San Francisco or Los Angeles? Here's How to Choose

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California dreaming! If you’re stuck with the question, “San Francisco or Los Angeles?” keep reading for my advice on which to choose.

You really can’t go wrong in The Golden State. San Francisco and Los Angeles are two of the most beloved cities in the United States, but not everyone has time to visit both.

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First Things First: A Few Questions to Ask Yourself

picture of the painted ladies houses in san francisco

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One of the easiest ways to narrow down the choice between these two incredible cities is to look within. First, what’s your favorite way to travel — by car or public transportation?

Next, what are the things you love to do when you travel? Do you love entertainment, glitz and glamor and Hollywood, or are you more into a laid-back, mom-and-pop shop feel?

Lastly, what’s your budget?

Write your answers down, then read on for some insights on choosing San Francisco or Los Angeles, and MY opinion below.

San Francisco or Los Angeles: Getting Around

San Francisco offers GREAT public transportation. The Muni and Bart system are well-connected and easy to figure out.

However, you might be surprised that a single ride in SF costs $2.50 using a reloadable Clipper card, but it’s valid for any rides taken within 2 hours, including transfers.

Another great thing about SF is that you can walk pretty much anywhere here. San Francisco is only seven miles long by seven miles wide, which makes it really easy to see a lot in just one day.

In LA, it’s going to be hard to get around without renting a car. Speaking from experience (I’ve lived in LA for nearly 15 years), getting around here using public transportation is quite a feat.

I would always recommend you visit LA with a car.

There is a lot of transit in the city, but it’s going to take a while, and it’s a logistical nightmare.

You really have to know how the trains and buses work; it takes some learning to familiarize yourself with the routes.

MY OPINION: I hate to say it, but it’s pretty obvious that SF wins on this one. The city is just way easier to navigate and get around than Los Angeles, which is so sprawling and also filled with so much traffic. So when it comes to San Francisco or Los Angeles, hands down, SF is the winner in this category!

San Francisco or Los Angeles: Things to Do

Now on the other hand, when it comes to things to do, we might have more of a tie between San Francisco and Los Angeles. This one really comes down to what you like to do.

San Francisco has an abundance of museums, beautiful parks, outdoor art, and of course, the bridges, the most famous of which is the Golden Gate Bridge.

Popular spots for tourists include Alcatraz Island, Fisherman’s Wharf, Lombard Street, Golden Gate Park, the Palace of Fine Arts, the SFMOMA, de Young Museum, Botanical Garden, and so much more, aside from just strolling through charming neighborhoods like Little Italy and Nob Hill.

There are so many things to do in San Francisco, you’ll have a hard time choosing.

If you enjoy the outdoors and hiking, there are also many parks outside the city, like Muir Woods (45 minutes by car), Point Reyes (1.5 hours by car), and Yosemite National Park (4 hours by car).

See availability and pricing for SF tours here.

Los Angeles, on the other hand, still offers a lot to do, but everything is more spread out. If you’re really a film buff, you might prefer LA instead of SF.

There are so many studio tours you can take! Explore Warner Brothers Studios and see the “Friends” fountain, the Central Perk set, and the “Big Bang Theory” set.

You might even see a celebrity as the lot is where current film and TV shows are being filmed, but my guess is it’s highly unlikely.

Also, there’s Disneyland in Anaheim! Which is about an hour drive from Los Angeles and super popular, as you can imagine, among tourists.

Not technically LA, but often included as an essential part of every traveler’s LA trip.

See availability and pricing for studio tours here.

Aside from studio tours, LA, of course, also has fantastic beaches, which SF really can’t beat. Manhattan, Santa Monica, and Malibu are some of the top beaches in the city, so LA is a winner if you’re looking for a classic California beach scene.

On top of the studios and beaches, there’s also museums (LACMA, The Broad, The Getty) and some nice parks, like Griffith and LA State Historic Park in Chinatown.

MY OPINION: If you ask me, I’d say SF is better for tourists, unless you’re really into Hollywood or you really want to be at the beach.

That said, I’ve lived in LA so long that it’s a little hard to see it through fresh eyes sometimes – I’m SO used to everything here, and SF sounds way more fun for a vacation.

All in all, this one is really about what you’re looking for and how you want to spend your time.

San Francisco or Los Angeles: Budget

malibu sport fishing pier signage in neon at night

Now, if you’re still asking yourself, “San Francisco or Los Angeles?” this one might help narrow it down for good — budget.

The great thing about San Francisco is that you can take public transportation or an Uber for a fairly reasonable price. However, most hotels or Airbnbs will cost an arm and a leg to stay within the city.

You could opt to stay outside the city, in Oakland or in other cities along the Peninsula, but what fun would that be? It takes longer to commute into the city, and if you’re just visiting for a few days, the money spent on a hotel will save you time.

Staying in Oakland actually might be just as expensive as staying in the city. Most hotels will cost anywhere from $275-400/night; you’ll likely be able to find an Airbnb for cheaper if you book early.

As for Los Angeles, pricing on hotels will be a bit more flexible because there are so many parts of the city to stay in.

If you opt for a less-popular neighborhood a little farther away from the center, you may be able to save a bit of cash. An Airbnb in Studio City, Sherman Oaks, Encino, Highland Park, Westchester, or Mid-City might come in at a little lower cost, for example, than a hotel in West Hollywood or Downtown.

However, when it comes to LA, you’ll be making up for any savings on accommodation through a car rental and gas expenses, which can really add up.

As far as food, fancy dinners but also cheap eats can be found throughout both cities, so it’s about even there.

MY OPINION: It’s almost a tie, but I’m going to say that you could do San Francisco for cheaper than Los Angeles. In SF, you can save a lot of money by just walking wherever you want to go, if you plan ahead and have the time.

Many sightseeing locations are also free or low cost, like the Golden Gate Bridge.

Ultimately, it really depends on what you’re doing.

If you come to LA, rent a car, stay in Downtown, and go to Universal Studios and Disneyland, LA would be way more expensive.

But you don’t have to do all that stuff, or even rent a car if you don’t mind transit, which would cut down costs a lot.

Overall: Should You Visit San Francisco or Los Angeles?

Well, ideally, you could visit both! Obvious answer, right? They’re each so unique and offer different vibes from one another.

But that’s not the answer you’re probably looking for!

So if it really comes down to it, how are you going to choose between these two beautiful cities? Personally, I’d go with “vibe” and the experience you want to have.

Is driving everywhere going to make you cranky? Pick SF.

Have you been dreaming of visiting Disneyland your whole life? Go with LA.

I know how tough it is to choose San Francisco or Los Angeles, so please leave a comment if you have any questions, and I’ll get back to you with my answer!

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San Francisco or Los Angeles? Here’s How to Choose