Comparison · Los Angeles vs San Francisco · United States
Los Angeles 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: Gnaphron, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Quick answer
Choose Los Angeles for Hollywood, Beaches and a milder winter; choose San Francisco for Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, free sights and a short break. Los Angeles is generally less expensive, and the two are about 559 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 559 km
- Less expensive
- Los Angeles
- Best time for Los Angeles
- March–May and September–November
- Best time for San Francisco
- April–May and September–October
Side by side
| Los Angeles | San Francisco | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Known for | Hollywood, Beaches and Griffith Observatory | Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and Cable cars |
| Best time to visit | March–May and September–November | April–May and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 6 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $250–$400 | $270–$450 |
| Cost level | Expensive | Very expensive |
| Warmest month | July, 29°C (84°F) | September, 23°C (73°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 20°C (68°F) | January, 14°C (57°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 10 | 13 |
| Day trips in our guide | 7 | 7 |
| Beaches | Santa Monica State Beach | Baker Beach |
| Airports | LAX, BUR, LGB, SNA, ONT | SFO, OAK, SJC |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Los Angeles for…
Hollywood, Beaches and a milder winter. Los Angeles is a sprawling region of distinct neighbourhoods rather than a single centre: Hollywood and Griffith Park below the hills, Santa Monica and Venice on the beach, a revived Downtown of museums and food halls, and Beverly Hills and West Hollywood in…
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Choose San Francisco for…
Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, free sights and a short break. 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
| # | Los Angeles | San Francisco |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Griffith Observatory | Golden Gate Bridge |
| 2 | Hollywood Walk of Fame and TCL Chinese Theatre | Alcatraz Island |
| 3 | Getty Center | Golden Gate Park |
| 4 | Santa Monica Pier | California Academy of Sciences |
| 5 | Venice Beach Boardwalk and canals | de Young Museum |
Food compared
| Los Angeles | San Francisco |
|---|---|
| Tacos al pastor | Mission burrito |
| French dip sandwich | Sourdough bread |
| Korean barbecue | Clam chowder in a bread bowl |
| Double-Double burger | Dungeness crab |
Which is cheaper?
Los Angeles is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $250–$400 per person there, against $270–$450 in San Francisco (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Los Angeles on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Los Angeles and San Francisco are about 559 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 6 days in Los Angeles and 4 in San Francisco.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Los Angeles or San Francisco cheaper?
Los Angeles is usually less expensive: about $250–$400 a day mid-range against $270–$450 (estimates).
+Is Los Angeles or San Francisco better for a first trip?
Pick Los Angeles for Hollywood, Beaches and a milder winter, or San Francisco for Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, free sights and a short break.
+How far is Los Angeles from San Francisco?
About 559 km in a straight line.