Which place is cheaper, San Francisco or Big Sur?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for California Big Sur vs. San Francisco for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Big Sur or San Francisco?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Big Sur and San Francisco can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Big Sur or San Francisco?
Big Sur
Big Sur is the 90-mile stretch of the California Central Coast which runs from the Carmel River in Monterey County south to San Carpoforo Creek in San Luis Obispo County and 20 miles east into the Santa Lucius Foothills.
However you look at it, California's Central Coast is beautiful and undoubtedly a huge tourist trap. If you're not willing to fork over big bucks for overnight stays on coastal hotels, be prepared ahead of time with your camping gear and get ready to go off the beaten track to avoid crowds as best you can and save your wallet.
While the weather in Central Coast is overall, mild and temperate, between 50 and 70 degrees year-round. The highs and lows during the year are in August and January, respectively, with dry summers and wet winters, making April through October the best times to visit but be warned: there will be crowds.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBig Sur $0.00San Francisco $222
The average daily cost (per person) in Big Sur is $0.00, 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 Sur and San Francisco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBig Sur $165San Francisco $130
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBig Sur $330San Francisco $260
Compare Hotels in Big Sur and San Francisco
Looking for a hotel in Big Sur 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 Sur -San 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:
- Private Transfer from San Fransisco City To Carmel-by-the-Sea.: $730
- Private Airport Transfer from SFO To Carmel-by-the-Sea.: $650
- Private Airport Transfer From SFO to San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf: $640
- Private transfer from SFO to Carmel: $572
- San Francisco Airport (SFO): Transfer to Cruise Terminal: $567
- Private transfer from SFO to Monterey: $546
- Private transfer from SFO to Sacramento : $541
- Carmel 1-Way Transfer to/from San Francisco Airport: $535
- Sedan Airport Transfer from SFO to St Helena(one way): $497
- Sedan Airport Transfer from St Helena to SFO (one way): $497
- Private Airport Transfer from SFO to Yountville, Napa Valley: $460
- SUV Airport Transfer from Yountville to SFO (one way): $449
Is it cheaper to fly into Big Sur or San Francisco?
Prices for flights to both San Francisco and Big Sur 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 Sur -San 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
- Secret Food Tours San Francisco: $85
- Mission District Food Tour with Tastings: $85
- San Francisco North Beach and Chinatown - Secret Food Tours: $86
- San Francisco Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $86
- Farmers' Market & Ferry Building Food Tour: $87
- San Francisco North Beach Food Tour: $89
- Chinatown Walking Food Tour: $89
- Mission District Walking Food Tour: $89
- Mission: Street Art & Food Tour in San Francisco: $89
- Mission District Food Tour: $89
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Big Sur -San Francisco $46
Tours and Activities in Big Sur
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Big Sur.
- Big Sur California: Pacific Coast Highway Self-Drive Tour: $13
- Big Sur Highway 1: Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour: $15
Tours and Activities in San Francisco
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Francisco.
- Best Alcatraz Island and Silicon Valley Tour : $564
- Private Tour of Hearst Castle, Big Sur, Monterey & Carmel from San Francisco: $2,234
- San Francisco City Half-Day Private Custom Tour: $391
- Streets and Stairways of San Francisco with Local Guided Tour: $40
- The Best Yosemite Adventure Tour.: $1,950
- The Ultimate Yosemite National Park Full Experience- 5 Days’ Vacation Package : $6,741
- The ultimate San Francisco full day custom guided tour: $447
- Top Notch Napa Valley Private Custom Tour : $455
- "Let's Walk Around San Francisco" Family Tour: $434
- "Let's Walk Around San Francisco" Tour: $220
- "Summer of Love" tour in Haight-Ashbury in French: $63
- "Visit San Francisco at Christmas" Walking Tour: $247
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 Sur -San 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:
- Ghosts, Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- Walk with Spirits: A Haunted Pub Crawl in San Francisco: $45
- 2 to 3 Hour Bar Crawl in Castro San Francisco: $49
- Northern Italian Private Wine Tasting Experience in San Francisco: $60
- Wine Tasting on the Bay: $85
- Private Wine Tour Napa or Sonoma from $99 per person up to 7 & Concierge Service: $99
- Napa and Sonoma Combo Wine Tour Including Castello Di Amorosa Winery: $125
- San Francisco Napa and Sonoma Valley Wine Tour: $125
- Half-Day Wine Country Tour with Wine Tastings: $126
- The Ultimate Napa & Sonoma Wine Tour: $139
- 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 Sur and San Francisco, we can see that San Francisco is more expensive. And not only is Big Sur much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Big Sur would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Big Sur 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 Sur.
When is the best time to visit Big Sur 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 Sur or San Francisco in the Summer?
Both San Francisco and Big Sur are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to San Francisco for the beaches, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
Big Sur is around the same temperature as San Francisco in the summer. The daily temperature in Big Sur averages around 63°F (17°C) in July, and San Francisco fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).
In July, Big Sur usually receives less rain than San Francisco. Big Sur gets 0 inches (1 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 Sur 63°F (17°C)San Francisco 63°F (17°C)
Should I visit Big Sur or San Francisco in the Autumn?
Both San Francisco and Big Sur during the autumn are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many visitors come to San Francisco in the autumn for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Big Sur is around the same temperature as San Francisco. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Big Sur in October average around 62°F (17°C), and San Francisco averages at about 63°F (17°C).
Big Sur usually gets less rain in October than San Francisco. Big Sur gets 0.6 inches (14 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 Sur 62°F (17°C)San Francisco 63°F (17°C)
Should I visit Big Sur or San Francisco in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Big Sur and San Francisco. Furthermore, most visitors come to San Francisco for the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine during these months.
In January, Big Sur is generally around the same temperature as San Francisco. Daily temperatures in Big Sur average around 51°F (11°C), and San Francisco fluctuates around 50°F (10°C).
In January, Big Sur usually receives less rain than San Francisco. Big Sur gets 2.3 inches (58 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 Sur 51°F (11°C)San Francisco 50°F (10°C)
Should I visit Big Sur or San Francisco in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Big Sur as well as San Francisco. Additionally, the spring months attract visitors to San Francisco because of the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
Big Sur is around the same temperature as San Francisco in the spring. The daily temperature in Big Sur averages around 56°F (13°C) in April, and San Francisco fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).
Big Sur usually gets less rain in April than San Francisco. Big Sur gets 1.1 inches (29 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 Sur 56°F (13°C)San Francisco 58°F (14°C)
Typical Weather for San Francisco and Big Sur
| Big Sur | San Francisco | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 51°F (11°C) | 2.3 inches (58 mm) | 50°F (10°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
| Feb | 53°F (12°C) | 1.8 inches (47 mm) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| Mar | 54°F (12°C) | 2.1 inches (55 mm) | 56°F (13°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| Apr | 56°F (13°C) | 1.1 inches (29 mm) | 58°F (14°C) | 1.2 inches (31 mm) |
| May | 59°F (15°C) | 0.2 inches (4 mm) | 60°F (15°C) | 0.2 inches (5 mm) |
| Jun | 62°F (16°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) | 62°F (17°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
| Jul | 63°F (17°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Aug | 64°F (18°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 0.1 inches (1 mm) |
| Sep | 64°F (18°C) | 0.2 inches (6 mm) | 66°F (19°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) |
| Oct | 62°F (17°C) | 0.6 inches (14 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 1.3 inches (33 mm) |
| Nov | 56°F (13°C) | 1.8 inches (45 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Dec | 51°F (10°C) | 2 inches (51 mm) | 51°F (11°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
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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.
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