Which place is cheaper, Ottawa or San Antonio?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Antonio or Ottawa?
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 Ottawa. 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 Ottawa?
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.
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital city of Canada, located on the Ontario side of the Ottawa River. A city of many ethnic populations, Ottawa is uniquely bilingual with English as the first language of the population's majority and French as a close second. It is best known as the nation's capital, which is centered on Parliament Hill, an architectural landmark as well as the seat of government.
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, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Canada, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Antonio $132Ottawa $122
The average daily cost (per person) in San Antonio is $132, while the average daily cost in Ottawa is $122. 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 Ottawa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Antonio $69Ottawa $18
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Antonio $138Ottawa $36
Compare Hotels in San Antonio and Ottawa
Looking for a hotel in San Antonio or Ottawa? 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 Ottawa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Antonio $20Ottawa $7.21
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:
- Private Transfer: San Antonio Airport to San Antonio by Sedan, SUV or Minibus : $97
- Private Round Trip Transfer - San Antonio International Airport (SAT): $93
- Private One-way San Antonio Airport Transfer To/From San Antonio: $67
- Galveston: One-Way Transfer GLS Airport to City: $237
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ottawa
Also for Ottawa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Airport YOW Private Arrival/Departure Shuttle Transfer : $52
- Ottawa to Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier Airport (YOW) - Departure Private Transfer: $66
- Private Arrival Transfer from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Airport YOW: $40
Is it cheaper to fly into San Antonio or Ottawa?
Prices for flights to both Ottawa 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 $40Ottawa $17
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ottawa
For Ottawa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Oh Canada Eh!? Dinner Musical : $71
- Taste of the ByWard Market Food Tour: $79
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Antonio $36Ottawa $40
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:
- 3 Hours Private Historic Sightseeing Tour in San Antonio : $95
- Best of San Antonio Small Group Tour with Boat + Tower + Alamo: $169
- Cave Without a Name Admission Ticket with Guided Cavern Tour: $25
- Downtown San Antonio Helicopter Tour: $197
- Half-Day Afternoon City Tour of Historic San Antonio : $65
- Historic Downtown & Riverwalk Walking Tour: $39
- Historic Missions Bike Tour - 2 Mission Southern Route: $65
- Historic Missions Bike Tour - 2 Missions Northern Route: $65
- Historic Spanish Missions Bike Tour - 3 Missions Tour: $85
- Hopscotch Immersive Art Experience: $24
- LEGOLAND Discovery Center San Antonio Admission Ticket: $27
- PRIVATE Missions and More - Half-day City Tour: $149
Tours and Activities in Ottawa
For Ottawa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.42
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $6.42
- Ottawa Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
- Explore Canada Through Ottawa's Eyes with Walking Tours Through The City: $6.68
- Ottawa's Hidden History: A Self Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- A Self Guided Audio Tour of Ottawa's Hidden History: $6.99
- Ottawa Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Ottawa by Wacky Walks: $10
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Ottawa by Operation City Quest: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Ottawa by Crazy Dash: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Antonio -Ottawa $18
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 Ottawa
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Ottawa:
- Epic Ottawa Bar Crawl: By Let’s Roam: $12
When comparing the travel costs between San Antonio and Ottawa, we can see that San Antonio 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. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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 Ottawa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Antonio or Ottawa?
San Antonio has a larger population, and is about 55% larger than the population of Ottawa. When comparing the sizes of San Antonio and Ottawa, 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 San Antonio or Ottawa?
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.
Should I visit San Antonio or Ottawa in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to San Antonio as well as Ottawa. The music scene and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to San Antonio this time of year.
In July, San Antonio is generally a little warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in San Antonio average around 87°F (31°C), and Ottawa fluctuates around 21°C (71°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ottawa. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Antonio this time of the year. In the summer, San Antonio often gets more sunshine than Ottawa. San Antonio gets 307 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 268 hours of full sun.
San Antonio usually gets less rain in July than Ottawa. San Antonio gets 2.2 inches (57 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Antonio 87°F (31°C)Ottawa 21°C (71°F)
Should I visit San Antonio or Ottawa in the Autumn?
Both Ottawa and San Antonio are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to San Antonio for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
San Antonio is much warmer than Ottawa in the autumn. The daily temperature in San Antonio averages around 73°F (23°C) in October, and Ottawa fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Antonio. San Antonio usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during autumn. San Antonio gets 213 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 116 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, San Antonio usually receives more rain than Ottawa. San Antonio gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Antonio 73°F (23°C)Ottawa 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit San Antonio or Ottawa in the Winter?
Both Ottawa and San Antonio during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to San Antonio in the winter for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Ottawa can be very cold during winter. In the winter, San Antonio is much warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the winter temperatures in San Antonio in January average around 54°F (12°C), and Ottawa averages at about -10°C (14°F).
In the winter, San Antonio often gets more sunshine than Ottawa. San Antonio gets 155 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 93 hours of full sun.
San Antonio usually gets less rain in January than Ottawa. San Antonio gets 1.8 inches (45 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Antonio 54°F (12°C)Ottawa -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit San Antonio or Ottawa in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both San Antonio and Ottawa. Most visitors come to San Antonio for the natural beauty during these months.
In April, San Antonio is generally much warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in San Antonio average around 74°F (23°C), and Ottawa fluctuates around 6°C (44°F).
In San Antonio, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Antonio usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during spring. San Antonio gets 216 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 180 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, San Antonio usually receives less rain than Ottawa. San Antonio gets 2.4 inches (60 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Antonio 74°F (23°C)Ottawa 6°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Ottawa and San Antonio
| San Antonio | Ottawa | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 54°F (12°C) | 1.8 inches (45 mm) | -10°C (14°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 57°F (14°C) | 1.8 inches (45 mm) | -9°C (16°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Mar | 65°F (18°C) | 1.7 inches (42 mm) | -2°C (28°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 74°F (23°C) | 2.4 inches (60 mm) | 6°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| May | 79°F (26°C) | 4.4 inches (111 mm) | 13°C (56°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 84°F (29°C) | 3.7 inches (94 mm) | 19°C (65°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 87°F (31°C) | 2.2 inches (57 mm) | 21°C (71°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 87°F (31°C) | 2.6 inches (66 mm) | 20°C (68°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Sep | 82°F (28°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) | 15°C (59°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Oct | 73°F (23°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 9°C (48°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Nov | 64°F (18°C) | 2.6 inches (66 mm) | 2°C (36°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 56°F (13°C) | 1.6 inches (40 mm) | -7°C (20°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
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.