A Travel Price Comparison for California San Francisco vs. Santa Barbara for Attractions, Food, Beaches, and Hiking

Should you visit San Francisco or Santa Barbara?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Francisco or Santa Barbara, 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 one-of-a-kind, scenic, and beautiful coastal city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. You'll find world class beauty here as well. Other popular activities here include nightlife, live music, and food.

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is a stunning, wealthy, and opulent coastal town. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. As this is a very quaint destination, you'll find it has a special atmosphere. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

San Francisco and Santa Barbara: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in San Francisco or Santa Barbara?

Tourists will generally find more to do in San Francisco than Santa Barbara. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. San Francisco is very popular for its museums, theatre productions, food, music, and big city activities, while Santa Barbara attracts visitors for its resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, historical sights, and quaint atmosphere. San Francisco is more touristy than Santa Barbara and is popular for its striking bayfront setting, stunning urban hikes, quirky personality, and reputation within the tech industry. It is also well known for The Golden Gate Bridge. Santa Barbara is famous for its historic missions, pristine beaches, world-class surfing, and scenic hikes that are full of coastal views.

How is San Francisco different from Santa Barbara?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Santa Barbara and San Francisco. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in San Francisco or Santa Barbara?

San Francisco is renowned for its sights and museums. Also, Santa Barbara is not as famous, but is still a good coastal town to visit for its museums and history.

You'll find many recognizable landmarks that put San Francisco on the map. The city's landmarks are as diverse as the people who live there. The most recognizable landmark is the famous Golden Gate Bridge, but visitors also enjoy seeing Alcatraz Island, the Legion of Honor, the Palace of Fine Arts, as well as the small but fascinating Cable Car Museum.

Many visitors head to Santa Barbara specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. The city is famous for its missions, with Mission Santa Barbara being the most iconic. Also visit the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and Sea Center.

Is San Francisco or Santa Barbara Better for Theater?

San Francisco is a popular place for its shows and theatre. However, Santa Barbara is not a theatre destination.

San Francisco offers a number of shows and performances. The city has around a dozen theaters where you can enjoy musicals or plays.

Santa Barbara is not a theatre destination.

Is the Food Better in San Francisco or Santa Barbara? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

San Francisco is renowned for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Santa Barbara is not as famous, but is still a good coastal town to visit for its restaurants.

For foodies, San Francisco is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. There are local dives as well as five star restaurants, with everything in between. Popular local dining experiences include sourdough bread bowls and Dungeness crab at Fisherman's Wharf, and dim sum in Chinatown. Head away from the touristy neighborhoods if you want to sample some of the more local restaurants around town.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Santa Barbara. The city is best known for its fine dining, particularly if you enjoy seafood. The scallops, oysters, clam chowder, and sea urchin (when available) are all world class. Head for a waterfront setting for the best views and some of the freshest seafood.

Is San Francisco or Santa Barbara Better for Nightlife?

If the nightlife is your priority, you'll find nice options in both San Francisco and Santa Barbara.

If you're looking for night time activities San Francisco has a few options to choose from. It has a great nightlife with many local bars and trendy clubs. For the best nightlife away from the tourists, head to Valencia Street or Polk Street. If you want to be in a more touristy area, check out Union Square. Popular clubs in the city include Temple San Francisco, Monarch, and Audio Nightclub.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Santa Barbara. For the best nightlife in the city, head downtown to State Street. This is where you'll find the most active bars and biggest crowds. There's a large student population in town, so you'll find much of the nightlife scene is focused on the younger population.

Is San Francisco or Santa Barbara Better for Music?

San Francisco is a popular place for its music scene. However, Santa Barbara is not a live music destination.

The music scene in San Francisco is active and vibrant. Well known music venues include the Great American Music Hall, Slim's, and The Chapel.

Santa Barbara is not a live music destination.

Is San Francisco or Santa Barbara Better for Resorts?

Santa Barbara is a great coastal town for its luxury resorts. However, San Francisco is not a resort destination.

