A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Nassau vs. San Diego for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Nassau or San Diego?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Nassau or San Diego, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Nassau or San Diego?

Nassau

There are few vacation destinations more famous than the Bahamian city of Nassau. This capital city is full of laid back locals, relaxed tourists and the iconic pastel pink government houses.

As the largest city in the Bahamas, Nassau can hold plenty of people. Not only are there hundreds of tourists on any given day, the city is also home to 260,000 people – that is 80 percent of the Bahamas' total population.

Founded around 1650, Nassau's location made it a great spot on the trade route. So great, in fact, that it also became a popular destination for pirates – including the infamous Blackbeard.

Pack light because it's going to be pretty steamy in Nassau. The climate is essentially identical to southern Florida. It is warm and humid all year with the occasional cold snap in the winter.

San Diego

For many visitors and locals alike, San Diego is a paradise. Located in southern California, not far from Los Angeles, it has the perfect climate, wonderful beaches, and a culturally rich environment. It's surrounded by beautiful landscape and has a strong focus on wildlife conservation and eco-friendly living. Home to about 1.3 million residents, it is California's second largest city. It also has many universities, a large tech industry, and a thriving economy. Despite its size, many people perceive San Diego as a slower, more relaxed city with a pleasant vibe away from the chaos of a large city.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Bahamas, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Bahamas, The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas.


Which place is cheaper, San Diego or Nassau?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Nassau Prices
    Bahamas Prices
    San Diego Prices
    USA Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Nassau $227
    San Diego $251

The average daily cost (per person) in Nassau is $227, while the average daily cost in San Diego is $251. 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 Nassau and San Diego in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Nassau $108
    San Diego $124
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Nassau $216
    San Diego $248
Compare Hotels in Nassau and San Diego

Looking for a hotel in Nassau or San Diego? 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 Nassau


Hotels in San Diego


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: Nassau Hotel Prices and San Diego Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Nassau $32
    San Diego $23
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Nassau

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Nassau are as follows:


  • Water Taxi
    $7.99
  • Taxi to Cable Beach
    $25
  • Taxi from Airport
    $30

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nassau

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nassau:

  • Nassau Roundtrip Airport Transfer to Paradise Island: $360
  • Nassau Roundtrip Transfer by Limousine to Paradise Island: $335
  • Round Trip Airport to/from Hotel Private Transfers: $301
  • Round-Trip Private Transfer: $300
  • Luxury Airport Transfer in Nassau – VIP Mercedes Sprinter Service: $250
  • Private Bahamian Baking Class and Transfers with Chef Gabbi: $210
  • Private SUV One way Airport Transfer/Grocery & Liquor stop included: $200
  • Private Roundtrip Minivan Airport Transfer to Paradise Island: $199
  • Airport Transfer: $190
  • Custom Family and Small Group Transfers for Comfortable Journeys: $185
  • Private Roundtrip Sedan Airport Transfer to Eastern District: $185
  • Private Nassau Airport and Port Transfer (1 way): $180

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Diego

Also for San Diego, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Arrival Transfer from San Diego Airport SAN: $48
  • San Diego Airport (SAN) to San Marcos, CA - Arrival Private Transfer: $65
  • San Marcos, CA to San Diego Airport (SAN) - Departure Private Transfer: $65
  • San Diego Airport (SAN) to Carlsbad, CA - Arrival Private Transfer: $65
  • San Diego Airport (SAN) to Hot Springs/Ocotillo, CA - Arrival Private Transfer: $65
  • Tijuana to Tijuana International Airport (TIJ) – Departure Private Transfer: $70
  • Tijuana International Airport (TIJ) to Tijuana hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $70
  • Private Transfer from San Diego Port to San Diego Airport (SAN): $70
  • Private Transfer from San Diego City Hotels to San Diego Port: $70
  • Private Arrival Transfer - from San Diego Airport (SAN) by SUV: $89
  • Arrival Private Transfer: San Diego Airport SAN to San Diego in Business Car: $106
  • Departure Private Transfer: San Diego to San Diego Airport SAN in Business Car: $106

Is it cheaper to fly into Nassau or San Diego?

