Which place is cheaper, San Francisco or Belfast?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Belfast or San Francisco, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Belfast is a authentic, affordable, and under-rated city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the nightlife and shopping. See Belfast travel costs.
San Francisco is a quirky, eccentric, and one-of-a-kind coastal city. It's an amazing and huge city with tons of activities and things to do. You'll find world class beauty in San Francisco as well. It's also known for nightlife, live music, and food. See San Francisco travel costs.
You'll generally find more things to do in San Francisco than Belfast. San Francisco is bigger than Belfast, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. San Francisco is more touristy than Belfast and is popular for its striking bayfront setting, stunning urban hikes, quirky personality, and reputation within the tech industry. Also, San Francisco is famous for The Golden Gate Bridge. Belfast is well known for being the birthplace of the Titanic and the location of the era of the "Troubles".
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between San Francisco and Belfast. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
San Francisco is an unbeatable place for its sights and museums. However, Belfast does not have museums and landmarks.
Visitors will find world class museums and historical sights in San Francisco that are not to be missed. The city's landmarks are as diverse as the people who live there. The most recognizable landmark is the famous Golden Gate Bridge, but visitors also enjoy seeing Alcatraz Island, the Legion of Honor, the Palace of Fine Arts, as well as the small but fascinating Cable Car Museum.
Belfast does not have museums and landmarks.
San Francisco is a nice place to visit for theatre. However, Belfast is not a theatre destination.
San Francisco offers a number of shows and performances. The city has around a dozen theaters where you can enjoy musicals or plays.
Belfast is not a theatre destination.
San Francisco is an unbeatable place for its local cuisine and restaurants. However, Belfast is not a good city for its restaurants.
Known for it's food and restaurant scene, San Francisco is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. There are local dives as well as five star restaurants, with everything in between. Popular local dining experiences include sourdough bread bowls and Dungeness crab at Fisherman's Wharf, and dim sum in Chinatown. Head away from the touristy neighborhoods if you want to sample some of the more local restaurants around town.
You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Belfast. While many restaurants have moved towards more modern cuisines, there are still places that hold tight to the traditions of the area. Traditional dishes include pasties, full Irish breakfasts, and oysters.
Both Belfast and San Francisco are notable when it comes to partying.
There's a variety of activities in the evening in Belfast. The city has a number of bars and clubs with local DJs or musicians.
With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in San Francisco. It has a great nightlife with many local bars and trendy clubs. For the best nightlife away from the tourists, head to Valencia Street or Polk Street. If you want to be in a more touristy area, check out Union Square. Popular clubs in the city include Temple San Francisco, Monarch, and Audio Nightclub.
San Francisco is a nice place to visit for live music. However, Belfast is not a live music destination.
The music scene helps keep San Francisco active and fun. Well known music venues include the Great American Music Hall, Slim's, and The Chapel.
Belfast is not a live music destination.
San Francisco is a well-known place for its beaches. However, Belfast is not a beach destination.
You'll have a great beach vacation in San Francisco. Whether you're interested in surfing or simply taking in the dramatic views, the beaches of San Francisco will take your breath away. Some of the best beaches include Ocean Beach, Baker Beach, and Muir Beach.
Belfast is not a beach destination.
San Francisco is an unbeatable place for the nearby hiking options. However, Belfast is not a hiking destination.
Known for its hiking, San Francisco draws a crowd to experience the nature and the trails. The city's hikes take in the dramatic views of the bay and city. Just outside of town there are also countless hikes through the Redwoods and along the coastline. Popular hikes in the area include Lands End, Tomales Point Trail at Point Reyes National Seashore, and Muir Woods.
Belfast is not a hiking destination.
San Francisco is an unbeatable place for shopping. Also, Belfast is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its shopping opportunities.
San Francisco is a famous shopping destination with plenty of stores. The city has excellent shopping from local vendors to recognizable brands. Union Square, Embarcadero, Fillmore Street and Haight Street are some of the best neighborhoods for shopping.
Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Belfast. The main shopping areas in the city are Victoria Square Shopping Centre and CastleCourt.
San Francisco is an unbeatable place for its scenery and beauty. However, Belfast is not a destination known for its beauty.
You'll find world class beauty in San Francisco as well. With its dramatic Golden Gate Bridge, and the many beautiful hills with striking views of the city and bay, San Francisco is one of the most beautiful cities in the United States.
Belfast is not a destination known for its beauty.
San Francisco is an unbeatable place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Belfast is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.
San Francisco is an amazing family-friendly coastal city to visit. With its many outdoor parks, hiking trails, beaches, and kid-friendly museums, this city makes a great family-friendly destination. There are also many amazing playgrounds with stunning views of the bay and city. Head to Chinatown for some unique and kid-friendly food, or down to Pier 39 for fun activities that the whole family can enjoy.
Belfast is a family-friendly city. The city has several great kid-friendly museums, a zoo, and a few indoor or outdoor activity centers where you can let kids play and explore.
San Francisco is a well-known place for romance. However, Belfast is not a good city for its romantic activities.
San Francisco is a very popular place to visit for couples. Couples enjoy the romantic backdrop of this beautiful city. There are world-class restaurants and plenty of spas that couples can enjoy during a honeymoon or romantic getaway. There are also many scenic walks and breathtaking views that couples can appreciate.
Most people don't think of Belfast as a couple's destination. There are gardens and parks to explore, several nice hotels with spas, and an Observatory on the 23rd floor of the Grand Central Hotel.
San Francisco is a well-known place for backpackers. However, Belfast is not a good city for backpackers and budget travelers.
