A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Cleveland vs. San Diego for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Cleveland or San Diego?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Cleveland or San Diego, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Cleveland or San Diego?

Cleveland

Located on the shores of Lake Erie of the Great Lakes, Cleveland is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. As a culturally diverse and thriving metropolitan area, the city is host to a vast range of sights and activities, such as world-class museums, cultural events, professional sports, and golf courses as well as plenty of dining, shopping, and entertainment opportunities.

San Diego

For many visitors and locals alike, San Diego is a paradise. Located in southern California, not far from Los Angeles, it has the perfect climate, wonderful beaches, and a culturally rich environment. It's surrounded by beautiful landscape and has a strong focus on wildlife conservation and eco-friendly living. Home to about 1.3 million residents, it is California's second largest city. It also has many universities, a large tech industry, and a thriving economy. Despite its size, many people perceive San Diego as a slower, more relaxed city with a pleasant vibe away from the chaos of a large city.

Which city is cheaper, San Diego or Cleveland?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Cleveland is $106, while the average daily cost in San Diego is $161. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Cleveland and San Diego in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cleveland $60
    San Diego $91
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cleveland $120
    San Diego $182
Compare Hotels in Cleveland and San Diego

Looking for a hotel in Cleveland or San Diego? 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.

Hotels in Cleveland


Hotels in San Diego


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: Cleveland Hotel Prices and San Diego Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cleveland $15
    San Diego $19
Typical Local Transportation prices in Cleveland

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Cleveland are as follows:


  • Taxi to Airport
    $36

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cleveland

Also for Cleveland, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Cleveland Airport - Executive Sedan/SUV Airport/Hotel Round Trip Transfer: $261
  • Cleveland Hopkins Airport (CLE) to Cleveland - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $157
  • CLE Airport Transfer to Downtown Cleveland: $116
  • Cleveland Airport-Hotel Ground Transfer - One Way: $106
  • Cleveland to Cleveland Hopkins Airport (CLE) - Departure Private Transfer: $78
  • Cleveland Hopkins Airport (CLE) to Cleveland - Arrival Private Transfer: $78
  • Private Departure Transfer to Cleveland Airport (CLE): $62
  • Private Arrival Transfer from Cleveland Airprot (CLE): $62

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Diego

Also for San Diego, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer from San Diego International Airport to San Diego: $62
  • Tijuana Border Crossing Private Transfer To Los Angeles.: $398
  • SAN Airport Private Transfer: $77
  • San Diego to Long Beach Airport (LGB) - Departure Private Transfer: $357
  • San Diego to Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) - Departure Private Transfer: $342
  • San Diego hotel/address to San Diego Airport (SAN) - Departure Private Transfer: $60
  • San Diego Private Transfer To Palm Springs.: $398
  • San Diego Private Transfer To N. Hollywood/Burbank area.: $398
  • San Diego Private Transfer To Los Angeles.: $389
  • San Diego Airport (SAN) to San Diego hotel/address - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $119
  • San Diego Airport (SAN) to San Diego hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer: $60
  • Private transfer: San Diego to San Diego Airport (SAN): $622

Is it cheaper to fly into Cleveland or San Diego?

Prices for flights to both San Diego and Cleveland 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Cleveland $29
    San Diego $36
Typical Food prices in Cleveland

For Cleveland, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Coffee
    $1.79
  • Sandwich
    $9.75
  • Large Pizza
    $15

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cleveland

For Cleveland, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • West Side Market Food Tour: $47
  • Tremont Neighborhood Food Tour: $65
  • Ohio City Food Tour: $70
  • Little Italy Neighborhood Food Tour: $73
  • Tremont Guided Food Tour with Tasting: $246

Typical Food prices in San Diego

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to San Diego:


