Which place is cheaper, San Diego or Tucson?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Tucson or San Diego?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Tucson and San Diego can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Tucson or San Diego?
Tucson
Tucson, Arizona, is a vibrant city nestled in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, renowned for its dramatic mountain landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and sunny, dry climate. As a gateway to the American Southwest, Tucson blends a laid-back atmosphere with strong Mexican and Native American influences, creating a unique desert city experience. Its historic neighborhoods feature colorful adobe architecture, lively murals, and a thriving arts scene. Nature lovers are drawn to Tucson for its easy access to saguaro-studded national parks, hiking trails, and breathtaking sunsets. With a strong university presence, the city pulses with youthful energy, affordable entertainment, and a dynamic culinary scene. Budget travelers will appreciate Tucson’s range of low-cost attractions and accessible public spaces, making it an excellent base for exploring both city sights and the nearby wilderness. Whether you’re interested in history, outdoor adventures, or simply soaking up desert vibes, Tucson offers something for every traveler.
San Diego
For many visitors and locals alike, San Diego is a paradise. Located in southern California, not far from Los Angeles, it has the perfect climate, wonderful beaches, and a culturally rich environment. It's surrounded by beautiful landscape and has a strong focus on wildlife conservation and eco-friendly living. Home to about 1.3 million residents, it is California's second largest city. It also has many universities, a large tech industry, and a thriving economy. Despite its size, many people perceive San Diego as a slower, more relaxed city with a pleasant vibe away from the chaos of a large city.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City.
-
Tucson Prices
USA PricesSan Diego Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTucson $184San Diego $233
The average daily cost (per person) in Tucson is $184, while the average daily cost in San Diego is $233. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Tucson and San Diego in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTucson $93San Diego $115
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTucson $186San Diego $230
Compare Hotels in Tucson and San Diego
Looking for a hotel in Tucson or San Diego? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Tucson Hotel Prices and San Diego Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tucson $27San Diego $23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Diego
Also for San Diego, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Tijuana to Tijuana International Airport (TIJ) - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $141
- Tijuana to Tijuana International Airport (TIJ) – Departure Private Transfer: $70
- Tijuana Intl Airport (TIJ) to Playas de Rosarito - Arrival Private Transfer: $276
- Tijuana International Airport (TIJ) to Tijuana hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $70
- Sedan Departure Transfer San Diego to San Diego Airport SAN: $104
- Sedan Arrival Private Transfer San Diego Airport SAN to San Diego: $125
- One Way Airport Hotel Shuttle Transfer: $68
- San Diego hotel/address to San Diego Airport (SAN) - Departure Private Transfer: $65
- San Diego Airport: One-Way Transfer to San Diego downtown: $90
- San Diego Airport (SAN) to San Marcos, CA - Arrival Private Transfer: $66
- San Diego Airport (SAN) to Hot Springs/Ocotillo, CA - Arrival Private Transfer: $66
- Roundtrip Private Transfer from Tijuana Airport (TIJ): $77
Is it cheaper to fly into Tucson or San Diego?
Prices for flights to both San Diego and Tucson change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
-
Food Meals for one dayTucson $63San Diego $77
Typical Food Prices in San Diego
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to San Diego:
-
Mexican Lunch for Two$27
-
Breakfast at Starbucks$20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Diego
For San Diego, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 2-Hour Ravioli Cooking Class With Local Chef: $75
- 2-Hour Pasta Cooking Class at a Local Brewery: $75
- Sushi Making Cooking Class at a Local Brewery in San Diego: $75
- 2 Hour Ravioli Cooking Class With Local Chef in San Diego : $75
- Pizza and Ice Cream Walking Tour: $80
- Old Town Tequila and Tacos Walking Food Tour: $84
- San Diego Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour with Tastings: $85
- North Park San Diego Walking Food Tour: $85
- San Diego Vegan Food Tour: $89
- Vegan Food Tour: $89
- Gaslamp Quarter Food Tour: $89
- Christmas Eve Buffet Brunch or Dinner Cruise: $95
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tucson $16San Diego $48
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Diego
For San Diego, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
-
San Diego Zoo$15
-
Sea World Parking$12
Tours and Activities in San Diego
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Diego.
- Gaslamp Quarter to Little Italy Tour: $39
- Guided Meditation and Mountain Hike Tour in San Diego: $62
- Maritime Museum of San Diego Admission Ticket: $28
- San Diego Gaslamp Quarter Self-Guided Walking Tour: $7.75
- The Coronado Walking Tour: $129
- The La Jolla Walking Tour: $119
- The Little Italy Walking Tour: $99
- 1 Hour GPS Guided Scooter Tour: Harbor/Gaslamp Quarter: $92
- 1.5 Hour Walking Tour from La Jolla in San Diego: $59
- 2-Hour Downtown and Balboa Tour in GPS Guided Vanderhall GoCar: $288
- 2-Hour GoCar Tour of Downtown San Diego and Old Town: $52
- 2-Hour GoCar Tour of Downtown and Balboa Park: $90
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayTucson $16San Diego $21
Sample the Local Flavors in San Diego
Also in San Diego, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt: Slammin' San Diego Bar Crawl: $13
- Downtown Bar Crawl Party Pass: $25
- History Tour Pub Crawl of Famous Gaslamp Quarter: $30
- Hillcrest Drag Queen 5 Bar Crawl with Shots: $45
- Brewery Tour with Tastings and Food Pairings: $85
- $99 Valle de Guadalupe Wine Tours - DayTrip to baja from San Diego: $123
- Little Italy Wine Tasting Walking Tour: $125
- Baja Tour Guide wine tour: $169
- Brewery and Beer Tasting Tour in San Diego: $215
- Valle de Guadalupe Wine Tour: $249
- Private Temecula Wine Tour from Escondido: $300
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tucson and San Diego, we can see that San Diego is more expensive. And not only is Tucson much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Tucson would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tucson 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 San Diego would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Diego than you might in Tucson.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tucson Expensive? and Is San Diego Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tucson or San Diego?
San Diego has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Tucson. When comparing the sizes of Tucson and San Diego, 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.