Backpackers come from all over to visit San Francisco. The city is one of the more backpacker friendly cities in the United States. There are a handful of hostels throughout, many concentrated in the popular Union Square and Downtown neighborhoods of the city.
Belfast is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's a reasonably affordable destination with a few hostels to choose from, but most backpackers don't make their way to this city.
San Francisco is a well-known place for students. Also, Belfast is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its student-friendly activities.
San Francisco is a great coastal city to visit as a student. As a large and dynamic city, the area is popular with international students who want to experience this unique side of the United States. Major universities in the area include University of San Francisco, San Francisco State University, and nearby, the University of California, Berkeley.
Plenty of students visit Belfast. The city's affordability has made it a popular option for international students headed to the area.
San Francisco is an unbeatable place for its public transit. However, Belfast is not a good city for times when you don't have a car.
Visitors in San Francisco can get around quickly with the extensive public transit system. The transit network includes a subway (the BART), trams, cable cars, ferries, and buses.
Public transit is mostly limited in Belfast. There is a bus service in the city.
San Francisco is a well-known place for its walkability. Also, Belfast is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its high level of walkability.
San Francisco is very walkable. It is compact enough to explore on foot, but given the large hills, it's a bit of a challenge, even for the most fit among us.
Belfast is a somewhat walkable place.
For even more information, also check out Is Belfast Worth Visiting? and Is San Francisco Worth Visiting?.
Both Belfast and San Francisco have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in San Francisco than in Belfast. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Belfast, and 3-7 days is enough time in San Francisco.
Families should spend more time in San Francisco than Belfast. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in San Francisco, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in San Francisco than Belfast. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in San Francisco that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in San Francisco than Belfast if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in San Francisco.
Many travelers enjoy the nightlife and shopping when visiting the authentic destination of Belfast. Your budget might influence how long you stay. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then one day is just the right amount of time to spend here.
Because San Francisco is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. This coastal city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Belfast. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.
Because San Francisco is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.
Travelers enjoy the nightlife and shopping when visiting the authentic destination of Belfast. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.
San Francisco is a great place to explore. It is common to spend five days here. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Five days is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that San Francisco has to offer. Anyone can find something fun to do here.
You'll find shopping and nightlife around the city of Belfast. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in San Francisco. Because San Francisco is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one week here.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United Kingdom, The Best Luxury Tours to United Kingdom, The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America, and The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
The average daily cost (per person) in Belfast is $219, while the average daily cost in San Francisco is $256. 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 Belfast and San Francisco in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Belfast or San Francisco? 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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Belfast:
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in San Francisco:
Also for San Francisco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both San Francisco and Belfast 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Belfast.
For San Francisco, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Belfast are as follows:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Belfast are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Francisco.
For more ideas for your next trip, check out The Best Museums in San Francisco, The Best Outdoor Activities in San Francisco, and Things to Do In San Francisco on a Rainy Day.
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Belfast:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in San Francisco:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Belfast and San Francisco, we can see that San Francisco is more expensive. And not only is Belfast much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Belfast is in Europe and San Francisco is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Belfast would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Belfast 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 San Francisco would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Francisco than you might in Belfast.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Belfast Expensive? and Is San Francisco Expensive?.
San Francisco has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Belfast. When comparing the sizes of Belfast and San Francisco, 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.
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
The summer brings many poeple to Belfast as well as San Francisco. The summer months attract visitors to Belfast because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, the beaches, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to San Francisco this time of year.
In July, Belfast is generally cooler than San Francisco. Daily temperatures in Belfast average around 15°C (59°F), and San Francisco fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).
Belfast usually gets more rain in July than San Francisco. Belfast gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while San Francisco receives 0.1 inches (2 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Both San Francisco and Belfast are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Belfast this time of year. Also, many travelers come to San Francisco for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Belfast is much colder than San Francisco in the autumn. The daily temperature in Belfast averages around 9°C (48°F) in October, and San Francisco fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).
In October, Belfast usually receives more rain than San Francisco. Belfast gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while San Francisco receives 1.3 inches (33 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
Both San Francisco and Belfast during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Belfast for the shopping scene and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to San Francisco in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Belfast. In the winter, Belfast is much colder than San Francisco. Typically, the winter temperatures in Belfast in January average around 4°C (39°F), and San Francisco averages at about 50°F (10°C).
Belfast usually gets less rain in January than San Francisco. Belfast gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while San Francisco receives 3.8 inches (96 mm) of rain this time of the year.
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Belfast and San Francisco. Many visitors come to Belfast in the spring for the activities around the city. Also, most visitors come to San Francisco for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty during these months.
In April, Belfast is generally much colder than San Francisco. Daily temperatures in Belfast average around 8°C (46°F), and San Francisco fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).
In April, Belfast usually receives more rain than San Francisco. Belfast gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while San Francisco receives 1.2 inches (31 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
Belfast | San Francisco | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 4°C (39°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 50°F (10°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
Feb | 4°C (39°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
Mar | 6°C (43°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 56°F (13°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
Apr | 8°C (46°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 58°F (14°C) | 1.2 inches (31 mm) |
May | 11°C (52°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 60°F (15°C) | 0.2 inches (5 mm) |
Jun | 13°C (55°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
Jul | 15°C (59°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
Aug | 15°C (59°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 0.1 inches (1 mm) |
Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 66°F (19°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) |
Oct | 9°C (48°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 1.3 inches (33 mm) |
Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
Dec | 5°C (41°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 51°F (11°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |