Which place is cheaper, San Francisco or Big Pine Key?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Big Pine Key or San Francisco?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Big Pine Key and San Francisco. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Big Pine Key or San Francisco?
Big Pine Key
If you are yearning for a slice of paradise without the hustle and bustle of an ever-growing tourist population, the calm, turquoise waters and the untouched sands of Big Pine Key will surely do. Located 100 miles south of Miami and 30 miles north of Key West, this small community huddled in the family of Florida keys is often overlooked by many. However, Big Pine Key is truly a gem for all who seek a tropical vacation as activities like boating, fishing, scuba diving and snorkeling are found throughout the town. Besides its oceanic wonders, Big Pine Key also boasts in containing some of the United States' best seafood restaurants. Enjoy the aquatic wonders of the Keys and stop at Big Pine Key!
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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America, The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBig Pine Key $144San Francisco $222
The average daily cost (per person) in Big Pine Key is $144, 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 Big Pine Key and San Francisco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBig Pine Key $64San Francisco $130
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBig Pine Key $128San Francisco $260
Compare Hotels in Big Pine Key and San Francisco
Looking for a hotel in Big Pine Key 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: San Francisco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Big Pine Key $56San 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:
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in San Francisco HTL-APT (SFO): $119
- Transfer in private vehicle from San Francisco Airport to City: $35
- Sedan Airport Transfer from Vallejo to SFO (one way): $259
- Sedan Airport Transfer from SFO to East Bay (one way): $262
- SFO Airport Private Transfer to Downtown: $120
- San Francisco to/from Yosemite National Park: 1-Way Transfer: $169
- San Francisco to Yosemite One-Way Transfer: $169
- San Francisco to San Francisco Airport (SFO) - Departure Private Transfer: $110
- San Francisco Airport 1-Way Transfer to/from the City: $150
- San Francisco Airport (SFO): Transfer to San Francisco: $343
- San Francisco Airport (SFO): Transfer to Cruise Terminal: $557
- San Francisco Airport (SFO) to San Francisco - Arrival Private Transfer: $110
Is it cheaper to fly into Big Pine Key or San Francisco?
Prices for flights to both San Francisco and Big Pine Key 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 dayBig Pine Key $42San 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:
- San Francisco Virtual Food Tour with Local Guide: $19
- 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
- Mission District Walking Food Tour: $89
- Chinatown Walking Food Tour: $89
- San Francisco North Beach Food Tour: $89
- San Francisco North Beach and Chinatown - Secret Food Tours: $89
- San Francisco Chinatown Food Tour: $89
- San Francisco Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $89
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Big Pine Key $42San Francisco $46
Tours and Activities in San Francisco
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Francisco.
- 2hr - SUNSET Sailing Experience on San Francisco Bay: $149
- Private Walking Tour in Muir Woods and Tickets : $20
- "Summer of Love" tour in Haight-Ashbury in French: $63
- 1 Day Hop-On Hop-Off Tour: $73
- 2-Hour Double Decker City Tour of San Francisco: $73
- 2HR Golden Gate Bridge and Lombard Loop GoCar Tour: $172
- 2hr - INTERACTIVE Sailing Experience on San Francisco Bay: $149
- 2hr - INTERACTIVE Sailing Experience on San Francisco Bay: $149
- 2hr - SUNSET Sailing Experience on San Francisco Bay: $149
- 2hr PRIVATE Sailing Experience on San Francisco Bay 6 Guests: $695
- 3 in 1 Tour: Muir Woods, Sausalito & Half Day Wine Country Visit: $189
- 3-Hour Private Group San Francisco Open Top Jeep Tour: $249
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 dayBig Pine Key $9.29San 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
- SF Pub Crawl and Clubbing Experience: $27
- Ghosts, Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- San Francisco Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl : $35
- 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
- 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
- From The Ultimate Napa and Sonoma Wine Tour: $139
- The Ultimate Napa & Sonoma Wine Tour: $139
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Big Pine Key and San Francisco, we can see that San Francisco is more expensive. And not only is Big Pine Key much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Big Pine Key would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Big Pine Key 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 Big Pine Key.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Big Pine Key Expensive? and Is San Francisco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Big Pine Key or San Francisco?
San Francisco has a larger population, and is about 130 times larger than the population of Big Pine Key. When comparing the sizes of Big Pine Key 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.
When is the best time to visit Big Pine Key or San Francisco?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Big Pine Key or San Francisco in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Big Pine Key and San Francisco. Furthermore, most visitors come to San Francisco for the beaches, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Big Pine Key is much warmer than San Francisco. Typically, the summer temperatures in Big Pine Key in July average around 84°F (29°C), and San Francisco averages at about 63°F (17°C).
In July, Big Pine Key usually receives more rain than San Francisco. Big Pine Key gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while San Francisco receives 0.1 inches (2 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBig Pine Key 84°F (29°C)San Francisco 63°F (17°C)
Should I visit Big Pine Key or San Francisco in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Big Pine Key as well as San Francisco. Additionally, the autumn months attract visitors to San Francisco because of the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Big Pine Key is generally much warmer than San Francisco. Daily temperatures in Big Pine Key average around 80°F (27°C), and San Francisco fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).
Big Pine Key receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Big Pine Key usually gets more rain in October than San Francisco. Big Pine Key gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while San Francisco receives 1.3 inches (33 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBig Pine Key 80°F (27°C)San Francisco 63°F (17°C)
Should I visit Big Pine Key or San Francisco in the Winter?
Both San Francisco and Big Pine Key are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine are the main draw to San Francisco this time of year.
Big Pine Key is much warmer than San Francisco in the winter. The daily temperature in Big Pine Key averages around 70°F (21°C) in January, and San Francisco fluctuates around 50°F (10°C).
In January, Big Pine Key usually receives less rain than San Francisco. Big Pine Key gets 1.7 inches (43 mm) of rain, while San Francisco receives 3.8 inches (96 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBig Pine Key 70°F (21°C)San Francisco 50°F (10°C)
Should I visit Big Pine Key or San Francisco in the Spring?
Both San Francisco and Big Pine Key during the spring are popular places to visit. Also, many travelers come to San Francisco for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Big Pine Key is much warmer than San Francisco. Typically, the spring temperatures in Big Pine Key in April average around 77°F (25°C), and San Francisco averages at about 58°F (14°C).
Big Pine Key usually gets less rain in April than San Francisco. Big Pine Key gets 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain, while San Francisco receives 1.2 inches (31 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBig Pine Key 77°F (25°C)San Francisco 58°F (14°C)
Typical Weather for San Francisco and Big Pine Key
| Big Pine Key | San Francisco | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 70°F (21°C) | 1.7 inches (43 mm) | 50°F (10°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
| Feb | 71°F (21°C) | 1.4 inches (36 mm) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| Mar | 74°F (23°C) | 1.7 inches (42 mm) | 56°F (13°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| Apr | 77°F (25°C) | 0.8 inches (21 mm) | 58°F (14°C) | 1.2 inches (31 mm) |
| May | 81°F (27°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) | 60°F (15°C) | 0.2 inches (5 mm) |
| Jun | 83°F (28°C) | 4.5 inches (114 mm) | 62°F (17°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
| Jul | 84°F (29°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Aug | 84°F (29°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 0.1 inches (1 mm) |
| Sep | 83°F (29°C) | 5.7 inches (144 mm) | 66°F (19°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) |
| Oct | 80°F (27°C) | 5.1 inches (129 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 1.3 inches (33 mm) |
| Nov | 76°F (24°C) | 2 inches (50 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Dec | 72°F (22°C) | 1.4 inches (35 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.