Which city is cheaper, Durango or San Francisco?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America San Francisco vs. Durango for Hiking, Families, Couples, and Backpackers
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Should you visit San Francisco or Durango?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Francisco or Durango, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
San Francisco
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. It's considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. Other reasons to visit include live music, food, and beaches.
Durango
Durango is a scenic and nature-filled small town. With amazing attractions and sights, it's also a fun small town not to be missed. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Since it has a quaint atmosphere, you'll want to spend time soaking it all in. It's also popular because of the hiking.
San Francisco and Durango: Pros and Cons
San Francisco
Pros- Good for hiking
- Family-friendly
- Good for couples and romance
- Good for backpackers and budget travelers
- Big city activities
- Impressive beauty
Durango
Pros- Good for hiking
- Family-friendly
- Good for backpackers and budget travelers
- Small town charm
- Quaint atmosphere
- Less popular with couples
How is San Francisco different from Durango?
Which is Better for a Holiday?
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Durango and San Francisco. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Is San Francisco or Durango Better for Hiking?
San Francisco
Durango
San Francisco and Durango are both places where visitors can find hiking trails.
Known for its hiking, San Francisco draws a crowd to experience the nature and the trails. The city's hikes take in the dramatic views of the bay and city. Just outside of town there are also countless hikes through the Redwoods and along the coastline. Popular hikes in the area include Lands End, Tomales Point Trail at Point Reyes National Seashore, and Muir Woods.
Durango is a popular spot for hiking. Popular nearby hikes include Animas Mountain Trail, Falls Creek Trail, and Purgatory Trail.
Is San Francisco or Durango Better for Families?
San Francisco
Durango
San Francisco and Durango are both fun destinations for the whole family.
You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in San Francisco. With its many outdoor parks, hiking trails, beaches, and kid-friendly museums, this city makes a great family-friendly destination.
Durango is a very family-friendly place to visit. In the area you'll find ziplining, alpine slides, and plenty of outdoor areas to explore - and of course there's the railroad.
Is San Francisco or Durango Better for Couples?
San Francisco
Durango
Couples will find a longer list of romantic activities in San Francisco than Durango.
San Francisco is a great coastal city if you're traveling as a couple. 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.
Durango is not the best destination for a couple to visit. The town may not be the first romantic destination that comes to mind, but the railroad combined with wandering the downtown can make for a great couple's getaway.
Is San Francisco or Durango Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?
San Francisco
Durango
For backpackers, both San Francisco and Durango are fairly comparable places to visit.
It's common for backpackers to visit San Francisco. The city is one of the more backpacker friendly cities in the United States. There are a handful of hostels throughout, many concentrated in the popular Union Square and Downtown neighborhoods of the city.
Durango is a good coastal city to visit for backpackers. With plenty of parks and outdoor areas nearby, backpackers will have plenty of places to explore.
Is San Francisco or Durango a more walkable city?
San Francisco
Durango
San Francisco and Durango are similar when it comes to walkability.
San Francisco is a very walkable destination. 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.
Durango is somewhat walkable. While the Main Street through town is walkable, it's not as pedestrian-friendly as some small towns.
Should I spend more time in Durango or San Francisco?
How long in San Francisco or Durango?
Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both San Francisco and Durango. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in San Francisco than Durango.
The ideal length of time for a trip to San Francisco is 3-7 days, and the ideal length of time for a trip to Durango is 2-3 days.
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How many days in San Francisco or Durango? Ideal Length of StaySan Francisco 3-7Durango 2-3
One day in San Francisco or Durango?
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.
Even though Durango is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. 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.
A weekend in San Francisco or Durango?
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.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Durango. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.
Five days in San Francisco or Durango?
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.
Durango is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. This small town 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.
A week in San Francisco or Durango?
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.
