A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Kansas City vs. San Antonio for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Kansas City or San Antonio?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Kansas City or San Antonio? 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: Kansas City or San Antonio?

Kansas City

A large, mid western city that sits on the border between Missouri and Kansa, Kansas City has a population of about 450,000. It's not exactly a tourist destination, but it is a surprisingly beautiful city with more boulevards than Paris and more fountains than any other city in the world with the exception of Rome. Most of the city's suburbs are concentrated in the south but the city is beginning to grow to the north as well. The climate in Kansas City can vary dramatically, in large part because it is so far from any form of water. Winters can range from mild to extremely cold and snow is not uncommon. Spring and fall and quite comfortable but summer months can be incredibly hot and humid.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America, The Best Coach Bus Tours in United States of America, The Best Adventure Tours to United States of America, and The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, San Antonio or Kansas City?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Kansas City is $161, while the average daily cost in San Antonio is $132. 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 Kansas City and San Antonio in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kansas City $88
    San Antonio $69
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kansas City $176
    San Antonio $138
Compare Hotels in Kansas City and San Antonio

Looking for a hotel in Kansas City or San Antonio? 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.

Hotels in Kansas City


Hotels in San Antonio


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: Kansas City Hotel Prices and San Antonio Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kansas City $44
    San Antonio $20

Typical Local Transportation Prices in San Antonio

Some typical examples of transportation costs in San Antonio are as follows:


  • Rental Car for a Day
    $60

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Antonio

Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Antonio:

  • San Antonio International Airport (SAT) - Arrival or Departure Private Transfer : $93
  • Private Transfer: San Antonio Airport to San Antonio by Sedan, SUV or Minibus : $97
  • Private Round Trip Transfer - San Antonio International Airport (SAT): $93
  • Galveston: One-Way Transfer GLS Airport to City: $237

Is it cheaper to fly into Kansas City or San Antonio?

Prices for flights to both San Antonio and Kansas 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Kansas City $47
    San Antonio $40

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Antonio

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Antonio.

  • The Haunted Dinner Tour: $75

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kansas City $11
    San Antonio $36

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:


  • Spa Treatments
    $200

Tours and Activities in San Antonio

Here are a few actual costs in San Antonio for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 3 Hours Private Historic Sightseeing Tour in San Antonio : $95
  • Best of San Antonio Small Group Tour with Boat + Tower + Alamo: $169
  • Cave Without a Name Admission Ticket with Guided Cavern Tour: $25
  • Downtown San Antonio Helicopter Tour: $197
  • Half-Day Afternoon City Tour of Historic San Antonio : $65
  • Historic Downtown & Riverwalk Walking Tour: $39
  • Historic Missions Bike Tour - 2 Mission Southern Route: $65
  • Historic Missions Bike Tour - 2 Missions Northern Route: $65
  • Historic Spanish Missions Bike Tour - 3 Missions Tour: $85
  • Hopscotch Immersive Art Experience: $24
  • LEGOLAND Discovery Center San Antonio Admission Ticket: $27
  • PRIVATE Missions and More - Half-day City Tour: $149

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kansas City $12
    San Antonio -

Sample the Local Flavors in San Antonio

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Antonio:

  • Epic San Antonio Bar Crawl: By Let’s Roam: $12
  • Death Warmed Over: San Antonio Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
  • Guided Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
  • Texas’ Oldest Haunted Pub Crawl Shared Walking Tour: $30
  • Taste of Fredericksburg Small-Group Wine Tour from San Antonio: $155


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kansas City and San Antonio, we can see that Kansas City 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 Kansas City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kansas City than you might in San Antonio.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kansas City Expensive? and Is San Antonio Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Kansas City or San Antonio?

San Antonio has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Kansas City. When comparing the sizes of Kansas City and San Antonio, 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 Kansas City or San Antonio?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Kansas City or San Antonio in the Summer?

Both San Antonio and Kansas City during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to San Antonio because of the music scene and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Kansas City is cooler than San Antonio. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kansas City in July average around 82°F (28°C), and San Antonio averages at about 87°F (31°C).

In San Antonio, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Kansas City. In the summer, Kansas City often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Antonio. Kansas City gets 325 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Antonio receives 307 hours of full sun.

Kansas City usually gets more rain in July than San Antonio. Kansas City gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while San Antonio receives 2.2 inches (57 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Kansas City 82°F (28°C) 
    San Antonio 87°F (31°C)

Should I visit Kansas City or San Antonio in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Kansas City and San Antonio. Furthermore, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to San Antonio this time of year.

In October, Kansas City is generally cooler than San Antonio. Daily temperatures in Kansas City average around 60°F (15°C), and San Antonio fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Antonio this time of the year. In Kansas City, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kansas City usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Antonio during autumn. Kansas City gets 208 hours of sunny skies, while San Antonio receives 213 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Kansas City usually receives less rain than San Antonio. Kansas City gets 2.4 inches (62 mm) of rain, while San Antonio receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Kansas City 60°F (15°C) 
    San Antonio 73°F (23°C)

Should I visit Kansas City or San Antonio in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Kansas City as well as San Antonio. Additionally, many travelers come to San Antonio for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

It's quite cold in Kansas City in the winter. Kansas City is much colder than San Antonio in the winter. The daily temperature in Kansas City averages around 30°F (-1°C) in January, and San Antonio fluctuates around 54°F (12°C).

In the winter, Kansas City often gets more sunshine than San Antonio. Kansas City gets 175 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Antonio receives 155 hours of full sun.

Kansas City usually gets less rain in January than San Antonio. Kansas City gets 0.9 inches (23 mm) of rain, while San Antonio receives 1.8 inches (45 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Kansas City 30°F (-1°C) 
    San Antonio 54°F (12°C)

Should I visit Kansas City or San Antonio in the Spring?

Both San Antonio and Kansas City are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to San Antonio in the spring for the natural beauty.

In the spring, Kansas City is much colder than San Antonio. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kansas City in April average around 58°F (15°C), and San Antonio averages at about 74°F (23°C).

It's quite sunny in San Antonio. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kansas City. Kansas City usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Antonio during spring. Kansas City gets 231 hours of sunny skies, while San Antonio receives 216 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Kansas City usually receives more rain than San Antonio. Kansas City gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while San Antonio receives 2.4 inches (60 mm) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Kansas City 58°F (15°C) 
    San Antonio 74°F (23°C)

Typical Weather for San Antonio and Kansas City

Kansas City San Antonio
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 30°F (-1°C) 0.9 inches (23 mm) 54°F (12°C) 1.8 inches (45 mm)
Feb 35°F (2°C) 0.9 inches (24 mm) 57°F (14°C) 1.8 inches (45 mm)
Mar 47°F (8°C) 2 inches (52 mm) 65°F (18°C) 1.7 inches (42 mm)
Apr 58°F (15°C) 2.8 inches (71 mm) 74°F (23°C) 2.4 inches (60 mm)
May 68°F (20°C) 3.7 inches (93 mm) 79°F (26°C) 4.4 inches (111 mm)
Jun 77°F (25°C) 4.9 inches (125 mm) 84°F (29°C) 3.7 inches (94 mm)
Jul 82°F (28°C) 3.3 inches (83 mm) 87°F (31°C) 2.2 inches (57 mm)
Aug 80°F (26°C) 3.4 inches (86 mm) 87°F (31°C) 2.6 inches (66 mm)
Sep 71°F (22°C) 3.3 inches (85 mm) 82°F (28°C) 3.6 inches (91 mm)
Oct 60°F (15°C) 2.4 inches (62 mm) 73°F (23°C) 3.3 inches (83 mm)
Nov 46°F (8°C) 1.7 inches (43 mm) 64°F (18°C) 2.6 inches (66 mm)
Dec 34°F (1°C) 1.2 inches (30 mm) 56°F (13°C) 1.6 inches (40 mm)