Which place is cheaper, San Diego or Winston-Salem?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Winston-Salem or San Diego? 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.
Winston-Salem is a welcoming, friendly, and under-rated city. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.
San Diego is a energetic, relaxed, and outdoorsy coastal city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. As this is a very quaint destination, you'll find it has a special atmosphere. Other popular activities here include beaches, hiking, and shopping.
Travelers will usually find more to do in San Diego than Winston-Salem, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. San Diego is more popular for its museums, nightlife, music, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, big city activities, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Winston-Salem is known for its historical sights. San Diego is more touristy than Winston-Salem and is popular for its relaxed coastal atmosphere, its many kid-friendly sights, and its beautiful beaches with critter-filled tidal pools. It is also home to The San Diego Zoo. Winston-Salem is popular for it's southern character and quaint college campuses.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between San Diego and Winston-Salem. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
San Diego is notable for its sights and museums. Also, Winston-Salem is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.
San Diego offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. While the city is famous for it's beaches, zoos, and aquariums, don't overlook the museums and other landmarks. Popular options include the Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum, the Old Town State Historic Park, and Point Loma and Cabrillo Monument.
Winston-Salem is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Old Salem has a nice concentration of museums and gardens. Outside of the old town you'll find several art museums like the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts and the Reynolda House Museum of American Art.
There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at good restaurants in both Winston-Salem and San Diego.
There are many up and coming restaurants in the Winston-Salem area. North Carolina barbecue is popular around town. The city is also the birthplace of Krispy Kreme donuts and during the holiday season you should sample the local Moravian Cookies.
There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around San Diego. The city has great seafood and a diversity of cuisines. There are many casual dining options that serve informal foods like burgers or salads, but there are also award-winning fine dining restaurants with elegant atmospheres. Popular local dishes include fish tacos and California burritos.
San Diego is notable for its evening party scene. Also, Winston-Salem is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife.
San Diego has plenty to do after the sun goes down. The heart of the city's nightlife scene is in the Gaslamp District, which is filled with bars, clubs, and music venues. There's a young student population that keeps the nightlife scene casual and fun.
With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Winston-Salem. Local breweries are popping up around town. You'll also find active nightlife venues near the colleges and universities.
San Diego is notable for its music scene. However, Winston-Salem is not a live music destination.
If you love music, you'll find something to enjoy in San Diego. Popular venues include the House of Blues, The Belly Up, and The Shout House.
Winston-Salem is not a live music destination.
San Diego is a popular place for its resorts. However, Winston-Salem is not a resort destination.
San Diego has a few great resort options. Most people prefer to stay in hotels or VRBOs, but several popular resorts include Fairmont Grand Del Mar, Paradise Point, and the famous Hotel del Coronado.
Winston-Salem is not a resort destination.
San Diego is a popular place for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Winston-Salem is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.
San Diego has a few good snorkeling spots. Popular snorkeling and diving spots include La Jolla Cove, Mission Bay, and Turtle Town. The water's a bit chili, but it's still worth going for a dive or popping on a mask and snorkeling around for a bit.
Winston-Salem is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.
San Diego is renowned for the beach. However, Winston-Salem is not a beach destination.
Travelers come from around the world to visit the beaches in San Diego. The city has great beaches with tidal pools and interesting sea life at low tide. Adults and kids alike will enjoy hitting the beach when the tides are out and looking for local critters in the tidal pools. Popular beaches in the area include La Jolla Cove Beach, Coronado Beach, and Pacific Beach.
Winston-Salem is not a beach destination.
Winston-Salem is a good destination for its old town. However, San Diego does not have a historic old town.
Plenty of visitors enjoy exploring the old town in Winston-Salem. Nearby Old Salem is filled with historic museums, gardens, and restaurants. A ticket is required for most of the venues, but the atmosphere and architecture are charming.
San Diego does not have a historic old town.
San Diego is notable for the nearby hiking options. However, Winston-Salem is not a hiking destination.
San Diego is a popular spot for hiking. The city is filled with parks and has tons of natural beauty. There is plenty of urban hiking in town, or you can visit more natural areas just out of town. Head to Torrey Pines State Park or Los Penasquitos Canyon Trail for some nice hikes.
