A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers San Antonio vs. Calgary for Families, Attractions, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit San Antonio or Calgary?

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 San Antonio and Calgary. 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.

San Antonio

San Antonio is a historic, cultural, and colorful city. San Antonio is a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the nightlife, live music, and food. See San Antonio travel costs.

Calgary

Calgary is a western, local, and authentic city. It's also known for nightlife, shopping, and museums. See Calgary travel costs.

San Antonio and Calgary: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in San Antonio or Calgary?

Tourists will generally find more to do in San Antonio than Calgary. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Calgary is more touristy than San Antonio and is known for its farming and oil industries as well as the Calgary Stampede. San Antonio is famous for being the home to the Alamo, the popular RiverWalk area, and several world-class amusement parks. It is also well known for The Alamo.

How is San Antonio different from Calgary?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in San Antonio or Calgary?

San Antonio is well known for its museums and landmarks. Also, Calgary is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into San Antonio. It is known for its role in American history, and the city is famous as the location of the Alamo. It's also where you'll find the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park & Mission Trail, the San Antonio Museum of Art, Witte Museum, and the Guinness World Records Museum, among others.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Calgary. It's worth visiting the Calgary Zoo, Fort Calgary, the Hangar Flight Museum, and Heritage Park, among others.

Is the Food Better in San Antonio or Calgary? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

San Antonio is well known for its restaurant scene. However, Calgary is not particularly known for its local flavors and cuisine.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit San Antonio. You'll find a mix of amazing and authentic Mexican food, simpler Tex Mex, and a number of Hill Country specialties. The city is filled with comfort food and the restaurants reflect the diverse character of the population. Popular local dishes include tacos, sweet potato fries, and chicken fried steak.

Calgary may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. The food scene is constantly evolving and you'll find plenty of casual restaurants. The city is known for its beef, so you should definitely sample a local steak.

Is San Antonio or Calgary Better for Nightlife?

It's hard to distinguish whether San Antonio or Calgary has a better nightlife scene.

San Antonio has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The city's nightlife scene is diverse, with dance halls, breweries, and clubs. It has seen a recent boom in dance clubs, so there are plenty of places to party hard, or to have a more relaxing night out. The RiverWalk is at the heart of the city's nightlife scene, particularly for tourists. Many conferences stay at hotels near the RiverWalk, so it's not uncommon to see professionals out and about after a day of networking.

If you're looking for night time activities Calgary has a few options to choose from. Visitors often head to Stephen Avenue Walk for its bars and pubs. There's also a decent theater scene around town.

Is San Antonio or Calgary Better for Music?

San Antonio is a city with good options for its live music scene. However, Calgary is not a live music destination.

You'll find some good live music in San Antonio. It's worth checking out The Aztec Theater, Sam's Burger Joint, and 502 Bar.

Calgary is not a live music destination.

Is San Antonio or Calgary Better for its Old Town?

San Antonio is a city with good options for its old town. However, Calgary does not have a historic old town.

Many people head to San Antonio to see the old town. The city is famous for its River Walk, which may feel slightly cheesy, but is still a unique and mesmerizing place to wander.

Calgary does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in San Antonio or Calgary?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Calgary and San Antonio.

San Antonio is a great destination for shopping. From souvenir shops to local boutiques and chain stores, there are several shopping options around town. Check out the historic Market Square or the shops at Rivercenter for some of the city's most interesting shopping.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Calgary. There are plenty of independent shops around town as well as some great shopping neighborhoods. Make sure you check out Fourth Street and 17th Avenue. There are also large shopping malls.

Is San Antonio or Calgary More Beautiful?

San Antonio is a city with good options for its scenery and beauty. However, Calgary is not a destination known for its beauty.

San Antonio is a beautiful place to visit, too. The RiverWalk feels almost like a European city and its filled with colors and festiveness.

Calgary is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is San Antonio or Calgary Better for Families?

San Antonio is an unbeatable place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Calgary is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

San Antonio is an extremely popular city to visit for families. The RiverWalk is a fun family-friendly area. There's also Six Flags, SeaWorld and the San Antonio Zoo as well as a number of museums and other amusement parks in the area. It's easy to spend days having a great family vacation in this area and you can combine history, culture, and entertainment all in one setting.

Calgary offers lots of family activities. There are a surprising number of things around town to do with kids such as petting zoos, museums, and even amusement parks. The Calgary Zoo is worth a visit, but also make sure you check out Calaway Park Amusement Park and the Telus Spark science center.

Is San Antonio or Calgary Better for Couples?

San Antonio and Calgary both nice destinations for a couple.

San Antonio is a nice destination for couples. Couples will enjoy taking a boat ride and exploring the many sites around town. The RiverWalk has many restaurants and a great atmosphere for a date night. There's also the botanical gardens and many outdoor spaces to explore.

Calgary makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. You'll find outdoor sports, boat tours, and plenty of great restaurants around town. If you're looking for a low key destination with a great vibe, then this is a great city for a weekend trip.

Is San Antonio or Calgary Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Calgary is a good destination for backpackers. However, San Antonio is a city with minimal options for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of backpackers visit Calgary. A surprising number of backpackers end up passing through town, so you'll find a handful of hostels to choose from.

San Antonio is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. While its not on most backpacker's lists, it does have a fun atmosphere and a social setting.

Is San Antonio or Calgary Better for Students?

San Antonio is a city with good options for students. However, Calgary is not popular with students.

San Antonio is popular with students. There are a couple of colleges in the area. This is also a major conference destination so it's possible to network and meet other professionals.

Calgary is not popular with students.

Is San Antonio or Calgary Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Calgary is a good destination for its public transit. However, San Antonio is a city with minimal options for times when you don't have a car.

You'll find some public transit in Calgary, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. The public transportation system is relatively efficient with both light rail and buses.

Public transit is mostly limited in San Antonio. Buses connect most of the city's tourist attractions, but you'll find life much easier if you have your own car.

Is San Antonio or Calgary a more walkable city?

San Antonio and Calgary both are reasonable when exploring on foot.

San Antonio is generally not very walkable. If you stick to the downtown area you will be fine getting around on foot. Outside of that area, you'll need a car.

Calgary is generally not a very walkable city. While there are a couple of walkable neighborhood's around town, it's definitely not the most walkable city.

For even more information, also check out Is San Antonio Worth Visiting? and Is Calgary Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Calgary or San Antonio?

How long in San Antonio or Calgary?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in San Antonio or Calgary to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in San Antonio than Calgary because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for San Antonio, and 1-2 days is enough time in Calgary.

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

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

One day in San Antonio or Calgary?

In San Antonio, you'll find shopping and museums. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and shopping when visiting the authentic city of Calgary. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A weekend in San Antonio or Calgary?

In San Antonio, you'll find museums and nightlife. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that San Antonio has to offer.

Visitors enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the western destination of Calgary. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Five days in San Antonio or Calgary?

San Antonio is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

The local city of Calgary offers museums and nightlife. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A week in San Antonio or Calgary?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in San Antonio. Many people enjoy the live music and food when visiting San Antonio. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Many people enjoy the nightlife and shopping when visiting Calgary. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Photography Tours in United States of America, The Best Camping Tours in United States of America, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Canada.

When comparing the travel costs between San Antonio and Calgary, we can see that Calgary is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, San Antonio or Calgary?

San Antonio has a larger population, and is about 23% larger than the population of Calgary. When comparing the sizes of San Antonio and Calgary, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.