Which place is cheaper, San Francisco or Cairo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Cairo 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 Cairo 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: Cairo or San Francisco?
Cairo
Cairo is the chaotic capital city of Egypt. With a population of more than 16 million, it is one of the largest cities in both Africa and the Middle East. As a traveler, you're likely to arrive and leave from here and you'll get your first orientation to the area during the chaotic and congestion filled taxi ride from the airport.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, The Best Historical Tours in Egypt, The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America.
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Cairo Prices
Egypt PricesSan Francisco Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCairo $30San Francisco $251
The average daily cost (per person) in Cairo is $30, while the average daily cost in San Francisco is $251. 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 Cairo and San Francisco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCairo $10San Francisco $130
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCairo $20San Francisco $260
Compare Hotels in Cairo and San Francisco
Looking for a hotel in Cairo 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: Cairo Hotel Prices and San Francisco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cairo $3.46San Francisco $16
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cairo
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Cairo are as follows:
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Metro Ride$0.08
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Taxi Ride$0.29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cairo:
- Cairo To Marsa Alam Private Transfer: $511
- From One-Way Private A/C Transfer To Luxor City.: $489
- Private One-Way Transfer to/from Hurghada: $292
- Private Transfer From Giza To Soma Bay: $291
- Private Transfer from Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh: $290
- Full-Day Private Trip to Fayoum from Cairo, with Transfer: $286
- Private Transfer from El Cairo (CAI) Airport to Hurghada: $277
- Cairo To Marsa Alam Private Transfer: $267
- Private Transfer Cairo City To Makadi: $259
- 2-Day Camping Tour in The Bahariya Oasis with Private Transfer: $250
- Private Tour Giza Pyramids and Great Sphinx With Transfers: $250
- Private Transfer Cairo City To Hurghada City: $250
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: Airport SFO to San Francisco in Luxury Car: $178
- California: Oakland Airport Transfer from San Francisco: $180
- California: Oakland Airport Transfer to San Francisco: $180
- California: SFE Airport Transfer from San Francisco: $140
- California: SFE Airport Transfer to San Francisco: $140
- Departure Private Transfer San Francisco to SFO Airport in a SUV: $266
- Departure Transfer San Francisco to SFO Airport by Luxury Suv: $173
- Napa Valley 1-Way Transfer to/from the San Francisco Airport: $400
- Private Airport Transfer From San Francisco Union Square To SFO: $180
- Private Airport Transfer: SFO ⇄ San Francisco Downtown: $115
- Private One Way Transfer to San Francisco Airport: $140
- Private Transfer From or To San Francisco SFO Airport: $39
Is it cheaper to fly into Cairo or San Francisco?
Prices for flights to both San Francisco and Cairo 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 dayCairo $16San Francisco $79
Typical Food Prices in Cairo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cairo:
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Juice$0.04
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cairo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cairo.
- Giza Pyramids Sphinx , ATV, camel ride Plus Nile Dinner Cruise: $3.00
- Explore Giza Pyramids with Camel, ATV, Dinner Cruise, & Shopping: $5.00
- 2 Hour Cairo Dinner Cruise on Nile river with live band: $7.00
- Night Dinner Nile cruise with belly dancer and folklore show: $7.00
- Cairo Dinner Nile Cruise with Belly Dancer Show on Nile River: $7.00
- Quad Bike ATV ,Camel Ride ,Nile Dinner Cruise Belly dancer show: $7.00
- Private Nile Cruise with Dinner and Folk Show from Cairo: $7.50
- Giza pyramids, sphinx &ATV +Nile Dinner cruise: $8.00
- 2-hours night dinner cruise show : Eat , Dance and Sing: $8.00
- Cairo Nile Dinner Cruise Belly Dancer Tanora Show Dinner Buffet: $8.00
- Cairo (Dance, Sing and Eat ) Nile Dinner Cruise Show &Open Buffet: $8.00
- Private Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Quad Bike, Camel Ride, Nile Dinner Cruise: $8.00
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:
- City Cruises Buffet Lunch or Dinner Cruise: $75
- Mission District Street Art and Food Tour: $79
- North Beach and Little Italy Food Tour: $84
- Little Italy & Chinatown Original Food Tour: $84
- Mission District Food Tour with 5 Tastings: $84
- Chinatown & Litte Italy Food Tour with 5 Dishes: $85
- The Mission District Food Tour with 5 Local Dishes: $85
- San Francisco : Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $92
- Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39 Food Tour: $99
- Mission District Food Tour: $99
- Mission District Food Tour: Appetizers, Entrée and Dessert: $115
- Fisherman’s Wharf & Pier 39 Food Tour - Includes Full Meal, 3 hrs: $115
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cairo $8.29San Francisco $31
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cairo
Here are a few typical costs in Cairo for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entry to Camel Market for Two$0.77
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Egyptian Museum Entry for Two$5.90
Tours and Activities in Cairo
Here are a few actual costs in Cairo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- “Cairo Private Tour: Giza Pyramids, Sphinx & GEM Museum”: $69
- (Egypt jewel) Day Tour To Giza Pyramids, Museum, Mosque &Felucca: $55
- 01 Day Cairo tour Islamic and Coptic Cairo: $143
- 01 Day Tour to Alexandria from Cairo: $246
- 1 Day Private Tour from Hurghada to Cairo: $216
- 1 Day tour to Alexandria from Cairo: $30
- 1 Day tour to Giza pyramids Memphis city Dahshur and Saqqara pyramids: $15
- 1 Hour Adventure In The Nile River By Nile Taxi In Cairo: $60
- 1 Hour Adventure In The Nile River By Nile Taxi In Cairo: $60
- 1 Hour adventure in the Nile River By Nile Taxi In Cairo: $60
- 1-Hour Private Felucca Boat Tour on the Nile: $7.00
- 1-Hour Private Felucca Boat Tour on the Nile: $9.00
Tours and Activities in San Francisco
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Francisco.
