Which place is cheaper, San Diego or Jacksonville?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Jacksonville and San Diego. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Jacksonville is a youthful, fun, and vibrant city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the food, beaches, and shopping. See Jacksonville travel costs.
San Diego is a energetic, relaxed, and outdoorsy coastal city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. San Diego offers plenty of beauty for visitors. As this is a very quaint destination, you'll find it has a special atmosphere. It's also popular because of the hiking, shopping, and museums. See San Diego travel costs.
Travelers will usually find more to do in San Diego than Jacksonville, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. San Diego is more popular for its music, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Jacksonville is known for its shopping. San Diego is more touristy than Jacksonville and is known for its relaxed coastal atmosphere, its many kid-friendly sights, and its beautiful beaches with critter-filled tidal pools. It is also home to The San Diego Zoo. Jacksonville is popular for its beautiful beaches and lively downtown area.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between San Diego and Jacksonville. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
You'll find a number of excellent museums and attractions in both San Diego and Jacksonville.
Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Jacksonville. The city has a number of museums that range from art museums to science or kid-friendly museums. Some favorites are the Museum of Science and History, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Mandarin Museum and Historical Society, and Kingsley Plantation.
San Diego offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. While the city is famous for it's beaches, zoos, and aquariums, don't overlook the museums and other landmarks. Popular options include the Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum, the Old Town State Historic Park, and Point Loma and Cabrillo Monument.
There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at excellent restaurants in both Jacksonville and San Diego.
Jacksonville has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. Local cuisine has its own identity. Unique dishes around town include garlic crabs, seafood boil, gumbo, and shrimp and grits. The local cuisine is similar to Lowcountry dishes with a lot of Cajun influence. If you want something different from seafood, you should try the barbecue.
With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, San Diego makes for a great culinary experience. The city has great seafood and a diversity of cuisines. There are many casual dining options that serve informal foods like burgers or salads, but there are also award-winning fine dining restaurants with elegant atmospheres. Popular local dishes include fish tacos and California burritos.
Both Jacksonville and San Diego have excellent vibes after the sun sets.
Jacksonville has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. The young population brings out the nightlife scene. There's a great concentration of bars and clubs in the area known as The Elbow, which is at the intersection of N. Ocean and E. Bay Street. You'll find plenty of cocktail bars, lounges, and clubs around town that make for a fun night out.
The people in San Diego know how to have a good time. The heart of the city's nightlife scene is in the Gaslamp District, which is filled with bars, clubs, and music venues. There's a young student population that keeps the nightlife scene casual and fun.
San Diego is an excellent place to visit for its music scene. However, Jacksonville is not a live music destination.
Whether you like big venues or smaller artists, San Diego has diverse options. Popular venues include the House of Blues, The Belly Up, and The Shout House.
Jacksonville is not a live music destination.
San Diego is a good destination for its luxury resorts. However, Jacksonville is not a resort destination.
San Diego has a few great resort options. Most people prefer to stay in hotels or VRBOs, but several popular resorts include Fairmont Grand Del Mar, Paradise Point, and the famous Hotel del Coronado.
Jacksonville is not a resort destination.
San Diego is a good destination for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Jacksonville is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.
Grab a mask and fins and explore the underwater scenery in San Diego. Popular snorkeling and diving spots include La Jolla Cove, Mission Bay, and Turtle Town. The water's a bit chili, but it's still worth going for a dive or popping on a mask and snorkeling around for a bit.
Jacksonville is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.
San Diego is renowned for the beach. Also, Jacksonville is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its beaches.
San Diego offers stunning beaches that attract visitors from around the world. The city has great beaches with tidal pools and interesting sea life at low tide. Adults and kids alike will enjoy hitting the beach when the tides are out and looking for local critters in the tidal pools. Popular beaches in the area include La Jolla Cove Beach, Coronado Beach, and Pacific Beach.
Jacksonville is considered a top beach destination. There are a number of beaches that are just a short distance from the city. Some have a historic vibe while others are more lively. Atlantic Beach is about a half hour drive from the city. For a laid back vibe head to Neptune Beach and the most popular beach in the area is Jacksonville Beach.
San Diego is an excellent place to visit for its hiking trails. However, Jacksonville is not a hiking destination.
Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting San Diego. The city is filled with parks and has tons of natural beauty. There is plenty of urban hiking in town, or you can visit more natural areas just out of town. Head to Torrey Pines State Park or Los Penasquitos Canyon Trail for some nice hikes.
Jacksonville is not a hiking destination.
Jacksonville is great for its shopping opportunities. Also, San Diego is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for its shopping areas.
Jacksonville is well-known for its shopping. There are countless malls and shopping districts around town. Some of the best shopping is found at St. John's Center, Five Points, and Avondale.
Many visitors go to San Diego to go shopping. Head to Fashion Valley or Westfield UTC for some fun shopping. There are suburban shopping malls in the area as well as souvenir shops in the more touristy areas.
San Diego is a good destination for its scenery and beauty. However, Jacksonville is not a destination known for its beauty.
San Diego offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Many people enjoy city's beautiful coastline and surrounding natural beauty.
Jacksonville is not a destination known for its beauty.
San Diego is renowned for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Jacksonville is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.
With a huge array of activities for kids, San Diego is very family-friendly. The city is filled with kid-friendly activities that everyone can enjoy. There's the world-class zoo, several amusement parks, the beaches, aquariums, and more. The year-round warm weather makes it easy to spend plenty of time outdoors in parks, playgrounds, and beaches where kids can stretch their legs and run around.
You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Jacksonville. It's filled with adventure parks, zoos, animal farms, nature centers, and gardens. Adults will have as much fun as kids exploring the city and all of its family-friendly attractions.
San Diego is renowned for couples. Also, Jacksonville is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for romance.
San Diego is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. For adventurous couples, there are many outdoor activities that you can enjoy together. The beaches offer a great playground for adults who enjoy the water and warm weather. There are also restaurants and a great nightlife in San Diego.
Jacksonville is a nice destination for couples. It's a young city that's near nature and has plenty of adventurous activities. There's sailing, botanical gardens, restaurants, and plenty of bars around town.
Jacksonville and San Diego are both good destinations for backpackers.
Plenty of backpackers visit Jacksonville. There are a few hostels in town as well as affordable motels. The city has a young population with plenty to do. Although it's often overlooked by tourists, there's a surprising and underrated appeal to the backpacker crowd.
Plenty of budget travelers visit San Diego. Backpackers will enjoy the young vibe of the city. There are a few great hostels near the beach or in town.
San Diego is renowned for its student-friendly activities. Also, Jacksonville is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for students.
San Diego is a very popular place to visit for students. With its young population and many universities, international students will feel right at home in San Diego. There are also many great outdoor activities for the adventurous.
Jacksonville is popular with students. There are a few colleges and universities in town. The city's population is also very young, making it a great place to study.
Jacksonville is a good destination for times when you don't have a car. However, San Diego is not a good destination for its public transit.
While Jacksonville offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. The public transportation system includes trolleys, the Skyway, buses, water taxis, and the ferry.
Public transit is generally limited in San Diego. The city has a trolley (light rail system) as well as a bus system. Most people depend on cars to get around, and you'll likely enjoy your trip a bit more if you have your own vehicle.
Jacksonville and San Diego are good when it comes to walkability.
Jacksonville is a somewhat walkable city. Downtown Jacksonville is the most walkable part of the city.
San Diego is somewhat walkable. The downtown area is walkable, but if you want to travel further, you'll need to find a different form of transportation.
For even more information, also check out Is Jacksonville Worth Visiting? and Is San Diego Worth Visiting?.
In either Jacksonville or San Diego, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in San Diego than Jacksonville because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Jacksonville, and 3-5 days is enough time in San Diego.
Families should spend more time in San Diego than Jacksonville. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in San Diego, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in San Diego than Jacksonville. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in San Diego that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in San Diego than Jacksonville if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in San Diego.
You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Jacksonville. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
In San Diego, many people enjoy the live music and food that this energetic coastal city offers. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.
You'll find museums and nightlife around the fun destination of Jacksonville. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.
San Diego is a fun place to experience. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. Lots of people come for the beaches. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring.
Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the under-rated city of Jacksonville. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. It's also a great beach destination, too. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.
In San Diego, many people enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping that this relaxed destination offers. Hikers are also drawn to this area. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Lots of people come for the beaches. So, five days is just the right amount of time to spend here.
Jacksonville is a popular choice for travelers. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.
