Which place is cheaper, San Antonio or Orlando?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Orlando or San Antonio? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Orlando is a family-friendly, entertaining, and active city. It's also known for shopping, theater, and nightlife.
San Antonio is a colorful, festive, and fun city. It's a gorgeous place to visit. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.
Travelers will generally find more things to do in Orlando than San Antonio. While San Antonio is larger than Orlando, Orlando has more sights and attractions for tourists. Orlando is more popular for its theatre productions, food, resorts, and shopping, while San Antonio is known for its museums, music, historical sights, and impressive beauty. Orlando is more touristy than San Antonio and is popular for being the home of Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and many other theme parks and family-friendly activities. It is also home to Disney World, Universal Studios, and the city's many amusement parks. 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 Orlando. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
San Antonio is great for its historical sights. However, Orlando does not have museums and landmarks.
San Antonio offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. 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.
Orlando does not have museums and landmarks.
Orlando is a good destination for theatre. However, San Antonio is not a theatre destination.
With some theater and performance venues, you might want to see a show in Orlando. The city has a number of local theaters that are fun to explore. As home to Disney World and Universal Studios, there are also a number of shows available that are affiliated with the parks.
San Antonio is not a theatre destination.
Orlando is a great destination for its restaurant scene. Also, San Antonio is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.
With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Orlando makes for a great culinary experience. There are a diversity of restaurants on the Disney grounds and nearby. You'll also find many restaurants at Universal CityWalk and Disney Springs. Food can be expensive, and the quality can vary dramatically. Many people enjoy going to dinner shows as well. Restaurants can be challenging also, as reservations must be made months in advance.
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.
The vibe at night is good in both Orlando and San Antonio.
If you're looking for night time activities Orlando has a few options to choose from. If you need a break from the kids, you'll find some of the best nightlife around Orlando at Disney Springs, Wall Street Plaza and Universal CityWalk.
There's a variety of activities in the evening in San Antonio. 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.
San Antonio is a popular place for live music. However, Orlando is not a live music destination.
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.
Orlando is not a live music destination.
Orlando is an unbeatable place for its resorts. However, San Antonio is not a resort destination.
Vacationers flock to Orlando for its luxury resorts. Disney World is famous for its many iconic resorts. Some of the most popular are the Animal Kingdom Lodge, Port Orleans Resort, and the Grand Floridian Resort. There are also many resorts that aren't affiliated with the major theme parks. These tend to be more affordable, but transportation options to and from the park are limited. You'll also miss out on the perks that come with staying at a theme park resort.
San Antonio is not a resort destination.
San Antonio is a popular place for its historic old town. However, Orlando does not have a historic old town.
San Antonio is a good destination for visiting its 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.
Orlando does not have a historic old town.
Orlando is a great destination for shopping. Also, San Antonio is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping opportunities.
Orlando is an extremely popular place for shoppers. Shopping is a dream for any Disney enthusiast. There are countless malls and shops, both on and off the Disney grounds, that sell all of the Disney paraphernalia. Disney Springs and Universal CityWalk are the most famous areas. During the evenings, these areas can be very crowded, but during the day they're less popular as most people are at the theme parks.
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.
Orlando is an unbeatable place for its Christmas activities. Also, San Antonio is still popular, but not quite as popular for its Christmas holiday experiences.
Orlando is a world class destination for shoppers. Christmas at Disney World is lots of fun. There are decorations and all kinds of seasonal activities around town.
Christmas holiday activities are popular when visiting San Antonio. It's fun to see the lights along the River Walk at Christmas.
Kids will enjoy a visit to either Orlando or San Antonio.
As it has a large number of activities for kids, Orlando is a very family-friendly destination. Known as a theme park capital, here you'll find the iconic Disney World, as well as Universal Studios, SeaWorld and many more. While most people spend their vacation at the Disney or Universal resorts, there is also an endless supply of less mainstream parks and activities in the area.
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.
With fun activities for couples, both Orlando and San Antonio make for a good place to visit.
Orlando is a nice destination for couples. While most people visit the area with family, there is a niche crowd that enjoys honeymooning or vacationing here as a couple. There are many beautiful restaurants and interesting activities that couples can enjoy together. This is the perfect trip for fun loving couples who don't take themselves to seriously.
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.
For students, both Orlando and San Antonio are good places to visit.
It's common for students to visit Orlando. Most people don't think about education when they think about Orlando, but there are actually a diversity of internships and opportunities for students to learn in a fun setting.
San Antonio is a good city to visit for students. 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.
Orlando and San Antonio both offer decent public transit to get you around.
Public transit is mostly limited in Orlando. If you're staying at a Disney Property, there is excellent transportation around the complex, but otherwise, a car is essential.
Public transit is generally 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.
