A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Tampa vs. San Antonio for Families, Food, Nightlife, and Couples

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Should you visit Tampa or San Antonio?

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

Should I visit Tampa or San Antonio? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Tampa

Tampa is a low-key, laid-back, and easy-going city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for beaches.

San Antonio

San Antonio is a historic and cultural city. It's also popular because of the live music, food, and museums.

Tampa and San Antonio: Pros and Cons

Tampa
Pros
  • Family-friendly
Cons
  • Less popular with couples
San Antonio
Pros
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for couples and romance


How is Tampa different from San Antonio?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Tampa or San Antonio Better for Food?

Tampa
San Antonio

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Tampa and San Antonio can be difficult as they are each unique in their own way.

Tampa may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. Some favorite dishes include fresh caught seafood, Grouper sandwiches, and Cuban sandwiches.

San Antonio offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. Popular local dishes include tacos, sweet potato fries, and chicken fried steak.


Is Tampa or San Antonio Better for Nightlife?

Tampa
San Antonio

Both Tampa and San Antonio have similar vibes after the sun sets.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Tampa. The city has some good nightclubs, sports bars, and other spots where locals enjoy spending the evening.

San Antonio has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The city's nightlife is diverse, with dance halls, breweries, and clubs.

Is Tampa or San Antonio Better for Families?

Tampa
San Antonio

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Tampa or San Antonio.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Tampa. The city has a number of kid-oriented attractions including Busch Gardens Amusement Park, several kid-friendly museums, and a number of animal centers, aquariums, and wildlife rescue facilities.

San Antonio is one of the most popular family destinations. The RiverWalk is a fun family-friendly area. There's also Six Flags, SeaWorld and the San Antonio Zoo as well as a number of museums and other amusement parks in the area.

Is Tampa or San Antonio Better for Couples?

Tampa
San Antonio

With fun activities for couples, both Tampa and San Antonio make for a good place to visit.

Tampa is not always the best place to visit for a couple. The area does have great restaurants and some fun places to explore.

San Antonio is a nice destination for couples. Couples will enjoy taking a boat ride and exploring the many sites around town.

Is Tampa or San Antonio Better for Public Transit?

Tampa
San Antonio

Visitors will find public transit in both Tampa and San Antonio.

Public transit is quite limited in Tampa. There is the street car that runs from downtown Tampa to Ybor City and stops at 11 stations.

Public transit is generally limited in San Antonio. Buses connect most of the city's tourist attractions, but you'll find life much easier if you have your own car.


Is Tampa or San Antonio a more walkable city?

Tampa
San Antonio

Tampa and San Antonio are similar when it comes to walkability.

Tampa is generally not a very walkable city. While there are some neighborhoods that are considered walkable, you really need a car if you hope to explore Tampa in depth.

San Antonio is generally not very walkable. If you stick to the downtown area you will be fine getting around on foot.

Should I spend more time in San Antonio or Tampa?

How long in Tampa or San Antonio?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Tampa and San Antonio. You can spend similar amounts of time exploring each one.

The ideal length of time for a trip to Tampa is 2-3 days, and the ideal length of time for a trip to San Antonio is 2-3 days.


  • How many days in Tampa or San Antonio? Ideal Length of Stay
    Tampa 2-3 
    San Antonio 2-3

One day in Tampa or San Antonio?

Visitors enjoy the when visiting the low-key city of Tampa. It's also a great beach destination, too. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

In San Antonio, many people enjoy the food and museums that this historic destination offers. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

A weekend in Tampa or San Antonio?

Visitors enjoy the when visiting the laid-back destination of Tampa. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in San Antonio. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Five days in Tampa or San Antonio?

The laid-back city of Tampa offers . You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

San Antonio is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the destination of San Antonio. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.


A week in Tampa or San Antonio?

Many people enjoy the when visiting Tampa. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people come for the beaches. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

You'll find live music and food around the cultural destination of San Antonio. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

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 $136, 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Tampa and San Antonio in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Tampa $68
    San Antonio $55
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Tampa $136
    San Antonio $110
Compare Hotels in Tampa and San Antonio

Looking for a hotel in Tampa or San Antonio? 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.

Hotels in Tampa


Hotels in San Antonio


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: Tampa Hotel Prices and San Antonio Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Tampa $58
    San Antonio $16

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:


  • Rental Car for a Day
    $60

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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Tampa $34
    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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Tampa $15
    San Antonio $28

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:


  • Spa Treatments
    $200

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
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Tampa $20
    San Antonio -

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

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tampa and San Antonio, we can see that Tampa is more expensive. And not only is San Antonio much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to San Antonio would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Antonio 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 Tampa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tampa than you might in San Antonio.