Prices for flights to both San Diego and Nassau 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
    Nassau $91
    San Diego $84

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nassau

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

  • Conch Salad Cooking Lesson and Tasting in Nassau: $80
  • Nassau Sunset Dinner Cruise: $103
  • Sunset Dinner Cruise: $119
  • Dinner and Dancing: $130
  • Flavors of Nassau Food Tour: $135
  • All Inclusive Sunset Dinner Cruise in Nassau Bahamas: $138
  • Saturday Bahamian Cooking Class in Downtown Nassau: $149
  • Experience Breakfast,Lunch or Dinner in the sky of Nassau Bahamas: $176

Typical Food Prices in San Diego

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to San Diego:


  • Mexican Lunch for Two
    $27
  • Breakfast at Starbucks
    $20

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Diego

For San Diego, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Tijuana Walking Street Food Tour with Wild Foodie Tours: $79
  • San Diego Holiday Sweet Treats, Donuts & Pastries Food Tour: $85
  • Pizza and Ice Cream Walking Tour: $89
  • San Diego Vegan Food Tour: $89
  • Vegan Food Tour: $89
  • Old Town Tequila and Tacos Walking Food Tour: $94
  • Gaslamp District Food Tour with 6 Local Dishes: $96
  • San Diego Gaslamp Food Tour with 6 Modern Californian Tastings: $97
  • San Diego Chinese Food Tour with Wild Foodie Tours: $99
  • City Cruises Buffet Dinner Cruise: $102
  • Public Italian Cooking Class in San Diego: $105
  • City Cruises Buffet Dinner Cruise with Drinks: $108

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Nassau $37
    San Diego $57
Typical Entertainment Prices in Nassau

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Nassau are as follows:


  • Jet Ski
    $50
  • 4 Hr Kayak Tour
    $70
  • 1/2 Day Snorkel Trip
    $75

Tours and Activities in Nassau

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nassau are as follows:

  • 3 Islands Tour Swim with Pigs Turtles Snorkeling and Lunch: $175
  • 3 Islands Tour, Swim with Pigs, Turtles, Snorkelling & lunch: $175
  • 3-Hour ATV Tour of New Providence (Inclusive of water & local deserts): $190
  • A Taste Of The Island Tour: $60
  • A Thrilling ATV Adventure Exploring Nassau Bahamas: $270
  • ATV Guided Historical Site Tours Nassau: $175
  • ATV Half Day City Tour in Guided Tour With Free Samples: $200
  • Atlantis Bridge Speed Boat Adventure: $90
  • Atv Guided Tours Nassau Bahamas: $250
  • Audio Driving Tour Around St. Simons Island: $9.99
  • Bahamas Budget Adventure: Pigs, Snorkle, Turtles, and Beach: $229
  • Bahamas Cabbage Beach Jet Ski Adventure: $120

Typical Entertainment Prices in San Diego

For San Diego, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • San Diego Zoo
    $15
  • Sea World Parking
    $12

Tours and Activities in San Diego

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Diego.

  • Discover Self-Guided Walking Tour: $3.55
  • Self-guided Bike Tour App - Audio + Written: $5.00
  • San Diego Historic Gaslamp Quarter Self-Guided Walking Tour: $7.75
  • San Diego Balboa Park: Mystery Puzzle Adventure: $8.30
  • Tijuana Downtown Self Guided Walking Tour: $9.75
  • La Jolla Coast & Cove Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $9.99
  • Gaslamp Quarter Walking Audio Tour: $9.99
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour of San Diego’s Scenic Waterfront: $9.99
  • Self-Guided Walking Tour of San Diego's Historic Old Town: $9.99
  • Sights of San Diego Harbor: a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $11
  • San Diego Pacific Naval Power GPS App Walking Tour Mobile Game: $12
  • Discover UCSD: A Self-Guided Tour for Students, Parents and Staff: $12

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Nassau $19
    San Diego $21
Typical Alcohol Prices in Nassau

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Nassau are as follows:


  • Cocktail
    $6.49

Sample the Local Flavors in Nassau

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Nassau:

  • Bottle Your Own at John Watling's Distillery: $20
  • Bahamian Mixology Experience at John Watling Distillery: $80
  • Mixology Experience at John Watling's Distillery: $80
  • Rum Tasting Experience at John Watling's Distillery: $80

Sample the Local Flavors in San Diego

Also in San Diego, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • An Epic Scavenger Hunt: Slammin' San Diego Bar Crawl: $13
  • Downtown Bar Crawl Party Pass: $20
  • San Diego Haunted Pub Crawl: True Crime & Ghost Stories: $35
  • Hillcrest Drag Queen 5 Bar Crawl with Shots: $45
  • Brewery Tour with Tastings and Food Pairings: $85
  • The most fun wine tour of the Guadalupe Valley: $124
  • Vino! Vino! Little Italy Wine Tasting Walking Tour: $125
  • Little Italy Wine Tasting Walking Tour: $125
  • Cruise & Booze Brewery tours: $149
  • Baja Tour Guide wine tour: $169
  • Private Deluxe Wine Tour to Valle de Guadalupe by Luxury Vehicle: $209
  • Private Temecula Wine Tour from Escondido: $300


When comparing the travel costs between Nassau and San Diego, we can see that San Diego 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 Nassau is in Caribbean Islands and San Diego 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 Nassau Expensive? and Is San Diego Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Nassau or San Diego?

