Which place is cheaper, San Antonio or Miami?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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 Miami and San Antonio can help you decide which place is right for you.
Miami is a high energy, glamorous, and exciting beach city. It's an amazing and huge city with tons of activities and things to do. It's also known for live music, food, and beaches.
San Antonio is a festive, fun, and historic city. It's a gorgeous place to visit. It's also known for shopping, museums, and nightlife.
Visitors will generally find more to do in Miami than San Antonio. While San Antonio is larger than Miami, Miami has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Miami is more popular for its food, nightlife, music, resorts, beaches, shopping, and big city activities, while San Antonio is known for its museums, historical sights, and impressive beauty. Miami is more touristy than San Antonio and is known for its long sandy beaches, glitzy nightlife scene, diverse cultures, and award-winning restaurants. It is also home to South Beach. San Antonio is popular for being the home to the Alamo, the popular RiverWalk area, and several world-class amusement parks.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between San Antonio and Miami. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
San Antonio is well known for its museums and landmarks. However, Miami does not have museums and landmarks.
Many visitors head to San Antonio specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. It is known for its role in American history, and the city is famous as the location of the Alamo. It's also where you'll find the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park & Mission Trail, the San Antonio Museum of Art, Witte Museum, and the Guinness World Records Museum, among others.
Miami does not have museums and landmarks.
Miami is an unbeatable place for its restaurant scene. Also, San Antonio is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.
Eat your way through Miami, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. The city's food scene is as diverse as its population. It is a blend of Caribbean, Latin American, and South American flavors and it is a melting pot of cultures and cuisines. There is everything from award-winning restaurants to local dives that offer excellent dishes and experiences. The city is known for its stone crabs, fish sandwiches, Cuban sandwiches, and key lime pie.
San Antonio has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. You'll find a mix of amazing and authentic Mexican food, simpler Tex Mex, and a number of Hill Country specialties. The city is filled with comfort food and the restaurants reflect the diverse character of the population. Popular local dishes include tacos, sweet potato fries, and chicken fried steak.
Miami is an unbeatable place for nightlife. Also, San Antonio is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife and partying.
The nightlife in Miami is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. From the posh nightlife clubs in South Beach, to the local salsa dancing venues in Little Havana, Miami is a city that thrives with energy. There are many world-renowned clubs that keep the music and drinks flowing through the entire night. There's also a glitzy and glamourous scene where the wealthy like to see and be seen.
If you're looking for night time activities San Antonio has a few options to choose from. The city's nightlife scene is diverse, with dance halls, breweries, and clubs. It has seen a recent boom in dance clubs, so there are plenty of places to party hard, or to have a more relaxing night out. The RiverWalk is at the heart of the city's nightlife scene, particularly for tourists. Many conferences stay at hotels near the RiverWalk, so it's not uncommon to see professionals out and about after a day of networking.
Miami is an unbeatable place for live music. Also, San Antonio is still popular, but not quite as popular for its live music scene.
Miami is a world class music destination. Popular live music venues include Ball and Chain, Cafe La Trova, Flamingo Theater Bar.
The music scene in San Antonio is active and vibrant. It's worth checking out The Aztec Theater, Sam's Burger Joint, and 502 Bar.
Miami is an unbeatable place for its resorts. However, San Antonio is not a resort destination.
Vacationers flock to Miami for its luxury resorts. Known for it's luxury, you'll find many resorts in the area. Popular options include The Ritz-Carlton South Beach, Fontainebleau, and Carillon Miami.
San Antonio is not a resort destination.
Miami is an unbeatable place for its beaches. However, San Antonio is not a beach destination.
Miami offers stunning beaches that attract visitors from around the world. If you're looking for long sandy beaches, luxury yacht clubs, and fine dining restaurants, the area's beaches have them all. Some of the best beaches in the area include the world-famous South Beach, the North Beach Oceanside Park, Sunny Isles Beach, and Surfside. Many beaches are lined with high rise hotels that offer an urban beach experience.
San Antonio is not a beach destination.
San Antonio is very good for its historic old town. However, Miami does not have a historic old town.
Many visitors go to San Antonio to see the historical old town. The city is famous for its River Walk, which may feel slightly cheesy, but is still a unique and mesmerizing place to wander.
Miami does not have a historic old town.
