What's It Cost to Visit Los Angeles? Budget Guide (2026)
This Los Angeles travel cost guide includes a detailed expense breakdown for hotels, food, transportation, and top attractions—plus day trip costs and realistic daily and weekly budgets to plan your total LA vacation cost.
Is Los Angeles Expensive To Visit?
Los Angeles usually feels expensive for U.S.-based travelers—mainly because hotels, parking, rental cars, and attraction tickets add up fast, especially in summer and around major events. But if you pick the right neighborhood, avoid driving everywhere, and plan a few “free days,” LA can be surprisingly manageable on a normal budget.
Los Angeles Vacation Costs
Below is a detailed expense breakdown for accommodations, food, transportation, and attractions—followed by day trip costs and realistic daily/weekly budgets.
Avg. Accommodation Cost
Peak (Jun–Aug)
- Budget Travelers: $160–$260 per night
- Mid-Range Travelers: $260–$420 per night
- Luxury Travelers: $550–$1,200+ per night
Shoulder-Season (Mar–May, Sep–Oct)
- Budget Travelers: $140–$230
- Mid-Range Travelers: $230–$390
- Luxury Travelers: $500–$1,050+
Off-Season (Nov–Feb)
- Budget Travelers: $120–$210
- Mid-Range Travelers: $210–$360
- Luxury Travelers: $420–$950+
Food Cost
Budget Travelers
- Breakfast: $6–$15
- Lunch: $12–$22
- Dinner: $18–$35
Mid-Range Travelers
- Breakfast: $15–$25
- Lunch: $22–$40
- Dinner: $45–$85
Luxury Travelers
- Breakfast: $25–$45
- Lunch: $45–$90
- Dinner: $120–$250+
LA cost reality: drinks, dessert, and parking can quietly add $20–$60 to a “normal” dinner night.
Transportation Cost
LA transportation costs are highly dependent on whether you rent a car. If you’re staying somewhere walkable and mostly doing a small area (beach + one neighborhood), rideshare can work. But if you’re bouncing between Hollywood, beaches, museums, theme parks, and day trips, rideshares can get expensive quickly—often adding “another meal’s worth of money” each time you leave.
LAX → City
- Rideshare/taxi to many popular areas: $35–$90+ depending on distance and demand
- FlyAway bus (LAX ↔ key hubs): often $10–$12 each way
- Metro connections: generally cheaper, but not always the simplest with luggage
Rideshare (Uber/Lyft)
- Short hops: $12–$25+
- Longer rides/cross-city: $25–$80+
Peak demand and traffic can push pricing higher.
Rental car (often the “money saver” for busy itineraries)
- Off-Season: $35–$70 per day (compact)
- Shoulder: $40–$85 per day
- Peak: $55–$110+ per day
Parking: budget $15–$45+ per day (hotels/garages), plus occasional paid lots at beaches and attractions.
Gas: varies, but plan for it to be a meaningful line item if you drive a lot.
Public transit (Metro)
- Best for specific routes, but not always the fastest for every itinerary.
A realistic daily spend is often $5–$12 depending on how much you use it.
Scooter/Bike rentals
- E-scooters and bike share are common in certain areas.
Budget: $10–$25+ for short sessions or a couple rides.
Private driver (day hire)
- $450–$900+ per day depending on hours, route, and vehicle type
Attractions
- Universal Studios Hollywood: $110–$180+ (ticket varies by demand)
- Warner Bros. Studio Tour: $70–$90
- Griffith Observatory: Free (planetarium shows often $10–$15)
- Getty Center: Free (parking typically $20–$30)
- LACMA / Academy Museum (varies): often $20–$30
- Santa Monica Pier / beach day: Free (spend optional)
- Venice Beach boardwalk: Free
- Hollywood Walk of Fame: Free
- SoFi Stadium tour (if available): often $50–$90
- Theme park “add-on” costs: food + parking can add $40–$120+ per person in a day
Day Trip and Attractions Costs
| Day Trip | Transportation Cost (Round Trip) | Top Attraction | Attraction Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disneyland Resort (Anaheim) | $30–$70 gas/parking (car) • $80–$180 rideshare | Disneyland ticket | $110–$200+ |
| Santa Barbara | $25–$60 gas (car) • $30–$70 train | Waterfront + Funk Zone | Free (spend optional) |
| Catalina Island (Avalon) | $70–$95 ferry | Glass-bottom boat / snorkel tour | $40–$95+ |
| Joshua Tree National Park | $45–$95 gas (car) | Park entry | $15–$30 |
| Palm Springs / Tramway | $35–$80 gas (car) | Aerial Tramway | $30–$35 |
| Laguna Beach | $25–$60 gas (car) • $80–$170 rideshare | Beach coves + coastal walk | Free (parking may cost) |
Daily Budget
A solid daily budget (per person) including lodging, meals, local transport, and a modest amount for attractions:
| Season | Daily Total (Per Person) |
|---|---|
| Peak | $130–$230 |
| Shoulder | $115–$210 |
| Off-Season | $105–$195 |
| Season | Daily Total (Per Person) |
|---|---|
| Peak | $240–$420 |
| Shoulder | $220–$390 |
| Off-Season | $200–$360 |
| Season | Daily Total (Per Person) |
|---|---|
| Peak | $520–$1,050+ |
| Shoulder | $480–$980+ |
| Off-Season | $420–$900+ |
Weekly Budget (7 Days)
| Season | Lodging (7 nights) | Food (7 days) | Transport | Attractions | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak | $1,120–$1,820 | $210–$420 | $90–$260 | $120–$420 | $1,540–$2,920 |
| Shoulder | $980–$1,610 | $210–$420 | $85–$240 | $110–$380 | $1,385–$2,650 |
| Off-Season | $840–$1,470 | $200–$400 | $80–$220 | $95–$350 | $1,215–$2,440 |
| Season | Lodging (7 nights) | Food (7 days) | Transport | Attractions | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak | $1,820–$2,940 | $420–$770 | $140–$420 | $220–$650 | $2,600–$4,780 |
| Shoulder | $1,610–$2,730 | $400–$720 | $130–$390 | $200–$600 | $2,340–$4,440 |
| Off-Season | $1,470–$2,520 | $380–$680 | $120–$360 | $180–$560 | $2,150–$4,120 |
| Season | Lodging (7 nights) | Food (7 days) | Transport | Attractions | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak | $3,850–$8,400+ | $980–$2,100+ | $350–$1,200+ | $450–$1,600+ | $5,630–$13,300+ |
| Shoulder | $3,500–$7,350+ | $900–$2,000+ | $320–$1,050+ | $420–$1,450+ | $5,140–$11,850+ |
| Off-Season | $2,940–$6,650+ | $840–$1,900+ | $280–$900+ | $380–$1,250+ | $4,440–$10,700+ |
Flight Cost
Flight costs depend on where you’re departing from, the season, and the airline. Major U.S. hubs typically have cheaper fares than smaller airports. Most travelers fly into LAX, with some choosing Burbank (BUR), Long Beach (LGB), or Orange County (SNA) depending on where they’re staying.
