Which place is cheaper, San Francisco or Berkshires?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Berkshires or San Francisco?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Berkshires and San Francisco can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Berkshires or San Francisco?
Berkshires
The Berkshires are a popular highland destination in the western part of Massachusetts and northwest Connecticut. The region has scenic landscape, hiking, lakes, recreational opportunities and other outdoor experiences. The Berkshires also has an impressive cultural scene with music, arts, museums, and live theaters.
The Berkshires can be a bit expensive to visit if you stay at a luxury resort and take advantage of the award winning restaurants in the area. Alternatively, the experience can be equally rewarding by camping, picnicking, and spending your time hiking and enjoying the beautiful natural setting.
San Francisco
San Francisco is a beautiful city that is famous for it's picturesque neighborhoods, liberal character, and stunning location on the bay. Some people describe San Francisco as the United State's most "European City." This title most likely comes from its compact development and its easy walkability. It also has no shortage of parks and public spaces where you can pass some time. The city sits on the end of a peninsula and offers stunning views of the blue bay, rolling green hills, and the striking Golden Gate Bridge.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Photography Tours in United States of America, The Best Camping Tours in United States of America, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, and The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBerkshires $244San Francisco $222
The average daily cost (per person) in Berkshires is $244, while the average daily cost in San Francisco is $222. 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 Berkshires and San Francisco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBerkshires $141San Francisco $130
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBerkshires $282San Francisco $260
Compare Hotels in Berkshires and San Francisco
Looking for a hotel in Berkshires 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Berkshires Hotel Prices and San Francisco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Berkshires $47San Francisco $16
Typical Local Transportation Prices in San Francisco
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in San Francisco:
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Taxi to SFO$45
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Golden Gate Bridge Toll$6.00
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Alcatraz Tour$30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Francisco
Also for San Francisco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arrival Private Transfer SFO Airport to San Francisco City by SUV: $245
- Arrival Private Transfer: Airport SFO to San Francisco in Business Car: $108
- Arrival Private Transfer: Airport SFO to San Francisco in Luxury Car: $169
- Arrival Private Transfer: Airport SFO to San Francisco in Luxury SUV: $141
- Carmel 1-Way Transfer to/from San Francisco Airport: $535
- Departure Private Transfer San Francisco to SFO Airport by Sedan: $152
- Departure Private Transfer San Francisco to SFO Airport in a SUV: $203
- Departure Private Transfer: San Francisco to Airport SFO in Business Car: $108
- Napa Valley 1-Way Transfer to/from the San Francisco Airport: $400
- Private Airport Transfer From SFO to Sonoma (One-way): $280
- Private Airport Transfer from SFO to San Francisco (One-way): $110
- Private Airport Transfer: San Francisco to SF International Airport (SFO): $107
Is it cheaper to fly into Berkshires or San Francisco?
Prices for flights to both San Francisco and Berkshires 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayBerkshires $73San Francisco $46
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Francisco
For San Francisco, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- North Beach and Little Italy Food Tour: $79
- Buffet Lunch or Dinner Cruise on the Bay: $82
- Secret Food Tours San Francisco: $83
- Mission District Food Tour with Tastings: $85
- Farmers' Market & Ferry Building Food Tour: $87
- San Francisco Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $89
- Mission District Food Tour: $89
- Mission District Walking Food Tour: $89
- Chinatown Walking Food Tour: $89
- San Francisco North Beach Food Tour: $89
- San Francisco Food Tour: Ferry Building and Ferry Plaza Farmers Market: $90
- Secret Food Tour of North Beach and Chinatown: $96
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Berkshires $25San Francisco $46
Tours and Activities in Berkshires
Here are a few actual costs in Berkshires for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2-Hour Guided Private Forest Bathing Experience Lenox: $40
Tours and Activities in San Francisco
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Francisco.
- Golden Gate Bridge: Self-guided Tour App - Audio + Written: $5.00
- Self-Guided Golden Gate Bridge Bike or Walking App Tour: $5.00
- San Francisco’s Chinatown on foot: A Self Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Embarcadero Self-Guided Audio Smartphone Tour: $5.99
- Leave your heart at the Wharf: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- San Francisco self-guided tour App - multilingual AudioGuide: $6.42
- Ghosts & Hauntings Audio App Walking Tour: $6.99
- The Ghosts of San Francisco Haunted Audio App Walking Tour: $6.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour of Japantown & Stories: $6.99
- The Secrets of Golden Gate Park: A San Francisco Chronicle Self-Guided Tour: $7.99
- San Francisco's Castro Neighborhood: Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Secrets of Golden Gate Park Audio Tour: $7.99
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.
