Should you visit Miami or San Francisco?
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
Miami is a popular tourist destination and a modern city in South Florida. It has beautiful white beaches, crystal blue waters, cosmopolitan neighborhoods, impressive shopping, and excellent dining opportunities. It is also a gateway to the Florida Keys, which is another popular destination in South Florida.
Miami is the second most populated city in Florida and the metropolitan area is the most populated in the state with more than 5.4 million people. It's also the 7th largest metro area in the country. The city sits between the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Everglades to the west. It covers 110 miles north to south but is a narrow 20 miles east to west.
Miami sits at a low latitude, giving it a subtropical savannah climate. There are two seasons; the warm and dry season between November and April and the hot and wet season between May and October. The coldest months are between December and March when highs are in the upper 70 or low 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The summer months have highs in the upper 80s or 90s and lows in the mid 70s with high humidity.
San Francisco
San Francisco is a beautiful city that is famous for it's picturesque neighborhoods, liberal character, and stunning location on the bay. Some people describe San Francisco as the United State's most "European City." This title most likely comes from its compact development and its easy walkability. It also has no shortage of parks and public spaces where you can pass some time. The city sits on the end of a peninsula and offers stunning views of the blue bay, rolling green hills, and the striking Golden Gate Bridge.
Which city is cheaper, San Francisco or Miami?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Miami is $0.00, while the average daily cost in San Francisco is $172. 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. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Miami and San Francisco in more detail.
Accommodation
The prices for places to stay in San Francisco can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $103, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $206.
Food
On average, meal and food prices in San Francisco cost around $32 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $13.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Miami
-
San Francisco $32
Typical Food prices in Miami
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Miami:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Miami
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Miami.
-
Little Havana 2-Hour Food Tour:
$59
-
South Beach Miami Culinary Walking Tour Lunch or Dinner:
$59
-
Little Havana Street Food Tours:
$61
-
Taste of Little Havana Food Tour by Bicycle:
$69
-
Haitian Cooking Experience:
$85
-
Private Little Havana Cuban Food Tour:
$99
-
4th of July Fireworks Cruise & Hard Rock Dinner:
$159
-
4th of July Fireworks from Catamaran & Hard Rock Café Dinner:
$159
-
Private VIP Historical Citywide Food Tour:
$159
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Francisco
For San Francisco, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
San Francisco Virtual Food Tour with Local Guide:
$15
-
Traveling Spoon Pad Thai and Papaya Salad Private Online Cooking Class:
$25
-
Lonely Planet Experiences: North Beach & Chinatown Food Tour:
$66
-
North Beach and Little Italy Food Tour:
$69
-
Mission District Walking Food Tour:
$75
-
San Francisco North Beach Food Tour:
$75
-
Cooking with Ale: let's make Tiramisu - private groups:
$80
-
San Francisco Food Tour: Ferry Building and Ferry Plaza Farmers Market:
$80
-
Farmers' Market & Ferry Building Food Tour:
$82
-
American Cooking Class in San Francisco with a Local near Golden Gate Park:
$82
-
San Francisco Chinatown Food Tour:
$89
-
Russian Hill Gourmet Food Tour:
$97
Local Transportation
San Francisco's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $13 per person, per day on transportation in San Francisco.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Miami
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Miami are as follows:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Miami
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Miami:
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Roundtrip transfer from Miami International Airport to Key West:
$1,500
-
Private Airport Transfer from Miami to Orlando:
$979
-
Private Transfer from Miami Cruise Port to Orlando-Sanford (SFB) Airport:
$913
-
Private Transfer from Miami Airport to Orlando-Sanford (SFB) Airport:
$913
-
Private Transfer from Miami City to Orlando-Sanford (SFB) Airport:
$913
-
Private Transfer from Miami City to Orlando (MCO) Airport:
$871
-
Private Transfer from Miami Airport to Orlando (MCO) Airport:
$871
-
Private Transfer from Miami Cruise Port to Orlando (MCO) Airport:
$871
-
Private Miami to Orlando Transfer for up to 11 - One Price - Mercedes Sprinter:
$799
-
Private Transfer from Miami City to Port Canaveral:
$790
-
Private Transfer from Miami Airport to Port Canaveral:
$790
-
Private Transfer from Miami Cruise Port to Port Canaveral:
$790
Typical Local Transportation prices in San Francisco
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in San Francisco:
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Taxi to SFO
$45
-
Golden Gate Bridge Toll
$6.00
-
Alcatraz Tour
$30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Francisco
Also for San Francisco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Airport Transfer between San Francisco Airport & City Center:
$17
-
Airport Transfer: San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to San Francisco:
$116
-
Arrival Private Transfer SFO Airport to Oakland in Business Car:
$135
-
Arrival Private Transfer SFO Airport to Oakland in a Luxury Car:
$155
-
Arrival Private Transfer SFO Airport to San Francisco City by Luxury Car:
$145
-
Arrival Private Transfer SFO Airport to San Francisco City by SUV:
$125
-
Arrival Private Transfer San Francisco Airport SFO to Oakland by SUV:
$151
-
Arrival Private Transfer San Francisco Cruise Port to City by Business Car:
$84
-
Arrival Private Transfer San Francisco Cruise Port to Oakland by Business Car:
$100
-
Arrival Private Transfer San Francisco Cruise Port to Oakland in Luxury Car:
$120
-
Arrival Private Transfer San Francisco Cruise Port to San Francisco Luxury Car:
$104
-
Carmel 1-Way Transfer to/from San Francisco Airport:
$410
Is it cheaper to fly into Miami or San Francisco?