Santa Barbara is a popular resort destination that attracts visitors from everywhere. Many people enjoy the luxurious vacation rentals around Santa Barbara, but there are also a number of high end resorts including the Rosewood Miramar Beach Resort, The Ritz-Carlton, and Hotel Californian.

San Francisco is not a resort destination.

Is San Francisco or Santa Barbara Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Santa Barbara is adequate for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, San Francisco is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

There are few places where you can go snorkeling in Santa Barbara. Snorkeling areas not far from town include Refugio State Beach and Tajiguas. You'll see a few fish, beautiful rocks, and anemones that are unique and impressive.

San Francisco is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is San Francisco or Santa Barbara Better for Beaches?

Santa Barbara is an amazing coastal town to visit for the beach. Also, San Francisco is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for its beaches.

The beaches in Santa Barbara are among the best in the world. The city is famous for its pristine, sandy beaches. Whether you want to enjoy world class surfing or enjoy a gentle ocean setting, Santa Barbara has many options.

The beaches at San Francisco attract visitors from all over. Whether you're interested in surfing or simply taking in the dramatic views, the beaches of San Francisco will take your breath away. Some of the best beaches include Ocean Beach, Baker Beach, and Muir Beach.

Is San Francisco or Santa Barbara Better for its Old Town?

Santa Barbara is a nice place to visit for its historic old town charm. However, San Francisco does not have a historic old town.

Santa Barbara has an old town worth visiting. The city's downtown "Old Town" is a high end, pedestrian-friendly area with plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment options.

San Francisco does not have a historic old town.

Is San Francisco or Santa Barbara Better for Hiking?

San Francisco and Santa Barbara are both places where visitors can find fantastic 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.

Around Santa Barbara visitors will find world-class hiking trails. Just outside of town are countless hiking opportunities that offer spectacular ocean views. Popular hikes include Inspiration Point, San Ysidro Trail, and Cold Spring East Fork.

Is the Shopping Better in San Francisco or Santa Barbara?

If you're looking to go shopping, San Francisco and Santa Barbara both offer plenty of fantastic spots.

Many people travel to San Francisco specifically to go shopping. The city has excellent shopping from local vendors to recognizable brands. Union Square, Embarcadero, Fillmore Street and Haight Street are some of the best neighborhoods for shopping.

Santa Barbara is a famous shopping destination with plenty of stores. The city is famous as a high end shopping destination. Head to State Street for a palm tree lined street with local boutiques.

Is San Francisco or Santa Barbara Better for Families?

San Francisco is renowned for its family-friendly activities. Also, Santa Barbara is not as famous, but is still a good coastal town to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

As it has a large number of activities for kids, San Francisco is a very family-friendly destination. With its many outdoor parks, hiking trails, beaches, and kid-friendly museums, this city makes a great family-friendly destination. There are also many amazing playgrounds with stunning views of the bay and city. Head to Chinatown for some unique and kid-friendly food, or down to Pier 39 for fun activities that the whole family can enjoy.

Santa Barbara is a very family-friendly destination. The city has some nice family-friendly activities including a zoo, some cool museums, and even whale watching. There are also many beautiful beaches where everyone can run around and play, as well as parks and other outdoor settings. For animal-lovers, there are wildlife centers and sea life opportunities.

Is San Francisco or Santa Barbara Better for Couples?

Santa Barbara is an amazing coastal town to visit for couples. Also, San Francisco is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for romance.

Santa Barbara has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. The town is a stunningly beautiful destination with beautiful beaches, excellent shopping, and nice resorts that make for a great honeymoon or romantic trip.

San Francisco is a very popular place to visit for couples. 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. There are also many scenic walks and breathtaking views that couples can appreciate.

Is San Francisco or Santa Barbara Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

San Francisco is a well-known place for backpackers. However, Santa Barbara is not a good coastal town for backpackers and budget travelers.

San Francisco is a very popular coastal city for backpackers and budget travelers. 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.

Santa Barbara is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. The city isn't really known as a budget friendly destination, but there are a couple of hostels in the area. There's also a large student population with a fun nightlife scene.

Is San Francisco or Santa Barbara Better for Students?