- San Francisco Walking Tour: Self-Guided City Game: $4.86
- Downtown San Francisco Private Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- Self Guided Chinatown Tour: Food, History and Culture: $5.00
- San Francisco Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $5.00
- San Francisco Private Car Tour: $5.00
- Golden Gate Bridge Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- Golden Gate Bridge: Self-guided Tour App - Audio + Written: $5.00
- Self-Guided Podcast Tour San Francisco Chinatown Rebuilt: $5.49
- Podcast Tour Rushes, Busts, and Skyward Dreams: $6.86
- The Ghosts of San Francisco Haunted Audio App Walking Tour: $6.99
- San Francisco's Barbary Past: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $8.99
- Chinatown Experience San Francisco: $9.99
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 dayCairo $1.35San Francisco $22
Sample the Local Flavors in Cairo
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cairo:
- Pub Crawl and Speakeasy Bar Tour with 2 Free Drinks: $69
- Cairo Autumn Downtown Food & Bar Crawl with Drinks: $109
Sample the Local Flavors in San Francisco
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in San Francisco:
- #1 San Francisco Pub Crawl & Clubbing Experience: $24
- Ghosts, Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
- Walk with Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl: $44
- Castro Bar Crawl in San Francisco: $49
- Wine Tasting on the Bay: $85
- Local Distillery Cocktail Making Class: $89
- Distillery Gin Cocktail Making Class: $89
- Napa & Sonoma Wine Tour with Optional Tasting: $99
- Napa & Sonoma Guided Wine Tour with Tastings from San Francisco: $110
- Napa Valley Half-Day Wine Tour with Tastings: $116
- 5 hours private napa wine tour from san francisco up to 7 people: $120
- Half-Day Wine Country Tour with Wine Tastings: $130
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cairo and San Francisco, we can see that San Francisco is more expensive. And not only is Cairo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cairo is in Africa 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 Cairo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cairo 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 Cairo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cairo Expensive? and Is San Francisco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cairo or San Francisco?
Cairo has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of San Francisco. When comparing the sizes of Cairo 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 Cairo or San Francisco?
San Francisco has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Cairo experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Cairo or San Francisco in the Summer?
Both San Francisco and Cairo during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Cairo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. 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 July, Cairo is generally much warmer than San Francisco. Daily temperatures in Cairo average around 28°C (82°F), and San Francisco fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).
Cairo usually gets less rain in July than San Francisco. Cairo gets 1 mm (0 in) 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 JulyCairo 28°C (82°F)San Francisco 63°F (17°C)
Should I visit Cairo or San Francisco in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Cairo and San Francisco. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cairo year-round. 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.
Cairo is a little warmer than San Francisco in the autumn. The daily temperature in Cairo averages around 23°C (73°F) in October, and San Francisco fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).
In October, Cairo usually receives less rain than San Francisco. Cairo gets 5 mm (0.2 in) 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 OctoberCairo 23°C (73°F)San Francisco 63°F (17°C)
Should I visit Cairo or San Francisco in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Cairo as well as San Francisco. Cairo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to San Francisco for the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Cairo is a little warmer than San Francisco. Typically, the winter temperatures in Cairo in January average around 14°C (57°F), and San Francisco averages at about 50°F (10°C).
Cairo usually gets less rain in January than San Francisco. Cairo gets 15 mm (0.6 in) 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 JanuaryCairo 14°C (57°F)San Francisco 50°F (10°C)
Should I visit Cairo or San Francisco in the Spring?
Both San Francisco and Cairo are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cairo throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to San Francisco in the spring for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
In April, Cairo is generally a little warmer than San Francisco. Daily temperatures in Cairo average around 21°C (70°F), and San Francisco fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).
In April, Cairo usually receives less rain than San Francisco. Cairo gets 7 mm (0.3 in) 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 AprilCairo 21°C (70°F)San Francisco 58°F (14°C)
Typical Weather for San Francisco and Cairo
| Cairo | San Francisco | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (57°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 50°F (10°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
| Feb | 14°C (57°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| Mar | 17°C (63°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 56°F (13°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| Apr | 21°C (70°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) | 58°F (14°C) | 1.2 inches (31 mm) |
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 60°F (15°C) | 0.2 inches (5 mm) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 0.1 inches (1 mm) |
| Sep | 26°C (79°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 66°F (19°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 1.3 inches (33 mm) |
| Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Dec | 15°C (59°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 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.