13 tips for seeing San Francisco on a budget

With a well-deserved reputation for being costly, San Francisco and the entire Bay Area regularly top the charts of the USA’s most expensive places to live.

While it’s possible to spend unlimited sums on a visit to SF, there are ways to make your trip more affordable. Discounted flights aren’t hard to find, thanks to plenty of competition, and California’s support of public transit keeps fares reasonably priced and services convenient (at least by US standards). San Francisco is best seen on foot, and the views, neighborhoods and parks – some of the city’s greatest attributes – are all free. San Francisco is also known for its great cheap eats, so you can fill up on something tasty without spending a lot.

While no one will ever call SF a budget destination, there are ways to tame the expense and still have an extraordinary visit. Here’s a guide to daily costs in San Francisco along with our top tips for a budget visit.

Daily costs in San Francisco

Hostel room: $35–60
Basic room for two: $120–250 and up
Self-catering apartment: $150 and up
Public transport ticket: $2.50–3
Coffee: $3–5
Burrito: $8–12
Dinner for two: $80–200 and up
Pint at the bar: $6–9

Know when to go

Unlike destinations more centered on the weather, such as tropical resorts, San Francisco’s high season stretches across the year. Casual tourists are more prolific in the summer and during holidays, but at other times, hundreds of conventions and meetings big and small keep hotel rooms and restaurant seats filled.

Since January in San Francisco can be just as expensive as August (or any other month), you’ll need to take the time to comparison-shop for flights and accommodations across many dates to find bargains. Look for booking sites and apps that show prices in a calendar format so you can see when rates are reduced.

Be flexible with which airport you use

San Francisco’s international airport (SFO) is served by dozens of domestic and international airlines. As such, competition keeps fares reasonable, but it’s always worth checking the cost of flights to Oakland International Airport (OAK) across the bay. It’s only a little more time-consuming to get into the city from OAK, and especially for domestic trips, you may find a cheaper flight…