  • Mexican Lunch for Two
    $27
  • Breakfast at Starbucks
    $20

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Diego

For San Diego, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • San Diego North Park Food Tour: $49
  • Liberty Station Food Tour: $49
  • Market and Guacamole Cooking Class in Tijuana Mexico: $89
  • Private Cooking Demonstration of Indian Fusion Cuisine in San Diego: $96
  • Farmers Market Tour & Social Cooking With A Chef: $100
  • San Diego Harbor Dinner Cruise: $111
  • Private Tour: Secret Food Tours San Diego: $129
  • Secret Food Tours San Diego w/ Private Tour Option: $277

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cleveland $32
    San Diego $38

Tours and Activities in Cleveland

For Cleveland, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 60's Throwback Shopping Tour: $375
  • Casual Wine transportation tour: $225
  • Cleveland History Center General Admission Entry Ticket: $12
  • Downtown Cleveland Smartphone-Guided Walking Tour: $24
  • Private Wine Full Day Tour from Atlanta City by Luxury Vehicle: $987
  • Romantic tour in Cleveland: $498
  • Skip the Line: GRAMMY Museum Mississippi General Admission Ticket: $14
  • Spring Break GREECE Tour: $3,700
  • Stradbroke Island Adventure: $672
  • The Original Cleveland Brew Tour: $108
  • The best of Cleveland walking tour: $498
  • Virtual Tour of the Lake Erie Shoreline via Coastal Trail: $10

Typical Entertainment prices in San Diego

For San Diego, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • San Diego Zoo
    $15
  • Sea World Parking
    $12

Tours and Activities in San Diego

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Diego.

  • 1-Hour Voodoo Escape Room Experience in San Diego: $35
  • 1Hr GPS Guided Scooter Tour: Harbor/Gaslamp Quarter: $63
  • 2 Hour Whale Watching Kayak Tour for Two: $77
  • 4 Hour Whale Watching/Eco Adventure: $163
  • Affordable, Luxury Sailing Tour of San Diego's Bay and Coastal Waterways: $112
  • All Day San Diego City and Shopping Tour: $95
  • All Inclusive Beer Tour-Party bus: $169
  • Behind-the-Scenes at Petco Park Tour: $23
  • Brothels, Bites and Booze: A Culinary Tour of San Diego's Questionable Past: $69
  • Catamaran Sailing Cruise on San Diego Bay for up to 12 Guests: $1,200
  • Catamaran Sailing Cruise on San Diego Bay for up to 6 Guests: $600
  • Coastal Beauty - Private Sunset & Night Photography Tour: $455

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cleveland $36
    San Diego $17
Typical Alcohol prices in Cleveland

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Cleveland are as follows:


  • A Night of Shots
    $36

Sample the Local Flavors in Cleveland

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cleveland:

  • Cleveland Bar Hunt: Cleveland Climax Bar Crawl: $12
  • Brewery Tour with Craft Beer Tastings and Lunch: $105

Sample the Local Flavors in San Diego

Also in San Diego, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • San Diego Bar Hunt: Slammin' San Diego Bar Crawl: $12
  • Wine Tasting Or Beer Tasting: $15
  • San Diego Brewery Tour: $85
  • San Diego Micro Brewery Tour: $91
  • The San Diego Downtown Craft Brewery Tour: $95
  • The San Diego Downtown Craft Brewery Tour: $101
  • Private San Diego Brewery Tour: $107
  • All inclusive brewery tour-Fire Truck: $189
  • Luxury Private Wine Tasting Tour to Guadalupe Valley from San Diego.: $249
  • Private Wine Tour of Temecula from San Diego: $475

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cleveland and San Diego, we can see that San Diego is more expensive. And not only is Cleveland much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cleveland would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cleveland 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 Diego would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Diego than you might in Cleveland.


When is the best time to visit Cleveland or San Diego?

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 Cleveland or San Diego in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Cleveland and San Diego. Also, many visitors come to San Diego in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Cleveland is around the same temperature as San Diego. Typically, the summer temperatures in Cleveland in July are around 75°F (24°C), and San Diego is about 71°F (22°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Diego this time of the year. In Cleveland, it's very sunny this time of the year. Cleveland usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Diego during summer. Cleveland gets 307 hours of sunny skies, while San Diego receives 306 hours of full sun in the summer.

