Which place is cheaper, Niagara Falls or San Francisco?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Francisco or Niagara Falls?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Francisco or Niagara Falls, 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 Niagara Falls?
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.
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls, Ontario sits on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, across the border from Niagara Falls, New York. Together these cities have claimed themselves to be the "Honeymoon Capital of the World" a status that is probably little more than a marketing ploy. That said, Niagara Falls, Ontario, is perhaps a quainter and more natural version of its American counterpart. The town has existed as a tourist destination for hundreds of years, with its main attraction, obviously, being Niagara Falls. Today, millions of visitors come to see the falls every year. It's truly an impressive sight, and there is no shortage of entertainment options while you're in the area.
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 Sightseeing Tours in Canada, and The Best Camping Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Francisco $222Niagara Falls $122
The average daily cost (per person) in San Francisco is $222, while the average daily cost in Niagara Falls 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 Francisco and Niagara Falls in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Francisco $130Niagara Falls $74
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Francisco $260Niagara Falls $148
Compare Hotels in San Francisco and Niagara Falls
Looking for a hotel in San Francisco or Niagara Falls? 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 Niagara Falls Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Francisco $16Niagara Falls $16
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:
- Transfer in private vehicle from San Francisco Airport to City: $35
- SFO Airport Private Transfer to/from Downtown San Francisco: $96
- Airport Transfer: San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to San Francisco: $107
- Private Airport Transfer: San Francisco to SF International Airport (SFO): $107
- Private Transfer from Airport SFO to San Francisco in Business Car: $108
- Arrival Private Transfer: Airport SFO to San Francisco in Business Car: $108
- Departure Private Transfer: San Francisco to Airport SFO in Business Car: $108
- Private Airport Transfer from SFO to San Francisco (One-way): $110
- San Francisco Airport (SFO) to San Francisco - Arrival Private Transfer: $110
- San Francisco to San Francisco Airport (SFO) - Departure Private Transfer: $110
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in San Francisco HTL-APT (SFO): $119
- SFO Airport Private Transfer to Downtown: $120
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Niagara Falls
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Niagara Falls:
- Round-Trip Private-Safe Transfer Between Buffalo Airport & Niagara Falls Canada: $262
- Buffalo Niagara Airport to Holiday Valley - Round-Trip Transfer: $262
- ROUNDTRIP Ground Transfer Buffalo Niagara Int Airport (BUF)-Niagara Falls Canada: $207
- Private Half Day Niagara Wine Tour Visit with Transfer Included: $199
- Private Transfer: Niagara Falls, ON to Toronto downtown: $197
- Departure Private Transfer: Niagara Falls to Toronto Airport YYZ in Luxury SUV: $195
- Transfer Niagara Falls, Canada to Toronto, Canada (Downtown): $178
- Transfer Niagara-on-the-Lake Canada to Toronto Pearson International Airport YYZ: $160
- Transfer Niagara Falls, Canada to Toronto Pearson International Airport YYZ: $160
- Transfer in Private Minivan from Niagara Falls Ontario to Toronto (YYZ) Airport: $159
- Private Arrival Transfer: Buffalo Niagara International Airport to Niagara Falls, New York: $138
- Private Transfer: Niagara Falls, ON to Pearson Int’l Airport (YYZ): $134
Is it cheaper to fly into San Francisco or Niagara Falls?
Prices for flights to both Niagara Falls 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 $46Niagara Falls $28
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: $19
- North Beach and Little Italy Food Tour: $79
- Buffet Lunch or Dinner Cruise on the Bay: $82
- Secret Food Tours San Francisco: $83
- Mission District Food Tour with Tastings: $85
- Farmers' Market & Ferry Building Food Tour: $87
- Mission District Walking Food Tour: $89
- Chinatown Walking Food Tour: $89
- San Francisco North Beach Food Tour: $89
- San Francisco North Beach and Chinatown - Secret Food Tours: $89
- San Francisco Chinatown Food Tour: $89
- San Francisco Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $89
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Niagara Falls
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Niagara Falls.
- The Wing Ride: The Hidden History of Chicken Wings Food Tour: $105
- Walking Food Tour in Niagara Falls: $108
- Sunset Wine Tour with Dinner Niagara On The Lake: $146
- Guided Night Tour w/ Dinner & Hotel Transfer: $149
- Light up The Falls Small Group Tour with Fallsview Dinner: $155
- Evening Lights Tour with Skylon Tower Dinner: $177
- Sunset Niagara-on-the-Lake Small Group Wine Tour with Dinner: $178
- Niagara Wine Tasting and three courses Dinner: $192
- Niagara Falls Evening Lights Tour With Skylon Tower Dinner: $192
- Night on Niagara Walking Tour with Fireworks Cruise + Dinner: $200
- Small Group Night Tour w/ Dinner & Light Show: $204
- Niagara Falls Canada: Small Group Night Tour w/Boat & Dinner: $219
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Francisco $46Niagara Falls $20
Tours and Activities in San Francisco
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Francisco.
