A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Manchester vs. San Francisco for Attractions, Food, Families, and Nightlife

Should you visit Manchester 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 Manchester and San Francisco can help you decide which place is right for you.

Manchester

Manchester is a vibrant, dynamic, and diverse city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and live music.

San Francisco

San Francisco is a scenic, beautiful, and outdoorsy coastal city. It's an amazing and huge city with tons of activities and things to do. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. Other reasons to visit include beaches, hiking, and shopping.

Manchester and San Francisco: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Manchester or San Francisco?

You'll generally find more things to do in San Francisco than Manchester. San Francisco is bigger than Manchester, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. San Francisco is better known for its museums, theatre productions, food, beaches, hiking, shopping, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Manchester is more popular for its nightlife and music. San Francisco is more touristy than Manchester and is known for its striking bayfront setting, stunning urban hikes, quirky personality, and reputation within the tech industry. Also, San Francisco is famous for The Golden Gate Bridge. Manchester is well known for its strong music culture as well as being home to the world-renowned Manchester United Football Club.

How is Manchester different from San Francisco?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between San Francisco and Manchester. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Manchester or San Francisco?

San Francisco is very popular for its historical sights. Also, Manchester is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its sights and museums.

Travelers visit San Francisco from around the world to see its many world-famous attractions. The city's landmarks are as diverse as the people who live there. The most recognizable landmark is the famous Golden Gate Bridge, but visitors also enjoy seeing Alcatraz Island, the Legion of Honor, the Palace of Fine Arts, as well as the small but fascinating Cable Car Museum.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Manchester can be an interesting and educational experience. Head to the Science and Industry Museum, the Imperial War Museum North, Manchester Cathedral, or John Rylands Library & Manchester Central Library to see some of the cities most interesting sights.

Is Manchester or San Francisco Better for Theater?

San Francisco is very good for theatre. However, Manchester is not a theatre destination.

If you have some extra time in San Francisco, take in a show. The city has around a dozen theaters where you can enjoy musicals or plays.

Manchester is not a theatre destination.

Is the Food Better in Manchester or San Francisco? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

San Francisco is very popular for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Manchester is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

San Francisco has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. There are local dives as well as five star restaurants, with everything in between. Popular local dining experiences include sourdough bread bowls and Dungeness crab at Fisherman's Wharf, and dim sum in Chinatown. Head away from the touristy neighborhoods if you want to sample some of the more local restaurants around town.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Manchester. You'll find a great food scene with diverse restaurant options that include international flavors, vegetarian options, and more. There are also many great places to try craft beer.

Is Manchester or San Francisco Better for Nightlife?

Manchester is a great city for its evening party scene. Also, San Francisco is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for nightlife.

The nightlife in Manchester has something for everybody. The nightlife scene is diverse and high energy. Head to Deansgate or the Northern Quarter for some of the best nightlife venues. You'll also find a huge rave scene in town.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in San Francisco. It has a great nightlife with many local bars and trendy clubs. For the best nightlife away from the tourists, head to Valencia Street or Polk Street. If you want to be in a more touristy area, check out Union Square. Popular clubs in the city include Temple San Francisco, Monarch, and Audio Nightclub.

Is Manchester or San Francisco Better for Music?

Manchester is a great city for its music scene. Also, San Francisco is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for live music.

Manchester has a thriving music scene. There's a long running music reputation here. Some of the iconic bands that began here include Oasis and Stone Roses.

You'll find some good live music in San Francisco. Well known music venues include the Great American Music Hall, Slim's, and The Chapel.

Is Manchester or San Francisco Better for Beaches?

San Francisco is great for its beaches. However, Manchester is not a beach destination.

San Francisco is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. Whether you're interested in surfing or simply taking in the dramatic views, the beaches of San Francisco will take your breath away. Some of the best beaches include Ocean Beach, Baker Beach, and Muir Beach.

Manchester is not a beach destination.

Is Manchester or San Francisco Better for Hiking?

San Francisco is very popular for hiking. However, Manchester is not a hiking destination.

Many people visit San Francisco specifically for its hiking. The city's hikes take in the dramatic views of the bay and city. Just outside of town there are also countless hikes through the Redwoods and along the coastline. Popular hikes in the area include Lands End, Tomales Point Trail at Point Reyes National Seashore, and Muir Woods.

Manchester is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Manchester or San Francisco?

San Francisco is very popular for shopping. Also, Manchester is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its shopping opportunities.

People travel from around the world to go shopping in San Francisco. The city has excellent shopping from local vendors to recognizable brands. Union Square, Embarcadero, Fillmore Street and Haight Street are some of the best neighborhoods for shopping.

Manchester is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. From jewelry to boutique clothing outlets, there are many places to shop around town. Head to Manchester Arndale, Trafford Centre, or Market Street for some of the best shopping.

Is Manchester or San Francisco Better for Families?

San Francisco is very popular for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Manchester is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

San Francisco is one of the most popular family destinations. With its many outdoor parks, hiking trails, beaches, and kid-friendly museums, this city makes a great family-friendly destination. There are also many amazing playgrounds with stunning views of the bay and city. Head to Chinatown for some unique and kid-friendly food, or down to Pier 39 for fun activities that the whole family can enjoy.

Manchester is a very kid-friendly city. You'll find a number of kid-friendly activities around town including the popular Legoland Discovery Center. Another fun activity is taking a behind the scenes CBBC interactive tour at MediaCityUK. Animal lovers will enjoy visiting the SeaLife Aquarium or the Chester Zoo and sports enthusiasts will not want to miss a visit to the National Football Museum or doing a tour of Old Trafford where you can also visit the Manchester United Museum.

Is Manchester or San Francisco Better for Couples?

Both Manchester and San Francisco are excellent destinations to visit as a couple.

Manchester is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. Couples can enjoy a visit to a spa, a nice meal out, or simply wandering down the canal. For a unique experience, you can hit to slopes at Chill Factore.

San Francisco is a very popular place to visit for couples. Couples enjoy the romantic backdrop of this beautiful city. There are world-class restaurants and plenty of spas that couples can enjoy during a honeymoon or romantic getaway. There are also many scenic walks and breathtaking views that couples can appreciate.

Is Manchester or San Francisco Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

San Francisco is great for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Manchester is not as popular, but is still a nice city for backpackers.

San Francisco is very popular with the backpacker crowd. The city is one of the more backpacker friendly cities in the United States. There are a handful of hostels throughout, many concentrated in the popular Union Square and Downtown neighborhoods of the city.

It's common for backpackers to visit Manchester. You'll find hostels around town and a number of visitors, particularly during the sports season.

Is Manchester or San Francisco Better for Students?

For students, both Manchester and San Francisco are excellent places to visit.

Manchester is very popular with students. There's a large number of students as well as a great music scene and tons of festivals that make this a great city to do your studies.

San Francisco is a great city to visit as a student. As a large and dynamic city, the area is popular with international students who want to experience this unique side of the United States. Major universities in the area include University of San Francisco, San Francisco State University, and nearby, the University of California, Berkeley.

Is Manchester or San Francisco Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

San Francisco is very popular for times when you don't have a car. Also, Manchester is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its public transit.

San Francisco has an effecient and thorough public transportation system which can take you anywhere in the city. The transit network includes a subway (the BART), trams, cable cars, ferries, and buses.

Public transit in Manchester can get you to some places easily. The city has bus, train, and tram options for travel.

Is Manchester or San Francisco a more walkable city?

San Francisco is great for its walkability. Also, Manchester is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its high level of walkability.

San Francisco is very walkable. It is compact enough to explore on foot, but given the large hills, it's a bit of a challenge, even for the most fit among us.

Manchester is a somewhat walkable place. Some neighborhoods are more walkable than others.

For even more information, also check out Is Manchester Worth Visiting? and Is San Francisco Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in San Francisco or Manchester?

How long in Manchester or San Francisco?

Both Manchester and San Francisco have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in San Francisco than in Manchester. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Manchester, and 3-7 days is enough time in San Francisco.

Families should spend more time in San Francisco than Manchester. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in San Francisco, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in San Francisco than Manchester. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in San Francisco that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in San Francisco than Manchester 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 Francisco.

One day in Manchester or San Francisco?

Manchester is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. Your budget might influence how long you stay. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

With theater and nightlife around the scenic coastal city of San Francisco, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Manchester or San Francisco?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Manchester. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.

With nightlife and live music around the big city destination of San Francisco, there's plenty to do. It's also a great beach destination, too. It offers something for everyone. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything.

Five days in Manchester or San Francisco?

Travelers enjoy the live music and food when visiting the diverse big city of Manchester. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Five days 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.

San Francisco, a popular coastal city, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for five days. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. In five days, you should have a good grasp of this coastal city. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Manchester or San Francisco?

You'll find food and shopping around the city of Manchester. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

San Francisco is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have one week, this coastal city makes for a great vacation. One week should give you a good understanding of everything this coastal city has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Edinburgh, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United Kingdom, The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America.

When comparing the travel costs between Manchester and San Francisco, we can see that Manchester is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Manchester is in Europe and San Francisco is in North America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

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

Which is Bigger, Manchester or San Francisco?

San Francisco has a larger population, and is about 85% larger than the population of Manchester. When comparing the sizes of Manchester 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 Manchester or San Francisco?

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.

Should I visit Manchester or San Francisco in the Summer?

Both San Francisco and Manchester are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Manchester this time of year. Also, many travelers come to San Francisco for the beaches, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Manchester is generally around the same temperature as San Francisco. Daily temperatures in Manchester average around 16°C (62°F), and San Francisco fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).

In July, Manchester usually receives more rain than San Francisco. Manchester gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while San Francisco receives 0.1 inches (2 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Manchester or San Francisco in the Autumn?

Both San Francisco and Manchester during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Manchester for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene. Furthermore, 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.

Manchester is much colder than San Francisco in the autumn. The daily temperature in Manchester averages around 11°C (52°F) in October, and San Francisco fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).

Manchester usually gets more rain in October than San Francisco. Manchester gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while San Francisco receives 1.3 inches (33 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Manchester or San Francisco in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Manchester and San Francisco. Many visitors come to Manchester in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, most visitors come to San Francisco for the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine during these months.

Manchester can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Manchester is much colder than San Francisco. Typically, the winter temperatures in Manchester in January average around 4°C (39°F), and San Francisco averages at about 50°F (10°C).

In January, Manchester usually receives less rain than San Francisco. Manchester gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while San Francisco receives 3.8 inches (96 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Manchester or San Francisco in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Manchester as well as San Francisco. Most visitors come to Manchester for the activities around the city during these months. Additionally, the spring months attract visitors to San Francisco because of the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.

In April, Manchester is generally much colder than San Francisco. Daily temperatures in Manchester average around 8°C (46°F), and San Francisco fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).

Manchester usually gets more rain in April than San Francisco. Manchester gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while San Francisco receives 1.2 inches (31 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for San Francisco and Manchester