Should you visit Durham or San Antonio?
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 Durham and San Antonio can help you decide which place is right for you.
Durham
Durham is a city in central North Carolina with about 230,000 residents. Together with Raleigh and Chapel Hill, it forms the Research Triangle area. Durham is often referred to as the "City of Medicine" and is home to the famous Duke University.
Durham's history is rooted in tobacco. The Duke family established American Tobacco, which controlled 90% of all cigarette production in the US during the second half of the 19th century. The family donated money to Trinity College, which changed its name to Duke University in 1924.
Today much of Durham's economy is centered around the university and Research Triangle Park. The area has many technology and pharmaceutical jobs and the economy continues to grow.
San Antonio
The third largest city in Texas, San Antonio, has grown in recent years as a popular travel destination. It's a beautiful city that is strategically situated at the edge of Texas's Hill Country near the South Texas Plains and Prairie Lakes areas. The city holds on to its small town feel despite having a population of about 1.4 million and 2.3 million in the greater metropolitan area. The city holds tight to its Spanish and Mexican heritage, making it a fascinating cultural destination. The Hispanic population has much influence in the city and this makes it a fun and unique city to visit, particularly during Fiesta week, which is an annual celebration with parades, music and food.
Which city is cheaper, San Antonio or Durham?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Durham is $130, while the average daily cost in San Antonio is $106. 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 Durham and San Antonio in more detail.
Accommodation
Durham's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $146. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $73.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $110 for a double occupancy room in San Antonio.
Food
On average, meal and food prices in Durham cost around $35 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $14.
In San Antonio travelers spend around $32 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.
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Food
Meals for one day
Durham $35
San Antonio $32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Antonio
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Antonio.
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San Antonio Walking Food Tour: Downtown Delicacies:
$66
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $26 per day to get around in Durham.
The cost of a taxi ride in San Antonio is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $16 per person, per day, on local transportation in San Antonio.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Durham
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Durham:
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Durham to Raleigh-Durham Airport (RDU) - Departure Private Transfer:
$139
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Private Transfer from Durham to Manchester Airport (MAN):
$407
Typical Local Transportation prices in San Antonio
Some typical examples of transportation costs in San Antonio are as follows:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Antonio
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Antonio:
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Private Arrival Transfer from San Antonio Airport SAT:
$35
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Private Departure Transfer to San Antonio Airport SAT:
$35
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San Antonio International Airport One Way Transfer:
$53
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Private Transfer from San Antonio to San Antonio Airport:
$78
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Private Transfer from San Antonio Airport to San Antonio City:
$78
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San Antonio Airport (SAT) to San Antonio - Arrival Private Transfer:
$93
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San Antonio to San Antonio Airport (SAT) - Departure Private Transfer:
$93
-
Private transfer San Antonio Pier to Airport:
$125
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Transfer from San Antonio port in small groups + Cultural city tour in Santiago:
$128
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Private San Antonio Transfer: Hotel to Airport:
$138
-
Private San Antonio Transfer: Airport to Hotel:
$147
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San Antonio Airport (SAT) to San Antonio - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$187
Is it cheaper to fly into Durham or San Antonio?
Prices for flights to both San Antonio and Durham 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
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $21 per person, per day in Durham. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Entertainment and activities in San Antonio typically cost an average of $28 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Tours and Activities in Durham
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Durham are as follows:
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Trolley Pub Public Tour of Durham:
$41
Typical Entertainment prices in San Antonio
Here are a few typical costs in San Antonio for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in San Antonio
Here are a few actual costs in San Antonio for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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San Antonio Ranger Creek Brewstillery Tour:
$13
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Skip the Line: San Antonio Zoo General Admission Ticket:
$17
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LEGOLAND Discovery Center San Antonio Admission Ticket:
$18
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San Antonio Ghost Walking Tour:
$18
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Walking Ghost Tour of Downtown San Antonio:
$19
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River City Ghost Walking Tour of San Antonio:
$20
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Ripley's San Antonio Haunted Adventure Haunted House:
$20
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San Antonio Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$21
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San Antonio Haunted History Ghost Tour:
$21
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The Madames and Mayhem Walking Ghost Tour:
$23
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Mutiny: Pirate Adventure Escape Room at Extreme Escape San Antonio:
$32
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Trapped Below: Underground Escape Room Adventure at Extreme Escape San Antonio:
$32
Alcohol
The average person spends about $27 on alcoholic beverages in Durham per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in San Antonio
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Antonio:
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Epic San Antonio Bar Crawl: By Let’s Roam:
$12
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Haunted San Antonio Ghost and Pub Walking Tour:
$27
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Texas Hill Country and LBJ Ranch Tour with Wine Tasting Options:
$109
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Taste of Fredericksburg Wine Tour from San Antonio:
$149
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San Antonio port, wine tasting an off the beaten path destination:
$151
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Fredericksburg Wine Tour with Five Winery Stops:
$325
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Fredericksburg Wine Tour with Five Winery Stops and Transport to Local Eatery:
$375
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Durham and San Antonio, we can see that Durham is more expensive. And not only is San Antonio much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to San Antonio would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Antonio 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 Durham would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Durham than you might in San Antonio.
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