Is San Diego expensive to visit?
San Diego is a popular destination that is also moderately priced. It falls in the middle range of travel cost prices globaly with a daily average travel cost of $202. If we compare it to the rest of North America, which is known to be an expensive region, it is a moderately priced place to visit. It ranks in the top 50% of cities in North America for its travel costs. Its travel costs are comparable with places such as Washington and Toronto.
Balboa Park, San Diego
How expensive is San Diego?
For a trip to San Diego, travelers spend on average $202 per day (U.S. Dollars). This is according to our calculations from previous visitors. As this is an average cost, your individual spending may vary, especially since there's a wide range of accommodation, food, transportation, and entertainment options here. If you stick to moderately-priced hotels and restaurants, as well as take advantage of some of free things to do in the area, you can stick close to the average budget. See more travel costs for San Diego here to see how all of the average spending costs pan out.
How expensive is a weekend trip (three days) to San Diego?
On average, a weekend trip to San Diego costs about $605 per person. This is based on the previous expenses of actual travelers, and includes accommodation, food, activities, local transportation, and more. For two people, a weekend trip costs $1,210.
How expensive is a one week (7-day) trip to San Diego?
A one week trip to San Diego costs about $1,412 per person on average, based on the previous expenses of other travelers. This includes accommodation, sightseeting activities, transportation, food, and nightlife. For two people, a one week trip costs $2,824.
San Diego, California
Is it expensive to backpack in San Diego?
San Diego is a popular backpacker destination with more than 10 hostels. Dorm beds in hostels cost, on average, $28 per night. (See hostel prices in San Diego here.) You'll find quite a range in prices here, too. The most expensive beds are priced around $45 and the cheapest around $1 per night.
Here are a few sample prices from popular hostels in San Diego.
- $32 for a dorm bed at HI San Diego - Downtown
- $36 for a dorm bed at Lucky D's
- $35 for a dorm bed at International Travelers House Adventure Hostel
Are hotels expensive in San Diego?
If you're considering hotel prices in San Diego, you'll find them to be fairly even and moderate in price compared to hotels in other cities. On average, a night in a hotel room here will set you back approximately $217. In San Diego, there are about 7 five-star hotels with an average nightly rate of $635. For a more affordable option, three-star hotels come in at an average of $291 per night, while two-star hotels offer an even more economical choice at $124 per night.
Hotels by star rating in San Diego
| Rating | Number of Hotels | Average Hotel Price |
|---|---|---|
| 5 stars | 7 | $635 |
| 4 stars | 51 | $311 |
| 3 stars | 129 | $291 |
| 2 stars | 88 | $124 |
| 1 star | 4 | $404 |
| No rating | 5 | $639 |
How expensive are sightseeing activities in San Diego?
In San Diego, the cost of activities and things to do can vary by the type of activity, its length, and the location. To provide an estimate of what to expect during your visit, below are several popular activities that are common in the area. On average, previous travelers have spent around $48 per day on sightseeing and entertainment, which is less than the country's average of $55.
- Magic on The Move Tour: $45
- San Diego Street Art Tour: $35
- 1 Hour GPS Guided Scooter Tour: Harbor/Gaslamp Quarter: $92
- San Diego Tequila Tour: $125
- Private San Diego Segway Fanatic Tour: $135
- Historical Walking Tour of San Diego: $10
- Electric Scooter Waterfront Tour with Pictures: $59
- La Jolla Sea Caves Kayak Tour (Single Kayak) : $64
Is food expensive in San Diego?
In San Diego, the cost of food can vary by the type of restaurant and food options available. To save money, eat at less expensive restaurants, try street food, or cook your own meals when possible. On average, previous travelers have spent around $45 per day on food, which is less than the country's average of $58.
- Premium Valle de Guadalupe Wine and Food Tour : $259
- San Diego Christmas Day Dinner Buffet Cruise: $166
- San Diego Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $95
- Little Italy Food and Drink Walking Tour - Pizza, Pasta & Piazzas: $85
- Gaslamp Quarter Downtown San Diego Food Tour: $89
- San Diego Harbor Dinner Cruise: $118
Is transportation expensive in San Diego?
The prices of local transportation in San Diego can vary by the type of transit used. Other travelers have spent an average of $24 on local transportation per person per day, which is less than the country's average of $46. To save money, take public transit whenever possible, as it will almost always be cheaper than a taxi or private driver.
More for San Diego
If you're planning a trip to San Diego, California, check out these other informative travel guides.
We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
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.