Which place is cheaper, San Antonio or Dallas?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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 Dallas and San Antonio can help you decide which place is right for you.
Dallas is a active, upscale, and chic city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Dallas travel costs.
San Antonio is a festive, fun, and historic city. San Antonio is a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife. See San Antonio travel costs.
Travelers will usually find more to do in Dallas. Although Dallas and San Antonio are popular destinations, Dallas has more sights and attractions for tourists. Dallas is very popular for its nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while San Antonio attracts visitors for its music, historical sights, and impressive beauty. San Antonio is more touristy than Dallas and is known for being the home to the Alamo, the popular RiverWalk area, and several world-class amusement parks. Dallas is famous for its Tex Mex cuisine, upscale shopping venues, and cowboy culture. It is also well known for the Sixth Floor Museum.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between San Antonio and Dallas. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Plenty of people visit the high quality sights and museums in both Dallas and San Antonio.
Many visitors head to Dallas specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. Museums range from historical to art and science with some of the favorites being the Dallas Contemporary Museum, the African American Museum, the Dallas Museum of Art, and the Frontiers of Flight Museum. The city is also home to the George W. Bush Presidential Library and the Nasher Sculpture Center. A must-see is the Sixth Floor Museum, which is in historic Dealey Plaza and is where Lee Harvey Oswald fired the shots that killed JFK. Today there's a museum that goes over the events of that day.
With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to San Antonio can be an interesting and educational experience. It is known for its role in American history, and the city is famous as the location of the Alamo. It's also where you'll find the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park & Mission Trail, the San Antonio Museum of Art, Witte Museum, and the Guinness World Records Museum, among others.
There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at high quality restaurants in both Dallas and San Antonio.
Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Dallas. There's a perfect combination of Texas cuisine and international flavors. You'll find Texas barbecue, Tex Mex, and steakhouses intermixed with Thai, Japanese, and Caribbean cuisine. There's also a great food truck scene and many local eateries.
San Antonio has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. You'll find a mix of amazing and authentic Mexican food, simpler Tex Mex, and a number of Hill Country specialties. The city is filled with comfort food and the restaurants reflect the diverse character of the population. Popular local dishes include tacos, sweet potato fries, and chicken fried steak.
Dallas is a great destination for nightlife. Also, San Antonio is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife and partying.
The people in Dallas know how to have a good time. Head to East Dallas for the most active clubs with large dance floors and great music. The city also has rooftop lounges and plenty of live music as well as comedy clubs.
If you're looking for night time activities San Antonio has a few options to choose from. The city's nightlife scene is diverse, with dance halls, breweries, and clubs. It has seen a recent boom in dance clubs, so there are plenty of places to party hard, or to have a more relaxing night out. The RiverWalk is at the heart of the city's nightlife scene, particularly for tourists. Many conferences stay at hotels near the RiverWalk, so it's not uncommon to see professionals out and about after a day of networking.
San Antonio is very good for its live music scene. However, Dallas is not a live music destination.
Music lovers will find a few good venues in San Antonio. It's worth checking out The Aztec Theater, Sam's Burger Joint, and 502 Bar.
Dallas is not a live music destination.
San Antonio is very good for its old town. However, Dallas does not have a historic old town.
Many people head to San Antonio to see the old town. The city is famous for its River Walk, which may feel slightly cheesy, but is still a unique and mesmerizing place to wander.
Dallas does not have a historic old town.
Dallas is a great destination for shopping. Also, San Antonio is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping opportunities.
Dallas is an extremely popular place for shoppers. You'll find a very diverse shopping scene around town, with everything from quirky local vendors to upscale fashion boutiques. There are cowboy outfitters where you can get a feel for the Texas style, but there are also posh shopping centers and local flea markets.
Shopping is a popular activity when visiting San Antonio. From souvenir shops to local boutiques and chain stores, there are several shopping options around town. Check out the historic Market Square or the shops at Rivercenter for some of the city's most interesting shopping.
San Antonio is very good for its scenery and beauty. However, Dallas is not a destination known for its beauty.
San Antonio is a beautiful place to visit, too. The RiverWalk feels almost like a European city and its filled with colors and festiveness.
Dallas is not a destination known for its beauty.
San Antonio is renowned for its family-friendly activities. Also, Dallas is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.
San Antonio is one of the most popular family destinations. The RiverWalk is a fun family-friendly area. There's also Six Flags, SeaWorld and the San Antonio Zoo as well as a number of museums and other amusement parks in the area. It's easy to spend days having a great family vacation in this area and you can combine history, culture, and entertainment all in one setting.
You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Dallas. The city is filled with families, and you'll find many kid-friendly activities around town. For some outdoor time you can visit the Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden or the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. The Dallas Zoo is a favorite for many kids and there are also a number of kid-friendly museums around town such as the Perot Museum of Nature and Science and the Dallas World Aquarium.
Dallas is a great destination for romance. Also, San Antonio is still popular, but not quite as popular for its romantic activities.
Couples visit Dallas frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Head to the observation deck at Reunion Tower for spectacular views of the night skyline. The city also has many great comedy clubs and performing arts venues as well as fine dining restaurants that make for a great date night.
San Antonio makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples will enjoy taking a boat ride and exploring the many sites around town. The RiverWalk has many restaurants and a great atmosphere for a date night. There's also the botanical gardens and many outdoor spaces to explore.
San Antonio is very good for students. However, Dallas is not a good city for its student-friendly activities.
San Antonio is a good city to visit for students. There are a couple of colleges in the area. This is also a major conference destination so it's possible to network and meet other professionals.
Dallas is a decent spot for students. There are a couple of universities and colleges in the area that keep things interesting for students.
Dallas is a good destination for its public transit. However, San Antonio is a city with minimal options for times when you don't have a car.