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBerkshires $31San Francisco $22
Sample the Local Flavors in San Francisco
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in San Francisco:
- Chinatown San Francisco’s Bar Crawl: An Audio Tour: $4.99
- San Francisco Bar Crawl + Clubbing Experience: $27
- SF Pub Crawl and Clubbing Experience: $27
- Ghosts, Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- Sunset Distillery with Local Whiskey or Cocktail Tasting: $40
- 2 to 3 Hour Bar Crawl in Castro San Francisco: $49
- Wine Tasting on the Bay: $85
- Private Wine Tour Napa or Sonoma from $99 per person up to 7 & Concierge Service: $99
- The Ultimate Napa and Sonoma Wine Tour: $109
- Small Group: The Ultimate Napa & Sonoma Wine Tour: $109
- Big Bus Napa and Sonoma Valley Wine Tour: $125
- Half-Day Wine Country Tour with Wine Tastings: $126
When comparing the travel costs between Berkshires and San Francisco, we can see that Berkshires is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Berkshires Expensive? and Is San Francisco Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Berkshires or San Francisco?
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.
Should I visit Berkshires or San Francisco in the Summer?
Both San Francisco and Berkshires during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, the summer months attract visitors to San Francisco because of the beaches, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Berkshires is a little warmer than San Francisco. Typically, the summer temperatures in Berkshires in July average around 72°F (22°C), and San Francisco averages at about 63°F (17°C).
Berkshires usually gets more rain in July than San Francisco. Berkshires gets 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain, while San Francisco receives 0.1 inches (2 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBerkshires 72°F (22°C)San Francisco 63°F (17°C)
Should I visit Berkshires or San Francisco in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Berkshires and San Francisco. Also, the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to San Francisco this time of year.
In October, Berkshires is generally much colder than San Francisco. Daily temperatures in Berkshires average around 51°F (11°C), and San Francisco fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).
In October, Berkshires usually receives more rain than San Francisco. Berkshires gets 2.6 inches (67 mm) of rain, while San Francisco receives 1.3 inches (33 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBerkshires 51°F (11°C)San Francisco 63°F (17°C)
Should I visit Berkshires or San Francisco in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Berkshires as well as San Francisco. Also, many travelers come to San Francisco for the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
It's quite cold in Berkshires in the winter. Berkshires is much colder than San Francisco in the winter. The daily temperature in Berkshires averages around 22°F (-6°C) in January, and San Francisco fluctuates around 50°F (10°C).
Berkshires usually gets less rain in January than San Francisco. Berkshires gets 1.9 inches (49 mm) of rain, while San Francisco receives 3.8 inches (96 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBerkshires 22°F (-6°C)San Francisco 50°F (10°C)
Should I visit Berkshires or San Francisco in the Spring?
Both San Francisco and Berkshires are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to San Francisco in the spring for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Berkshires is much colder than San Francisco. Typically, the spring temperatures in Berkshires in April average around 47°F (9°C), and San Francisco averages at about 58°F (14°C).
In April, Berkshires usually receives more rain than San Francisco. Berkshires gets 2.6 inches (66 mm) of rain, while San Francisco receives 1.2 inches (31 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBerkshires 47°F (9°C)San Francisco 58°F (14°C)
Typical Weather for San Francisco and Berkshires
| Berkshires | San Francisco | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 22°F (-6°C) | 1.9 inches (49 mm) | 50°F (10°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
| Feb | 24°F (-4°C) | 2 inches (51 mm) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| Mar | 35°F (2°C) | 2.5 inches (63 mm) | 56°F (13°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| Apr | 47°F (9°C) | 2.6 inches (66 mm) | 58°F (14°C) | 1.2 inches (31 mm) |
| May | 59°F (15°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) | 60°F (15°C) | 0.2 inches (5 mm) |
| Jun | 67°F (20°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 62°F (17°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
| Jul | 72°F (22°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Aug | 70°F (21°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 0.1 inches (1 mm) |
| Sep | 62°F (17°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) | 66°F (19°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) |
| Oct | 51°F (11°C) | 2.6 inches (67 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 1.3 inches (33 mm) |
| Nov | 41°F (5°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Dec | 28°F (-2°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) | 51°F (11°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.