Should you visit Tampa or San Antonio?
Should I visit Tampa or San Antonio? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Tampa
On the north shore of Tampa Bay, across the water from Saint Peterburg, is the city of Tampa. The city has a population of almost 350,000. The metropolitan area includes Tampa, St. Peterburg, and Clearwater. It has about 2.9 million residents and is the second largest metropolitan area in the state. The city is a popular destination for outdoor activities and in 2008 it was ranked the 5th best outdoor city by Forbes.
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.
Which city is cheaper, San Antonio or Tampa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Tampa is $119, while the average daily cost in San Antonio is $106. 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. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Tampa and San Antonio in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $120 in Tampa For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $110 for a double occupancy room in San Antonio.
Local Transportation
Tampa's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $38 per person, per day on transportation in Tampa.
The cost of a taxi ride in San Antonio is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $16 per person, per day, on local transportation in San Antonio.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tampa
Also for Tampa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Private Airport Transfer: Tampa International Airport (TPA) to Tampa:
$61
-
Private Airport Transfer: from Tampa to Tampa International Airport (TPA):
$44
-
Private Arrival Transfer - from Tampa Airport (TPA):
$32
-
Private Departure Transfer - to Tampa Airport (TPA):
$28
-
Private Tampa Area to Orlando Area Transfer up to 11 One Price Mercedes Sprinter:
$300
-
Private Tampa Transfer: Airport to Hotel or Cruise Port:
$113
-
Private Tampa Transfer: Cruise Port to Airport or Hotel:
$113
-
Private Tampa Transfer: Hotel to Airport or Cruise Port:
$113
-
Private Transfer from Tampa Airport to Anna Maria Island:
$120
-
Private Transfer from Tampa Airport to Bradenton:
$110
-
Private Transfer from Tampa Airport to Land O' Lakes Florida:
$60
-
Private Transfer from Tampa Airport to Sarasota:
$120
Typical Local Transportation prices in San Antonio
Some typical examples of transportation costs in San Antonio are as follows:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Antonio
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Antonio:
-
Transfer from San Antonio port in small groups + Cultural city tour in Santiago:
$128
-
San Antonio to San Antonio Airport (SAT) - Departure Private Transfer:
$93
-
San Antonio International Airport One Way Transfer:
$53
-
San Antonio Airport (SAT) to San Antonio - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$187
-
San Antonio Airport (SAT) to San Antonio - Arrival Private Transfer:
$93
-
Private transfer: San Antonio to San Antonio Airport (SAT):
$622
-
Private transfer: San Antonio Airport (SAT) to San Antonio:
$622
-
Private transfer San Antonio Pier to Airport:
$125
-
Private Transfer from San Antonio to San Antonio Airport:
$78
-
Private Transfer from San Antonio to Arturo Merino Benítez (SCL) Airport:
$270
-
Private Transfer from San Antonio Airport to San Antonio City:
$78
-
Private San Antonio Transfer: Hotel to Airport:
$138
Is it cheaper to fly into Tampa or San Antonio?
Prices for flights to both San Antonio and Tampa 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
On average, meal and food prices in Tampa cost around $35 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $14.
In San Antonio travelers spend around $32 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Tampa $35
San Antonio $32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Antonio
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Antonio.
-
San Antonio Walking Food Tour: Downtown Delicacies:
$66
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Tampa can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $15 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Entertainment and activities in San Antonio typically cost an average of $28 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Tours and Activities in Tampa
For Tampa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
1 Hour Haunted History Walking Tour:
$23
-
Skip the Line: The Florida Aquarium in Tampa Bay Ticket:
$26
-
Tampa Celebrity Homes Boat Tour:
$30
-
1.5-hour Dolphin Sightseeing Cruise from Tampa:
$31
-
Tampa History Cruise:
$31
-
VIP Ghost Hunters Tour Semi Private:
$35
-
Skip the Line: ZooTampa at Lowry Park Admission Ticket:
$45
-
Historic Ybor City Food and Drink Walking Tour:
$59
-
2-hour Tiki Boat BYOB Cruise in Tampa:
$60
-
Adventure Island Water Park Ticket:
$63
-
Tampa Indoor Skydiving Experience with 2 Flights & Personalized Certificate:
$70
-
ZooQuarium 1-Day Ticket:
$79
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:
Tours and Activities in San Antonio
Here are a few actual costs in San Antonio for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
48-Hour San Antonio Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Buckhorn Saloon and Museum of Art Admission:
$54
-
Alamo and San Antonio Quarry Helicopter Tour:
$286
-
Best of San Antonio Private Walking Tour:
$498
-
CITY Vespa SiDeCaR Tour and Tacos:
$100
-
City Sightseeing San Antonio City Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour:
$38
-
Downtown San Antonio Helicopter Tour:
$197
-
From San Antonio Port: Valparaiso & Viña Del Mar City Tour Full Day:
$212
-
Full-Day Historic City Tour of San Antonio:
$109
-
Guided Haunted Segway Tour of San Antonio at Night:
$245
-
Half-Day Afternoon City Tour of Historic San Antonio:
$65
-
Half-Day Morning City Tour of Historic San Antonio:
$65
-
Historic San Antonio Mission Guided Tour with Transportation:
$71
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Tampa spend on average $20 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Tampa
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Tampa:
-
Tampa Bar Hunt: Tampa Takeover Bar Crawl:
$12
-
Haunted Tampa Ghost and Pub Walking Tour - Ybor City:
$26
-
Private Tampa Brewery Tour - Party Bus:
$600
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
-
Haunted San Antonio Ghost and Pub Walking Tour:
$27
-
Texas Hill Country and LBJ Ranch Tour with Wine Tasting Options:
$109
-
Taste of Fredericksburg Wine Tour from San Antonio:
$149
-
San Antonio port, wine tasting an off the beaten path destination:
$151
-
Fredericksburg Wine Tour with Five Winery Stops:
$325
-
Fredericksburg Wine Tour with Five Winery Stops and Transport to Local Eatery:
$375
When comparing the travel costs between Tampa and San Antonio, we can see that Tampa is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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