San Francisco on a Budget – How to Eat, Stay, & Do It Cheaply

👉 Jump to: Where to Stay | Cheap & Free Things to Do | Cheap Eats | Tips | FAQs

San Francisco can seem like one of the most expensive cities in the world — but it doesn’t have to be. 

I’ve lived in San Francisco on a very tight budget for the past four years. I don’t work in tech, so I know firsthand how crazy some of the city’s pricing can seem to people without six-figure salaries.

This might seem crazy, but I believe San Francisco is one of the best U.S. cities for budget travel because so many of the city’s top attractions are free. In this guide, I’ll give you the full scoop on my favorite local tips for traveling to San Francisco on a budget. Read on! 

Where to Stay in SF on a Budget

The key to finding cheap accommodation in San Francisco is staying in areas with more youth hostels or casual motels. 

North Beach

Best Area For Young Travelers | 👉 Browse North Beach hotels on Booking

✨ Best North Beach Hotel: Green Tortoise Hostel 

North Beach doesn’t have a lot of accommodation options, but it’s the best neighborhood for finding some of San Francisco’s highest-rated youth hostels. It’s a very young and hip neighborhood with live music at many of the city’s best bars. 

It also has great affordable food options. North Beach is SF’s Italian neighborhood, so cheap pizza slices are available around every corner. It’s also right across the street from Chinatown, where you can usually find affordable dim sum or small bites for less than $10 per person. 

Union Square

Best Area For Couples or Families | 👉 Browse Union Square hotels on Booking

✨ Best Union Square Hotel: King George

Union Square is San Francisco’s primary hotel neighborhood. You’ll be able to find a good mix of boutique, affordable hotels mixed in with all of the more high-end options. This is a great option for families who want an affordable room in a proper hotel, not just a dorm bed in a hostel. 

Union Square is centrally located to many tourist attractions, so you’ll easily save money on transportation costs. It’s also central to all of the public transportation options in SF, like BART, Muni, or the cable cars. 

However, because Union Square is the main tourist hub, food and drink tend to be pricier here. I’d recommend popping into another nearby neighborhood like Lower Nob Hill or Civic Center for more affordable bars or dinner spots. 

Marina District

Best Area For Budget That Feels Fancy | 👉 Browse Marina District hotels on Booking

✨ Best Marina District Hotel: Travelodge by Wyndham San Francisco Bay  

At first glance, the Marina might not seem like an affordable spot. Luxurious houses, upscale boutiques, and trendy wine bars seem to be around every corner — not to mention the collection of small yachts in the neighborhood harbor. 

But there’s a surprising collection of budget-friendly motels lining the main strip. So if you want to save on accommodation but still get all the perks of luxury San Francisco living, the Marina is for you. 

Most of the main attractions in the Marina are free, like the Palace of Fine Arts and Crissy Field Beach. And those excellent waterfront views of the Golden Gate Bridge? Also free! 

9 Cheap & Free Things to Do in SF

Walk the Golden Gate Bridge

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (415) 921-5858 | Website | Hours: sunrise – sunset daily | Entrance: free

Great news, budget travelers — the #1 thing to do in San Francisco is completely free! Walking across the Golden Gate Bridge is a rite of passage for all San Francisco visitors. While cars need to pay to cross the bridge, you can walk or bike across for free. 

When you walk the bridge, you’ll get stunning views of the SF skyline, the Pacific Ocean, the Marin headlands, Alcatraz Island, and more. Make sure you wear your best walking shoes and bring a light jacket, as it may get windy.

Golden Gate Park

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (415) 831-2700 | Website | Hours: 24 hours | Entrance: free 

Golden Gate Park is San Francisco’s largest park, and it’s absolutely amazing. It’s my personal favorite place in the city. 

The park is huge, and you could easily spend a full day here exploring all the areas. Several of the more famous gardens or museums cost money to enter, but there are also plenty of free attractions. 

Some of the best free things to do in Golden Gate Park include sunbathing in Robin Williams Meadow, viewing a herd of American bison at the Bison Paddock, or admiring seasonal tulip meadows (and the iconic Dutch windmill) at the Queen Wilhelmina Garden. 

📚 Related Reading: My Ultimate Guide to Golden Gate Park

Ride a Cable Car & Visit the Cable Car Museum

📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: 10 am – 4 pm Tues-Thurs, 10 am – 5 pm Fri-Sun, closed Mondays | Entrance: $8 for the cable car, free entrance at museum

SF’s cable cars are world-famous. It’s a charming part of our city’s public transportation, and it’s only $8 a ride. The ride takes you up and down SF’s hills while giving you stunning views over the water and downtown. I’d highly recommend it! 

You can also visit the Cable Car Museum, which is completely free. It’s located right near the main cable car routes and gives a thorough history of the cable cars in San Francisco. 

Baker Beach

📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: sunrise – sunset daily | Entrance: free 

San Francisco is blessed with several different beaches, but Baker is hands-down the best. It has some of the best Golden Gate Bridge views in the city, a mile of soft sand to hang out on, and gently rolling waves.

