Should you visit Charleston or San Antonio?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Charleston or San Antonio, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Charleston
Charleston is a beautiful, southern city and seaport town in South Carolina. It has a wonderful, historic downtown area that the city government works hard to maintain. Located on a peninsula that is created by two rivers, the city is a stunning setting with much character. It is a popular place to visit for its culture, architecture and cuisine. In recent years Charleston has gained popularity and it continues to grow as both a regional and international travel destination. With its rising popularity comes increasing costs. Travel costs continue to go up as restaurants and hotels raise their prices, particularly during the peak travel season and holiday periods.
San Antonio
The third largest city in Texas, San Antonio, has grown in recent years as a popular travel destination. It's a beautiful city that is strategically situated at the edge of Texas's Hill Country near the South Texas Plains and Prairie Lakes areas. The city holds on to its small town feel despite having a population of about 1.4 million and 2.3 million in the greater metropolitan area. The city holds tight to its Spanish and Mexican heritage, making it a fascinating cultural destination. The Hispanic population has much influence in the city and this makes it a fun and unique city to visit, particularly during Fiesta week, which is an annual celebration with parades, music and food.
Which city is cheaper, San Antonio or Charleston?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Charleston is $136, while the average daily cost in San Antonio is $106. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Charleston and San Antonio in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Charleston is about $144 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $110 for a double occupancy room in San Antonio.
Food
On average, meal and food prices in Charleston cost around $46 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $18.
In San Antonio travelers spend around $32 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
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Food
Meals for one day
Charleston $46
San Antonio $32
Typical Food prices in Charleston
Some typical examples of dining costs in Charleston are as follows:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Charleston
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Charleston.
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Charleston Harbor: Luxury Dinner Cruise & Live Music:
$66
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Downtown Charleston Culinary Walking Food Tour:
$73
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Savor the Flavors of Charleston Walking Food Tour:
$75
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Charleston's Savor the Flavors of Upper King Street Walking Food Tour:
$75
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Charleston Chef's Kitchen Guided Walking Food Tour:
$75
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Private Tour: Secret Food Tours Charleston:
$129
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Undiscovered 1/2 Day Food, Wine & History Tour with Cooking Class:
$154
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3-Hour Secret Food Tour in Charleston w/ Private Tour Option:
$277
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Antonio
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Antonio.
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San Antonio Walking Food Tour: Downtown Delicacies:
$66
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $26 per day to get around in Charleston.
The cost of a taxi ride in San Antonio is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $16 per person, per day, on local transportation in San Antonio.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Charleston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Charleston:
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Charleston city to Charleston Airport (CHS) - Departure Private Transfer:
$124
-
Private Departure Transfer to Charleston Airport (CHS):
$52
-
Private transfer: Charleston to Charleston Airport (CHS):
$622
Typical Local Transportation prices in San Antonio
Some typical examples of transportation costs in San Antonio are as follows:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Antonio
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Antonio:
-
Private Arrival Transfer from San Antonio Airport SAT:
$35
-
Private Departure Transfer to San Antonio Airport SAT:
$35
-
San Antonio International Airport One Way Transfer:
$53
-
Private Transfer from San Antonio to San Antonio Airport:
$78
-
Private Transfer from San Antonio Airport to San Antonio City:
$78
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San Antonio Airport (SAT) to San Antonio - Arrival Private Transfer:
$93
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San Antonio to San Antonio Airport (SAT) - Departure Private Transfer:
$93
-
Private transfer San Antonio Pier to Airport:
$125
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Transfer from San Antonio port in small groups + Cultural city tour in Santiago:
$128
-
Private San Antonio Transfer: Hotel to Airport:
$138
-
Private San Antonio Transfer: Airport to Hotel:
$147
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San Antonio Airport (SAT) to San Antonio - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$187
Entertainment
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $17 per person, per day in Charleston. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Entertainment and activities in San Antonio typically cost an average of $28 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Typical Entertainment prices in Charleston
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Charleston are as follows:
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Patriots Point (for 2)
$60
Tours and Activities in Charleston
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Charleston are as follows:
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Charleston's Haunted Ghost Tour - Smart Phone Guided Tour:
$5.00
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Charleston Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$16
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Charleston's French Quarter Guided Walking Tour:
$20
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Shem Creek Culture Tour:
$20
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Downtown Charleston Walking Tour with Certified Local Guide:
$21
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Charleston's Pleasing Terrors Night-Time Walking Ghost Tour:
$21
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Historic Charleston Guided Sightseeing Walking Tour:
$21
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Highlights of Charleston Guided Walking Tour:
$22
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Charleston Historical Walking Tour:
$22
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Charleston French Quarter Historic Guided Walking Tour:
$22
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Drayton Hall Plantation Admission Ticket in Charleston:
$22
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Small-Group Tour: Charleston Old Walled City Historical Walking Tour:
$23
Typical Entertainment prices in San Antonio
Here are a few typical costs in San Antonio for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in San Antonio
Here are a few actual costs in San Antonio for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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San Antonio Ranger Creek Brewstillery Tour:
$13
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Skip the Line: San Antonio Zoo General Admission Ticket:
$17
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LEGOLAND Discovery Center San Antonio Admission Ticket:
$18
-
San Antonio Ghost Walking Tour:
$18
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Walking Ghost Tour of Downtown San Antonio:
$19
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River City Ghost Walking Tour of San Antonio:
$20
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Ripley's San Antonio Haunted Adventure Haunted House:
$20
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San Antonio Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$21
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San Antonio Haunted History Ghost Tour:
$21
-
The Madames and Mayhem Walking Ghost Tour:
$23
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Mutiny: Pirate Adventure Escape Room at Extreme Escape San Antonio:
$32
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Trapped Below: Underground Escape Room Adventure at Extreme Escape San Antonio:
$32
Alcohol
The average person spends about $28 on alcoholic beverages in Charleston per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in Charleston
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Charleston:
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Charleston Bar Hunt: Charleston Chase Bar Crawl:
$12
-
Ghost Walking Tour and Pub Crawl in Haunted Charleston:
$27
-
Haunted Pub Crawl of the Market:
$37
Sample the Local Flavors in San Antonio
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Antonio:
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Epic San Antonio Bar Crawl: By Let’s Roam:
$12
-
Haunted San Antonio Ghost and Pub Walking Tour:
$27
-
Texas Hill Country and LBJ Ranch Tour with Wine Tasting Options:
$109
-
Taste of Fredericksburg Wine Tour from San Antonio:
$149
-
San Antonio port, wine tasting an off the beaten path destination:
$151
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Fredericksburg Wine Tour with Five Winery Stops:
$325
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Fredericksburg Wine Tour with Five Winery Stops and Transport to Local Eatery:
$375
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Charleston and San Antonio, we can see that Charleston is more expensive. And not only is San Antonio much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to San Antonio would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Antonio 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 Charleston would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Charleston than you might in San Antonio.
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