Which place is cheaper, Eugene or San Francisco?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit San Francisco or Eugene?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Francisco or Eugene, 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.
Where Should I go: San Francisco or Eugene?
San Francisco
San Francisco is a beautiful city that is famous for it's picturesque neighborhoods, liberal character, and stunning location on the bay. Some people describe San Francisco as the United State's most "European City." This title most likely comes from its compact development and its easy walkability. It also has no shortage of parks and public spaces where you can pass some time. The city sits on the end of a peninsula and offers stunning views of the blue bay, rolling green hills, and the striking Golden Gate Bridge.
Eugene
At the southern end of the Willamette Valley, Eugene is most recognized as the home of the University of Oregon. It's a smaller city with a liberal population that is generally concerned about environmental issues. A popular experience in Eugene is to go to the Saturday Market, which has been around since 1970 and is the oldest open air market in the United States.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America, The Best Historical Tours in United States of America, and The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Francisco $222Eugene $160
The average daily cost (per person) in San Francisco is $222, while the average daily cost in Eugene is $160. 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 Francisco and Eugene in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Francisco $130Eugene $97
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Francisco $260Eugene $194
Compare Hotels in San Francisco and Eugene
Looking for a hotel in San Francisco or Eugene? 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 Eugene Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Francisco $16Eugene $37
Typical Local Transportation Prices in San Francisco
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in San Francisco:
-
Taxi to SFO$45
-
Golden Gate Bridge Toll$6.00
-
Alcatraz Tour$30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Francisco
Also for San Francisco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arrival Private Transfer SFO Airport to San Francisco City by SUV: $245
- Arrival Private Transfer: Airport SFO to San Francisco in Business Car: $108
- Arrival Private Transfer: Airport SFO to San Francisco in Luxury Car: $169
- Arrival Private Transfer: Airport SFO to San Francisco in Luxury SUV: $141
- Carmel 1-Way Transfer to/from San Francisco Airport: $535
- Departure Private Transfer San Francisco to SFO Airport by Sedan: $152
- Departure Private Transfer San Francisco to SFO Airport in a SUV: $203
- Departure Private Transfer: San Francisco to Airport SFO in Business Car: $108
- Napa Valley 1-Way Transfer to/from the San Francisco Airport: $400
- Private Airport Transfer From SFO to Sonoma (One-way): $280
- Private Airport Transfer from SFO to San Francisco (One-way): $110
- Private Airport Transfer: San Francisco to SF International Airport (SFO): $107
Is it cheaper to fly into San Francisco or Eugene?
Prices for flights to both Eugene 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
-
Food Meals for one daySan Francisco $46Eugene $41
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:
- North Beach and Little Italy Food Tour: $79
- Secret Food Tours San Francisco: $83
- Mission District Food Tour with Tastings: $85
- Farmers' Market & Ferry Building Food Tour: $87
- San Francisco Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $89
- Mission District Food Tour: $89
- Mission District Walking Food Tour: $89
- Chinatown Walking Food Tour: $89
- San Francisco North Beach Food Tour: $89
- San Francisco Food Tour: Ferry Building and Ferry Plaza Farmers Market: $90
- Secret Food Tour of North Beach and Chinatown: $95
- Chinatown: Tea & Dim Sum Food Tour in San Francisco: $99
Typical Food Prices in Eugene
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Eugene:
-
Sam Bonds Food and Music (for 2)$16
-
Morning Glory Cafe Breakfast (for 2)$12
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Francisco $46Eugene -
Tours and Activities in San Francisco
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Francisco.
- San Francisco self-guided tour App - multilingual AudioGuide: $4.27
- Self-Guided Golden Gate Bridge Bike or Walking App Tour: $5.00
- Golden Gate Bridge: Self-guided Tour App - Audio + Written: $5.00
- San Francisco’s Chinatown on foot: A Self Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Embarcadero Self-Guided Audio Smartphone Tour: $5.99
- Leave your heart at the Wharf: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Ghosts & Hauntings Audio App Walking Tour: $6.99
- The Ghosts of San Francisco Haunted Audio App Walking Tour: $6.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour of Japantown & Stories: $6.99
- Secrets of Golden Gate Park Audio Tour: $7.99
- San Francisco's Castro Neighborhood: Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- The Secrets of Golden Gate Park: A San Francisco Chronicle Self-Guided Tour: $7.99
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
-
Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Francisco $22Eugene -
Sample the Local Flavors in San Francisco
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in San Francisco:
- Chinatown San Francisco’s Bar Crawl: An Audio Tour: $4.99
- San Francisco Bar Crawl + Clubbing Experience: $27
- SF Pub Crawl and Clubbing Experience: $27
- Ghosts, Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- Sunset Distillery with Local Whiskey or Cocktail Tasting: $40
- 2 to 3 Hour Bar Crawl in Castro San Francisco: $49
- Wine Tasting on the Bay: $85
- Private Wine Tour Napa or Sonoma from $99 per person up to 7 & Concierge Service: $99
- The Ultimate Napa and Sonoma Wine Tour: $109
- Small Group: The Ultimate Napa & Sonoma Wine Tour: $109
- Big Bus Napa and Sonoma Valley Wine Tour: $125
- Half-Day Wine Country Tour with Wine Tastings: $126
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Francisco and Eugene, we can see that San Francisco is more expensive. And not only is Eugene much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Eugene would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Eugene 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 Eugene.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Francisco Expensive? and Is Eugene Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Francisco or Eugene?
