A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Martha's Vineyard vs. San Diego for Resorts, Beaches, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Martha's Vineyard or San Diego?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Martha's Vineyard and San Diego. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Martha's Vineyard

Martha's Vineyard is a affluent, coastal, and peaceful island. With plenty of activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. The beauty of Martha's Vineyard is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the shopping, food, and beaches. See Martha's Vineyard travel costs.

San Diego

San Diego is a relaxed, outdoorsy, and idyllic coastal city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. San Diego offers plenty of beauty for visitors. As this is a very quaint destination, you'll find it has a special atmosphere. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and live music. See San Diego travel costs.

Martha's Vineyard and San Diego: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Martha's Vineyard or San Diego?

Tourists will generally find more to do in San Diego. Although Martha's Vineyard and San Diego are both popular with visitors, San Diego has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. San Diego is more popular for its museums and attractions, nightlife, music, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, big city activities, and quaint atmosphere, while Martha's Vineyard is known for its resorts, shopping, small town charm, and impressive beauty. San Diego is more touristy than Martha's Vineyard and is known for its relaxed coastal atmosphere, its many kid-friendly sights, and its beautiful beaches with critter-filled tidal pools. It is also home to The San Diego Zoo. Martha's Vineyard is popular for its natural beauty, charming New England towns, and upscale local shopping.

How is Martha's Vineyard different from San Diego?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between San Diego and Martha's Vineyard. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Martha's Vineyard or San Diego?

San Diego is a great coastal city for its historical sights. However, Martha's Vineyard is not known for its sights and museums.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around San Diego. While the city is famous for it's beaches, zoos, and aquariums, don't overlook the museums and other landmarks. Popular options include the Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum, the Old Town State Historic Park, and Point Loma and Cabrillo Monument.

Martha's Vineyard offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. There are a couple of local museums in the area as well as the Martha's Vineyard Museum.

Is the Food Better in Martha's Vineyard or San Diego? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Martha's Vineyard and San Diego can be difficult as they are each excellent in their own way.

Martha's Vineyard has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The region prioritizes sustainable agriculture and there are many local eateries that range from upscale to more casual. You'll find the greatest number of options during the peak summer months, but regardless of when you visit, you're sure to eat well.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, San Diego makes for a great culinary experience. The city has great seafood and a diversity of cuisines. There are many casual dining options that serve informal foods like burgers or salads, but there are also award-winning fine dining restaurants with elegant atmospheres. Popular local dishes include fish tacos and California burritos.

Is Martha's Vineyard or San Diego Better for Nightlife?

San Diego is a great coastal city for its evening party scene. However, Martha's Vineyard is not known for nightlife.

The nightlife in San Diego has something for everybody. The heart of the city's nightlife scene is in the Gaslamp District, which is filled with bars, clubs, and music venues. There's a young student population that keeps the nightlife scene casual and fun.

Most people don't head to Martha's Vineyard specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. There's more of a laid back vibe, but the best towns in the evening are Edgartown and Oak Bluffs.

Is Martha's Vineyard or San Diego Better for Music?

San Diego is a great coastal city for its music scene. However, Martha's Vineyard is not a live music destination.

San Diego has a thriving music scene. Popular venues include the House of Blues, The Belly Up, and The Shout House.

Martha's Vineyard is not a live music destination.

Is Martha's Vineyard or San Diego Better for Resorts?

Martha's Vineyard is renowned for its luxury resorts. Also, San Diego is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for its resorts.

Vacationers flock to Martha's Vineyard for its luxury resorts. There are beautiful and luxurious resorts that attract celebrities and socialites. Many have pools and serene outdoor spaces that you can enjoy.

San Diego has a few great resort options. Most people prefer to stay in hotels or VRBOs, but several popular resorts include Fairmont Grand Del Mar, Paradise Point, and the famous Hotel del Coronado.

Is Martha's Vineyard or San Diego Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

San Diego is a good destination for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Martha's Vineyard is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Grab a mask and fins and explore the underwater scenery in San Diego. Popular snorkeling and diving spots include La Jolla Cove, Mission Bay, and Turtle Town. The water's a bit chili, but it's still worth going for a dive or popping on a mask and snorkeling around for a bit.

Martha's Vineyard is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Martha's Vineyard or San Diego Better for Beaches?

San Diego is an amazing coastal city to visit for the beach. Also, Martha's Vineyard is not as popular, but is still a nice island for its beaches.

San Diego offers stunning beaches that attract visitors from around the world. The city has great beaches with tidal pools and interesting sea life at low tide. Adults and kids alike will enjoy hitting the beach when the tides are out and looking for local critters in the tidal pools. Popular beaches in the area include La Jolla Cove Beach, Coronado Beach, and Pacific Beach.

