Should you visit Charlotte or San Antonio?
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 Charlotte and San Antonio can help you decide which place is right for you.
Charlotte
With a population of almost 800,000, Charlotte is the largest city in the state of North Carolina. The city has grown rapidly in recent years and the thriving economy has led to major revitalization efforts in the city's central district. The city is a center for finance, industry, technology, and entertainment within the state. It is the location of the corporate headquarters of Bank of America as well as the east coast operations of Wells Fargo, making it the second largest banking center in the United States. Although Charlotte has never been considered a significant tourist destination, recent efforts to enhance the urban core and develop entertainment venues have begun to appeal to outside visitors.
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 Charlotte?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Charlotte is $153, 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 Charlotte and San Antonio in more detail.
Accommodation
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $188 in Charlotte For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $110 for a double occupancy room in San Antonio.
Food
Food in Charlotte costs travelers about $37 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
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
Charlotte $37
San Antonio $32
Typical Food prices in Charlotte
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Charlotte:
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
Charlotte's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $27 per person, per day on transportation in Charlotte.
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 Charlotte
Also for Charlotte, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Arrival Private Transfer Charlotte Douglas Airport CLT to Charlotte by SUV:
$141
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Arrival Private Transfer Charlotte Douglas Airport CLT to Charlotte by Sedan car:
$86
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Charlotte City to Charlotte Douglas Airport (CLT) - Departure Private Transfer:
$54
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Charlotte Douglas Airport (CLT) to Charlotte City - Arrival Private Transfer:
$54
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Charlotte Douglas Airport (CLT) to Charlotte City - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$106
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Departure Private Transfer Charlotte to Charlotte Douglas Airport CLT Sedan Car:
$85
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Departure Private Transfer Charlotte to Charlotte Douglas Airport CLT by SUV:
$140
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Private Arrival Transfer from Charlotte Douglas Airport CLT:
$38
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Private Departure Transfer to Charlotte Douglas Airport (CLT):
$38
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:
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Private transfer: San Antonio to San Antonio Airport (SAT):
$622
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Private transfer: San Antonio Airport (SAT) to San Antonio:
$622
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Private Transfer from San Antonio to Arturo Merino Benítez (SCL) Airport:
$270
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San Antonio Airport (SAT) to San Antonio - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$187
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Private San Antonio Transfer: Airport to Hotel:
$147
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Private San Antonio Transfer: Hotel to Airport:
$138
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Transfer from San Antonio port in small groups + Cultural city tour in Santiago:
$128
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Private transfer San Antonio Pier to Airport:
$125
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San Antonio to San Antonio Airport (SAT) - Departure Private Transfer:
$93
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San Antonio Airport (SAT) to San Antonio - Arrival Private Transfer:
$93
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Private Transfer from San Antonio to San Antonio Airport:
$78
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Private Transfer from San Antonio Airport to San Antonio City:
$78
Is it cheaper to fly into Charlotte or San Antonio?
Prices for flights to both San Antonio and Charlotte 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Charlotte can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $34 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
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.
Tours and Activities in Charlotte
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Charlotte.
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Charlotte Beyond the Grave Haunted History Walking Ghost Tour:
$18
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Charlotte Ghost Walking Tour:
$23
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Charlotte Comedy City Tour:
$30
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Charlotte Comedy City PG-13 Tour:
$35
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Charlotte's Historical City Tour:
$38
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Belize Jungle Limo - Triple Activity Tour:
$50
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Historic Uptown Neighborhood Segway Tour of Charlotte:
$60
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Private and Custom Tours:
$75
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Discover Charlotte Historic City: Segway Tour:
$234
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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48-Hour San Antonio Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Buckhorn Saloon and Museum of Art Admission:
$54
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Alamo and San Antonio Quarry Helicopter Tour:
$286
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Best of San Antonio Private Walking Tour:
$498
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CITY Vespa SiDeCaR Tour and Tacos:
$100
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City Sightseeing San Antonio City Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour:
$38
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Downtown San Antonio Helicopter Tour:
$197
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From San Antonio Port: Valparaiso & Viña Del Mar City Tour Full Day:
$212
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Full-Day Historic City Tour of San Antonio:
$109
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Go San Antonio Explorer Pass: Save on 20+ Attractions/Tours:
$95
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Guided Haunted Segway Tour of San Antonio at Night:
$245
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Half-Day Afternoon City Tour of Historic San Antonio:
$65
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Half-Day Morning City Tour of Historic San Antonio:
$65
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Charlotte, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $16.
Sample the Local Flavors in Charlotte
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Charlotte:
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Haunted Charlotte Ghost and Pub Walking Tour:
$27
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Trolley Pub Tour of Charlotte:
$41
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3-Hour Charlotte Brewery Crawl Tour:
$54
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
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Haunted San Antonio Ghost and Pub Walking Tour:
$27
-
Texas Hill Country and LBJ Ranch Tour with Wine Tasting Options:
$109
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Taste of Fredericksburg Wine Tour from San Antonio:
$149
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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 Charlotte and San Antonio, we can see that Charlotte 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 Charlotte would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Charlotte than you might in San Antonio.
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