Which place is cheaper, San Francisco or Dayton?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Dayton or San Francisco?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Dayton or San Francisco, 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: Dayton or San Francisco?
Dayton
Located in southwest Ohio, Dayton is known as the "Gem City." It's the original home of Orville and Wilbur Wright, the brothers who designed the first airplane. You'll also find the Dayton Aviation Heritage Park here, which is one of the only multi-site National Parks in the United States. The cities climate has four different seasons, winter, spring, summer and fall. The winter months are quite cold and you can expect a decent amount of snow in the area. Spring remains cool and there are infrequent showers. This is also the peak time for tornadoes in the area. Summer is hot and humid and can be unpleasant at times, but fall is crisp and refreshing with occasional storms and infrequent tornadoes.
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 Luxury Tours to United States of America, The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America, and The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDayton $323San Francisco $222
The average daily cost (per person) in Dayton is $323, while the average daily cost in San Francisco is $222. 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 Dayton and San Francisco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDayton $250San Francisco $130
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDayton $500San Francisco $260
Compare Hotels in Dayton and San Francisco
Looking for a hotel in Dayton 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: Dayton Hotel Prices and San Francisco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dayton $25San Francisco $16
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:
- Private One-way Airport Transfer (San Francisco Airport To/From San Francisco): $16
- Private Departure Transfer to San Francisco Airport SFO: $44
- Private Arrival Transfer from San Francisco Airport SFO: $44
- San Francisco Airport to San Francisco Private Arrival Transfer: $78
- Round trip transfer in private vehicle from-to Airport in San Francisco: $80
- SFO Airport Private Transfer to/from Downtown San Francisco: $96
- Arrival Private Transfer: Airport SFO to San Francisco in Business Car: $108
- Private Transfer from San Francisco to Airport SFO in Business Car: $108
- San Francisco Airport (SFO) to San Francisco - Arrival Private Transfer: $110
- San Francisco to San Francisco Airport (SFO) - Departure Private Transfer: $110
- Private Airport Transfer from SFO to San Francisco (One-way): $110
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in San Francisco HTL-APT (SFO): $119
Is it cheaper to fly into Dayton or San Francisco?
Prices for flights to both San Francisco and Dayton 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 dayDayton $61San Francisco $46
Typical Food Prices in Dayton
Some typical examples of dining costs in Dayton are as follows:
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Noodle Company Lunch (for 2)$17
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Indian Food Dinner (for 2)$34
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:
- San Francisco Virtual Food Tour with Local Guide: $19
- North Beach and Little Italy Food Tour: $79
- Secret Food Tours San Francisco: $83
- Mission District Food Tour with Tastings: $85
- Farmers' Market & Ferry Building Food Tour: $87
- San Francisco Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $89
- Mission District Food Tour: $89
- Mission District Walking Food Tour: $89
- Chinatown Walking Food Tour: $89
- San Francisco North Beach Food Tour: $89
- San Francisco Food Tour: Ferry Building and Ferry Plaza Farmers Market: $90
- Secret Food Tour of North Beach and Chinatown: $96
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dayton -San Francisco $46
Tours and Activities in Dayton
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Dayton are as follows:
- Daytona Beach: Guided Kayaking or Standup Paddling Tour: $65
Tours and Activities in San Francisco
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Francisco.