Miami is an unbeatable place for shopping. Also, San Antonio is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping opportunities.
Miami is a famous shopping destination with plenty of stores. The city has every high end brand you could want, along with diverse neighborhoods with local finds and unique purchases. You'll find many diverse shopping opportunities that are influenced by the city's cultural scene. You'll also find many souvenir stands and t-shirt shops.
Shopping is a popular activity when visiting San Antonio. From souvenir shops to local boutiques and chain stores, there are several shopping options around town. Check out the historic Market Square or the shops at Rivercenter for some of the city's most interesting shopping.
San Antonio is very good for its Christmas activities. However, Miami does not offer Christmas activities.
San Antonio is a fun destination over Christmas. It's fun to see the lights along the River Walk at Christmas.
Miami does not offer Christmas activities.
San Antonio is an amazing city to visit for its family-friendly activities. Also, Miami is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.
San Antonio is one of the most popular family destinations. The RiverWalk is a fun family-friendly area. There's also Six Flags, SeaWorld and the San Antonio Zoo as well as a number of museums and other amusement parks in the area. It's easy to spend days having a great family vacation in this area and you can combine history, culture, and entertainment all in one setting.
Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Miami is very family-friendly. Because it's so big, you'll find a number of kid-friendly activities in the area. There's the Miami Zoo, various waterparks, the Everglades Alligator Park, Miccosukee Indian Village, and plenty of indoor playgrounds in case the weather doesn't cooperate.
Miami is a great destination for romance. Also, San Antonio is still popular, but not quite as popular for its romantic activities.
Couples visit Miami frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. For couples who love nightlife, wining and dining, and high end beach clubs, this is the place to be. There are many award-winning restaurants and plenty of glitz and glam that make for a great romantic getaway.
San Antonio makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples will enjoy taking a boat ride and exploring the many sites around town. The RiverWalk has many restaurants and a great atmosphere for a date night. There's also the botanical gardens and many outdoor spaces to explore.
Miami is a good destination for backpackers. However, San Antonio is a city with minimal options for backpackers and budget travelers.
Plenty of backpackers visit Miami. This city is large enough to have something for everyone, so you'll find several hostels in the area that bring in the backpackers.
San Antonio is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. While its not on most backpacker's lists, it does have a fun atmosphere and a social setting.
Miami and San Antonio are good places to visit for students.
Miami is popular with students. Spring break in Miami is the stuff of legends.
It's common for students to visit San Antonio. There are a couple of colleges in the area. This is also a major conference destination so it's possible to network and meet other professionals.
Miami is a good destination for its public transit. However, San Antonio is a city with minimal options for times when you don't have a car.
You'll find some public transit in Miami, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There's an elevated metrorail as well as buses around the city.
Public transit is mostly limited in San Antonio. Buses connect most of the city's tourist attractions, but you'll find life much easier if you have your own car.
Miami is a great destination for its walkability. However, San Antonio is a city with minimal options for its high level of walkability.
Miami is very walkable. Many parts of city are surprisingly walkable and pedestrian friendly, allowing you to eat out, go shopping, or explore without the need for a car.
San Antonio is generally not a very walkable beach city. If you stick to the downtown area you will be fine getting around on foot. Outside of that area, you'll need a car.
For even more information, also check out Is Miami Worth Visiting? and Is San Antonio Worth Visiting?.
Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Miami and San Antonio. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in San Antonio than in Miami. Usually, 7 days is a good amount of time for Miami, and 2-3 days is enough time in San Antonio.
Families should spend more time in San Antonio than Miami. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in San Antonio, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Miami than San Antonio. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Miami that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Miami than San Antonio 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 Miami.
Miami is a bustling beach city where you can fill many days. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.
In San Antonio, many people enjoy the live music and food that this fun destination offers. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.
Miami is a high energy big city where you can fill many days. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. This beach city offers something for everyone. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in San Antonio. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.
The high energy beach city of Miami offers food and shopping. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.
San Antonio is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the destination of San Antonio. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.
Many people enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting Miami. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.
You'll find museums and nightlife around the festive destination of San Antonio. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America, The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in United States of America, The Best Cultural Tours in United States of America, and The Best Photography Tours in United States of America.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Miami is $206, 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 Miami and San Antonio in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Miami 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.
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.
