Which city is cheaper, San Francisco or Orlando?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Orlando or San Francisco? 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 active, family-friendly, and entertaining city. It's also popular because of the theater, nightlife, and food.
San Francisco is a scenic, beautiful, and outdoorsy coastal city. It's an amazing and huge city with tons of activities and things to do. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. Other reasons to visit include beaches, hiking, and shopping.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between San Francisco and Orlando. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
There are theater venues available in both Orlando and San Francisco.
If you have some extra time in Orlando, take in a show. 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 Francisco offers a number of shows and performances. The city has around a dozen theaters where you can enjoy musicals or plays.
There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at great restaurants in both Orlando and San Francisco.
The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Orlando. There are a diversity of restaurants on the Disney grounds and nearby. Restaurants can be challenging though, as reservations must be made months in advance.
San Francisco has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. 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.
The vibe at night is comparable in Orlando and San Francisco.
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 Francisco. Popular clubs in the city include Temple San Francisco, Monarch, and Audio Nightclub.
If you're looking to go shopping, Orlando and San Francisco both offer plenty of spots.
Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Orlando. 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.
The abundance of shops in San Francisco make it a world-class shopping destination. 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.
Kids will enjoy a visit to either Orlando or San Francisco.
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.
San Francisco is a very kid-friendly city. With its many outdoor parks, hiking trails, beaches, and kid-friendly museums, this city makes a great family-friendly destination.
With fun activities for couples, both Orlando and San Francisco 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.
San Francisco is a very popular place to visit for couples. 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.
San Francisco has better public transit to get you around.
San Francisco has a great public transit system. The transit network includes a subway (the BART), trams, cable cars, ferries, and buses.
Public transit is generally limited in Orlando. If you're staying at a Disney Property, there is excellent transportation around the complex, but otherwise, a car is essential.
San Francisco is generally more walkable than Orlando.
San Francisco is very walkable. 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.
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.
Both Orlando 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 Orlando.
The ideal length of time for a trip to Orlando is 7 days, and the ideal length of time for a trip to San Francisco is 3-7 days.
Many travelers enjoy the shopping and theater when visiting the active destination of Orlando. 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.
Because San Francisco is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. This coastal city offers something for everyone. One day 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 Orlando. 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.
Because San Francisco is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.
Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the entertaining destination of Orlando. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. This 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 great place to explore. It is common to spend five days here. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Five days is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that San Francisco has to offer. Anyone can find something fun to do here.
You'll find food and shopping around the city of Orlando. 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.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in San Francisco. Because San Francisco is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one week here.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Orlando is $255, 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 Orlando and San Francisco in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Orlando 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 Orlando are as follows:
Also for Orlando, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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 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:
For San Francisco, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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.
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 specific costs for nightlife related activities in Orlando:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in San Francisco:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Orlando and San Francisco, we can see that Orlando is more expensive. And not only is San Francisco much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to San Francisco would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Francisco 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 Francisco.
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 Francisco and Orlando are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Orlando for the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to San Francisco in the summer for the beaches, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Orlando is generally much warmer than San Francisco. Temperatures in Orlando average around 82°F (28°C), and San Francisco stays around 63°F (17°C).
It's quite rainy in Orlando. In July, Orlando usually receives more rain than San Francisco. Orlando gets 8.3 inches (211 mm) of rain, while San Francisco receives 0.1 inches (2 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
Both San Francisco and Orlando during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Orlando in the autumn for the shopping scene. Furthermore, most visitors come to San Francisco 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.
Orlando is a little warmer than San Francisco in the autumn. The temperature in Orlando is usually 75°F (24°C) in October, and San Francisco stays around 63°F (17°C).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Orlando. Orlando usually gets more rain in October than San Francisco. Orlando gets 4.1 inches (103 mm) of rain, while San Francisco receives 1.3 inches (33 mm) of rain this time of the year.
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Orlando and San Francisco. Most visitors come to Orlando for the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine during these months. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to San Francisco because of the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Orlando is a little warmer than San Francisco. Typically, the winter temperatures in Orlando in January are around 59°F (15°C), and San Francisco is about 50°F (10°C).
In January, Orlando usually receives less rain than San Francisco. Orlando gets 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain, while San Francisco receives 3.8 inches (96 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
The spring brings many poeple to Orlando as well as San Francisco. Additionally, the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty are the main draw to San Francisco this time of year.
In April, Orlando is generally much warmer than San Francisco. Temperatures in Orlando average around 72°F (22°C), and San Francisco stays around 58°F (14°C).
Orlando usually gets more rain in April than San Francisco. Orlando gets 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain, while San Francisco receives 1.2 inches (31 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Orlando | San Francisco | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 59°F (15°C) | 2.3 inches (58 mm) | 50°F (10°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
Feb | 62°F (16°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
Mar | 67°F (19°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) | 56°F (13°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
Apr | 72°F (22°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) | 58°F (14°C) | 1.2 inches (31 mm) |
May | 77°F (25°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) | 60°F (15°C) | 0.2 inches (5 mm) |
Jun | 81°F (27°C) | 7.1 inches (181 mm) | 62°F (17°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
Jul | 82°F (28°C) | 8.3 inches (211 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
Aug | 82°F (28°C) | 6.7 inches (171 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 0.1 inches (1 mm) |
Sep | 81°F (27°C) | 7.2 inches (183 mm) | 66°F (19°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) |
Oct | 75°F (24°C) | 4.1 inches (103 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 1.3 inches (33 mm) |
Nov | 68°F (20°C) | 1.6 inches (40 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
Dec | 62°F (17°C) | 1.9 inches (48 mm) | 51°F (11°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
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