Should you visit Detroit or San Diego?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Detroit or San Diego, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Detroit
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.
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 Detroit?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Detroit is $107, 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. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Detroit and San Diego in more detail.
Accommodation
The prices for places to stay in Detroit can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $51, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $102.
For a normal double-occupancy room in San Diego, $182 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in San Diego, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $91, such as in a hostel.
Food
In Detroit travelers spend around $36 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.
The price of a meal in San Diego can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $36 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $14 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
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Food
Meals for one day
Detroit $36
San Diego $36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Detroit
For Detroit, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Fresh Mediterranean Inspired Cooking Class in a Unique Detroit Home:
$94
-
Detroit Revival Food Tours:
$139
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
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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:
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San Diego North Park Food Tour:
$49
-
Liberty Station Food Tour:
$49
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Market and Guacamole Cooking Class in Tijuana Mexico:
$89
-
Private Cooking Demonstration of Indian Fusion Cuisine in San Diego:
$96
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Farmers Market Tour & Social Cooking With A Chef:
$100
-
San Diego Harbor Dinner Cruise:
$111
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Dinner Cruise:
$117
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Private Tour: Secret Food Tours San Diego:
$129
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Secret Food Tours San Diego w/ Private Tour Option:
$277
Local Transportation
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Detroit than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $30 on transportation in Detroit on average per day.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in San Diego than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $19 on transportation in San Diego on average per day.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Detroit
Also for Detroit, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Transfer: Detroit to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW):
$622
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Detroit Airport (DTW) to Detroit City - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$212
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Private Transfer From Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to Detroit City: One Way Arrival Transfer:
$149
-
Private Transfer from Detroit City to Detroit (DTW) Airport:
$122
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Private Transfer from Detroit (DTW) Airport to Detroit City:
$122
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Detroit Airport (DTW) to Detroit City - Arrival Private Transfer:
$106
-
Detroit City to Detroit Airport (DTW) - Departure Private Transfer:
$106
-
Transfer from Detroit Metropolitan Airport to Detroit:
$100
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Detroit - Wayne County Airport One Way Transfer:
$80
-
Private Departure Transfer to Detroit Airport DTW:
$43
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Diego
Also for San Diego, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Transfer from San Diego International Airport to San Diego:
$62
-
Tijuana Border Crossing Private Transfer To Los Angeles.:
$398
-
Private 1-Way Private Airport Transfer:
$66
-
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
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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 Detroit or San Diego?
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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing expenses in Detroit, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $17 per day, per person.
Sightseeing expenses in San Diego, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $38 per day, per person.
Tours and Activities in Detroit
For Detroit, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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2020 Preservation Detroit Saturday Eastern Market Tour:
$18
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90 minute Segway Experience:
$64
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Detroit Beer History Walking Tour:
$39
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Detroit Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$30
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Detroit Walking Tour Including Rides on the People Mover:
$29
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Corktown is Popping! Small Group Walking Tour:
$29
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Downtown Detroit Walking Tour with a Local:
$29
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Foods and Flavors of Detroit Private Tour:
$130
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Ford Piquette Avenue Plant Entry & Guided Tour:
$15
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The Rise, Fall & Renewal Walking Tour:
$29
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Pre Mother's Day Detroit Shopping Tour:
$49
Typical Entertainment prices in San Diego
For San Diego, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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San Diego Zoo
$15
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Sea World Parking
$12
Tours and Activities in San Diego
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Diego.
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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
-
90-Minute San Diego SEAL Tour:
$42
-
Affordable, Luxury Sailing Tour of San Diego's Bay and Coastal Waterways:
$112
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All Day San Diego City and Shopping Tour:
$95
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All Inclusive Beer Tour-Party bus:
$169
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Behind-the-Scenes at Petco Park Tour:
$23
-
Brothels, Bites and Booze: A Culinary Tour of San Diego's Questionable Past:
$69
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Catamaran Sailing Cruise on San Diego Bay for up to 12 Guests:
$1,200
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Catamaran Sailing Cruise on San Diego Bay for up to 6 Guests:
$600
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Detroit spend on average $16 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In San Diego, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $17.
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:
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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
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The San Diego Downtown Craft Brewery Tour:
$95
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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
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Private Wine Tour of Temecula from San Diego:
$475
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.
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