Comparison · San Diego vs San Francisco · United States
San Diego 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: Dirk Hansen, CC BY-SA 3.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Quick answer
Choose San Diego for San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park; choose San Francisco for Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and free sights. San Diego is generally less expensive, and the two are about 738 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 738 km
- Less expensive
- San Diego
- Best time for San Diego
- April–May and September–October
- Best time for San Francisco
- April–May and September–October
Side by side
| San Diego | San Francisco | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Known for | San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park and Beaches and surfing | Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and Cable cars |
| Best time to visit | April–May and September–October | April–May and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 5 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $230–$400 | $270–$450 |
| Cost level | Expensive | Very expensive |
| Warmest month | August, 25°C (77°F) | September, 23°C (73°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 19°C (66°F) | January, 14°C (57°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 8 | 13 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 7 |
| Beaches | Coronado Beach | Baker Beach |
| Airports | SAN | SFO, OAK, SJC |
Which one is right for you?
Choose San Diego for…
San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park. San Diego sits in the far southwest corner of California, about 25 km from the Mexican border, with 100-plus km of coastline running from Coronado and Point Loma up to La Jolla and Torrey Pines. Most visitors split their time between downtown (the Gaslamp…
.jpg){kind=link}
Choose San Francisco for…
Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz 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
| # | San Diego | San Francisco |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Balboa Park | Golden Gate Bridge |
| 2 | San Diego Zoo | Alcatraz Island |
| 3 | USS Midway Museum | Golden Gate Park |
| 4 | La Jolla Cove | California Academy of Sciences |
| 5 | Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve | de Young Museum |
Food compared
| San Diego | San Francisco |
|---|---|
| California burrito | Mission burrito |
| Baja fish tacos | Sourdough bread |
| Carne asada fries | Clam chowder in a bread bowl |
| Rolled tacos | Dungeness crab |
Which is cheaper?
San Diego is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $230–$400 per person there, against $270–$450 in San Francisco (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). San Diego on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 738 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 10 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is San Diego or San Francisco cheaper?
San Diego is usually less expensive: about $230–$400 a day mid-range against $270–$450 (estimates).
+Is San Diego or San Francisco better for a first trip?
Pick San Diego for San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park, or San Francisco for Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and free sights.
+How far is San Diego from San Francisco?
About 738 km in a straight line.