Which place is cheaper, Calgary or San Antonio?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Antonio or Calgary?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for San Antonio and Calgary. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: San Antonio or Calgary?
San Antonio
The third largest city in Texas, San Antonio, has grown in recent years as a popular travel destination. It's a beautiful city that is strategically situated at the edge of Texas's Hill Country near the South Texas Plains and Prairie Lakes areas. The city holds on to its small town feel despite having a population of about 1.4 million and 2.3 million in the greater metropolitan area. The city holds tight to its Spanish and Mexican heritage, making it a fascinating cultural destination. The Hispanic population has much influence in the city and this makes it a fun and unique city to visit, particularly during Fiesta week, which is an annual celebration with parades, music and food.
Calgary
Calgary is the largest city in Alberta and, located at the edge of the prairie and foothills, it is a gateway to the Rocky Mountains. If you're headed to Banff or Jasper, this is likely to be your first stop. It's also Canada's fourth largest city and worth a few days visit. Calgary's economy is diverse, but includes energy, financial services, film and television, transportation, technology, manufacturing, and much more.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America, The Best Historical Tours in United States of America, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Antonio $132Calgary $154
The average daily cost (per person) in San Antonio is $132, while the average daily cost in Calgary is $154. 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 San Antonio and Calgary in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Antonio $69Calgary $73
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Antonio $138Calgary $146
Compare Hotels in San Antonio and Calgary
Looking for a hotel in San Antonio or Calgary? 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: San Antonio Hotel Prices and Calgary Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Antonio $20Calgary $12
Typical Local Transportation Prices in San Antonio
Some typical examples of transportation costs in San Antonio are as follows:
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Rental Car for a Day$60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Antonio
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Antonio:
- Galveston: One-Way Transfer GLS Airport to City: $237
- Private One-way San Antonio Airport Transfer To/From San Antonio: $67
- Private Round Trip Transfer - San Antonio International Airport (SAT): $93
- Private Transfer: San Antonio Airport to San Antonio by Sedan, SUV or Minibus : $97
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Calgary
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Calgary:
- Alberta Transfer: Banff, Jasper, Lake Louise, Calgary: $67
- Arrival Private Transfer: Calgary Airport YYC to Calgary in Business Car: $108
- Arrival Private Transfer: Calgary Airport YYC to Calgary in Luxury Van: $128
- Banff To Calgary Airport - Private Transfer: $365
- Calgary Air to Fairmont/Radium Hot Springs Round-Trip Transfer: $295
- Calgary Airport (YYC) to Banff | Private Transfer: $185
- Calgary Airport (YYC) to Lake Louise | Private Transfer: $235
- Calgary Airport to Banff Thermal Resorts Private Arrival Transfer: $139
- Calgary Airport to Fairmont/Radium Hot Springs Arrival Transfer: $147
- Calgary Airport(YYC) to Lake Louise Round Trip Private Transfer: $229
- Calgary Downtown Transfers: $88
- Calgary Int Airport (YYC) to Fernie - Arrival Private Transfer: $76
Is it cheaper to fly into San Antonio or Calgary?
Prices for flights to both Calgary and San Antonio 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
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Food Meals for one daySan Antonio $40Calgary $31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Antonio
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Antonio.
- The Haunted Dinner Tour: $75
Typical Food Prices in Calgary
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Calgary:
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Bread, Chips, Cheese$8.10
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Calgary
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Calgary.
- Light Brunch & Food Tour at Calgary Farmers' Market WEST: $81
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Antonio $36Calgary $15
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Antonio
Here are a few typical costs in San Antonio for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Spa Treatments$200
Tours and Activities in San Antonio
Here are a few actual costs in San Antonio for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Self-Guided Ghost Walking Tour: $6.75
- The Alamo In-App Audio Tour (WITHOUT A TICKET): $10
- Briscoe Western Art Museum Entry Ticket: $14
- The Alamo Exhibit Entry Ticket: $14
- Witte Museum Admission Ticket: $16
- Tower of the Americas Entry Ticket: $20
- San Antonio Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $21
- San Antonio Museum of Art Entry Ticket: $22
- Hopscotch Immersive Art Experience: $24
- Hopscotch Immersive Art Experience Ticket: $24
- San Antonio Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour and Game: $25
- Historical Ghost Tour: $25
Typical Entertainment Prices in Calgary
Here are a few typical costs in Calgary for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Stampede Admission (for 2)$22
Tours and Activities in Calgary
Here are a few actual costs in Calgary for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Bow River Trail Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.11
- Downtown Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.11
- Downtown Calgary a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.19
- 3-Hour Tips Based Walking Tour of Calgary: $5.46
- 3-hour Tips-Based City Walking Tour: $6.58
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Rocky Mountains: Smartphone Driving and Walking Audio Tours: $15
- Calgary Downtown: 2-Hour Introductory Walking Tour: $21
- Heritage Park Historical Village Admission Ticket: $26
- Calgary self-guided walking tour and scavenger hunt: $38
- Sheep & Spirits: Diamond Valley Hiking Experience: $39
- 3-Hour Sightseeing Bus Tour: $45
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Antonio -Calgary $11
Sample the Local Flavors in San Antonio
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Antonio:
- Epic San Antonio Bar Crawl: By Let’s Roam: $12
- Death Warmed Over: San Antonio Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
- Guided Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
- Texas’ Oldest Haunted Pub Crawl Shared Walking Tour: $30
- Taste of Fredericksburg Small-Group Wine Tour from San Antonio: $155
Sample the Local Flavors in Calgary
Also in Calgary, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Calgary Brewery and Wine Tours at Award Winning Venues: $83
- Calgary Brewery Tour: $89
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Antonio and Calgary, we can see that Calgary 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 Calgary would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Calgary 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 San Antonio Expensive? and Is Calgary Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Antonio or Calgary?
San Antonio has a larger population, and is about 23% larger than the population of Calgary. When comparing the sizes of San Antonio and Calgary, 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.