How much does a trip to San Diego cost in 2026?

Plan on about $286 a day for two people on a budget, $578 mid-range and $935 for a splurge, before flights. For a typical 3-night, 4-day trip, that's about $953, $2,076 and $3,358. Every line item below comes from a published 2025-2026 price, and we show the arithmetic. Your total will move most with the month you travel (see our month-by-month guide) and the neighborhood you sleep in.

How much is a hotel in San Diego per night in 2026?

Expect about $165-$270 a night before tax, depending on the area. CoStar's 12-month averages to August 2025, published by hotel analyst Robert Rauch in Hotel Online, put Mission Valley at $165.36, South/East County at $151.77, the SeaWorld/Old Town/airport area at $203.87, Carlsbad/Oceanside at $207.31, La Jolla at $261.35 and downtown at $269.48. County-wide, the 2025 average was $212 (San Diego Tourism Authority). Summer costs more: June 2026 set a record $234.79 county average, and the federal travel allowance for San Diego jumps from $208 to $249 in June and July (GSA FY2027). Our where-to-stay guide compares the areas.

How much should I budget for food in San Diego?

Budget $40 a person a day eating at taco shops, or about $86 eating at sit-down restaurants. In January 2026, Axios compared California burrito prices and found The Taco Stand at $10.19, Lolita's at $13.45, Rubio's at $13.99, Harry's Taco Club at $15.99 and Lucha Libre at about $16. That's where our budget figure of 3 x $13.45 comes from. The federal per diem for San Diego is $86 a day ($22 breakfast, $23 lunch, $36 dinner, $5 incidentals), which we use for mid-range. Sit-down meals add tips and sometimes surcharges; see how much to tip and restaurant surcharges. For where to eat, see what a California burrito is.

What do transit, a rental car, parking and attractions cost?

• —Transit: $3 one-way on MTS trolley and bus, $7 for an adult day pass, and free for riders 18 and under with a Youth PRONTO account (through June 2027). Pay as you go with PRONTO and your fares stop at the day-pass price. Fares rose on October 1, 2026; see the fare increase and airport to downtown.
• —Rental car: momondo shows small cars at San Diego airport averaging $41 a day ($25 in January), plus the airport's $12-a-day customer facility charge, capped at five days. Rental taxes and fees come on top. First, check whether you need a car.
• —Parking: USS Midway's Navy Pier lot costs $20 for up to six hours and $25 for longer. Downtown hotel valet can reach $70 a night.
• —Attractions: San Diego Zoo is $78 adult and $68 child (3-11), or $73/$63 on online Value Days. USS Midway is $39 adult online or $41 at the door. SeaWorld starts at $59.99 online against $130.99 at the gate, and LEGOLAND starts at $69 online against $139 at the gate. See our Zoo vs Safari Park and Go San Diego pass guides.
• —Free days out: beaches, Balboa Park's gardens and plenty more cost nothing; see free things to do.

How we did the math, and what we left out. We applied the top 15.75% tax rate to every tier; a hotel in an outer zone pays up to 2 points less, about $3-$5 a night on these rates. Each day counts one attraction for two people at mid-range and splurge, and none on a budget. The splurge food figure is our own assumption: double the federal allowance. We left out flights, airport transfers ($3 each on transit), rental-car taxes, sales tax on purchases and restaurant tips. Kids cut the bill: under-19s ride MTS free, and Zoo child tickets are $10 less than adult.