When is the best time to visit Tampa or San Antonio?

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 Tampa or San Antonio in the Summer?

Both San Antonio and Tampa during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Tampa for the beaches, snorkeling, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to San Antonio because of the music scene and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Tampa is around the same temperature as San Antonio. Typically, the summer temperatures in Tampa in July are around 82°F (28°C), and San Antonio is about 87°F (31°C).

In San Antonio, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Tampa. In the summer, Tampa often gets less sunshine than San Antonio. Tampa gets 265 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Antonio receives 307 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Tampa. Tampa usually gets more rain in July than San Antonio. Tampa gets 8.4 inches (214 mm) of rain, while San Antonio receives 2.2 inches (57 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Tampa 82°F (28°C) 
    San Antonio 87°F (31°C)

Should I visit Tampa or San Antonio in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Tampa and San Antonio. The autumn months attract visitors to Tampa because of the city's sights and attractions. Also, the shopping scene and the music scene are the main draw to San Antonio this time of year.

In October, Tampa is generally around the same temperature as San Antonio. Temperatures in Tampa average around 75°F (24°C), and San Antonio stays around 73°F (23°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Antonio this time of the year. In Tampa, it's very sunny this time of the year. Tampa usually receives more sunshine than San Antonio during autumn. Tampa gets 234 hours of sunny skies, while San Antonio receives 213 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Tampa usually receives less rain than San Antonio. Tampa gets 2.6 inches (65 mm) of rain, while San Antonio receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Tampa 75°F (24°C) 
    San Antonio 73°F (23°C)

Should I visit Tampa or San Antonio in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Tampa as well as San Antonio. The cuisine are the main draw to Tampa this time of year. Also, many travelers come to San Antonio for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Tampa is a little warmer than San Antonio in the winter. The temperature in Tampa is usually 60°F (15°C) in January, and San Antonio stays around 54°F (12°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Tampa this time of the year. In the winter, Tampa often gets more sunshine than San Antonio. Tampa gets 200 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Antonio receives 155 hours of full sun.

Tampa usually gets more rain in January than San Antonio. Tampa gets 2.3 inches (59 mm) of rain, while San Antonio receives 1.8 inches (45 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Tampa 60°F (15°C) 
    San Antonio 54°F (12°C)

Should I visit Tampa or San Antonio in the Spring?

Both San Antonio and Tampa are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Tampa for the beaches and the activities around the city.

In the spring, Tampa is around the same temperature as San Antonio. Typically, the spring temperatures in Tampa in April are around 71°F (22°C), and San Antonio is about 74°F (23°C).

It's quite sunny in San Antonio. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Tampa. Tampa usually receives more sunshine than San Antonio during spring. Tampa gets 299 hours of sunny skies, while San Antonio receives 216 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Tampa usually receives less rain than San Antonio. Tampa gets 2.1 inches (53 mm) of rain, while San Antonio receives 2.4 inches (60 mm) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Tampa 71°F (22°C) 
    San Antonio 74°F (23°C)

Typical Weather for San Antonio and Tampa

Tampa San Antonio
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 60°F (15°C) 2.3 inches (59 mm) 54°F (12°C) 1.8 inches (45 mm)
Feb 61°F (16°C) 2.9 inches (73 mm) 57°F (14°C) 1.8 inches (45 mm)
Mar 67°F (19°C) 3.9 inches (99 mm) 65°F (18°C) 1.7 inches (42 mm)
Apr 71°F (22°C) 2.1 inches (53 mm) 74°F (23°C) 2.4 inches (60 mm)
May 77°F (25°C) 2.4 inches (61 mm) 79°F (26°C) 4.4 inches (111 mm)
Jun 81°F (27°C) 6.5 inches (165 mm) 84°F (29°C) 3.7 inches (94 mm)
Jul 82°F (28°C) 8.4 inches (214 mm) 87°F (31°C) 2.2 inches (57 mm)
Aug 82°F (28°C) 8 inches (203 mm) 87°F (31°C) 2.6 inches (66 mm)
Sep 81°F (27°C) 6.3 inches (161 mm) 82°F (28°C) 3.6 inches (91 mm)
Oct 75°F (24°C) 2.6 inches (65 mm) 73°F (23°C) 3.3 inches (83 mm)
Nov 68°F (20°C) 1.8 inches (45 mm) 64°F (18°C) 2.6 inches (66 mm)
Dec 62°F (17°C) 2.2 inches (56 mm) 56°F (13°C) 1.6 inches (40 mm)


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Tampa vs. San Antonio Travel Comparison

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