Cleveland gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Cleveland usually receives more rain than San Diego. Cleveland gets 4 inches (101 mm) of rain, while San Diego receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Cleveland 75°F (24°C) 
    San Diego 71°F (22°C)

Should I visit Cleveland or San Diego in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Cleveland as well as San Diego. Also, most visitors come to San Diego for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In October, Cleveland is generally much colder than San Diego. Temperatures in Cleveland average around 56°F (13°C), and San Diego stays around 68°F (20°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Diego. In the autumn, Cleveland often gets less sunshine than San Diego. Cleveland gets 165 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Diego receives 244 hours of full sun.

Cleveland usually gets more rain in October than San Diego. Cleveland gets 1.9 inches (49 mm) of rain, while San Diego receives 0.4 inches (9 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Cleveland 56°F (13°C) 
    San Diego 68°F (20°C)

Should I visit Cleveland or San Diego in the Winter?

Both San Diego and Cleveland are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, the winter months attract visitors to San Diego because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Cleveland can be very cold during winter. Cleveland is much colder than San Diego in the winter. The temperature in Cleveland is usually 28°F (-2°C) in January, and San Diego stays around 57°F (14°C).

It's quite sunny in San Diego. Cleveland usually receives less sunshine than San Diego during winter. Cleveland gets 95 hours of sunny skies, while San Diego receives 239 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Cleveland usually receives less rain than San Diego. Cleveland gets 1.5 inches (39 mm) of rain, while San Diego receives 1.8 inches (46 mm) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Cleveland 28°F (-2°C) 
    San Diego 57°F (14°C)

Should I visit Cleveland or San Diego in the Spring?

Both San Diego and Cleveland during the spring are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty are the main draw to San Diego this time of year.

In the spring, Cleveland is much colder than San Diego. Typically, the spring temperatures in Cleveland in April are around 51°F (10°C), and San Diego is about 62°F (17°C).

In San Diego, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Cleveland. In the spring, Cleveland often gets less sunshine than San Diego. Cleveland gets 213 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Diego receives 277 hours of full sun.

Cleveland usually gets more rain in April than San Diego. Cleveland gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while San Diego receives 0.8 inches (20 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Cleveland 51°F (10°C) 
    San Diego 62°F (17°C)

Typical Weather for San Diego and Cleveland

Cleveland San Diego
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 28°F (-2°C) 1.5 inches (39 mm) 57°F (14°C) 1.8 inches (46 mm)
Feb 30°F (-1°C) 1.5 inches (37 mm) 59°F (15°C) 1.5 inches (39 mm)
Mar 40°F (5°C) 1.9 inches (49 mm) 59°F (15°C) 1.8 inches (45 mm)
Apr 51°F (10°C) 2.8 inches (71 mm) 62°F (17°C) 0.8 inches (20 mm)
May 61°F (16°C) 2.6 inches (67 mm) 64°F (18°C) 0.2 inches (5 mm)
Jun 71°F (21°C) 2.5 inches (64 mm) 67°F (19°C) 0.1 inches (2 mm)
Jul 75°F (24°C) 4 inches (101 mm) 71°F (22°C) 0 inches (1 mm)
Aug 73°F (23°C) 2.4 inches (60 mm) 73°F (23°C) 0.1 inches (3 mm)
Sep 67°F (19°C) 3 inches (75 mm) 71°F (22°C) 0.2 inches (6 mm)
Oct 56°F (13°C) 1.9 inches (49 mm) 68°F (20°C) 0.4 inches (9 mm)
Nov 45°F (7°C) 2.2 inches (57 mm) 62°F (17°C) 1.5 inches (37 mm)
Dec 34°F (1°C) 2.2 inches (55 mm) 57°F (14°C) 1.6 inches (40 mm)


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Cleveland vs. San Diego Travel Comparison

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