San Diego has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Nassau. When comparing the sizes of Nassau and San Diego, 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 Nassau or San Diego?

San Diego has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Nassau experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Nassau or San Diego in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Nassau as well as San Diego. Nassau attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many visitors come to San Diego in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Nassau is a little warmer than San Diego. Typically, the summer temperatures in Nassau in July average around 28°C (82°F), and San Diego averages at about 71°F (22°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Diego. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Nassau this time of the year. In the summer, Nassau often gets less sunshine than San Diego. Nassau gets 273 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Diego receives 306 hours of full sun.

Nassau receives a lot of rain in the summer. Nassau usually gets more rain in July than San Diego. Nassau gets 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while San Diego receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Nassau 28°C (82°F) 
    San Diego 71°F (22°C)

Should I visit Nassau or San Diego in the Autumn?

Both San Diego and Nassau are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Nassau throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to San Diego for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In October, Nassau is generally a little warmer than San Diego. Daily temperatures in Nassau average around 26°C (79°F), and San Diego fluctuates around 68°F (20°C).

It's quite sunny in San Diego. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Nassau. Nassau usually receives less sunshine than San Diego during autumn. Nassau gets 223 hours of sunny skies, while San Diego receives 244 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Nassau. In October, Nassau usually receives more rain than San Diego. Nassau gets 184 mm (7.2 in) of rain, while San Diego receives 0.4 inches (9 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Nassau 26°C (79°F) 
    San Diego 68°F (20°C)

Should I visit Nassau or San Diego in the Winter?

Both San Diego and Nassau during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Nassau because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to San Diego because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Nassau is a little warmer than San Diego in the winter. The daily temperature in Nassau averages around 21°C (70°F) in January, and San Diego fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).

In San Diego, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Nassau. In the winter, Nassau often gets less sunshine than San Diego. Nassau gets 220 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Diego receives 239 hours of full sun.

Nassau usually gets more rain in January than San Diego. Nassau gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while San Diego receives 1.8 inches (46 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Nassau 21°C (70°F) 
    San Diego 57°F (14°C)

Should I visit Nassau or San Diego in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Nassau and San Diego. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Nassau year-round. Furthermore, the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty are the main draw to San Diego this time of year.

In the spring, Nassau is a little warmer than San Diego. Typically, the spring temperatures in Nassau in April average around 23°C (74°F), and San Diego averages at about 62°F (17°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Diego this time of the year. In Nassau, it's very sunny this time of the year. Nassau usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Diego during spring. Nassau gets 276 hours of sunny skies, while San Diego receives 277 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Nassau usually receives more rain than San Diego. Nassau gets 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while San Diego receives 0.8 inches (20 mm) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Nassau 23°C (74°F) 
    San Diego 62°F (17°C)

Typical Weather for San Diego and Nassau

Nassau San Diego
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 21°C (70°F) 51 mm (2 in) 57°F (14°C) 1.8 inches (46 mm)
Feb 21°C (70°F) 45 mm (1.8 in) 59°F (15°C) 1.5 inches (39 mm)
Mar 22°C (72°F) 43 mm (1.7 in) 59°F (15°C) 1.8 inches (45 mm)
Apr 23°C (74°F) 53 mm (2.1 in) 62°F (17°C) 0.8 inches (20 mm)
May 25°C (77°F) 116 mm (4.6 in) 64°F (18°C) 0.2 inches (5 mm)
Jun 27°C (80°F) 237 mm (9.3 in) 67°F (19°C) 0.1 inches (2 mm)
Jul 28°C (82°F) 151 mm (5.9 in) 71°F (22°C) 0 inches (1 mm)
Aug 28°C (82°F) 211 mm (8.3 in) 73°F (23°C) 0.1 inches (3 mm)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 171 mm (6.7 in) 71°F (22°C) 0.2 inches (6 mm)
Oct 26°C (79°F) 184 mm (7.2 in) 68°F (20°C) 0.4 inches (9 mm)
Nov 24°C (75°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 62°F (17°C) 1.5 inches (37 mm)
Dec 22°C (71°F) 60 mm (2.4 in) 57°F (14°C) 1.6 inches (40 mm)