You'll find some public transit in Dallas, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. While it's still very much a car-centered city, the public transportation system, DART, is one of the fastest growing in the country. It includes both light rail and bus service.
Public transit is mostly limited in San Antonio. Buses connect most of the city's tourist attractions, but you'll find life much easier if you have your own car.
Dallas and San Antonio both are reasonable when exploring on foot.
Dallas is generally not very walkable. The city is not particularly walkable, but there are several more walkable areas such as Ellum and Uptown.
San Antonio is generally not a very walkable city. If you stick to the downtown area you will be fine getting around on foot. Outside of that area, you'll need a car.
For even more information, also check out Is Dallas Worth Visiting? and Is San Antonio Worth Visiting?.
Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Dallas and San Antonio. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Dallas than in San Antonio. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Dallas, and 2-3 days is enough time in San Antonio.
Families should spend more time in San Antonio than Dallas. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in San Antonio, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Dallas than San Antonio. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Dallas that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the chic city of Dallas. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.
Many travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of San Antonio. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.
Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the upscale destination of Dallas. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.
San Antonio is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.
The chic city of Dallas offers shopping and museums. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in San Antonio. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Dallas. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.
Travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the historic destination of San Antonio. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco, The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America, and The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
The average daily cost (per person) in Dallas is $166, while the average daily cost in San Antonio 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Dallas and San Antonio in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Dallas or San Antonio? 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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dallas:
Some typical examples of transportation costs in San Antonio are as follows:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Antonio:
Prices for flights to both San Antonio and Dallas 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.
Some typical examples of dining costs in Dallas are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Dallas.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Antonio.
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Dallas are as follows:
Here are a few typical costs in San Antonio for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Here are a few actual costs in San Antonio for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Also in Dallas, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Antonio:
When comparing the travel costs between Dallas and San Antonio, we can see that Dallas is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dallas Expensive? and Is San Antonio Expensive?.
San Antonio has a larger population, and is about 4% larger than the population of Dallas. When comparing the sizes of Dallas and San Antonio, 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.
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.
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Dallas and San Antonio. Many visitors come to Dallas in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, most visitors come to San Antonio for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In July, Dallas is generally around the same temperature as San Antonio. Daily temperatures in Dallas average around 88°F (31°C), and San Antonio fluctuates around 87°F (31°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Antonio this time of the year. In Dallas, it's very sunny this time of the year. Dallas usually receives more sunshine than San Antonio during summer. Dallas gets 337 hours of sunny skies, while San Antonio receives 307 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Dallas usually receives around the same amount of rain as San Antonio. Dallas gets 2.4 inches (60 mm) of rain, while San Antonio receives 2.2 inches (57 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
The autumn brings many poeple to Dallas as well as San Antonio. Most visitors come to Dallas for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months. Additionally, the autumn months attract visitors to San Antonio because of the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Dallas is cooler than San Antonio in the autumn. The daily temperature in Dallas averages around 69°F (21°C) in October, and San Antonio fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Antonio. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Dallas this time of the year. In the autumn, Dallas often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Antonio. Dallas gets 222 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Antonio receives 213 hours of full sun.
Dallas usually gets more rain in October than San Antonio. Dallas gets 3.9 inches (98 mm) of rain, while San Antonio receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Both San Antonio and Dallas are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The winter months attract visitors to Dallas because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to San Antonio this time of year.
In the winter, Dallas is cooler than San Antonio. Typically, the winter temperatures in Dallas in January average around 46°F (8°C), and San Antonio averages at about 54°F (12°C).
Dallas usually receives more sunshine than San Antonio during winter. Dallas gets 183 hours of sunny skies, while San Antonio receives 155 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Dallas usually receives around the same amount of rain as San Antonio. Dallas gets 1.8 inches (45 mm) of rain, while San Antonio receives 1.8 inches (45 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
Both San Antonio and Dallas during the spring are popular places to visit. The activities around the city are the main draw to Dallas this time of year. Also, many travelers come to San Antonio for the natural beauty.
In April, Dallas is generally cooler than San Antonio. Daily temperatures in Dallas average around 68°F (20°C), and San Antonio fluctuates around 74°F (23°C).
In San Antonio, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Dallas. In the spring, Dallas often gets more sunshine than San Antonio. Dallas gets 251 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Antonio receives 216 hours of full sun.
Dallas usually gets more rain in April than San Antonio. Dallas gets 3.9 inches (98 mm) of rain, while San Antonio receives 2.4 inches (60 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Dallas | San Antonio | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 46°F (8°C) | 1.8 inches (45 mm) | 54°F (12°C) | 1.8 inches (45 mm) |
Feb | 51°F (10°C) | 2.3 inches (59 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 1.8 inches (45 mm) |
Mar | 60°F (15°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 65°F (18°C) | 1.7 inches (42 mm) |
Apr | 68°F (20°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) | 74°F (23°C) | 2.4 inches (60 mm) |
May | 76°F (24°C) | 5 inches (128 mm) | 79°F (26°C) | 4.4 inches (111 mm) |
Jun | 83°F (29°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) | 84°F (29°C) | 3.7 inches (94 mm) |
Jul | 88°F (31°C) | 2.4 inches (60 mm) | 87°F (31°C) | 2.2 inches (57 mm) |
Aug | 87°F (31°C) | 2.3 inches (58 mm) | 87°F (31°C) | 2.6 inches (66 mm) |
Sep | 80°F (27°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) | 82°F (28°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) |
Oct | 69°F (21°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) | 73°F (23°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
Nov | 59°F (15°C) | 2.4 inches (60 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 2.6 inches (66 mm) |
Dec | 50°F (10°C) | 1.9 inches (48 mm) | 56°F (13°C) | 1.6 inches (40 mm) |