (11 mm) |
| Sep | 67°F (19°C) | 0.2 inches (6 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 1.1 inches (28 mm) |
| Oct | 63°F (17°C) | 0.8 inches (21 mm) | 55°F (13°C) | 4.3 inches (109 mm) |
| Nov | 56°F (13°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) | 47°F (8°C) | 5.9 inches (149 mm) |
| Dec | 51°F (10°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) | 42°F (5°C) | 6.3 inches (161 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.