- San Francisco self-guided tour App - multilingual AudioGuide: $4.26
- Golden Gate Bridge: Self-guided Tour App - Audio + Written: $5.00
- Embarcadero Self-Guided Audio Smartphone Tour: $5.99
- San Francisco’s Chinatown on foot: A Self Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Leave your heart at the Wharf: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour of Japantown & Stories: $6.99
- The Ghosts of San Francisco Haunted Audio App Walking Tour: $6.99
- Ghosts & Hauntings Audio App Walking Tour: $6.99
- San Francisco's Castro Neighborhood: Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Design in the Financial District Audio Tour: $7.99
- Secrets of Golden Gate Park Audio Tour: $7.99
- San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf Private 1-Hour Walking Tour: $9.00
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 dayDayton -San Francisco $22
Sample the Local Flavors in Dayton
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dayton:
- Dive Bar Bus Crawl: $38
Sample the Local Flavors in San Francisco
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in San Francisco:
- Chinatown San Francisco’s Bar Crawl: An Audio Tour: $4.99
- Ghosts, Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- Sunset Distillery with Local Whiskey or Cocktail Tasting: $40
- Walk with Spirits: A Haunted Pub Crawl in San Francisco: $45
- Wine Tasting on the Bay: $85
- Half-Day Wine Country Tour with Wine Tastings: $126
- The Ultimate Napa & Sonoma Wine Tour: $139
- The Ultimate Napa and Sonoma Wine Tour: $139
- Small Group: The Ultimate Napa & Sonoma Wine Tour: $139
- From The Ultimate Napa and Sonoma Wine Tour: $139
- Alcatraz and Sausalito California Wine Tasting Experience: $150
- Napa and Sonoma Valley Wine Tour: $159
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dayton and San Francisco, we can see that Dayton is more expensive. And not only is San Francisco much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to San Francisco would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Francisco 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 Dayton would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dayton than you might in San Francisco.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dayton Expensive? and Is San Francisco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dayton or San Francisco?
San Francisco has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Dayton. When comparing the sizes of Dayton 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 Dayton or San Francisco?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Dayton or San Francisco in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Dayton as well as San Francisco. Also, the beaches, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to San Francisco this time of year.
Dayton is a little warmer than San Francisco in the summer. The daily temperature in Dayton averages around 78°F (26°C) in July, and San Francisco fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).
Dayton usually gets more rain in July than San Francisco. Dayton gets 3.4 inches (86 mm) 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 JulyDayton 78°F (26°C)San Francisco 63°F (17°C)
Should I visit Dayton or San Francisco in the Autumn?
Both San Francisco and Dayton are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to San Francisco for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Dayton is cooler than San Francisco. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Dayton in October average around 57°F (14°C), and San Francisco averages at about 63°F (17°C).
In October, Dayton usually receives more rain than San Francisco. Dayton gets 2.5 inches (64 mm) 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 OctoberDayton 57°F (14°C)San Francisco 63°F (17°C)
Should I visit Dayton or San Francisco in the Winter?
Both San Francisco and Dayton during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many visitors come to San Francisco in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Dayton. In January, Dayton is generally much colder than San Francisco. Daily temperatures in Dayton average around 30°F (-1°C), and San Francisco fluctuates around 50°F (10°C).
Dayton usually gets less rain in January than San Francisco. Dayton gets 2.1 inches (54 mm) 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 JanuaryDayton 30°F (-1°C)San Francisco 50°F (10°C)
Should I visit Dayton or San Francisco in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Dayton and San Francisco. Furthermore, most visitors come to San Francisco for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty during these months.
Dayton is cooler than San Francisco in the spring. The daily temperature in Dayton averages around 55°F (13°C) in April, and San Francisco fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).
In April, Dayton usually receives more rain than San Francisco. Dayton gets 3.5 inches (88 mm) 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 AprilDayton 55°F (13°C)San Francisco 58°F (14°C)
Typical Weather for San Francisco and Dayton
| Dayton | San Francisco | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 30°F (-1°C) | 2.1 inches (54 mm) | 50°F (10°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
| Feb | 33°F (1°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| Mar | 44°F (7°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) | 56°F (13°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| Apr | 55°F (13°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) | 58°F (14°C) | 1.2 inches (31 mm) |
| May | 65°F (18°C) | 4 inches (102 mm) | 60°F (15°C) | 0.2 inches (5 mm) |
| Jun | 74°F (23°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) | 62°F (17°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
| Jul | 78°F (26°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Aug | 76°F (25°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 0.1 inches (1 mm) |
| Sep | 69°F (21°C) | 2.6 inches (65 mm) | 66°F (19°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) |
| Oct | 57°F (14°C) | 2.5 inches (64 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 1.3 inches (33 mm) |
| Nov | 47°F (8°C) | 3.1 inches (80 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Dec | 35°F (2°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) | 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.