Which place is cheaper, San Francisco or Woodstock?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Woodstock or San Francisco?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Woodstock or San Francisco? 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.
Where Should I go: Woodstock or San Francisco?
Woodstock
While this town does lend its name to the 1969 Woodstock Festival, the legendary event was actually held on a dairy farm almost 60 miles away in Bethel, NY. So if you are looking to see the field where it all happened and a museum dedicated to its history, you will need to take a day trip outside of town.
Woodstock, New York, however, does stay true to the spirit of the arts. Since 1903, the place lay home to Byrdcliffe Art Colony, the oldest of its kind in the nation, and even attracted artists of the Hudson River School during the late 1800s. Today, artists from all disciplines-visual, ceramic, music, fiction, nonfiction, screenwriting, playwriting, and poetry-take up residence at the colony and have works displayed in galleries open in the main part of town.
Tinker Street and Mill Hill Road are lined with a mix of restaurants and shops all teeming with the essence of hippie living, arts, and spirituality. From shops selling Woodstock paraphernalia, incense, and Himalayan products, to yoga studios, vegan restaurants, and local art galleries-the town of Woodstock is one dedicated to keeping the spirit of the Woodstock Festival and the arts alive.
San Francisco
San Francisco is a beautiful city that is famous for it's picturesque neighborhoods, liberal character, and stunning location on the bay. Some people describe San Francisco as the United State's most "European City." This title most likely comes from its compact development and its easy walkability. It also has no shortage of parks and public spaces where you can pass some time. The city sits on the end of a peninsula and offers stunning views of the blue bay, rolling green hills, and the striking Golden Gate Bridge.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America, and The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayWoodstock $154San Francisco $222
The average daily cost (per person) in Woodstock is $154, while the average daily cost in San Francisco is $222. 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 Woodstock and San Francisco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personWoodstock $81San Francisco $130
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomWoodstock $162San Francisco $260
Compare Hotels in Woodstock and San Francisco
Looking for a hotel in Woodstock 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: San Francisco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Woodstock $60San Francisco $16
Typical Local Transportation Prices in San Francisco
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in San Francisco:
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Taxi to SFO$45
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Golden Gate Bridge Toll$6.00
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Alcatraz Tour$30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Francisco
Also for San Francisco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer in private vehicle from San Francisco Airport to City: $35
- San Francisco Airport (SFO) to Oakland - Arrival Private Transfer: $44
- Private Arrival Transfer from San Francisco Airport SFO: $44
- San Francisco to Oakland Airport (OAK) Private Departure Transfer: $63
- San Francisco Airport to San Francisco Private Arrival Transfer: $79
- San Francisco to San Francisco Airport Private Departure Transfer: $79
- Round trip transfer in private vehicle from-to Airport in San Francisco: $80
- SFO Airport Private Transfer to/from Downtown San Francisco: $96
- Private Airport Transfer: San Francisco to SF International Airport (SFO): $107
- Private Transfer from San Francisco to Airport SFO in Business Car: $108
- Arrival Private Transfer: Airport SFO to San Francisco in Business Car: $108
- Departure Private Transfer: San Francisco to Airport SFO in Business Car: $108
Is it cheaper to fly into Woodstock or San Francisco?
Prices for flights to both San Francisco and Woodstock 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
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Food Meals for one dayWoodstock $34San Francisco $46
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Francisco
For San Francisco, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- North Beach and Little Italy Food Tour: $79
- Buffet Lunch or Dinner Cruise on the Bay: $82
- Secret Food Tours San Francisco: $83
- Mission District Food Tour with Tastings: $85
- Farmers' Market & Ferry Building Food Tour: $87
- San Francisco Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $89
- Mission District Food Tour: $89
- Mission District Walking Food Tour: $89
- Chinatown Walking Food Tour: $89
- San Francisco North Beach Food Tour: $89
- San Francisco Food Tour: Ferry Building and Ferry Plaza Farmers Market: $90
- Secret Food Tour of North Beach and Chinatown: $96
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Woodstock $35San Francisco $46
Tours and Activities in San Francisco
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Francisco.
- Golden Gate Bridge: Self-guided Tour App - Audio + Written: $5.00
- Self-Guided Golden Gate Bridge Bike or Walking App Tour: $5.00
- San Francisco’s Chinatown on foot: A Self Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Embarcadero Self-Guided Audio Smartphone Tour: $5.99
- Leave your heart at the Wharf: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- San Francisco self-guided tour App - multilingual AudioGuide: $6.42
- Ghosts & Hauntings Audio App Walking Tour: $6.99
- The Ghosts of San Francisco Haunted Audio App Walking Tour: $6.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour of Japantown & Stories: $6.99
- The Secrets of Golden Gate Park: A San Francisco Chronicle Self-Guided Tour: $7.99
- San Francisco's Castro Neighborhood: Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Secrets of Golden Gate Park Audio Tour: $7.99
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.