San Diego is a popular place to visit. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
The average daily cost (per person) in Jacksonville is $289, while the average daily cost in San Diego is $233. 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 Jacksonville and San Diego in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Jacksonville 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.
Also for Jacksonville, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Also for San Diego, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both San Diego and Jacksonville 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.
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to San Diego:
For San Diego, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
For Jacksonville, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
For San Diego, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Diego.
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Jacksonville:
Also in San Diego, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Jacksonville and San Diego, we can see that Jacksonville is more expensive. And not only is San Diego much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to San Diego would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Diego 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 Jacksonville would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Jacksonville than you might in San Diego.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Jacksonville Expensive? and Is San Diego Expensive?.
San Diego has a larger population, and is about 53% larger than the population of Jacksonville. When comparing the sizes of Jacksonville 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.
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Jacksonville and San Diego. The summer months attract visitors to Jacksonville because of the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to San Diego this time of year.
In July, Jacksonville is generally a little warmer than San Diego. Daily temperatures in Jacksonville average around 82°F (28°C), and San Diego fluctuates around 71°F (22°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Diego this time of the year. In Jacksonville, it's very sunny this time of the year. Jacksonville usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Diego during summer. Jacksonville gets 286 hours of sunny skies, while San Diego receives 306 hours of full sun in the summer.
Jacksonville gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Jacksonville usually receives more rain than San Diego. Jacksonville gets 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain, while San Diego receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
The autumn brings many poeple to Jacksonville as well as San Diego. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Jacksonville this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to San Diego for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Jacksonville is around the same temperature as San Diego in the autumn. The daily temperature in Jacksonville averages around 70°F (21°C) in October, and San Diego fluctuates around 68°F (20°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Diego. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Jacksonville this time of the year. In the autumn, Jacksonville often gets less sunshine than San Diego. Jacksonville gets 214 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Diego receives 244 hours of full sun.
Jacksonville usually gets more rain in October than San Diego. Jacksonville gets 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain, while San Diego receives 0.4 inches (9 mm) of rain this time of the year. Keep in mind that June to November is the hurricane season in Jacksonville.
Both San Diego and Jacksonville are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Jacksonville for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to San Diego in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Jacksonville is cooler than San Diego. Typically, the winter temperatures in Jacksonville in January average around 53°F (12°C), and San Diego averages at about 57°F (14°C).
It's quite sunny in San Diego. Jacksonville usually receives less sunshine than San Diego during winter. Jacksonville gets 191 hours of sunny skies, while San Diego receives 239 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Jacksonville usually receives more rain than San Diego. Jacksonville gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while San Diego receives 1.8 inches (46 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
Both San Diego and Jacksonville during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Jacksonville in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city. Also, most visitors come to San Diego for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty during these months.
In April, Jacksonville is generally a little warmer than San Diego. Daily temperatures in Jacksonville average around 68°F (20°C), and San Diego fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).
In San Diego, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Jacksonville. In the spring, Jacksonville often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Diego. Jacksonville gets 285 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Diego receives 277 hours of full sun.
Jacksonville usually gets more rain in April than San Diego. Jacksonville gets 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain, while San Diego receives 0.8 inches (20 mm) of rain this time of the year. Also, June to November in Jacksonville is the hurricane season.
Jacksonville | San Diego | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 53°F (12°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 1.8 inches (46 mm) |
Feb | 56°F (13°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) | 59°F (15°C) | 1.5 inches (39 mm) |
Mar | 62°F (17°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 59°F (15°C) | 1.8 inches (45 mm) |
Apr | 68°F (20°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) | 62°F (17°C) | 0.8 inches (20 mm) |
May | 74°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 0.2 inches (5 mm) |
Jun | 80°F (27°C) | 5.7 inches (146 mm) | 67°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
Jul | 82°F (28°C) | 5.4 inches (137 mm) | 71°F (22°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) |
Aug | 82°F (28°C) | 7.8 inches (199 mm) | 73°F (23°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
Sep | 79°F (26°C) | 7.1 inches (180 mm) | 71°F (22°C) | 0.2 inches (6 mm) |
Oct | 70°F (21°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) | 68°F (20°C) | 0.4 inches (9 mm) |
Nov | 62°F (17°C) | 2.2 inches (55 mm) | 62°F (17°C) | 1.5 inches (37 mm) |
Dec | 56°F (13°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 1.6 inches (40 mm) |