Durango is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. 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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Francisco $175Durango $123
The average daily cost (per person) in San Francisco is $175, while the average daily cost in Durango is $123. 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 San Francisco and Durango in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Francisco $106Durango $63
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Francisco $212Durango $126
Compare Hotels in San Francisco and Durango
Looking for a hotel in San Francisco or Durango? 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 Francisco Hotel Prices and Durango Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Francisco $13Durango $22
Typical Local Transportation prices in San Francisco
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in San Francisco:
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Taxi to SFO$45
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Golden Gate Bridge Toll$6.00
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Alcatraz Tour$30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Francisco
Also for San Francisco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- San Fransisco Downtown to OAK Departure Chauffeur Driven Airport Transfer: $83
- San Fransisco Downtown to OAK Departure Chauffeur Driven Airport Transfer: $100
- San Fransisco Downtown to OAK Departure Chauffeur Driven Airport Transfer: $83
- San Francisco to San José Airport (SJC) - Departure Private Transfer: $160
- San Francisco to San Francisco Airport (SFO) - Departure Private Transfer: $85
- San Francisco to Oakland Airport (OAK) - Departure Private Car Transfer: $105
- San Francisco Round Trip Chauffeur Driven Airport Transfer by Executive Sedan: $130
- San Francisco Round Trip Chauffeur Driven Airport Transfer by Executive SUV: $150
- San Francisco Round Trip Chauffeur Driven Airport Transfer: $130
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO) Private Transfers: $108
- San Francisco Departure Chauffeur Driven Airport Transfer by Executive Sedan: $65
- San Francisco Departure Chauffeur Driven Airport Transfer by Executive SUV: $75
Is it cheaper to fly into San Francisco or Durango?
Prices for flights to both Durango and San Francisco 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 Francisco $32Durango $40
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Francisco
For San Francisco, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- San Francisco Virtual Food Tour with Local Guide: $15
- Traveling Spoon Pad Thai and Papaya Salad Private Online Cooking Class: $25
- Chinatown Walking Food Tour: $75
- Cooking with Ale: let's make Tiramisu - private groups: $80
- San Francisco Food Tour: Ferry Building and Ferry Plaza Farmers Market: $80
- American Cooking Class in San Francisco with a Local near Golden Gate Park: $82
- San Francisco Chinatown Food Tour: $89
- Russian Hill Gourmet Food Tour: $97
- I Can't Believe I Ate My Way Through Chinatown - Food Tour: $98
- Mamaz Social Food Arepa Class and Dinner: $100
- Private Tour: Secret Food Tours San Francisco: $103
- Hayes Valley Gourmet Food Tour: $108
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Francisco $37Durango $37
Tours and Activities in San Francisco
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Francisco.
- 1 Day Hop-On Hop-Off Tour: $55
- 1-Hour Golden Gate and Lombard GoRide Scooter Tour: $54
- 1HR San Francisco Chinatown and Downtown GoCar Tour: $71
- 2 Day Hop-On Hop-Off Tour: $79
- 2-Day Hop-On Hop-Off Tour & Alcatraz: $150
- 2-Day Muir Woods and Wine Country Tour from San Francisco: $569
- 2-Day San Francisco Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour + Night Tour: $79
- 2-Day Yosemite National Park Tour from San Francisco: $499
- 2-Day Yosemite National Park Winter Tour from San Francisco: $589
- 2-day Monterey & Yosemite Small Group Tour from San Francisco: $495
- 2HR Golden Gate Bridge and Lombard Loop GoCar Tour: $131
- 2HR Golden Gate Bridge and Presidio GoRide Scooter Tour: $82
Typical Entertainment prices in Durango
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Durango's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Hot Springs (for 2)$50
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Tubing (for 2)$40
Tours and Activities in Durango
For Durango, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 12-Zipline Adventure in the San Juan Mountains near Durango: $141
- Fun Tour by Tuk Tuk around Durango Old Town, Garai and Goiuria: $93
- Private Full-Day Fishing Experience in San Juan River: $400
- Private Guided Tour by Tuk Tuk of Durango and Elorrio: $93
- Private Guided Tour by tuk tuk of Durango and Atxondo: $93
- Private Tour in Durango and Mendiola by Tuk Tuk: $93
- Province of Vizcaya Half-Day Private Guided Tuk Tuk Tour: $218
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.
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Francisco $15Durango $24
Sample the Local Flavors in San Francisco
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in San Francisco:
- San Francisco Bar Hunt: Soul of San Francisco Bar Crawl: $12
- San Francisco North Beach Pub Crawl: $60
- Wine Tasting on the Bay: $70
- Half-Day Sonoma Wine Tour: $100
- Shore Excursion: Napa and Sonoma Ultimate Wine Tasting Experience Full-Day Tour: $135
- San Francisco City & Wine tour: $140
- Chariot wine tour: $145
- From Full-Day Sonoma Valley Wine Tour: $149
- Viticulture with Charm: Sonoma Valley Wine Tour from San Francisco: $149
- Small Group Redwoods and Wine Country Trip Including Wine Tasting and Cave Tour: $152
- Small Group Muir Woods with Napa & Sonoma Wine Tour: $169
- The Perfect Blend: Napa and Sonoma Combo Wine Tour from San Francisco: $169
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Francisco and Durango, we can see that San Francisco is more expensive. And not only is Durango much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Durango would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Durango 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 San Francisco would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Francisco than you might in Durango.
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