Comparison · Las Vegas vs San Francisco · United States
Las Vegas vs San Francisco
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Eric Kilby, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
Choose Las Vegas for The Strip, Casinos and lower day-to-day costs; choose San Francisco for Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, beaches and free sights. Las Vegas is generally less expensive, and the two are about 671 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 671 km
- Less expensive
- Las Vegas
- Best time for Las Vegas
- March–May and October–November
- Best time for San Francisco
- April–May and September–October
Side by side
| Las Vegas | San Francisco | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Known for | The Strip, Casinos and Shows and residencies | Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and Cable cars |
| Best time to visit | March–May and October–November | April–May and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $200–$400 | $270–$450 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Very expensive |
| Warmest month | July, 40°C (104°F) | September, 23°C (73°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 14°C (57°F) | January, 14°C (57°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 7 | 13 |
| Day trips in our guide | 7 | 7 |
| Beaches | — | Baker Beach |
| Airports | LAS | SFO, OAK, SJC |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Las Vegas for…
The Strip, Casinos and lower day-to-day costs. Las Vegas packs giant themed resorts, casinos, shows and restaurants along the 6.8 km Las Vegas Strip, with the older Downtown and Fremont Street a short bus ride north. Beyond the gaming floors, visitors come for Cirque du Soleil and concert residencies…
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Choose San Francisco for…
Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, beaches and free sights. San Francisco packs steep hills, Victorian houses and bay views onto a peninsula roughly 11 km across. Most sights are reachable by cable car, Muni streetcar or on foot: the Golden Gate Bridge and the Presidio in the north-west, Fisherman's Wharf and the…
Top sights compared
| # | Las Vegas | San Francisco |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Las Vegas Strip | Golden Gate Bridge |
| 2 | Fountains of Bellagio | Alcatraz Island |
| 3 | Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens | Golden Gate Park |
| 4 | Sphere | California Academy of Sciences |
| 5 | Fremont Street Experience | de Young Museum |
Food compared
| Las Vegas | San Francisco |
|---|---|
| Resort buffet | Mission burrito |
| Shrimp cocktail | Sourdough bread |
| Steakhouse dinner | Clam chowder in a bread bowl |
| Chinatown pho, hot pot and dim sum | Dungeness crab |
Which is cheaper?
Las Vegas is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $200–$400 per person there, against $270–$450 in San Francisco (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Las Vegas on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Las Vegas and San Francisco are about 671 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 4 days in Las Vegas and 4 in San Francisco.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Las Vegas or San Francisco cheaper?
Las Vegas is usually less expensive: about $200–$400 a day mid-range against $270–$450 (estimates).
+Is Las Vegas or San Francisco better for a first trip?
Pick Las Vegas for The Strip, Casinos and lower day-to-day costs, or San Francisco for Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, beaches and free sights.
+How far is Las Vegas from San Francisco?
About 671 km in a straight line.