Average round-trip flight ranges within the U.S.:
- Peak: $220–$520
- Shoulder: $170–$420
- Off-Season: $140–$360
You can save money on flights by signing up for cheap flight alerts from Jetsetter Alerts.
Los Angeles Travel Seasons
Season matters in Los Angeles because demand swings hotel rates and rental car prices—especially around summer travel, holiday periods, and major events. Your travel season can drastically change what you pay for the same quality hotel.
Peak (Jun–Aug)
This is when LA is busiest for family travel and beach season. Hotels (especially near the coast) and rental cars often jump in price, and popular tours and theme park tickets can be harder to snag last-minute.
Shoulder-Season (Mar–May, Sep–Oct)
Often the best overall value: comfortable weather, fewer crowds than summer, and better hotel availability. If you want LA without peak-season pricing, this is usually the sweet spot.
Off-Season (Nov–Feb)
You can often find better hotel deals, especially midweek. The tradeoff is cooler evenings and the possibility of rain. Holiday weeks can still spike pricing, even within “off-season.”
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Yes—January is often one of the best-value times to visit Los Angeles, especially if you avoid major event weekends.
- Pros: lower hotel demand, fewer crowds, easier reservations, great hiking weather.
- Cons: cooler evenings and a higher chance of rain than summer.
January is often one of the cheapest months for overall LA trip costs (outside holiday weeks), with better hotel deals and lower crowds.
July is often one of the most expensive months due to peak summer demand. Hotels near the beach and rental cars are usually at their priciest, and attractions are busier.
Yes—$2,000 can cover about a 7-day Los Angeles trip for many travelers if you keep lodging and transportation efficient.
- Lodging: ~$900–$1,400 (sharing a room helps a lot)
- Food: ~$300–$500 (mix casual meals + a few nicer spots)
- Transport: ~$250–$600 (Metro + some rideshare, or a low-cost rental)
- Attractions: ~$150–$450 (more if you add theme parks)
Theme parks (and their add-ons like parking/food) are what most often push budgets over $2,000.
Daily costs vary by travel style, but realistic per-person ranges (including lodging, meals, local transportation, and a modest amount for attractions) are:
- Budget Travelers: $105–$230/day
- Mid-Range Travelers: $200–$420/day
- Luxury Travelers: $420–$1,050+/day
Some of the most budget-friendly areas (while still being practical for tourists) often include:
- Koreatown: great food value, nightlife, central-ish access
- North Hollywood / Burbank-adjacent: often better value and convenient for Universal-area plans
- LAX / El Segundo / Westchester: sometimes cheaper hotels, best if you’ll have a car
- Downtown (select weekends): can have good deals, but check parking and neighborhood vibe carefully
Tip: the “real cost” of a cheap hotel can jump if you pay a lot for parking or spend tons on rideshare.
True “cheap beachfront” stays are limited, but these areas can be better value while still keeping you close to the coast:
- Long Beach: often better hotel deals than Santa Monica/Venice, still beach-forward and easy to fill days
- San Pedro: coastal-adjacent and often more affordable (you’ll likely want a car)
- El Segundo / Westchester: not a classic beach town, but close to the coast and sometimes cheaper
- Redondo Beach (inland options): staying a bit inland can be noticeably cheaper than oceanfront
Money-saving move: stay 10–20 minutes inland and drive/park at the beach instead of paying oceanfront hotel premiums.
For most visitors doing a classic LA itinerary (multiple neighborhoods + major attractions), renting a car is usually cheaper than rideshare for every trip.
- Rideshare adds up fast: repeated trips to breakfast/lunch/dinner + attractions can cost like “another meal” each time.
- Car rental costs: can be good value, but budget for parking (often $15–$45+/day) and gas.
- Rideshare can win if you stay in one walkable area (Santa Monica/Venice) and only take a couple rides total.
Typical 7-day totals (per person) often land around:
- Budget Travelers: $1,200–$2,900
- Mid-Range Travelers: $2,150–$4,800
- Luxury Travelers: $4,400–$13,300+
Big-ticket days (theme parks, premium dining, lots of rideshare) are what usually push totals higher.