For students, both San Francisco and Santa Barbara are very good places to visit.

San Francisco is a great coastal city to visit as a student. As a large and dynamic city, the area is popular with international students who want to experience this unique side of the United States. Major universities in the area include University of San Francisco, San Francisco State University, and nearby, the University of California, Berkeley.

Students come from all over to stay in Santa Barbara. With a major university right in town, there's plenty of student life that international students or locals can enjoy.

Is San Francisco or Santa Barbara Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

San Francisco is renowned for its public transit. Also, Santa Barbara is not as famous, but is still a good coastal town to visit for times when you don't have a car.

San Francisco has a great public transit system. The transit network includes a subway (the BART), trams, cable cars, ferries, and buses.

Santa Barbara has some public transit options. Transit options include buses, trolleys and water taxis.

Is San Francisco or Santa Barbara a more walkable city?

San Francisco and Santa Barbara are very good 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.

Santa Barbara is very walkable. The downtown area is very pedestrian-friendly and best explored on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is San Francisco Worth Visiting? and Is Santa Barbara Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Santa Barbara or San Francisco?

How long in San Francisco or Santa Barbara?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both San Francisco and Santa Barbara. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in San Francisco than in Santa Barbara. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for San Francisco, and 2-3 days is enough time in Santa Barbara.

Families should spend more time in San Francisco than Santa Barbara. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in San Francisco, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Santa Barbara than San Francisco. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Santa Barbara that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in San Francisco than Santa Barbara if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in San Francisco.

One day in San Francisco or Santa Barbara?

San Francisco is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. 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.

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the stunning destination of Santa Barbara. It's also a relaxing resort destination. 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 Santa Barbara?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in San Francisco. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Santa Barbara. 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 Santa Barbara?

San Francisco is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. This coastal city offers a variety of activities to choose from. If you have five days, this is a great place to go. Five days is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the scenic destination of Santa Barbara. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. This coastal 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 Santa Barbara?

San Francisco is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. Plenty of people spend one week in the area when traveling.So, one week is just the right amount of time to spend here. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

You'll find food and shopping around the beautiful coastal town of Santa Barbara. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. 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.

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.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Francisco and Santa Barbara, we can see that San Francisco is more expensive. And not only is Santa Barbara much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Santa Barbara would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara.

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 Santa Barbara Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, San Francisco or Santa Barbara?

San Francisco has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Santa Barbara. When comparing the sizes of San Francisco and Santa Barbara, 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 Santa Barbara?

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 Santa Barbara in the Summer?

Both Santa Barbara 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. Also, most visitors come to Santa Barbara for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

San Francisco is around the same temperature as Santa Barbara in the summer. The daily temperature in San Francisco averages around 63°F (17°C) in July, and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 65°F (19°C).

San Francisco usually gets more rain in July than Santa Barbara. San Francisco gets 0.1 inches (2 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit San Francisco or Santa Barbara in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both San Francisco and Santa Barbara. 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. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Santa Barbara because of the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, San Francisco is around the same temperature as Santa Barbara. Typically, the autumn temperatures in San Francisco in October average around 63°F (17°C), and Santa Barbara averages at about 62°F (17°C).

In October, San Francisco usually receives more rain than Santa Barbara. San Francisco gets 1.3 inches (33 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 0.5 inches (13 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit San Francisco or Santa Barbara in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to San Francisco as well as Santa Barbara. The winter months attract visitors to San Francisco because of the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Santa Barbara this time of year.

In January, San Francisco is generally around the same temperature as Santa Barbara. Daily temperatures in San Francisco average around 50°F (10°C), and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).

San Francisco usually gets more rain in January than Santa Barbara. San Francisco gets 3.8 inches (96 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit San Francisco or Santa Barbara in the Spring?

Both Santa Barbara 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. Also, many travelers come to Santa Barbara for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.

San Francisco is around the same temperature as Santa Barbara in the spring. The daily temperature in San Francisco averages around 58°F (14°C) in April, and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).

In April, San Francisco usually receives more rain than Santa Barbara. San Francisco gets 1.2 inches (31 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Santa Barbara and San Francisco