How much does a trip to San Francisco Cost?
The Cost of a Trip to San Francisco
Typically, the daily expenses for a trip to San Francisco for one person fall between $100 and $631, while for two people, it can range from $199 to $1,262. These price ranges are based on the average daily cost of $251 which is calculated from the expenses of previous travelers. These numbers include expenses for food, accommodation, sightseeing, and local transportation. Keep in mind that prices can vary depending on your overall travel style, level of luxury, and the activities you choose. If you book standard hotels, eat at typical restaurants, and take in the main attractions, your budget should stay close to this average cost. Below, we provide a breakdown of travel expenses by category, as well as a general price range for accommodation and activities for your visit. Please bear in mind that individual attractions and hotels may vary in price, although they generally adhere to the price ranges discussed in this article.
How much money should you budget for your trip to San Francisco?
For budget travelers in San Francisco, planning for around $100 per day should cover essentials such as accommodations in hostels and budget hotels, affordable meal options, local transportation, and engaging in various activities. If you're a mid-range traveler, setting aside around $251 per day would allow for more comfortable stays in typical hotels, dining at regular restaurants, and exploring a diverse range of popular attractions. Luxury travelers, on the other hand, should consider a daily budget of approximately $631 to accommodate higher-end hotel stays, dining at nicer restaurants, and indulging in more exclusive private tour options. It's important to note that these price ranges are derived from our extensive travel cost data for San Francisco, which is based on valuable insights from other travelers as well as hotel and tour data provided by travel companies. For a more detailed breakdown of travel costs, you can refer to our comprehensive travel cost data for San Francisco.
Average Daily Costs, Per Person, by Category
| Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation1 | $51 | $130 | $329 |
| Local Transportation1 | $6 | $16 | $45 |
| Food2 | $32 | $79 | $191 |
| Water2 | $3 | $6 | $13 |
| Entertainment1 | $13 | $31 | $78 |
| Souvenirs1 | $16 | $44 | $124 |
| Communication2 | $23 | $54 | $117 |
| Living Expenses2 | $43 | $117 | $340 |
| Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps1 | $21 | $21 | $21 |
| Alcohol2 | $9 | $22 | $57 |
| Tips and Handouts1 | $12 | $33 | $103 |
How much does a weekend trip to San Francisco cost?
On average, travelers spend around $754 per person during a three-day trip to San Francisco. This average includes expenses for sightseeing, hotels, food, and local transportation. To align with this average price range, consider opting for mid-range hotels and dining at mid-level restaurants, while also allocating funds for entry tickets to popular attractions. For those seeking a more budget-friendly approach, it is possible to find lower-cost accommodations, dine at less expensive restaurants, and explore free activities. Also, many visitors choose to spend a higher travel budget, as San Francisco offers a range of high-end hotels and restaurants for those seeking a more luxurious experience.
Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco
How much does a five day trip to San Francisco cost?
With five days in San Francisco, you can expect to spend about $1,256 total, not including transportation to and from the city. It's possible to stay close to this daily average by booking mid-range hotels, eating at normal restaurants, and paying for some entry tickets to popular attractions. It's possible to find lower-cost accommodations, eat at less expenive restaurants, and find more free activities if you want to spent less money.
How much does a one week trip to San Francisco cost?
Most visitors spend between $697 and $4,418 for a one week trip to San Francisco, with the average being $1,759. This includes sightseeing, local transportation, food, and hotels. One week is enough time to have a more in-depth experience in San Francisco. Also, one week allows you to be more flexible with your time and money, so you can potentially save money on some aspects of your trip while spending more on others.
Hostel Prices in San Francisco
With more than 10 hostels in San Francisco, the average price is $32 per night for a dorm bed. The cheapest hostel costs $21 and the most expensive is $52. Usually popular with younger travelers, hostels are a great way to save money while also being social. But not all hostels are the same, and we've analyzed the prices of both dorms and private rooms to find the average prices and best places to stay. You can see more details about the hostel prices in San Francisco here.
Here are a few sample prices from popular hostels in San Francisco.
- $32 for a dorm bed at HI San Francisco Downtown Hostel in San Francisco
- $32 for a dorm bed at HI San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf Hostel in San Francisco
- $37 for a dorm bed at Green Tortoise Hostel in San Francisco
Hotel Prices in San Francisco
Based on our calculations from available hotels in the San Francisco, the average price for a hotel room is $154 per night. To save money, or if you're planning a more luxurious trip, it's important to look at hotel prices based on the overall star-rating as well as guest reviews. Also, prices can vary by amenities and location. Check out more details from our analysis of hotel prices in San Francisco here, and below is a breakdown of hotel prices by star-rating.
Hotels by star rating in San Francisco
| Rating | Number of Hotels | Average Hotel Price |
|---|---|---|
| 5 stars | 7 | $501 |
| 4 stars | 50 | $207 |
| 3 stars | 68 | $181 |
| 2 stars | 99 | $118 |
| 1 star | 9 | $57 |
| No rating | 3 | $287 |
San Francisco, California
What to See and Do in San Francisco
Here are some of the most famous sights and activities in San Francisco along with their prices.
-
Fisherman’s Wharf
Free | Suggested to book in advance -
Golden Gate Bridge
Free -
Alcatraz Island
$47 | Must book in advance | Tour Suggested -
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)
$25 | Suggested to book in advance | Tour Suggested -
Chinatown
Free -
Pier 39
Free -
Lombard Street
Free -
Union Square
Free -
Palace of Fine Arts
Free -
Coit Tower
$10 | Suggested to book in advance
Should you do a tour in San Francisco?
Many visitors enjoy the convenience of booking tours and activities while they visit, and San Francisco has a wide array of things to do. These activities often include knowledgable guides and unique experiences. Tours range in price from $5 for the Self-Guided Golden Gate Bridge Bike or Walking App Tour to $999 for the San Fransico: Muir Woods & Marin Headlands Private Tour.
- Take a Walk with a Storyteller! The Surreal San Francisco Tour.: $32
- Classic Sidecar Tour of San Francisco: $240
- SF's North Beach: Gourmet Ghost Tour - Includes full meal, 3 hrs: $99
- Muir Woods and Golden Gate Bridge 3-hour Private Group Tour: $203
- Half Moon Bay Family Friendly Guided E-bike Tour: $110
- Delicious Fun Food and History Tour of North Beach and Beyond!: $79
- 2hr. SUNSET Sailing Experience on San Francisco Bay: $149
- San Francisco Architecture Walking Tour : $40
More for San Francisco
If you're planning a trip to San Francisco, 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.
1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.
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.
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