Parking is totally free, and there’s plenty of it. After a stroll at the beach, check out the nearby Batteries to Bluffs hiking trail for even more free views.

Alamo Square Park

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (415) 218-0259 | Website | Hours: 5 pm – 12 am daily | Entrance: free

Alamo Square is my go-to spot to sit and just enjoy the view. It’s home to the Painted Ladies, SF’s most famous row of picturesque Victorian houses. 

You don’t have to pay anything to enter Alamo Square, but I’d recommend buying some snacks or drinks to bring to the park to really enjoy your time. Or you can buy a small coffee from the coffee truck that sits in the park. There are also several walking paths and a tennis court that’s free to use.  

Hike to Twin Peaks

📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: 5 am – 12 am daily | Entrance: free

Twin Peaks is one of the best viewpoints in San Francisco. Go about an hour before sunset for the best lighting. You’ll get some incredible views of the city and won’t need to pay anything for it! 

You can hike to Twin Peaks — it’s about one mile to the top, but it’s pretty steep. You can also drive right to the top, and there are a few small parking areas. Just be sure to remove all valuables from your car, as this is a hotspot for car break-ins. 

Pier 39

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (415) 705-5500 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 10 pm daily | Entrance: free

Pier 39 is one of SF’s most popular attractions on the waterfront. It’s a pedestrian-only pier with carnival games, souvenir shops, and restaurants. And it’s free to enter! 

However, food and shops can be pricey because it’s such a touristy spot. For the best budget experience, I’d recommend getting food elsewhere and going to Pier 39 to walk around. You can look at the resident sea lion colony that calls the pier home, admire old ships, and enjoy the carnival-style ambiance, all without dropping a dime. 

Lombard Street

📍 Google Maps | Hours: 24/7 | Entrance: free

Lombard Street has been called the “crooked-est street in the world.” You can walk or drive down it while getting gorgeous views of the surrounding hills and neighborhoods. It can get pretty crowded, so go in the morning or on a weekday for the best experience. 

Mission Dolores Park

📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: 6 am – 10 pm daily | Entrance: free

Going to Dolores Park on a weekend is the best way to experience authentic San Francisco. Away from the hubbub of downtown, this sunny patch in the Mission District is a gathering spot for locals of all ages and backgrounds. 

Pack a picnic blanket and stretch out with palm trees swaying, Latin music playing, and picturesque views of downtown in the distance. The only thing you’ll need to pay for is the burrito you’ll most likely be craving by lunchtime — the Mission District is home to SF’s best taquerias, after all. 

Speaking of which…

Cheap Eats in San Francisco

These are the best spots where you can get a filling meal for less than $15. 

Eddie’s Cafe

American Diner

📍 Google Maps | Website | Price Range: ($)

If Eddie’s has a fan club, count me in. I love this place. 

Eddie’s is family-owned, with super fast service and a no-nonsense menu. They serve breakfast and lunch all day, but close by 3 pm. 

They have great deals on combo plates (3 pancakes, 2 eggs, and 2 sausages for just $15) or a la carte items (short stack of pancakes for $10). They also give free refills on coffee. I haven’t tried any of their lunch items, like hamburgers or sandwiches, but their breakfast is fantastic. 

Cantoo

Chinese-Venezuelan

📍 Google Maps | Website | Price Range: ($)

One of San Francisco’s best new restaurants is Cantoo, an Asian fusion joint that opened in 2022. It’s a surprisingly delicious combination of Venezuelan and Chinese cuisine, with quality ingredients and flavor. 

At Cantoo, you can get a full meal without breaking the bank. The rotisserie chicken with fried rice and coleslaw is less than $10. 

Panchita’s Pupuseria

Salvadoran

📍 Google Maps | Website | Price Range: ($)

Panchita’s is a Mission District icon. This family-run restaurant has been serving up delicious Salvadoran food since 1989. 

The main staple here is pupusas. There are 15 different varieties, and you can get one for $5 or two for $8. For the best deal, get a combo plate — 2 pupusas with rice and beans for just $10. 

Red’s Java House

American

📍 Google Maps | Website | Price Range: ($)

Want a waterfront meal that won’t break the bank? Go to Red’s. 

They serve high-quality burgers, hot dogs, and a variety of daily special sandwiches, all ranging between $7-15. You can eat on their sunny back patio, which is right on the water with a view of the Bay Bridge. 

The most expensive thing on their menu is a double cheeseburger, fries, and locally brewed IPA combo for only $22. For reference, I typically pay $30 for that exact meal at most other SF restaurants. 

In-N-Out Burger

Burgers

📍 Google Maps | Website | Price Range: ($)

In-N-Out may be a fast food chain, but that doesn’t stop me from frequenting their Fisherman’s Wharf location anytime I’m craving a $6 burger and fries. 

For visitors to San Francisco who haven’t had In-N-Out, you have to try it. They operate primarily in California, so it’s a right of passage for first-time visitors. They only serve burgers, fries, and milkshakes, but they’re seriously delicious and super affordable.