San Antonio is adequate for its walkability. However, Orlando is not a good destination for its high level of walkability.
San Antonio is generally not a very walkable 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.
Orlando is not a walkable city. The city is sprawling, so unless you stay on the Disney grounds, it's best to rent a car.
For even more information, also check out Is Orlando Worth Visiting? and Is San Antonio Worth Visiting?.
Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Orlando and San Antonio. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in San Antonio than in Orlando. Usually, 7 days is a good amount of time for Orlando, and 2-3 days is enough time in San Antonio.
Couples should spend more time in Orlando than San Antonio. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Orlando that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in San Antonio than Orlando 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 Antonio.
Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the active city of Orlando. 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, you'll find shopping and museums. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.
Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the active destination of Orlando. It's also a relaxing resort destination. This 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.
In San Antonio, you'll find museums and nightlife. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that San Antonio has to offer.
The active city of Orlando offers shopping and theater. 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 great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.
Many people enjoy the theater and nightlife when visiting Orlando. 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.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in San Antonio. Many people enjoy the live music and food when visiting San Antonio. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Orlando is $321, 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 Orlando and San Antonio in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Orlando 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 Orlando are as follows:
Also for Orlando, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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 Orlando 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.
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Orlando:
For Orlando, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Antonio.
For Orlando, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Orlando.
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 specific costs for nightlife related activities in Orlando:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Antonio:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Orlando and San Antonio, we can see that Orlando 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 Orlando would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Orlando 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 Orlando Expensive? and Is San Antonio Expensive?.
San Antonio has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Orlando. When comparing the sizes of Orlando 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 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.
The summer brings many poeple to Orlando as well as San Antonio. Most visitors come to Orlando for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to San Antonio because of the music scene and the family-friendly experiences.
Orlando is around the same temperature as San Antonio in the summer. The daily temperature in Orlando averages around 82°F (28°C) in July, and San Antonio fluctuates around 87°F (31°C).
Orlando receives a lot of rain in the summer. Orlando usually gets more rain in July than San Antonio. Orlando gets 8.3 inches (211 mm) of rain, while San Antonio receives 2.2 inches (57 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Both San Antonio and Orlando are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Orlando because of the shopping scene. Also, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to San Antonio this time of year.
In the autumn, Orlando is around the same temperature as San Antonio. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Orlando in October average around 75°F (24°C), and San Antonio averages at about 73°F (23°C).
It's quite rainy in Orlando. In October, Orlando usually receives more rain than San Antonio. Orlando gets 4.1 inches (103 mm) of rain, while San Antonio receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
Both San Antonio and Orlando during the winter are popular places to visit. The Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine are the main draw to Orlando this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to San Antonio for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Orlando is generally a little warmer than San Antonio. Daily temperatures in Orlando average around 59°F (15°C), and San Antonio fluctuates around 54°F (12°C).
Orlando usually gets more rain in January than San Antonio. Orlando gets 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain, while San Antonio receives 1.8 inches (45 mm) of rain this time of the year.
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Orlando and San Antonio. Furthermore, many visitors come to San Antonio in the spring for the natural beauty.
Orlando is around the same temperature as San Antonio in the spring. The daily temperature in Orlando averages around 72°F (22°C) in April, and San Antonio fluctuates around 74°F (23°C).
In April, Orlando usually receives more rain than San Antonio. Orlando gets 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain, while San Antonio receives 2.4 inches (60 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
Orlando | San Antonio | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 59°F (15°C) | 2.3 inches (58 mm) | 54°F (12°C) | 1.8 inches (45 mm) |
Feb | 62°F (16°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 1.8 inches (45 mm) |
Mar | 67°F (19°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) | 65°F (18°C) | 1.7 inches (42 mm) |
Apr | 72°F (22°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) | 74°F (23°C) | 2.4 inches (60 mm) |
May | 77°F (25°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) | 79°F (26°C) | 4.4 inches (111 mm) |
Jun | 81°F (27°C) | 7.1 inches (181 mm) | 84°F (29°C) | 3.7 inches (94 mm) |
Jul | 82°F (28°C) | 8.3 inches (211 mm) | 87°F (31°C) | 2.2 inches (57 mm) |
Aug | 82°F (28°C) | 6.7 inches (171 mm) | 87°F (31°C) | 2.6 inches (66 mm) |
Sep | 81°F (27°C) | 7.2 inches (183 mm) | 82°F (28°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) |
Oct | 75°F (24°C) | 4.1 inches (103 mm) | 73°F (23°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
Nov | 68°F (20°C) | 1.6 inches (40 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 2.6 inches (66 mm) |
Dec | 62°F (17°C) | 1.9 inches (48 mm) | 56°F (13°C) | 1.6 inches (40 mm) |