San Francisco has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Eugene. When comparing the sizes of San Francisco and Eugene, 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 Francisco or Eugene?
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 Francisco or Eugene in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to San Francisco as well as Eugene. Many travelers come to San Francisco for the beaches, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, San Francisco is generally cooler than Eugene. Daily temperatures in San Francisco average around 63°F (17°C), and Eugene fluctuates around 68°F (20°C).
San Francisco usually gets less rain in July than Eugene. San Francisco gets 0.1 inches (2 mm) of rain, while Eugene receives 0.3 inches (8 mm) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Francisco 63°F (17°C)Eugene 68°F (20°C)
Should I visit San Francisco or Eugene in the Autumn?
Both Eugene and San Francisco are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to San Francisco in the autumn for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
San Francisco is a little warmer than Eugene in the autumn. The daily temperature in San Francisco averages around 63°F (17°C) in October, and Eugene fluctuates around 55°F (13°C).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Eugene. In October, San Francisco usually receives less rain than Eugene. San Francisco gets 1.3 inches (33 mm) of rain, while Eugene receives 4.3 inches (109 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Francisco 63°F (17°C)Eugene 55°F (13°C)
Should I visit San Francisco or Eugene in the Winter?
Both Eugene and San Francisco during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to San Francisco for the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine during these months.
In the winter, San Francisco is much warmer than Eugene. Typically, the winter temperatures in San Francisco in January average around 50°F (10°C), and Eugene averages at about 41°F (5°C).
Eugene gets a good bit of rain this time of year. San Francisco usually gets less rain in January than Eugene. San Francisco gets 3.8 inches (96 mm) of rain, while Eugene receives 7.1 inches (181 mm) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Francisco 50°F (10°C)Eugene 41°F (5°C)
Should I visit San Francisco or Eugene in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both San Francisco and Eugene. The spring months attract visitors to San Francisco because of the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
In April, San Francisco is generally a little warmer than Eugene. Daily temperatures in San Francisco average around 58°F (14°C), and Eugene fluctuates around 51°F (11°C).
In April, San Francisco usually receives less rain than Eugene. San Francisco gets 1.2 inches (31 mm) of rain, while Eugene receives 2.2 inches (57 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Francisco 58°F (14°C)Eugene 51°F (11°C)
Typical Weather for Eugene and San Francisco
| San Francisco | Eugene | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 50°F (10°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) | 41°F (5°C) | 7.1 inches (181 mm) |
| Feb | 54°F (12°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) | 45°F (7°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) |
| Mar | 56°F (13°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) | 48°F (9°C) | 4.6 inches (118 mm) |
| Apr | 58°F (14°C) | 1.2 inches (31 mm) | 51°F (11°C) | 2.2 inches (57 mm) |
| May | 60°F (15°C) | 0.2 inches (5 mm) | 56°F (13°C) | 2 inches (50 mm) |
| Jun | 62°F (17°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 1.3 inches (34 mm) |
| Jul | 63°F (17°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) | 68°F (20°C) | 0.3 inches (8 mm) |
| Aug | 64°F (18°C) | 0.1 inches (1 mm) | 68°F (20°C) | 0.4 inches (11 mm) |
| Sep | 66°F (19°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 1.1 inches (28 mm) |
| Oct | 63°F (17°C) | 1.3 inches (33 mm) | 55°F (13°C) | 4.3 inches (109 mm) |
| Nov | 57°F (14°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) | 47°F (8°C) | 5.9 inches (149 mm) |
| Dec | 51°F (11°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) | 42°F (5°C) | 6.3 inches (161 mm) |
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.