Souvla

Greek

📍 Google Maps | Website | Price Range: ($-$$)

Souvla is my go-to for cheap souvlaki-style Greek food but with a California twist. They serve lamb, pork, chicken, and vegetarian sandwiches or salads for just $15. They have 5 locations throughout San Francisco, so they’re pretty easy to find. 

The sandwiches are super filling, but the fresh and healthy ingredients (like cherry tomatoes, navel oranges, toasted walnuts, or roasted sweet potato) provide a delightfully light take on a typical souvlaki experience. Don’t miss the Greek fries. 

Saigon Sandwich

Vietnamese

📍 Google Maps | Website | Price Range: ($)

In a city where sandwiches often cost upwards of $16, Saigon Sandwich is a breath of fresh air. This Vietnamese hotspot serves up meat and tofu Banh Mi for less than $6 a sandwich. 

Saigon Sandwich is hidden behind an unassuming storefront in the Tenderloin neighborhood, but it’s consistently shortlisted as one of the best places for Banh Mi in the city. Food is takeaway only, so it’s a great spot for a quick bite. 

El Farolito

Burritos

📍 Google Maps | Website | Price Range: ($)

Many people will debate the location of the best burritos in San Francisco, but the most affordable burritos are at El Farolito in the Mission District. 

El Farolito burritos are top-notch, and you get a lot of bang for your buck. A super burrito is under $10, and tacos are $3.75 apiece. 

6 Tips to Do San Francisco on a Budget

Take advantage of happy hour deals.

Eating and drinking out in SF can get pricey. If you’re set on trying a specific bar or restaurant, go during happy hour to get the best price. Not all restaurants will have happy hour deals, but many of them do! 

For example, I like to eat oysters, but they can get crazy expensive — typically $3 per oyster. Bar Crudo has $1 oysters from 5-6:30 pm Tuesday – Saturday. $12 for a dozen oysters compared to $36? Count me in. 

Buy a Clipper Card for public transportation.

Utilizing San Francisco’s public transportation is the best way to save money on getting around. 

BART trains take you from the city to the suburbs, while Muni operates intercity buses, streetcars, and light rail trams. A Muni ride costs $2.75 for a single ride no matter the distance, while BART pricing varies by trip distance and will usually be more expensive. 

Planning on using public transportation for longer than 1-2 days? I would highly recommend buying a Clipper Card. Clipper works on every single public transportation system in SF. Especially if you want to visit popular SF day trips like Angel Island or Muir Woods — a Clipper Card will get you half-priced tickets for the ferry ride! 

Find “free hours” at popular attractions.

Several of San Francisco’s popular attractions, like gardens or museums, have free hours or free days. 

The Japanese Tea Garden, usually $18.75 entry, is completely free between 9-10 am on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The de Young and Legion of Honor art museums are free on the first Tuesday of each month. 

Visit during one of San Francisco’s free festivals.

One of the best parts of living in San Francisco is the sheer amount of totally free festivals and events that happen year-round! 

Some of the best ones are:

• ✈️ Fleet Week — A weeklong airplane show in mid-October with the Blue Angels. 

• 🪕 Hardly Strictly Bluegrass — A 3-day bluegrass and rock festival in Golden Gate Park the first weekend of October, featuring world-famous acts. 

• 🎤 Stern Grove Festival — A series of free concerts in the park every Saturday from June to September. 

Explore the city by Lyft bike.

Lyft operates rentable bike stations all around the city. To unlock the bike, you just need the Lyft app. Then you can ride it for however long you want and drop it off at another bike station when you’re done! 

Manual bikes are super cheap, and usually free for a less than 30-minute ride. E-bikes are useful for tackling San Francisco’s notorious hills, but they’re much more expensive – usually $7-10 for a 30-minute ride. 

Purchase a San Francisco CityPASS.

If you’re planning on visiting some of SF’s pricier attractions, then consider buying a CityPASS. 

With the San Francisco CityPASS, you can do a boat cruise on the Bay and visit the California Academy of Sciences, plus two more attractions. Choose from the SF Zoo, the Museum of Modern Art, the Exploratorium, and more. You’ll visit 4 of San Francisco’s most popular attractions for nearly half the total cost. 

Common Questions About Visiting San Francisco on a Budget

How much is a reasonable budget for visiting San Francisco?

A reasonable budget for one person visiting San Francisco would be $60-150 per night on accommodation, $50-60 per day on food and drink, and $10-30 per day on activities and transportation. This adds up to about $120-250 per person per day. 

How expensive is accommodation in San Francisco?

Accommodation in San Francisco is around $50-70 for a hostel bed in a dorm room, $150-200 for a budget hotel room, or $250+ for a more upscale hotel room. 

How expensive is food and drink in San Francisco? 

Food in San Francisco is typically $10-15 for a quick meal or $30 for a sit-down meal at a restaurant. Drinks are typically $8-10 for a beer, $15 for a glass of wine, and $20 for a cocktail. 

How much should you tip in San Francisco? 

You should tip 18-20% minimum at a restaurant in San Francisco. 

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Enjoy your budget-friendly trip to San Francisco! Next up, check out our tips for staying safe in SF.