Which city is cheaper, San Diego or Detroit?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Detroit 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.
Detroit is the largest city in the Midwestern state of Michigan. Near Downtown, the neoclassical Detroit Institute of Arts is famed for the Detroit Industry Murals painted by Diego Rivera, and inspired by the city's ties to the auto industry, giving it the nickname "Motor City." Detroit is also the birthplace of Motown Records, whose chart-topping history is on display at their original headquarters, Hitsville U.S.A.
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.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Detroit is $112, 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 Detroit and San Diego in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Detroit 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.
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.
Also for Detroit, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Also for San Diego, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both San Diego and Detroit 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.
For Detroit, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to San Diego:
For San Diego, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
For Detroit, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
For San Diego, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Diego.
Also in San Diego, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Detroit and San Diego, we can see that San Diego is more expensive. And not only is Detroit much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Detroit would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Detroit 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 Detroit.
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 Detroit 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.
Detroit is around the same temperature as San Diego in the summer. The temperature in Detroit is usually 74°F (24°C) in July, and San Diego stays around 71°F (22°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Diego this time of the year. In Detroit, it's very sunny this time of the year. Detroit usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Diego during summer. Detroit gets 319 hours of sunny skies, while San Diego receives 306 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Detroit usually receives more rain than San Diego. Detroit gets 3.4 inches (85 mm) of rain, while San Diego receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
The autumn brings many poeple to Detroit 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 the autumn, Detroit is much colder than San Diego. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Detroit in October are around 54°F (12°C), and San Diego is about 68°F (20°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Diego. In the autumn, Detroit often gets less sunshine than San Diego. Detroit gets 172 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Diego receives 244 hours of full sun.
Detroit usually gets more rain in October than San Diego. Detroit gets 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain, while San Diego receives 0.4 inches (9 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Both San Diego and Detroit 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.
Detroit can be very cold during winter. In January, Detroit is generally much colder than San Diego. Temperatures in Detroit average around 25°F (-4°C), and San Diego stays around 57°F (14°C).
It's quite sunny in San Diego. Detroit usually receives less sunshine than San Diego during winter. Detroit gets 120 hours of sunny skies, while San Diego receives 239 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Detroit usually receives more rain than San Diego. Detroit gets 2 inches (50 mm) of rain, while San Diego receives 1.8 inches (46 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
Both San Diego and Detroit 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.
Detroit is much colder than San Diego in the spring. The temperature in Detroit is usually 49°F (9°C) in April, and San Diego stays around 62°F (17°C).
In San Diego, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Detroit. In the spring, Detroit often gets less sunshine than San Diego. Detroit gets 223 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Diego receives 277 hours of full sun.
Detroit usually gets more rain in April than San Diego. Detroit gets 3.2 inches (80 mm) of rain, while San Diego receives 0.8 inches (20 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Detroit | San Diego | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 25°F (-4°C) | 2 inches (50 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 1.8 inches (46 mm) |
Feb | 27°F (-3°C) | 2.1 inches (54 mm) | 59°F (15°C) | 1.5 inches (39 mm) |
Mar | 37°F (3°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) | 59°F (15°C) | 1.8 inches (45 mm) |
Apr | 49°F (9°C) | 3.2 inches (80 mm) | 62°F (17°C) | 0.8 inches (20 mm) |
May | 60°F (16°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 0.2 inches (5 mm) |
Jun | 70°F (21°C) | 3.8 inches (97 mm) | 67°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
Jul | 74°F (24°C) | 3.4 inches (85 mm) | 71°F (22°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) |
Aug | 73°F (23°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) | 73°F (23°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
Sep | 65°F (19°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) | 71°F (22°C) | 0.2 inches (6 mm) |
Oct | 54°F (12°C) | 2.3 inches (58 mm) | 68°F (20°C) | 0.4 inches (9 mm) |
Nov | 43°F (6°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) | 62°F (17°C) | 1.5 inches (37 mm) |
Dec | 31°F (-1°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 1.6 inches (40 mm) |
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