Which place is cheaper, San Francisco or Guatemala City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Guatemala City or San Francisco?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Guatemala City or San Francisco? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Guatemala City or San Francisco?
Guatemala City
Referred to by the locals as "Guate," Guatemala City is the largest and most modern city in Guatemala, as well as its capital. While the atmosphere of the place is big, dirty, and dangerous with city fumes and skyscrapers, it is the hub of the country. It is the place where travelers first step foot into Guatemala and, though it is a place of modern chaos, it does have some of the best galleries and museums as well as a selection of bars, cafes, and restaurants.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Guatemala, The Best Adventure Tours to Guatemala, The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America.
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Guatemala City Prices
Guatemala PricesSan Francisco Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGuatemala City $56San Francisco $251
The average daily cost (per person) in Guatemala City is $56, while the average daily cost in San Francisco is $251. 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 Guatemala City and San Francisco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGuatemala City $24San Francisco $130
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGuatemala City $48San Francisco $260
Compare Hotels in Guatemala City and San Francisco
Looking for a hotel in Guatemala City 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: Guatemala City Hotel Prices and San Francisco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Guatemala City $6.27San Francisco $16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guatemala City
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guatemala City:
- Private Transfer from Guatemala City to Panajachel or Atitlan: $254
- Private Museums Tour with Transfers: $225
- Private Transfers from Guatemala city to Panajachel: $200
- Private transfer - San Pedro la Laguna to Guatemala City: $200
- Private Transfer - Guatemala Airport (GUA) to Puerto Quetzal Port: $200
- Private Transfer from Guatemala City to Puerto Quetzal Port: $199
- Airport Transfer for Large Groups – Private Bus: $195
- Guatemala Airport (GUA) to San Felipe de Lara - Arrival Transfer: $179
- Guatemala City Airport (GUA) to Quetzaltenango-Arrival Transfer: $160
- Transfer Private Group Airport to Antigua or Viceversa: $120
- Private Transfer from Guatemala Airport GUA to Lake Atitlán: $96
- Private Transfer from Airport to Antigua: $90
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:
- SFO Airport Private Transfer to/from City Center: $31
- Private Arrival Transfer from San Francisco Airport SFO: $44
- San Francisco to San Francisco Airport (SFO) - Departure Private Transfer: $51
- San Francisco to San Francisco Airport (SFO) Private Transfer: $66
- San Francisco City: Private One-Way Transfer From/To SFO: $69
- San Francisco to Oakland Airport (OAK) Private Departure Transfer: $73
- One Way Private Airport Transfer Service: $95
- SFO Airport Private Transfer to/from Downtown San Francisco: $101
- San Francisco Airport (SFO) to San Francisco - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $103
- Private Airport Transfer: SFO ⇄ San Francisco Downtown: $115
- SFO Airport Private Transfer to Downtown: $115
- Private Transfer: San Francisco to Airport SFO by Business Car: $118
Is it cheaper to fly into Guatemala City or San Francisco?
Prices for flights to both San Francisco and Guatemala City 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 dayGuatemala City $27San Francisco $79
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guatemala City
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guatemala City.
- Guatemala: Wine and Pizza Tasting Experience: $35
- Antigua: Authentic Guatemalan Cooking Class: $80
- Small-Group Cooking Class in Antigua from Guatemala City: $120
- Food Tour Zona 4: Dinner Date Experience: $125
- Pacaya Volcano Private Tour: Nature, Adventure and Pizza: $175
- Antigua Market, Cooking Class and Choco Museum from Guatemala City: $188
- Pacaya Volcano Vistas + Enjoy Pizza Surrounded by The Volcano: $195
- Pacaya Volcano Vistas + Enjoy Pizza with Great Volcano Views: $205
- Pacaya Volcano. Tour and pizza making on Volcanic Heat: $275
- Puerto Quetzal: Private Tour Pacaya Volcano 4x4 and Pizza: $550
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:
- City Cruises Buffet Lunch or Dinner Cruise: $75
- Mission District Street Art and Food Tour: $79
- North Beach and Little Italy Food Tour: $84
- Mission District Food Tour with 5 Tastings: $84
- Little Italy & Chinatown Original Food Tour: $84
- Chinatown & Litte Italy Food Tour with 5 Dishes: $85
- San Francisco : Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $92
- Melting Pot of the Mission District Food Tour: $93
- Mission District Food Tour: $99
- San Francisco Chinatown Food Tour: $99
- Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39 Food Tour: $99
- City Cruises Signature Dinner Cruise: $114
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Guatemala City $1.23San Francisco $31
Tours and Activities in Guatemala City
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Guatemala City are as follows:
- 1 Day Lake Atitlan Tour from Guatemala City: $150
- 2-Day Tour: Antigua Guatemala, Lake Atitlan and Hobbitenango: $299
- 2in1 Tour: Avocado Farm + Private Tour in Antigua Guatemala: $199
- 3 Days Tour in Acatenango Volcano: $265
- 3-Day Antigua Guatemala and Pacaya Volcano Adventure: $256
- 4-Hour Bike Tour Guatemala City: $70
- Antigua + Guatemala City Full Day Tour - History Lovers Favorite: $245
- Antigua City Tour Full Day From Guatemala City: $60
- Antigua City Tour from Guatemala City: $89
- Antigua Guatemala Express Half Day Colonial Charm Tour: $45
- Antigua Guatemala Full Day Tour: $85
- Antigua Guatemala Full-Day Shared City Tour: $83
Tours and Activities in San Francisco
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Francisco.
- Self-Guided Golden Gate Bridge Bike or Walking App Tour: $5.00
- Golden Gate Bridge Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- Golden Gate Bridge: Self-guided Tour App - Audio + Written: $5.00
- San Francisco Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $5.00
- Podcast Tour The Fortune Cookie Mystery: $5.46
- Self-Guided Podcast Tour The 1906 Firestorm Walk: $5.46
- Historical San Anselmo: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Podcast Tour Rushes, Busts, and Skyward Dreams: $6.83
- San Francisco's Waterfront: A Crissy Field Audio Tour: $6.99
- Chinatown, Food and Culture Self-guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- The Secrets of Golden Gate Park: A San Francisco Chronicle Self-Guided Tour: $7.99
- San Francisco's Barbary Past: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $8.99
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 dayGuatemala City $6.95San Francisco $22
Sample the Local Flavors in Guatemala City
Also in Guatemala City, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Guatemala City Legends Tour + Craft Beers at El Cadejo Brewery: $105
Sample the Local Flavors in San Francisco
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in San Francisco:
- #1 San Francisco Pub Crawl & Clubbing Experience: $24
- San Francisco Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $29
- Ghosts, Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
- Walk with Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl: $44
- Walk with Spirits: A Haunted Pub Crawl in San Francisco: $44
- Castro Bar Crawl in San Francisco: $49
- Wine Tasting on the Bay: $85
- Distillery Gin Cocktail Making Class: $89
- Local Distillery Cocktail Making Class: $89
- Napa & Sonoma Wine Tour with Optional Tasting: $99
- Napa & Sonoma Guided Wine Tour with Tastings from San Francisco: $110
- Napa Valley Half-Day Wine Tour with Tastings: $116
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Guatemala City and San Francisco, we can see that San Francisco is more expensive. And not only is Guatemala City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Guatemala City is in Central America and San Francisco is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Guatemala City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Guatemala City 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 Francisco would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Francisco than you might in Guatemala City.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Guatemala City Expensive? and Is San Francisco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Guatemala City or San Francisco?
Guatemala City has a larger population, and is about 36% larger than the population of San Francisco. When comparing the sizes of Guatemala City 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.
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.