Travel budget and cost of living in California how much does a trip cost?

Travel budget in California

California: calculate your travel budget

California: sample budgets by traveller type

These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in California for 2 people.

* Estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks. This represents an average across the country (budget may vary depending on the city or region visited).

Cost of living in California in 2025

Cost of living: California VS United States

On average, the cost of living in California in 2025 is 11% higher than in the United States (USA).

The graphic below shows the percentage of variation between prices United States in in the United States (USA) and United States by types of expenses:

Local prices in California by expense type

California: Restaurant budget

Lunch

$ 28/person
($ 16 to $ 52)

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30% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 21

3 course dinner

$ 54/person
($ 37 to $ 80)

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38% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 39

McDonald's meal

$ 14/person
($ 13 to $ 16)

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21% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12

Local beer

$ 9.1 for 500ml
($ 6.3 to $ 13)

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51% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6.1

Imported beer

$ 3.9 for 330ml
($ 1.8 to $ 7.3)

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10% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6

Cappuccino

$ 5.9/cup
($ 4.2 to $ 8.4)

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13% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.3

Fizzy drink

$ 2.8/can
($ 2.1 to $ 4.2)

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9% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.6

Water bottle

$ 2.4/bottle
($ 2.1 to $ 3.2)

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17% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.1

California: Hotel and accommodation budget

1-star hotel

$ 157/night
($ 72 to $ 489)

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5% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 166

2-star hotel

$ 163/night
($ 68 to $ 495)

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4% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 157

3-star hotel

$ 246/night
($ 99 to $ 667)

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7% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 231

4-star hotel

$ 354/night
($ 156 to $ 953)

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10% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 322

5-star hotel

$ 576/night
($ 272 to $ 1245)

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11% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 519

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 178/month
($ 74 to $ 564)

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8% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 166

Room with kitchen

$ 272/month
($ 97 to $ 938)

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11% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 246

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 223/month
($ 79 to $ 735)

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7% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 209

Cottage or guest house

$ 260/month
($ 156 to $ 553)

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11% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 235

Family room

$ 222/month
($ 85 to $ 733)

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9% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 205

California: Supermarket food budget

Milk

$ 1.3/litre
($ 0.9 to $ 2.1)

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21% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1

Rice

$ 5.7/kg
($ 2.3 to $ 9.2)

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23% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.6

Eggs

$ 5.5/12 eggs
($ 2.6 to $ 9.5)

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47% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.8

Chicken

$ 18/kg
($ 9.2 to $ 24)

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38% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13

Apples

$ 6.2/kg
($ 2.9 to $ 9.2)

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16% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.3

Tomatoes

$ 5.1/kg
($ 2.3 to $ 9.2)

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2% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5

Potatoes

$ 3.4/kg
($ 1.2 to $ 5.8)

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11% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3

Water bottle

$ 2.5
($ 1.4 to $ 4.1)

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11% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2

California: Public and private transport budget

Bus ticket

$ 2/ticket
($ 1.8 to $ 2.9)

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22% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5

Taxi (per km)

$ 1.7/km
($ 1.7 to $ 3.9)

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1% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.8

Petrol

$ 1.3/litre
($ 1.2 to $ 1.6)

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40% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 3.3
($ 3.3 to $ 7.3)

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12% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.7

Car hire

$ 72/24hrs
($ 33 to $ 234)

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1% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 73

California: Leisure activity budget

Cinema

$ 20/ticket
($ 15 to $ 24)

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33% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 15

Tennis

$ 14/hr
($ 8.4 to $ 16)

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38% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 22

California: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes

Cigarettes

$ 13/pack
($ 11 to $ 15)

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22% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11

Levi's jeans

$ 63
($ 32 to $ 102)

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16% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 54

Summer dress

$ 47
($ 28 to $ 64)

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6% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 44

Plane ticket budget

Melbourne → Los Angeles

$ 1458
(fair price: $ 1135)

Sydney → Los Angeles

$ 1215
(fair price: $ 960)

New York City → Los Angeles

$ 384
(fair price: $ 302)

Sydney → San Francisco

$ 1431
(fair price: $ 1114)

Montreal → Los Angeles

$ 495
(fair price: $ 418)

Melbourne → San Francisco

$ 1676
(fair price: $ 1206)

Sydney → New York City

$ 1256
(fair price: $ 1118)

Melbourne → New York City

$ 1591
(fair price: $ 1310)

Toronto → New York City

$ 295
(fair price: $ 249)

New York City → Miami (Florida)

$ 271
(fair price: $ 170)

Montreal → New York City

$ 331
(fair price: $ 301)

Los Angeles → New York City

$ 381
(fair price: $ 297)

Book a flight Flight prices to California