Martha's Vineyard is considered a top beach destination. The beaches are scenic and peaceful. Head to northern side of the island for shallow water, or south for more surf. While there are some public beaches that are open to everyone, there are also beaches that require a parking or town beach permit to visit.

Is Martha's Vineyard or San Diego Better for Hiking?

San Diego is a great coastal city for hiking. Also, Martha's Vineyard is not as popular, but is still a nice island for the nearby hiking options.

Many visitors go to San Diego for the hiking trails. The city is filled with parks and has tons of natural beauty. There is plenty of urban hiking in town, or you can visit more natural areas just out of town. Head to Torrey Pines State Park or Los Penasquitos Canyon Trail for some nice hikes.

Martha's Vineyard is a good destination for hiking. There are miles of trails around the island that pass through fields or along the coastline. The island is mostly flat, so the hikes are relatively easy for all skill levels.

Is the Shopping Better in Martha's Vineyard or San Diego?

Martha's Vineyard is great for its shopping opportunities. Also, San Diego is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for its shopping areas.

Martha's Vineyard is well-known for its shopping. There are no malls, so you'll enjoy shopping at local stores that sell a mix of locally made items and name brand. There are many art galleries as well as craft festivals during the summer months.

Many visitors go to San Diego to go shopping. Head to Fashion Valley or Westfield UTC for some fun shopping. There are suburban shopping malls in the area as well as souvenir shops in the more touristy areas.

Is Martha's Vineyard or San Diego More Beautiful?

Martha's Vineyard is great for its scenery and beauty. Also, San Diego is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for its scenery and beauty.

The beauty of Martha's Vineyard is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. The rugged coastline and rolling hills give this area a natural beauty.

San Diego offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Many people enjoy city's beautiful coastline and surrounding natural beauty.

Is Martha's Vineyard or San Diego Better for Families?

San Diego is an amazing coastal city to visit for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Martha's Vineyard is not as popular, but is still a nice island for its family-friendly activities.

With a huge array of activities for kids, San Diego is very family-friendly. The city is filled with kid-friendly activities that everyone can enjoy. There's the world-class zoo, several amusement parks, the beaches, aquariums, and more. The year-round warm weather makes it easy to spend plenty of time outdoors in parks, playgrounds, and beaches where kids can stretch their legs and run around.

Martha's Vineyard is a family-friendly place to visit. You can visit local farms or go to a local baseball game. There's also cafes, ice cream shops, and donut shops that kids will enjoy.

Is Martha's Vineyard or San Diego Better for Couples?

Martha's Vineyard and San Diego both terrific destinations for a couple.

Martha's Vineyard is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. It's filled with charming bed and breakfasts and plenty of New England charm. Couples will enjoy the quaint restaurants and mix of history, small town charm, and outdoor adventure.

San Diego makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. For adventurous couples, there are many outdoor activities that you can enjoy together. The beaches offer a great playground for adults who enjoy the water and warm weather. There are also restaurants and a great nightlife in San Diego.

Is Martha's Vineyard or San Diego Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

San Diego is a good destination for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Martha's Vineyard is not known for backpackers.

Plenty of backpackers visit San Diego. Backpackers will enjoy the young vibe of the city. There are a few great hostels near the beach or in town.

Martha's Vineyard is not the best destination for backpackers and budget travelers due to its high prices. Budget options are limited, making this an inconvenient destination for backpackers.

Is Martha's Vineyard or San Diego Better for Students?

San Diego is an amazing coastal city to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Martha's Vineyard is not popular with students.

San Diego is a very popular place to visit for students. With its young population and many universities, international students will feel right at home in San Diego. There are also many great outdoor activities for the adventurous.

Martha's Vineyard is not popular with students.

Is Martha's Vineyard or San Diego Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Martha's Vineyard and San Diego both offer decent public transit to get you around.

Public transit is mostly limited in Martha's Vineyard. Access to the island is limited to boat and air. There's a bus service that connects the towns.

Public transit is generally limited in San Diego. The city has a trolley (light rail system) as well as a bus system. Most people depend on cars to get around, and you'll likely enjoy your trip a bit more if you have your own vehicle.

Is Martha's Vineyard or San Diego a more walkable city?

Martha's Vineyard and San Diego are good when it comes to walkability.

Martha's Vineyard is a somewhat walkable island. Many of the towns have walkable downtown areas, but traveling between towns and into the countryside requires a vehicle.

San Diego is somewhat walkable. The downtown area is walkable, but if you want to travel further, you'll need to find a different form of transportation.

