Which city is cheaper, San Francisco 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 Francisco can help you decide which place is right for you.
Miami is a diverse, bustling, and high energy beach city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. It's also popular because of the shopping, nightlife, and live music.
San Francisco is a quirky, eccentric, and one-of-a-kind coastal city. It's an amazing and huge city with tons of activities and things to do. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. It's also known for food, beaches, and hiking.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between San Francisco and Miami. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Miami and San Francisco can be difficult as they are each unique in their own way.
Miami has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. The city's food scene is as diverse as its population. It is known for its Stone Crabs, fish sandwiches, Cuban sandwiches, and Key Lime pie.
Known for it's food and restaurant scene, San Francisco is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. 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.
Party-goers will usually choose Miami over San Francisco.
Miami has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. 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.
If you're looking for night time activities San Francisco has a few options to choose from. Popular clubs in the city include Temple San Francisco, Monarch, and Audio Nightclub.
Miami generally offers more live music options than San Francisco.
Miami is a world class music destination. Popular live music venues include Ball and Chain, Cafe La Trova, Flamingo Theater Bar.
The music scene helps keep San Francisco active and fun. Well known music venues include the Great American Music Hall, Slim's, and The Chapel.
Miami and San Francisco are good choices for a beach vacation.
Many people head to Miami to enjoy the beach. If you're looking for long sandy beaches, luxury yacht clubs, and fine dining restaurants, the area's beaches have them all.
You'll have a great beach vacation in San Francisco. Whether you're interested in surfing or simply taking in the dramatic views, the beaches of San Francisco will take your breath away.
Shopping is a popular activity in both San Francisco and Miami.
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.
Known for shopping, San Francisco draws large crowds to its stores. 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.
San Francisco offers a wider variety of activities for kids than Miami.
San Francisco is a very family-friendly place to visit. With its many outdoor parks, hiking trails, beaches, and kid-friendly museums, this city makes a great family-friendly destination.
For families, Miami is not always the best place to visit. Because it's so big, you'll find some kid-friendly options in the area. There are kid-friendly museums and activities around the city.
Both Miami and San Francisco are good destinations to visit as a couple.
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.
San Francisco is a great beach city if you're traveling as a couple. 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.
Miami and San Francisco are comparable places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.
Miami is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. This city is large enough to have something for everyone, so you'll find several hostels in the area that bring in the backpackers.
It's common for backpackers to visit San Francisco. 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.
Miami and San Francisco are comparable places to visit for students.
Miami is popular with students. Spring break in Miami is the stuff of legends.
San Francisco is a great beach 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.
San Francisco provides more public transit options than Miami.
Public transit in San Francisco is top-notch. The transit network includes a subway (the BART), trams, cable cars, ferries, and buses.
While Miami offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There's an elevated metrorail as well as buses around the city.
Miami and San Francisco both are comparable when exploring on foot.
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 Francisco is a very walkable beach city. 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.
Both Miami 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 Miami.
The ideal length of time for a trip to Miami is 7 days, and the ideal length of time for a trip to San Francisco is 3-7 days.
Miami is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. It's also a relaxing resort destination. 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.
In San Francisco, many people enjoy the nightlife and live music that this one-of-a-kind big city offers. It's also a great beach destination, too. This coastal 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.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Miami. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in San Francisco. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.
Travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the diverse big city of Miami. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. This beach 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 is a fun place to experience. In San Francisco, many people enjoy the food and shopping that this big city destination offers. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. This would be the perfect place to spend five days, as it has just the right amount of activities.
You'll find live music and food around the beach city of Miami. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. 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.
In San Francisco, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this outdoorsy big city offers. Plenty of people spend one week in the area when traveling. Most people come for the beaches. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is often enough time to do most activities.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Miami is $164, while the average daily cost in San Francisco is $175. 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 city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Miami and San Francisco in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Miami 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.
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Miami are as follows:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Miami:
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in San Francisco:
Also for San Francisco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both San Francisco 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.
For San Francisco, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Here are a few actual costs in Miami for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Francisco.
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.
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Miami are as follows:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Miami:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in San Francisco:
When comparing the travel costs between Miami and San Francisco, we can see that San Francisco 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. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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.
Both San Francisco and Miami during the summer are popular places to visit. The beaches, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Miami this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to San Francisco for the beaches, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Miami is generally much warmer than San Francisco. Temperatures in Miami average around 83°F (28°C), and San Francisco stays around 63°F (17°C).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Miami. Miami usually gets more rain in July than San Francisco. Miami gets 5.9 inches (149 mm) of rain, while San Francisco receives 0.1 inches (2 mm) of rain this time of the year.
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Miami and San Francisco. Many travelers come to Miami 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.
Miami is a little warmer than San Francisco in the autumn. The temperature in Miami is usually 78°F (26°C) in October, and San Francisco stays around 63°F (17°C).
Miami gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Miami usually receives more rain than San Francisco. Miami gets 5.6 inches (143 mm) of rain, while San Francisco receives 1.3 inches (33 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
The winter brings many poeple to Miami as well as San Francisco. Many visitors come to Miami in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine. Additionally, most visitors come to San Francisco for the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine during these months.
In the winter, Miami is much warmer than San Francisco. Typically, the winter temperatures in Miami in January are around 67°F (20°C), and San Francisco is about 50°F (10°C).
Miami usually gets less rain in January than San Francisco. Miami gets 2.2 inches (55 mm) of rain, while San Francisco receives 3.8 inches (96 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Both San Francisco and Miami are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Miami for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to San Francisco because of the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
In April, Miami is generally much warmer than San Francisco. Temperatures in Miami average around 75°F (24°C), and San Francisco stays around 58°F (14°C).
In April, Miami usually receives more rain than San Francisco. Miami gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while San Francisco receives 1.2 inches (31 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
Miami | San Francisco | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 67°F (20°C) | 2.2 inches (55 mm) | 50°F (10°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
Feb | 68°F (20°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
Mar | 72°F (22°C) | 2.4 inches (61 mm) | 56°F (13°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
Apr | 75°F (24°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) | 58°F (14°C) | 1.2 inches (31 mm) |
May | 79°F (26°C) | 6.4 inches (162 mm) | 60°F (15°C) | 0.2 inches (5 mm) |
Jun | 81°F (27°C) | 9.4 inches (238 mm) | 62°F (17°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
Jul | 83°F (28°C) | 5.9 inches (149 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
Aug | 83°F (28°C) | 7.5 inches (191 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 0.1 inches (1 mm) |
Sep | 82°F (28°C) | 7.6 inches (194 mm) | 66°F (19°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) |
Oct | 78°F (26°C) | 5.6 inches (143 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 1.3 inches (33 mm) |
Nov | 73°F (23°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
Dec | 69°F (21°C) | 1.9 inches (48 mm) | 51°F (11°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
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