- Golden Gate Bridge: Self-guided Tour App - Audio + Written: $5.00
- San Francisco's Barbary Past: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Leave your heart at the Wharf: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- San Francisco’s Chinatown on foot: A Self Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Embarcadero Self-Guided Audio Smartphone Tour: $5.99
- Self Guided Chinatown Tour: Food, History and Culture: $5.99
- San Francisco self-guided tour App - multilingual AudioGuide: $6.42
- Ghosts & Hauntings Audio App Walking Tour: $6.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour of Japantown & Stories: $6.99
- The Ghosts of San Francisco Haunted Audio App Walking Tour: $6.99
- The Secrets of Golden Gate Park: A San Francisco Chronicle Self-Guided Tour: $7.99
- Design in the Financial District Audio Tour: $7.99
Typical Entertainment Prices in Niagara Falls
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Niagara Falls are as follows:
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Maid of the Mist$37
Tours and Activities in Niagara Falls
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Niagara Falls are as follows:
- Maid of the Mist, Cave of the Winds Made in America Tour: $92
- Niagara Falls USA Winter Tour Cave, Tower, winery & Much More : $90
- Private Custom Niagara Falls, Canada Winery Tour from Buffalo,NY: $299
- 1 Hour Private Vineyard Dome Experience in Niagara-on-the-Lake: $45
- 30 Minute Niagara Falls Airplane Tour: $156
- 45 Minutes Whirlpool Tour in Niagara Falls: $32
- 7 Hour Niagara Falls USA Tour from Buffalo: $269
- All American Tour : $99
- All Attractions Niagara Falls American Tour with Boat Much More: $120
- All Inclusive Niagara Falls USA Tour W/Boat Ride,Cave & Much MORE: $126
- All Niagara Falls USA Tour Maid of Mist Boat & So Much More : $130
- All inclusive Niagara Evening Light Show, Boat Ride & Cave Tour: $140
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 $22Niagara Falls $11
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
- SF Pub Crawl and Clubbing Experience: $27
- Ghosts, Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- San Francisco Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl : $35
- 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
- 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
- From The Ultimate Napa and Sonoma Wine Tour: $139
- The Ultimate Napa & Sonoma Wine Tour: $139
Sample the Local Flavors in Niagara Falls
Also in Niagara Falls, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Niagara Wine Tour and Tastings with Included Transportation : $56
- Small Group Niagara-on-the-Lake Wine Tasting Tour: $96
- Sip, Swirl and Savour Chocolate & Wine Tour : $103
- Niagara Craft Brewery Tour Niagara Falls: $110
- 3.5 Hours NOTL E-Bike Wine Tour: $111
- Niagara All American All inclusive Boutique Wine Tour : $114
- Half Day Wine & Cheese Tour - Niagara On The Lake Wine Tour: $119
- Full-Day Group Wine Tour (with cheese and charcuterie) in Niagara-on-the-Lake: $141
- myWineCountry Experience Premium Wine Tours and Tastings: $148
- Relaxing three courses Lunch & Wine Tour through Niagara's Wine Country: $148
- Niagara-on-the-Lake Small Group Wine Tour with Picnic Lunch: $149
- Luxury Buffalo Brewery Tour: $149
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Francisco and Niagara Falls, we can see that San Francisco is more expensive. And not only is Niagara Falls much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Niagara Falls would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Niagara Falls 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 Niagara Falls.
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 Niagara Falls Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Francisco or Niagara Falls?
San Francisco has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Niagara Falls. When comparing the sizes of San Francisco and Niagara Falls, 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 Niagara Falls?
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 Niagara Falls in the Summer?
Both Niagara Falls and San Francisco during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to San Francisco in the summer for the beaches, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, San Francisco is generally cooler than Niagara Falls. Daily temperatures in San Francisco average around 63°F (17°C), and Niagara Falls fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).
San Francisco usually gets less rain in July than Niagara Falls. San Francisco gets 0.1 inches (2 mm) of rain, while Niagara Falls receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Francisco 63°F (17°C)Niagara Falls 23°C (74°F)
Should I visit San Francisco or Niagara Falls in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both San Francisco and Niagara Falls. Most visitors come to San Francisco for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
San Francisco is a little warmer than Niagara Falls in the autumn. The daily temperature in San Francisco averages around 63°F (17°C) in October, and Niagara Falls fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
In October, San Francisco usually receives less rain than Niagara Falls. San Francisco gets 1.3 inches (33 mm) of rain, while Niagara Falls receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Francisco 63°F (17°C)Niagara Falls 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit San Francisco or Niagara Falls in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to San Francisco as well as Niagara Falls. The winter months attract visitors to San Francisco because of the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
It's quite cold in Niagara Falls in the winter. In the winter, San Francisco is much warmer than Niagara Falls. Typically, the winter temperatures in San Francisco in January average around 50°F (10°C), and Niagara Falls averages at about -4°C (26°F).
San Francisco usually gets more rain in January than Niagara Falls. San Francisco gets 3.8 inches (96 mm) of rain, while Niagara Falls receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Francisco 50°F (10°C)Niagara Falls -4°C (26°F)
Should I visit San Francisco or Niagara Falls in the Spring?
Both Niagara Falls and San Francisco are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty are the main draw to San Francisco this time of year.
In April, San Francisco is generally a little warmer than Niagara Falls. Daily temperatures in San Francisco average around 58°F (14°C), and Niagara Falls fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).
In April, San Francisco usually receives less rain than Niagara Falls. San Francisco gets 1.2 inches (31 mm) of rain, while Niagara Falls receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Francisco 58°F (14°C)Niagara Falls 10°C (49°F)
Typical Weather for Niagara Falls and San Francisco
| San Francisco | Niagara Falls | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 50°F (10°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) | -4°C (26°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 54°F (12°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) | -3°C (28°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Mar | 56°F (13°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) | 2°C (36°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Apr | 58°F (14°C) | 1.2 inches (31 mm) | 10°C (49°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| May | 60°F (15°C) | 0.2 inches (5 mm) | 15°C (59°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jun | 62°F (17°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) | 20°C (68°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jul | 63°F (17°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) | 23°C (74°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Aug | 64°F (18°C) | 0.1 inches (1 mm) | 22°C (72°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Sep | 66°F (19°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) | 18°C (65°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Oct | 63°F (17°C) | 1.3 inches (33 mm) | 12°C (54°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 57°F (14°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) | 6°C (43°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Dec | 51°F (11°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) | -0°C (31°F) | 75 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.