Comparison · San Francisco vs Vancouver · United States / Canada
San Francisco vs Vancouver
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Choose San Francisco for Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, free sights and a milder winter; choose Vancouver for Stanley Park, Mountains and ocean and lower day-to-day costs. Vancouver is generally less expensive, and the two are about 1,281 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 1,281 km
- Less expensive
- Vancouver
- Best time for San Francisco
- April–May and September–October
- Best time for Vancouver
- June–September
Side by side
| San Francisco | Vancouver | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | Canada |
| Known for | Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and Cable cars | Stanley Park, Mountains and ocean and Seafood and sushi |
| Best time to visit | April–May and September–October | June–September |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $270–$450 | $200–$350 |
| Cost level | Very expensive | Expensive |
| Warmest month | September, 23°C (73°F) | July, 22°C (72°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 14°C (57°F) | January, 7°C (45°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 13 | 9 |
| Day trips in our guide | 7 | 5 |
| Beaches | Baker Beach | English Bay Beach |
| Airports | SFO, OAK, SJC | YVR |
Which one is right for you?
Choose San Francisco for…
Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, free sights and a milder winter. 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…
Choose Vancouver for…
Stanley Park, Mountains and ocean and lower day-to-day costs. Vancouver sits on a peninsula between Burrard Inlet and False Creek, with the North Shore mountains rising across the water and Stanley Park's forest at the end of downtown. Visitors come for the seawall, beaches and mountain trails within minutes of the…
Top sights compared
| # | San Francisco | Vancouver |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Golden Gate Bridge | Stanley Park and the seawall |
| 2 | Alcatraz Island | Vancouver Aquarium |
| 3 | Golden Gate Park | Granville Island |
| 4 | California Academy of Sciences | Capilano Suspension Bridge Park |
| 5 | de Young Museum | Lynn Canyon Park |
Food compared
| San Francisco | Vancouver |
|---|---|
| Mission burrito | Sushi and the BC roll |
| Sourdough bread | Wild Pacific salmon |
| Clam chowder in a bread bowl | Spot prawns |
| Dungeness crab | Japadog |
Which is cheaper?
Vancouver is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $200–$350 per person there, against $270–$450 in San Francisco (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Vancouver on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 1,281 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 9 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is San Francisco or Vancouver cheaper?
Vancouver is usually less expensive: about $200–$350 a day mid-range against $270–$450 (estimates).
+Is San Francisco or Vancouver better for a first trip?
Pick San Francisco for Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, free sights and a milder winter, or Vancouver for Stanley Park, Mountains and ocean and lower day-to-day costs.
+How far is San Francisco from Vancouver?
About 1,281 km in a straight line.