Winston-Salem is not a hiking destination.
Both Winston-Salem and San Diego are good shopping destinations.
Many visitors go to Winston-Salem to go shopping. You'll find a mix of larger shopping malls, retail outlets, and shopping centers around town.
Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in San Diego. Head to Fashion Valley or Westfield UTC for some fun shopping. There are suburban shopping malls in the area as well as souvenir shops in the more touristy areas.
San Diego is renowned for its family-friendly activities. Also, Winston-Salem is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.
As it has a large number of activities for kids, San Diego is a very family-friendly destination. The city is filled with kid-friendly activities that everyone can enjoy. There's the world-class zoo, several amusement parks, the beaches, aquariums, and more. The year-round warm weather makes it easy to spend plenty of time outdoors in parks, playgrounds, and beaches where kids can stretch their legs and run around.
Winston-Salem is a family-friendly city. There are interactive museums like the Kaleideum science museums. There are also outdoor parks and playgrounds, kid-friendly restaurants, and a children's theater.
San Diego is renowned for couples. However, Winston-Salem is a mediocre city for romance.
San Diego makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. For adventurous couples, there are many outdoor activities that you can enjoy together. The beaches offer a great playground for adults who enjoy the water and warm weather. There are also restaurants and a great nightlife in San Diego.
Winston-Salem is not the best destination for a couple to visit. There are restaurants and movie theaters that make for a nice date night. There are also parks and walks that will get you outdoors.
San Diego is a popular place for backpackers. However, Winston-Salem is a mediocre city for backpackers and budget travelers.
Plenty of budget travelers visit San Diego. Backpackers will enjoy the young vibe of the city. There are a few great hostels near the beach or in town.
Winston-Salem is not the best destination for backpackers and budget travelers due to its high prices. It's not on the itinerary for most backpackers.
San Diego is renowned for students. Also, Winston-Salem is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its student-friendly activities.
Many students frequent San Diego. With its young population and many universities, international students will feel right at home in San Diego. There are also many great outdoor activities for the adventurous.
Plenty of students visit Winston-Salem. Wake Forest University as well as colleges such as Salem College give parts of the city a collegiate vibe.
Both Winston-Salem and San Diego offer decent public transit options.
Public transit is generally limited in Winston-Salem. There are bus routes, but they are limited in their frequency and convenience, making a car essential for most visitors.
Public transit is mostly limited in San Diego. The city has a trolley (light rail system) as well as a bus system. Most people depend on cars to get around, and you'll likely enjoy your trip a bit more if you have your own vehicle.
San Diego is a popular place for its ease of walking around. However, Winston-Salem is a mediocre city for its walkability.
San Diego is a somewhat walkable coastal city. The downtown area is walkable, but if you want to travel further, you'll need to find a different form of transportation.
Winston-Salem is generally not a very walkable city. The downtown area is the most pedestrian-friendly part of town, but most of the city requires a car.
For even more information, also check out Is Winston-Salem Worth Visiting? and Is San Diego Worth Visiting?.
In either Winston-Salem or San Diego, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in San Diego than Winston-Salem because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Winston-Salem, and 3-5 days is enough time in San Diego.
Families should spend more time in San Diego than Winston-Salem. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in San Diego, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in San Diego than Winston-Salem. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in San Diego that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in San Diego than Winston-Salem 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 Diego.
You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Winston-Salem. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Winston-Salem has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
Many travelers enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the hip destination of San Diego. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. Don't miss the beaches, as that's what most people do. 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.
You'll find museums and nightlife around the under-rated destination of Winston-Salem. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in San Diego. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. Don't miss the beaches, as that's what most people do. 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.
Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the welcoming city of Winston-Salem. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.
Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the energetic destination of San Diego. 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.
Winston-Salem is a popular choice for travelers. One week 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.
You'll find museums and nightlife around the coastal city of San Diego. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. 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 Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America, The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in United States of America, and The Best Cultural Tours in United States of America.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Winston-Salem is $150, while the average daily cost in San Diego is $202. 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 Winston-Salem and San Diego in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Winston-Salem or San Diego? 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.
Also for San Diego, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both San Diego and Winston-Salem 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 San Diego:
For San Diego, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Winston-Salem are as follows:
For San Diego, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Diego.