For even more information, also check out Is Martha's Vineyard Worth Visiting? and Is San Diego Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in San Diego or Martha's Vineyard?

How long in Martha's Vineyard or San Diego?

In either Martha's Vineyard or San Diego, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in San Diego than Martha's Vineyard because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Martha's Vineyard, and 3-5 days is enough time in San Diego.

Families should spend more time in San Diego than Martha's Vineyard. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in San Diego, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in San Diego than Martha's Vineyard. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in San Diego that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in San Diego than Martha's Vineyard if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in San Diego.

One day in Martha's Vineyard or San Diego?

Even though Martha's Vineyard is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Martha's Vineyard has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

With nightlife and live music around the destination of San Diego, there's plenty to do. It's also a great beach destination, too. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It offers something for everyone.

A weekend in Martha's Vineyard or San Diego?

Martha's Vineyard is a small town where visitors enjoy the shopping and food. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this island has to offer. This island offers a variety of activities to choose from.

With live music and food around the idyllic coastal city of San Diego, there's plenty to do. Your budget might influence how long you stay. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

Five days in Martha's Vineyard or San Diego?

Martha's Vineyard is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. It's also a relaxing resort destination. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

With food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the energetic destination of San Diego, there's plenty to do. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. If you have five days, this coastal city makes for a great vacation. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here.

A week in Martha's Vineyard or San Diego?

Martha's Vineyard is a popular choice for travelers. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

San Diego is a popular choice for travelers. Most people come for the beaches. One of the main draws to the area is the beaches. This coastal city offers a variety of activities to choose from. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Martha's Vineyard and San Diego, we can see that Martha's Vineyard is more expensive. And not only is San Diego much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to San Diego would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Diego and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Martha's Vineyard would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Martha's Vineyard than you might in San Diego.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Martha's Vineyard Expensive? and Is San Diego Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Martha's Vineyard or San Diego?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Martha's Vineyard or San Diego in the Summer?

Both San Diego and Martha's Vineyard are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Martha's Vineyard because of the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to San Diego this time of year.

In July, Martha's Vineyard is generally around the same temperature as San Diego. Daily temperatures in Martha's Vineyard average around 73°F (23°C), and San Diego fluctuates around 71°F (22°C).

It's quite sunny in San Diego. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Martha's Vineyard. Martha's Vineyard usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Diego during summer. Martha's Vineyard gets 293 hours of sunny skies, while San Diego receives 306 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Martha's Vineyard usually receives more rain than San Diego. Martha's Vineyard gets 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain, while San Diego receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Martha's Vineyard or San Diego in the Autumn?

Both San Diego and Martha's Vineyard during the autumn are popular places to visit. The hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Martha's Vineyard this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to San Diego for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

Martha's Vineyard is much colder than San Diego in the autumn. The daily temperature in Martha's Vineyard averages around 53°F (12°C) in October, and San Diego fluctuates around 68°F (20°C).

In San Diego, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Martha's Vineyard. In the autumn, Martha's Vineyard often gets less sunshine than San Diego. Martha's Vineyard gets 211 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Diego receives 244 hours of full sun.

Martha's Vineyard usually gets more rain in October than San Diego. Martha's Vineyard gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while San Diego receives 0.4 inches (9 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Martha's Vineyard or San Diego in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Martha's Vineyard and San Diego. Many travelers come to Martha's Vineyard for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to San Diego in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Martha's Vineyard. In the winter, Martha's Vineyard is much colder than San Diego. Typically, the winter temperatures in Martha's Vineyard in January average around 28°F (-2°C), and San Diego averages at about 57°F (14°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Diego this time of the year. Martha's Vineyard usually receives less sunshine than San Diego during winter. Martha's Vineyard gets 170 hours of sunny skies, while San Diego receives 239 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Martha's Vineyard usually receives more rain than San Diego. Martha's Vineyard gets 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain, while San Diego receives 1.8 inches (46 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Martha's Vineyard or San Diego in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Martha's Vineyard as well as San Diego. Many visitors come to Martha's Vineyard in the spring for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty. Additionally, most visitors come to San Diego for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty during these months.

In April, Martha's Vineyard is generally much colder than San Diego. Daily temperatures in Martha's Vineyard average around 48°F (9°C), and San Diego fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Diego. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Martha's Vineyard this time of the year. In the spring, Martha's Vineyard often gets less sunshine than San Diego. Martha's Vineyard gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Diego receives 277 hours of full sun.

Martha's Vineyard usually gets more rain in April than San Diego. Martha's Vineyard gets 3.7 inches (94 mm) of rain, while San Diego receives 0.8 inches (20 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for San Diego and Martha's Vineyard