Los Angeles vacation costs: stay, eat, get around (2026)

Budget

• Hampton Inn & Suites Los Angeles Downtown often about $180–260 a night before Los Angeles lodging tax of about 15.5%. Metro and Grand Central Market are a walk.
• Moxy Downtown Los Angeles a compact room, often about $170–250, Arts District walking.
• Freehand Downtown a shared or small room when the party splits a rate, often about $40–90 a bed, well under a Santa Monica tower.
• Courtyard Los Angeles L.A. LIVE Pico station area, often about $200–280. You are paying for that station, not for a beach view.

Mid-range

• Ace Hotel Downtown boutique walking to Grand Central Market, often about $270–380 a night before the 15.5% lodging tax.
• Hyatt Regency Los Angeles Downtown L.A. LIVE, Metro on the block, same $270–380 mid band.
• The Westin Bonaventure Downtown Figueroa, one rideshare zone, often about $250–360.
• Hilton Checkers Los Angeles a smaller Downtown room, often about $240–340, still on a Metro line.

Splurge

• JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE the Downtown Splurge, often about $400–650 a night.
• Conrad Los Angeles Grand LA flagship, often about $450–700.
• The Ritz-Carlton Los Angeles the L.A. LIVE tower, often about $500–800. The neighborhood is still Downtown.
• 1 Hotel West Hollywood a different part of town, often about $500–800. Do not also book a Santa Monica night.

Budget

• Porto's a bakery breakfast in the neighborhood you slept in. A potato ball is about $2; a full stop is often under $12.
• Grand Central Market lunch stalls often about $12–18. Stay in Downtown if that is the hotel.
• Mariscos Jalisco or a taco truck often about $4–8 a taco. That is lunch, not a tour of the city.
• A Koreatown casual plate if you slept there often about $15–25, and you are not crossing town.

Mid-range

• Langer's a pastrami sandwich often about $22–28. It is a meal, not a hotel restaurant.
• Republique counter breakfast or lunch often about $18–30, if you are already in that neighborhood.
• Quarter or Kang Ho Dong in Koreatown barbecue for two often about $60–100, which is the mid dinner.
• Bestia book ahead. Pasta and small plates often land about $30–50 a person, before wine.

Splurge

• Providence a tasting that often runs about $150 and up a person. Book before you fly.
• n/naka a kaiseki night, often about $200 and up a person. It is the dinner, not also a Universal day.
• Gjusta a Venice morning, often about $20–35, only if you slept on the west side.
• A hotel dining room at the same tower often $40 and up for breakfast, which is the expensive version of Porto's.

Budget

• Getty Center free timed entry. Parking is $25, or $15 after 3 p.m. The bus avoids the lot.
• Griffith Observatory and a hike $0 admission. You pay for the ride there.
• Metro TAP $1.75 a ride, daily cap $5. That is the Downtown–Santa Monica E Line.
• Grand Central Market and a Downtown walk $0 to enter. Stalls are often about $12–18, which is food, not a ticket.

Mid-range

• Universal Studios Hollywood advance tickets often start near $100; the gate is about $159. General parking is often about $30.
• The Broad $0 timed entry when you get a slot. The ride is TAP at $1.75, not a rideshare loop.
• A beach afternoon in the neighborhood you booked Santa Monica sand is $0. Pier food is often about $12–20.
• One studio or one museum, not both. A second ticket, often another $30–160, is a second day.

Splurge

• Universal Express a much larger add-on, often $100 and up a person, on top of the gate.
• Warner Bros. Studio Tour often about $70–80. It is the other ticketed day, not also Universal.
• A canyon or Getty drive hotel parking is often $40–60 a night on top of the Getty lot.
• A WeHo-to-Santa-Monica dinner transfer a cross-town rideshare is often about $30–50 each way.