Also in San Diego, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Winston-Salem and San Diego, we can see that San Diego is more expensive. And not only is Winston-Salem much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Winston-Salem would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Winston-Salem 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 Diego would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Diego than you might in Winston-Salem.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Winston-Salem Expensive? and Is San Diego Expensive?.
San Diego has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Winston-Salem. When comparing the sizes of Winston-Salem and San Diego, 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.
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.
The summer brings many poeple to Winston-Salem as well as San Diego. Most visitors come to Winston-Salem for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Additionally, the summer months attract visitors to San Diego because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Winston-Salem is generally a little warmer than San Diego. Daily temperatures in Winston-Salem average around 81°F (27°C), and San Diego fluctuates around 71°F (22°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Diego. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Winston-Salem this time of the year. In the summer, Winston-Salem often gets less sunshine than San Diego. Winston-Salem gets 273 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Diego receives 306 hours of full sun.
Winston-Salem receives a lot of rain in the summer. Winston-Salem usually gets more rain in July than San Diego. Winston-Salem gets 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain, while San Diego receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Both San Diego and Winston-Salem are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Winston-Salem because of the shopping scene. Also, the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to San Diego this time of year.
Winston-Salem is cooler than San Diego in the autumn. The daily temperature in Winston-Salem averages around 62°F (17°C) in October, and San Diego fluctuates around 68°F (20°C).
It's quite sunny in San Diego. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Winston-Salem. Winston-Salem usually receives less sunshine than San Diego during autumn. Winston-Salem gets 212 hours of sunny skies, while San Diego receives 244 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Winston-Salem usually receives more rain than San Diego. Winston-Salem gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while San Diego receives 0.4 inches (9 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
Both San Diego and Winston-Salem during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Winston-Salem this time of year. Also, many travelers come to San Diego for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
It's quite cold in Winston-Salem in the winter. In the winter, Winston-Salem is much colder than San Diego. Typically, the winter temperatures in Winston-Salem in January average around 40°F (4°C), and San Diego averages at about 57°F (14°C).
In San Diego, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Winston-Salem often gets less sunshine than San Diego. Winston-Salem gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Diego receives 239 hours of full sun.
Winston-Salem usually gets more rain in January than San Diego. Winston-Salem gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while San Diego receives 1.8 inches (46 mm) of rain this time of the year.
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Winston-Salem and San Diego. Also, many visitors come to San Diego in the spring for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
In April, Winston-Salem is generally around the same temperature as San Diego. Daily temperatures in Winston-Salem average around 61°F (16°C), and San Diego fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Diego this time of the year. In Winston-Salem, it's very sunny this time of the year. Winston-Salem usually receives less sunshine than San Diego during spring. Winston-Salem gets 248 hours of sunny skies, while San Diego receives 277 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Winston-Salem usually receives more rain than San Diego. Winston-Salem gets 3.1 inches (80 mm) of rain, while San Diego receives 0.8 inches (20 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
Winston-Salem | San Diego | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 40°F (4°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 1.8 inches (46 mm) |
Feb | 43°F (6°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) | 59°F (15°C) | 1.5 inches (39 mm) |
Mar | 52°F (11°C) | 3.7 inches (94 mm) | 59°F (15°C) | 1.8 inches (45 mm) |
Apr | 61°F (16°C) | 3.1 inches (80 mm) | 62°F (17°C) | 0.8 inches (20 mm) |
May | 69°F (21°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 0.2 inches (5 mm) |
Jun | 77°F (25°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) | 67°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
Jul | 81°F (27°C) | 4.4 inches (112 mm) | 71°F (22°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) |
Aug | 80°F (26°C) | 4.3 inches (109 mm) | 73°F (23°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
Sep | 73°F (23°C) | 3.5 inches (90 mm) | 71°F (22°C) | 0.2 inches (6 mm) |
Oct | 62°F (17°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) | 68°F (20°C) | 0.4 inches (9 mm) |
Nov | 53°F (12°C) | 2.6 inches (67 mm) | 62°F (17°C) | 1.5 inches (37 mm) |
Dec | 44°F (7°C) | 3.1 inches (80 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 1.6 inches (40 mm) |