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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in San Francisco can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $37 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Tours and Activities in Miami
Here are a few actual costs in Miami for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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"Cigar Factory Tour":
$35
-
1 Hour Private Helicopter Tour of Miami and South Florida:
$518
-
1-Day Key West Tour ( Miami Departure ) ( MIA1-B ):
$138
-
1-Day Miami+Everglades Naitonal Park Tour ( Miami Departure )( MIA1-A ):
$80
-
1/2 Hour Jet Ski Island Adventure:
$5.00
-
10-Day Surf Adventure from Brisbane to Sydney Including Coffs Harbour, Byron Bay and Gold Coast:
$2,371
-
2 Hour Cycle Boat Tour:
$50
-
2-hour boat tour with Aquarius Boat Rental:
$195
-
3 Hour Private Sunset Sailboat Tour for up to 6 Complimentary beverages, snacks:
$550
-
3-hour tour with Aquarius Boat Rental:
$248
-
3.5-Hour Ultimate Learn to Surf Adventure:
$35
-
30 Minute Private Luxury Helicopter Sightseeing Tour of Miami:
$299
Tours and Activities in San Francisco
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Francisco.
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San Francisco Private Tour: 19th Century Gold Rush Exploration Game:
$4.96
-
Syn City SF: The Synesthesia Walking Audio Tour of Haight-Ashbury by VoiceMap:
$5.34
-
San Francisco's Barbary Past Walking Audio Tour:
$5.34
-
Food, History, and Resistance: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of San Francisco's Japantown:
$5.34
-
Union Square to Lotta's Fountain Walking Tour by VoiceMap:
$5.40
-
Walk the Haight Audio Tour: Tune into San Francisco’s Hippie Counterculture:
$5.99
-
San Francisco Private Tour: 70s Hippie Culture Exploration Game:
$6.21
-
The Remarkable History of San Francisco's Glen Park and Glen Canyon Audio Tour:
$7.55
-
Ultimate San Francisco Self-Driving Audio Tour:
$8.00
-
Bike Tour of Tucson:
$10
-
The Flyer San Francisco Admission Ticket:
$12
-
San Francisco Scavenger Hunt: SF Park Tour and Haight-Ashbury Experience:
$12
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In San Francisco, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $15.
Typical Alcohol prices in Miami
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Miami are as follows:
Sample the Local Flavors in Miami
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Miami:
-
Pub Crawl South Beach 3-Hour Tour:
$30
-
Miami Beach Rockstar Bar Crawl:
$69
-
Making Your Own Gin Distillery Tour and Tasting Experience:
$190
Sample the Local Flavors in San Francisco
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in San Francisco:
-
San Francisco Bar Hunt: Soul of San Francisco Bar Crawl:
$12
-
3-Hour Pub Crawl in San Francisco:
$18
-
San Francisco North Beach Pub Tour:
$58
-
San Francisco North Beach Pub Crawl:
$60
-
From Tri-Valley Half-Day Wine Tour:
$75
-
Half-Day Sonoma Wine Tour:
$100
-
San Francisco City & Wine tour:
$115
-
Shore Excursion: Napa and Sonoma Ultimate Wine Tasting Experience Full-Day Tour:
$135
-
Napa & Sonoma Full-Day Wine Tasting Tour with Optional Lunch:
$135
-
Full-Day Muir Woods with Napa and Sonoma Wine Tour:
$135
-
Chariot wine tour:
$145
-
Viticulture with Charm: Sonoma Valley Wine Tour from San Francisco:
$149
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Miami and San Francisco, we can see that San Francisco is more expensive. And not only is Miami much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Miami would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Miami 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 San Francisco would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Francisco than you might in Miami.
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