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Miami are as follows:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Miami:
Some typical examples of transportation costs in San Antonio are as follows:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Antonio:
Prices for flights to both San Antonio and Miami 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.
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Miami:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Miami.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Antonio.
Here are a few actual costs in Miami for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Here are a few typical costs in San Antonio for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Here are a few actual costs in San Antonio for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Miami are as follows:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Miami:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Antonio:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Miami and San Antonio, we can see that Miami 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 Miami would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Miami 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 Miami Expensive? and Is San Antonio Expensive?.
San Antonio has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Miami. When comparing the sizes of Miami 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.
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.
Both San Antonio and Miami are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Miami in the summer for the beaches, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to San Antonio for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Miami is around the same temperature as San Antonio in the summer. The daily temperature in Miami averages around 83°F (28°C) in July, and San Antonio fluctuates around 87°F (31°C).
It's quite sunny in San Antonio. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Miami. Miami usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Antonio during summer. Miami gets 316 hours of sunny skies, while San Antonio receives 307 hours of full sun in the summer.
It's quite rainy in Miami. In July, Miami usually receives more rain than San Antonio. Miami gets 5.9 inches (149 mm) of rain, while San Antonio receives 2.2 inches (57 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
Both San Antonio and Miami during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Miami for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene during these months. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to San Antonio because of the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Miami is a little warmer than San Antonio. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Miami in October average around 78°F (26°C), and San Antonio averages at about 73°F (23°C).
In San Antonio, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Miami. In the autumn, Miami often gets more sunshine than San Antonio. Miami gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Antonio receives 213 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Miami. Miami usually gets more rain in October than San Antonio. Miami gets 5.6 inches (143 mm) of rain, while San Antonio receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain this time of the year.
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Miami and San Antonio. The winter months attract visitors to Miami because of the shopping scene and the cuisine. Furthermore, the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to San Antonio this time of year.
In January, Miami is generally much warmer than San Antonio. Daily temperatures in Miami average around 67°F (20°C), and San Antonio fluctuates around 54°F (12°C).
In Miami, it's very sunny this time of the year. Miami usually receives more sunshine than San Antonio during winter. Miami gets 243 hours of sunny skies, while San Antonio receives 155 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Miami usually receives more rain than San Antonio. Miami gets 2.2 inches (55 mm) of rain, while San Antonio receives 1.8 inches (45 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
The spring brings many poeple to Miami as well as San Antonio. The beaches and the activities around the city are the main draw to Miami this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to San Antonio for the natural beauty.
Miami is around the same temperature as San Antonio in the spring. The daily temperature in Miami averages around 75°F (24°C) in April, and San Antonio fluctuates around 74°F (23°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Antonio. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Miami this time of the year. In the spring, Miami often gets more sunshine than San Antonio. Miami gets 300 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Antonio receives 216 hours of full sun.
Miami usually gets more rain in April than San Antonio. Miami gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while San Antonio receives 2.4 inches (60 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Miami | San Antonio | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 67°F (20°C) | 2.2 inches (55 mm) | 54°F (12°C) | 1.8 inches (45 mm) |
Feb | 68°F (20°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 1.8 inches (45 mm) |
Mar | 72°F (22°C) | 2.4 inches (61 mm) | 65°F (18°C) | 1.7 inches (42 mm) |
Apr | 75°F (24°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) | 74°F (23°C) | 2.4 inches (60 mm) |
May | 79°F (26°C) | 6.4 inches (162 mm) | 79°F (26°C) | 4.4 inches (111 mm) |
Jun | 81°F (27°C) | 9.4 inches (238 mm) | 84°F (29°C) | 3.7 inches (94 mm) |
Jul | 83°F (28°C) | 5.9 inches (149 mm) | 87°F (31°C) | 2.2 inches (57 mm) |
Aug | 83°F (28°C) | 7.5 inches (191 mm) | 87°F (31°C) | 2.6 inches (66 mm) |
Sep | 82°F (28°C) | 7.6 inches (194 mm) | 82°F (28°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) |
Oct | 78°F (26°C) | 5.6 inches (143 mm) | 73°F (23°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
Nov | 73°F (23°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 2.6 inches (66 mm) |
Dec | 69°F (21°C) | 1.9 inches (48 mm) | 56°F (13°C) | 1.6 inches (40 mm) |