Which place is cheaper, Tucson or San Antonio?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Antonio or Tucson?
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 Tucson. 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 Tucson?
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.
Tucson
Tucson, Arizona is the second largest city in the state and sits at an elevation of 2,400 feet. It's temperature is slightly milder than Phoenix and it is a pleasant place to visit. Most people arrive in the city by car, but Amtrak does travel through Tucson, as does Greyhound. The area is also served by the Tucson International Airport. Once in the city, you'll likely want to have access to a car, as the city is not very pedestrian friendly and public transportation is very much lacking. Many popular and beautiful sights are also outside of town in the surrounding desert, so having access to a vehicle is paramount if you hope to visit any of the places.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America, The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in United States of America, and The Best Cultural Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Antonio $132Tucson $157
The average daily cost (per person) in San Antonio is $132, while the average daily cost in Tucson is $157. 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 Tucson in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Antonio $69Tucson $93
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Antonio $138Tucson $186
Compare Hotels in San Antonio and Tucson
Looking for a hotel in San Antonio or Tucson? 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 Tucson Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Antonio $20Tucson $27
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:
- San Antonio International Airport (SAT) - Arrival or Departure Private Transfer : $93
- Private Transfer: San Antonio Airport to San Antonio by Sedan, SUV or Minibus : $97
- Private Round Trip Transfer - San Antonio International Airport (SAT): $93
- Galveston: One-Way Transfer GLS Airport to City: $237
Is it cheaper to fly into San Antonio or Tucson?
Prices for flights to both Tucson 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 $40Tucson $36
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Antonio $36Tucson $16
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 Tucson
For Tucson, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Saguaro National Park Self Guided Driving Audio Tour: $75
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Antonio -Tucson $16
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Antonio and Tucson, we can see that Tucson 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 Tucson would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tucson 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 Tucson Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Antonio or Tucson?
San Antonio has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Tucson. When comparing the sizes of San Antonio and Tucson, 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.