Which place is cheaper, San Diego or Doha?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Doha or San Diego?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Doha and San Diego can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Doha or San Diego?
Doha
Doha is the capital city of Qatar, modern and rapidly developing with much construction underway. It is home to Doha International Airport, the main point of entry for Qatar, as well as many of the country's best museums and examples of cultural heritage.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, and The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDoha $200San Diego $202
The average daily cost (per person) in Doha is $200, while the average daily cost in San Diego is $202. 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 Doha and San Diego in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDoha $119San Diego $115
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDoha $238San Diego $230
Compare Hotels in Doha and San Diego
Looking for a hotel in Doha 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Doha Hotel Prices and San Diego Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Doha $23San Diego $24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Doha
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Doha:
- Private Full Day City Sightseeing Tour with Transfer: $243
- Private Transfer from Doha City to Doha (DOH) Airport: $191
- Qatar Doha Hamad Airport (DOH): Transfer to Doha city: $177
- Qatar Doha Airport (DOH) to Doha - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $144
- Doha Hamad Airport (DOH) to Doha - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $131
- ONE WAY: Doha International Airport - Private Transfer From/to Hotels: $122
- Departure Transfer: Doha to Hamad Airport DOH by Luxury Van: $120
- Airport Transfer: Doha to Doha Airport DOH by Luxury Van: $120
- Private Arrival Transfer - Al Khor: $120
- Private Sightseeing Tour in Doha with Roundtrip Transfer: $115
- Airport Transfer: Doha to Doha Airport DOH by Luxury Car: $108
- Private Arrival Transfer to Sumaysimah: $100
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Diego
Also for San Diego, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- San Diego Airport (SAN) to Carlsbad, CA - Arrival Private Transfer: $74
- Arrival Private Transfer San Diego Airport SAN to San Diego City by Business Car: $111
- Arrival Private Transfer San Diego Airport SAN to San Diego by Executive SUV: $134
- Arrival Private Transfer: San Diego Airport SAN to San Diego in Business Car: $103
- Arrival Private Transfer: San Diego Airport SAN to San Diego in Luxury SUV: $115
- Departure Private Transfer San Diego to San Diego Airport SAN in Business Car: $92
- Departure Private Transfer: San Diego to San Diego Airport SAN in Business Car: $103
- Departure Private Transfer: San Diego to San Diego Airport SAN in Luxury SUV: $115
- Private Arrival Transfer - from San Diego Airport (SAN) by SUV: $82
- Private Arrival Transfer from San Diego Airport SAN: $56
- Private Departure Transfer to San Diego Airport SAN: $50
- Private Transfer Airport Tijuana/Valle de Guadalupe (Ensenada) or back.: $178
Is it cheaper to fly into Doha or San Diego?
Prices for flights to both San Diego and Doha 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 dayDoha $61San Diego $45
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Doha
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Doha.
- Private Dinner on Al Safliya Island: $76
- Private Souk Waqif with Lunch or Dinner Tour: $96
- The Pearl-Qatar Food Tour & Boat Ride: $119
- Half Day Doha City Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $143
- BBQ Dinner in the desert resort; Dune bashing & camel ride: $165
- Doha Private Full Day Desert Safari Lunch | Dinner Included: $190
- Full Day Desert Safari with Camp Access, Buffet Dinner,Camel Ride: $195
- Doha : Full Day Desert Safari | BBQ Dinner | Inland sea: $197
- Private Desert Safari with BBQ Lunch/Dinner at Souk Al Wakra: $202
- Full Day Desert Private Safari with Lunch or Dinner: $214
- Private Overnight Desert Safari, Dune bashing, dinner & Breakfast: $220
- From Overnight Desert Safari with BBQ Dinner: $240
Typical Food Prices in San Diego
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to San Diego:
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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:
- Pizza and Gelato Tour in San Diego: $80
- Old Town Tequila and Tacos Walking Food Tour: $85
- San Diego Vegan Food Tour: $85
- Gaslamp Quarter Food Tour: $89
- Gaslamp Quarter Downtown San Diego Food Tour: $89
- San Diego Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $95
- San Diego, Seaport Village: Waterfront Walking Food Tour: $99
- Seaport Village Food Tour in San Diego : $99
- Guided Secret Food Tour: $103
- Scenic Buffet Dinner Cruise: $108
- San Diego Dinner Cruise: $116
- Gourmet Dinner Cruise: $118
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Doha $18San Diego $48
Tours and Activities in Doha
Here are a few actual costs in Doha for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Doha City Tour And Dhow Boat Ride (Private Tour): $99
- Private Express Doha City Tour: $165
- Transit/Layover Tours from Doha Airport – Explore Doha City : $105
- (Private) Quickie to the Desert Safari Experience - Inland Sea Visit: $100
- 1 Hour Camel Ride Experience in Sealine Beach: $172
- 3-Hour Kayaking Eco Adventure - Mangrove Purple Island : $70
- 4 Hours-Doha City Private Tour: $74
- 4-Hour Private Group City Tour in Doha, Qatar: $72
- 4-Hour Private Group City Tour in Doha, Qatar: $70
- 4-Hour Private Tour to Msheireb Museums: $100
- 8-Hour Private Cultural Tour: $288
- Arabian Sands Half-Day Adventure in Qatar: $140
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.
- Pies & Pickaxes: A Historic Walking Tour of Julian, CA: $4.49
- Waterfront Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $7.31
- Sights of San Diego Harbor: a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $7.99
- A Seaside Stroll: La Jolla's Hidden Treasures Self-Guided Tour: $9.99
- Historical Walking Tour of San Diego: $10
- Beaches & Bluffs San Diego's Ultimate Coastal Driving Tour: $12
- San Diego Natural History Museum Ticket: $12
- Haunted Historic Whaley House - Self-Guided Tour: $14
- Apple Pies & Desert Skies: A Self-Guided Driving Tour: $15
- Explore Balboa in a Private Tour of San Diego Hidden Gems: $20
- San Diego's Historic Treasures and Old Town Tour: $20
- Private Walking Tour and Gaslamp Adventure in San Diego: $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDoha $15San Diego $21
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: $13
- History Tour Pub Crawl of Famous Gaslamp Quarter: $30
- Brewery Tour with Tastings and Food Pairings: $85
- Vino! Vino! Little Italy Wine Tasting Walking Tour: $125
- Little Italy Wine Tasting Walking Tour: $125
- Private Wine Tasting Tour in Valle de Guadalupe: $133
- Cruise & Booze Brewery tours : $149
- Baja Tour Guide wine tour: $169
- Sidecar Wine Tasting Tour: $199
- Brewery and Tap Room Sidecar Tour: $199
- California Sunset Brewery Tour: $199
- Brewery and Beer Tasting Tour in San Diego: $215
When comparing the travel costs between Doha and San Diego, we can see that San Diego 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. Even though Doha is in Middle East and San Diego is in North America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Doha Expensive? and Is San Diego Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Doha or San Diego?
San Diego has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Doha. When comparing the sizes of Doha and San Diego, 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.
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.