Which place is cheaper, San Francisco or Havana?
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 Havana or San Francisco?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
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 Havana and San Francisco can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Havana or San Francisco?
Havana
The city of Havana is at the top of most peoples' bucket list - mostly because of the allure of a forbidden land. Before the Communist revolution, Cuba was a popular tourist destination. Since it has reopened in the 1990s, it has drawn tourists from all over the world (except the US).
This capital city is a land trapped in the past. With 50 years of neglect, when you step off the plane, prepare to step back in time. A trip to Havana is meant for those with truly open minds - and when they arrive they'll be swept away.
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 The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America.
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Havana Prices
Cuba PricesSan Francisco Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHavana $74San Francisco $251
The average daily cost (per person) in Havana is $74, 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 Havana and San Francisco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHavana $42San Francisco $130
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHavana $84San Francisco $260
Compare Hotels in Havana and San Francisco
Looking for a hotel in Havana 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: San Francisco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Havana $19San Francisco $16
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Havana
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Havana:
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Short Taxi Ride$0.68
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:
- Airport Transfer: Airport SFO to San Francisco by Luxury SUV: $135
- Arrival Private Transfer SFO Airport to San Francisco City by SUV: $293
- Arrival Private Transfer: Airport SFO to San Francisco in Luxury Car: $182
- Arrival Private Transfer: Airport SFO to San Francisco in Luxury Van: $150
- California: Oakland Airport Transfer from San Francisco: $180
- California: Oakland Airport Transfer to San Francisco: $180
- California: SFE Airport Transfer from San Francisco: $140
- California: SFE Airport Transfer to San Francisco: $140
- Departure Private Transfer: San Francisco to Airport SFO in Luxury Car: $182
- Departure Private Transfer: San Francisco to Airport SFO in Luxury SUV: $151
- Departure Transfer San Francisco to SFO Airport by Luxury Suv: $173
- Luxury transfer between San Francisco and SFO Airport: $130
Is it cheaper to fly into Havana or San Francisco?
Prices for flights to both San Francisco and Havana 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 dayHavana $18San Francisco $79
Typical Food Prices in Havana
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Havana:
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Pizza$0.03
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:
- Dinner In San Francisco: $63
- City Cruises Buffet Lunch or Dinner Cruise: $75
- Mission District Street Art and Food Tour: $79
- North Beach and Little Italy Food Tour: $84
- Little Italy & Chinatown Original Food Tour: $84
- Mission District Food Tour with 5 Tastings: $84
- San Francisco : Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $92
- San Francisco Food Tour: Ferry Building and Ferry Plaza Farmers Market: $95
- Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39 Food Tour: $99
- Exclusive North Beach Food Tour in San Francisco: $115
- SF's Chinatown: Tea & Dim Sum Food Tour - Includes full meal, 3hr: $115
- City Cruises Signature Dinner Cruise: $122
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Havana $11San Francisco $31
Tours and Activities in San Francisco
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Francisco.
- Self Guided Chinatown Tour: Food, History and Culture: $5.00
- Golden Gate Bridge: Self-guided Tour App - Audio + Written: $5.00
- Coit Tower Hike Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- Kid Led Interactive AR Adventure in Presidio National Park: $5.00
- San Francisco Walking Tour: Self-Guided City Game: $5.86
- The Ghosts of San Francisco Haunted Audio App Walking Tour: $6.99
- The Secrets of Golden Gate Park: A San Francisco Chronicle Self-Guided Tour: $7.99
- San Francisco N Beach Beat Gen Chinatown Self-Guided Walking Tour: $9.75
- San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf Self Guided Walking Tour: $9.75
- Self-Guided Audio Tour of the Golden Gate Bridge: $9.99
- Over the Rainbow in the Castro: A San Francisco Chronicle Self-Guided Tour: $9.99
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 dayHavana $5.76San Francisco $22
Typical Alcohol Prices in Havana
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Havana:
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Mojito$0.15
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
- 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
- From Napa & Sonoma Valley Wine Tour with Tastings: $110
- Napa Valley Half-Day Wine Tour with Tastings: $116
- 5 hours private napa wine tour from san francisco up to 7 people: $120
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Havana and San Francisco, we can see that San Francisco is more expensive. And not only is Havana much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Havana is in Caribbean Islands 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 Havana would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Havana 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 Havana.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Havana Expensive? and Is San Francisco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Havana or San Francisco?
Havana has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of San Francisco. When comparing the sizes of Havana 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.
When is the best time to visit Havana or San Francisco?
San Francisco has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Havana experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Havana or San Francisco in the Summer?
Both San Francisco and Havana during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Havana because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to San Francisco for the beaches, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
Havana is much warmer than San Francisco in the summer. The daily temperature in Havana averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and San Francisco fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).
Havana usually gets more rain in July than San Francisco. Havana gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while San Francisco receives 0.1 inches (2 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHavana 27°C (81°F)San Francisco 63°F (17°C)
Should I visit Havana or San Francisco in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Havana and San Francisco. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Havana year-round. Also, many visitors come to San Francisco in the autumn for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Havana is a little warmer than San Francisco. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Havana in October average around 25°C (77°F), and San Francisco averages at about 63°F (17°C).
In October, Havana usually receives more rain than San Francisco. Havana gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while San Francisco receives 1.3 inches (33 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHavana 25°C (77°F)San Francisco 63°F (17°C)
Should I visit Havana or San Francisco in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Havana as well as San Francisco. Havana attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, most visitors come to San Francisco for the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine during these months.
In January, Havana is generally much warmer than San Francisco. Daily temperatures in Havana average around 21°C (70°F), and San Francisco fluctuates around 50°F (10°C).
Havana usually gets less rain in January than San Francisco. Havana gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while San Francisco receives 3.8 inches (96 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHavana 21°C (70°F)San Francisco 50°F (10°C)
Should I visit Havana or San Francisco in the Spring?
Both San Francisco and Havana are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Havana throughout the year. Also, the spring months attract visitors to San Francisco because of the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
Havana is much warmer than San Francisco in the spring. The daily temperature in Havana averages around 24°C (75°F) in April, and San Francisco fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).
In April, Havana usually receives around the same amount of rain as San Francisco. Havana gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while San Francisco receives 1.2 inches (31 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHavana 24°C (75°F)San Francisco 58°F (14°C)
Typical Weather for San Francisco and Havana
| Havana | San Francisco | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 21°C (70°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 50°F (10°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
| Feb | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| Mar | 23°C (73°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 56°F (13°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| Apr | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 58°F (14°C) | 1.2 inches (31 mm) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 60°F (15°C) | 0.2 inches (5 mm) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 0.1 inches (1 mm) |
| Sep | 26°C (79°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 66°F (19°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) |
| Oct | 25°C (77°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 1.3 inches (33 mm) |
| Nov | 23°C (73°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Dec | 22°C (72°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 51°F (11°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
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.