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayWoodstock $22San Francisco $22
Sample the Local Flavors in San Francisco
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in San Francisco:
- Chinatown San Francisco’s Bar Crawl: An Audio Tour: $4.99
- San Francisco Bar Crawl + Clubbing Experience: $27
- SF Pub Crawl and Clubbing Experience: $27
- Ghosts, Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- Sunset Distillery with Local Whiskey or Cocktail Tasting: $40
- 2 to 3 Hour Bar Crawl in Castro San Francisco: $49
- Wine Tasting on the Bay: $85
- Private Wine Tour Napa or Sonoma from $99 per person up to 7 & Concierge Service: $99
- The Ultimate Napa and Sonoma Wine Tour: $109
- Small Group: The Ultimate Napa & Sonoma Wine Tour: $109
- Big Bus Napa and Sonoma Valley Wine Tour: $125
- Half-Day Wine Country Tour with Wine Tastings: $126
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Woodstock and San Francisco, we can see that San Francisco is more expensive. And not only is Woodstock much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Woodstock would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Woodstock 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 Woodstock.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Woodstock Expensive? and Is San Francisco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Woodstock or San Francisco?
San Francisco has a larger population, and is about 330 times larger than the population of Woodstock. When comparing the sizes of Woodstock and San Francisco, 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 Woodstock or San Francisco?
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 Woodstock or San Francisco in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Woodstock as well as San Francisco. Additionally, 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.
In July, Woodstock is generally a little warmer than San Francisco. Daily temperatures in Woodstock average around 74°F (24°C), and San Francisco fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).
Woodstock usually gets more rain in July than San Francisco. Woodstock gets 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain, while San Francisco receives 0.1 inches (2 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyWoodstock 74°F (24°C)San Francisco 63°F (17°C)
Should I visit Woodstock or San Francisco in the Autumn?
Both San Francisco and Woodstock are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, 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.
Woodstock is cooler than San Francisco in the autumn. The daily temperature in Woodstock averages around 53°F (12°C) in October, and San Francisco fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).
In October, Woodstock usually receives more rain than San Francisco. Woodstock gets 3 inches (77 mm) of rain, while San Francisco receives 1.3 inches (33 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberWoodstock 53°F (12°C)San Francisco 63°F (17°C)
Should I visit Woodstock or San Francisco in the Winter?
Both San Francisco and Woodstock during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, the winter months attract visitors to San Francisco because of the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
Woodstock can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Woodstock is much colder than San Francisco. Typically, the winter temperatures in Woodstock in January average around 25°F (-4°C), and San Francisco averages at about 50°F (10°C).
Woodstock usually gets less rain in January than San Francisco. Woodstock gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while San Francisco receives 3.8 inches (96 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryWoodstock 25°F (-4°C)San Francisco 50°F (10°C)
Should I visit Woodstock or San Francisco in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Woodstock and San Francisco. Also, the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty are the main draw to San Francisco this time of year.
In April, Woodstock is generally cooler than San Francisco. Daily temperatures in Woodstock average around 49°F (10°C), and San Francisco fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).
In April, Woodstock usually receives more rain than San Francisco. Woodstock gets 3.7 inches (95 mm) of rain, while San Francisco receives 1.2 inches (31 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilWoodstock 49°F (10°C)San Francisco 58°F (14°C)
Typical Weather for San Francisco and Woodstock
| Woodstock | San Francisco | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°F (-4°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 50°F (10°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
| Feb | 28°F (-2°C) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| Mar | 38°F (3°C) | 3.8 inches (97 mm) | 56°F (13°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| Apr | 49°F (10°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) | 58°F (14°C) | 1.2 inches (31 mm) |
| May | 60°F (16°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) | 60°F (15°C) | 0.2 inches (5 mm) |
| Jun | 69°F (21°C) | 3.5 inches (90 mm) | 62°F (17°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
| Jul | 74°F (24°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Aug | 72°F (22°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 0.1 inches (1 mm) |
| Sep | 64°F (18°C) | 3.5 inches (90 mm) | 66°F (19°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) |
| Oct | 53°F (12°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 1.3 inches (33 mm) |
| Nov | 43°F (6°C) | 4.3 inches (110 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Dec | 30°F (-1°C) | 4.1 inches (103 mm) | 51°F (11°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.