The Daily Cost To Visit This Popular US Beach City Is Almost Unaffordable

A trip to the beach should be one of the cheapest vacations money can buy. Sunscreen and swimsuits are inexpensive requirements for a great beach day, give or take a cooler full of tasty refreshments. You don't even need to pay for pricey flights to tropical oceans (or deal with the sneaky way airlines trick you into spending more money) to enjoy fun in the sun. The United States has over 5,000 public beaches coast to coast. However, sometimes even a domestic beach trip can cost serious clams — especially in sunny California.

A 2024 report from travel blog Optimos Travel ranks Santa Monica, California, as the fifth-most expensive vacation spot in the U.S. with daily travel costs of $592 per day. This is higher than the Optimos Travel-calculated daily travel cost for Key West, Florida, at $537 per day, and just shy of the price for a day at the beach in the most expensive vacation spot in New York, Montauk.

California is full of iconic beach towns, but Santa Monica may be the most iconic (and expensive) of all. World famous for its neon-lit Pier, this Los Angeles County city is also known for its stunning views, state beach, and bike trail, as well as plenty of shopping and dining opportunities for the rich and famous. This is a beach resort town complete with the expected surf spots and an amusement park, as well as luxury shopping malls and some of the most expensive hotels in the United States.

Strolling Santa Monica Pier or the Third Street Promenade, you may work up the urge to splurge in the sunshine, and not just on Louis Vuitton. Optimos Travel lists Santa Monica's daily food costs at around $114 per traveler. This is even higher than the average $100 daily food spend listed for Aspen, a scenic Colorado town that's the most expensive vacation destination in the U.S. today.

Santa Monica is known for its food, from burgers on the pier to California fusion cuisine. Some meals can cost most of the day's budget. Reservation website OpenTable.com lists many of Santa Monica's top-rated restaurants at between $31-$50 a meal, and some at over $50. Lodging can be similarly high-end for those looking to rest their head after a day of catching waves, or simply looking at them. Travel budget-planning site Budget Your Trip lists Santa Monica's average paid hotel rates at $123 per night for solo travelers, and $246 per dynamic duo.

Part of what makes Santa Monica so pricey to visit is how expensive it is to live there. Data compensation software website Payscale reports the cost of living in Santa Monica is 113% higher than the rest of the country, with housing costs at 382% higher. Also, the 2024 Kosmont-Rose Institute Cost of Doing Business Survey found that Santa Monica was the most expensive California city to do business in.

Even though the city is a favorite of celebrities and those with A-list bank accounts, Santa Monica can still be enjoyed on a budget. Frugal travelers can incorporate Santa Monica as a day trip from Los Angeles by staying in a less-glamorous budget hotel or snagging a last-minute booking site deal. Just remember to budget enough time for public transportation and avoid scammy travel booking sites.

Attractions in Santa Monica can be cheap or free but for the price of a cheap beach taco. Hours can be spent people-watching on Santa Monica Pier, or looking out at the ocean. Street performers and vendors brighten up the boardwalk, and while the rides at Pacific Park might be pricey (if you want to ride them all), a well-chosen ride at sunset can be $8 to $15 well spent. Even Barbie from the "Barbie" movie found a moment of zen in Santa Monica, while having a sit in Tongva Park.

Meanwhile, if Route 66 travel is up your street, snap a selfie at the iconic "End of the Trail" sign on the pier. History buffs can sign up for inexpensive walking tours, and the landmark Palisades Park is free to explore. The park offers up 26 Ocean Avenue acres of outdoor recreation for the public to enjoy, as well as the Camera Obscura art lab and an iconic rose garden.