Which city is cheaper, San Francisco or Washington?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Washington and San Francisco can help you decide which place is right for you.
Washington is a monument-filled, international, and diverse city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. As this is a very quaint destination, you'll find it has a special atmosphere. It's also popular because of the theater, nightlife, and live music.
San Francisco is a scenic, beautiful, and outdoorsy coastal city. It's an amazing and huge city with tons of activities and things to do. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. Other reasons to visit include beaches, hiking, and shopping.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between San Francisco and Washington. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Spend time exploring the sights and museums in either Washington or San Francisco.
Travelers visit Washington from around the world to see its many world-famous attractions. The city has world class museums that are often free. The Smithsonian Museums are arguably some of the most impressive museums in the United States. The city also has a large collection of monuments that are dedicated to past presidents or historical events.
The museums, monuments, and landmarks in San Francisco are among the most recognizable in the world. 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.
There are theater venues available in both Washington and San Francisco.
Washington has a number of performance venues where you can see a variety of shows. Theater is popular in the city. From major theaters like the Kennedy Center and Ford's Theater, to lesser known smaller venues, there are options for everyone.
San Francisco offers a number of shows and performances. The city has around a dozen theaters where you can enjoy musicals or plays.
Foodies will find both Washington and San Francisco both to be unique destinations.
Washington has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. You can find restaurants from almost any cuisine here, so it's worth exploring and stepping out of your comfort zone.
Known for it's food and restaurant scene, San Francisco is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. 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.
The vibe at night is comparable in Washington and San Francisco.
Many people head to Washington for the nightlife scene. Head into Dupont Circle, U Street, and even Arlington to enjoy some of the area's best nightlife.
There's a variety of activities in the evening in San Francisco. Popular clubs in the city include Temple San Francisco, Monarch, and Audio Nightclub.
Washington and San Francisco are both destinations where visitors can find live music.
Music lovers will find a few good venues in Washington. Notable live music venues include the 9:30 Club, the Anthem, and Union Stage.
The music scene helps keep San Francisco active and fun. Well known music venues include the Great American Music Hall, Slim's, and The Chapel.
Most people pick San Francisco for the hiking over Washington.
Many people visit San Francisco specifically for its hiking. 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.
Many visitors include a hike while visiting Washington. Just outside of Washington DC you'll find plenty of places to go hiking. There's also an elaborate bike and walking trail system in the city. To enjoy a bit of nature, head to Teddy Roosevelt Island.
If you're looking to go shopping, Washington and San Francisco both offer plenty of spots.
Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Washington. Head to Georgetown and Dupont Circle for some of the city's best local shopping.
The abundance of shops in San Francisco make it a world-class shopping destination. 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.
You'll find kid-friendly activities in either Washington or San Francisco.
Washington is a very family-friendly destination. It is a fun and educational destination where kids can explore world class museums and try unique foods from all around the world.
San Francisco is a very kid-friendly city. With its many outdoor parks, hiking trails, beaches, and kid-friendly museums, this city makes a great family-friendly destination.
Both Washington and San Francisco are good destinations to visit as a couple.
Washington is a nice destination for couples. The city lights up at night, so couples will enjoy wandering by the monuments in the evening or taking in a dinner and show.
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.
For students, both Washington and San Francisco are fairly comparable places to visit.
Students come from all over the world to visit Washington. International students come from around the world to study, learn, intern, and work in the capital of the United States.
San Francisco is a great 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.
Washington and San Francisco both offer public transit to get you around.
With a huge network, the transit system in Washington can get you around easily. The metro system and the bus system are reliable and efficient ways to explore the city.
Visitors in San Francisco can get around quickly with the extensive public transit system. The transit network includes a subway (the BART), trams, cable cars, ferries, and buses.
Washington and San Francisco are similar when it comes to walkability.
Washington is a very easy city to get around on foot. Many neighborhoods around the city are easy to explore on foot. Most tourists spend a lot of time in the Mall area, which is very pedestrian friendly.
San Francisco is a very walkable city. 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.
Both Washington and San Francisco have a number of activities to choose from. You can spend a similar amount of time exploring either.
The ideal length of time for a trip to Washington is 3-7 days, and the ideal length of time for a trip to San Francisco is 3-7 days.
Washington is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. 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.
With theater and nightlife around the beautiful coastal city of San Francisco, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Washington. 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.
With nightlife and live music around the big city destination of San Francisco, there's plenty to do. It's also a great beach destination, too. It offers something for everyone. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything.
Washington is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. This 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.
San Francisco, a popular coastal city, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for five days. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. In five days, you should have a good grasp of this coastal city. Your budget might influence how long you stay.
Washington is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. 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.
San Francisco is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have one week, this coastal city makes for a great vacation. One week should give you a good understanding of everything this coastal city has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Washington is $155, while the average daily cost in San Francisco is $175. 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 Washington and San Francisco in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Washington or San Francisco? 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.
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Washington are as follows:
Also for Washington, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in San Francisco:
Also for San Francisco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both San Francisco and Washington 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.
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Washington:
For Washington, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
For San Francisco, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Washington.
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Francisco.
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.
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Washington:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in San Francisco:
When comparing the travel costs between Washington and San Francisco, we can see that San Francisco 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.
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Both San Francisco and Washington are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Washington this time of year. Also, many travelers come to San Francisco for the beaches, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Washington is generally much warmer than San Francisco. Temperatures in Washington average around 79°F (26°C), and San Francisco stays around 63°F (17°C).
In July, Washington usually receives more rain than San Francisco. Washington gets 3.5 inches (88 mm) of rain, while San Francisco receives 0.1 inches (2 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
Both San Francisco and Washington during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Washington for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, 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.
Washington is cooler than San Francisco in the autumn. The temperature in Washington is usually 60°F (15°C) in October, and San Francisco stays around 63°F (17°C).
Washington usually gets more rain in October than San Francisco. Washington gets 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain, while San Francisco receives 1.3 inches (33 mm) of rain this time of the year.
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Washington and San Francisco. Many visitors come to Washington in the winter for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine. Furthermore, most visitors come to San Francisco for the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine during these months.
Washington can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Washington is much colder than San Francisco. Typically, the winter temperatures in Washington in January are around 35°F (1°C), and San Francisco is about 50°F (10°C).
In January, Washington usually receives less rain than San Francisco. Washington gets 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain, while San Francisco receives 3.8 inches (96 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
The spring brings many poeple to Washington as well as San Francisco. Most visitors come to Washington for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months. Additionally, the spring months attract visitors to San Francisco because of the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
In April, Washington is generally around the same temperature as San Francisco. Temperatures in Washington average around 56°F (14°C), and San Francisco stays around 58°F (14°C).
Washington usually gets more rain in April than San Francisco. Washington gets 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain, while San Francisco receives 1.2 inches (31 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Washington | San Francisco | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 35°F (1°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) | 50°F (10°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
Feb | 37°F (3°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
Mar | 47°F (8°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 56°F (13°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
Apr | 56°F (14°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) | 58°F (14°C) | 1.2 inches (31 mm) |
May | 66°F (19°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) | 60°F (15°C) | 0.2 inches (5 mm) |
Jun | 75°F (24°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 62°F (17°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
Jul | 79°F (26°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
Aug | 78°F (26°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 0.1 inches (1 mm) |
Sep | 71°F (22°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) | 66°F (19°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) |
Oct | 60°F (15°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 1.3 inches (33 mm) |
Nov | 50°F (10°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
Dec | 39°F (4°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 51°F (11°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
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