San Diego on a Budget

From year-round sunshine to stunning beaches to a world-class zoo, San Diego is a bucket list destination for many travelers. However, the price tag that comes with a Southern California vacation can make some potential visitors think twice. Well, guess what… A trip to San Diego doesn’t have to break the bank! Here are some great tips on how to enjoy San Diego on a budget.

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Best Budget Season in San Diego

San Diego doesn’t have much of an off-season. There are, however, some months of the year that are cheaper than others. From October up to the December holidays, and then January to March are our least expensive months. If you’re really looking for that beach vacation, but can’t afford summer prices, try October. We almost always have 70 to 80-degree weather in October, but the tourist rush is over. Not only are prices lower, but everything is less crowded!

Things to do in San Diego on a Budget

There are so many big-ticket items in San Diego, that you could spend thousands if you try to do it all. On the other hand, you don’t want to come here and then feel like you missed out. My best suggestion is to buy the Go San Diego Card. This card offers admission to just about everything in San Diego and the surrounding area. A three-day pass for adults costs about $200 and that gets you into the zoo, the trolley tour, all the Balboa Park museums, the Belmont Park rides, whale watching or harbor cruises, kayak tours, bike rentals, the USS Midway and so much more. Can you do all of that in three days? No, but what you can do will still be far less expensive than if you bought separate admission into everything. Also, the pass lets you skip the line at a lot of these attractions, saving you time. The Go Card offers 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7-day passes.If you look at my suggested itineraries for the Perfect San Diego Vacation, you’ll see that almost everything I mention is included on the Go Card.

Now, if you are REALLY trying to save money, check out my post on 14 Free Things to do in San Diego. You can definitely have an awesome vacation without paying entrance fees to anything. To start with, there’s the beach, which is always free! And you’ll see that there really are a lot of things to do without spending a dime.

Eating on a Budget in San Diego

I’ll let you in on a few secrets: I’m a total Foodie, I live in San Diego, and I love to save money! So, I spend a lot of time seeking out the best cheap eats in our city. Here are some of my favorites:

Taco shops:

There’s so much cheap and delicious Mexican food in San Diego! There are the ubiquitous Adalberto’s and Roberto’s taco shops (note: we call them taco shops or taco stands, but they sell everything – burritos, rolled tacos, quesadillas, etc.) Some other great and inexpensive options are City Tacos, the Taco Stand and Lucha Libre. If you’re willing to venture out a bit from the tourist areas, check out Tacos El Paisa, Tacos El Gordo and my personal favorite (and where you are quite likely to run in to me): TJ Oyster Bar – for amazing fish, shrimp and other seafood tacos.

Food Trucks:

I don’t have enough space to talk about all the different food truck options in San Diego. And it could be difficult for tourists because the trucks not always in the most touristy areas. However, your best option is Food Truck Friday in Balboa Park. Friday evenings you will find at least a dozen food trucks along the Prado in Balboa Park with all types of ethnic food along with things like ice cream and BBQ. It’s a great way to end a day in the park. Also, you can check Yelp or google to see which food trucks are near where you’re staying.

Ramen:

This is a little difficult, because Ramen has gotten so popular that it can end up being a little pricey, depending on where you go. But I still find plenty of places that serve up a filling bowl of ramen for a good price. Izakaya Masa is fantastic, inexpensive and you can get small size ramen, which is nice if you have kids. Ramen Ryoma has three San Diego locations and offers a pretty good sushi menu as well. I’m a big fan of Underbelly, which has Little Italy and North Park locations. If you have a car and don’t mind leaving the tourist areas, Menya Ultra in Clairmont is definitely worth it!

Picnics:

The great thing about being in a town that has almost year-round good weather, is that you can picnic a lot! And honestly, your best budget option for food would be to go to a grocery store and buy picnic food to bring with you wherever you’re going. Anywhere in Balboa Park, along the Embarcadero, in Coronado or Old Town or anywhere on the beach is going to be a great place to picnic. You don’t have to worry about the extra charges for tax and tip in a restaurant and you can eat whenever and wherever you want!

Where to Stay in San Diego on a Budget

I have a whole post on the Best Family Friendly Hotels in San Diego that really outlines where to stay and gives suggestions for hotels at every price point. So I won’t spend too much time on it here, but I have a few suggestions.

Hotels

Your first instinct, when booking a stay in San Diego, might be to stay at the beach. But staying just a little farther inland can save quite a bit of money. My favorite non-beach area to stay and to find an inexpensive hotel is Old Town San Diego. There are lots of restaurants, shops and sites all within walking distance and it is centrally located. Shelter Island is another area that has some budget hotel choices, including some chain hotels that often offer discounts and rewards programs. Shelter Island is on the bay (not the beach), offers great sunsets and has a few restaurants in walking distance. It’s about a 15-minute drive from downtown.

Vacation Rentals:

San Diego has more than its fair share of vacation rentals. Just as with hotels, you’re more likely to find budget deals on rentals away from the beach. There are so many fun neighborhoods to stay in that aren’t coastal in San Diego. Some of my favorites are North Park, South Park, Hillcrest, Bay Park, Old Town and Little Italy. San Diego doesn’t have a whole lot of off-season, but prices are definitely lower in our colder months (minus the holidays).

Getting Around San Diego on a Budget

If you didn’t drive here and don’t want to rent a car, my best suggestion is to stay somewhere along the trolley route. The San Diego Trolley (not to be confused with the Old Town Trolley Tours) will take you downtown – where you can walk to the Embarcadero area, Seaport Village and Little Italy – through Old Town and into Mission Valley. It also goes down to Petco Park if you want to see a ball game or take a tour. A day pass is just $6, and kids under 5 ride free. Schedules and pricing for the trolley and buses are available here.

San Diego really is doable on a budget. I highly recommend the off-season, and I personally enjoy it far more than summer because everything from air fare to hotels is far cheaper. If summer is your only option, I hope some of these tips help you enjoy your stay in America’s Finest City! Check out more of my ideas for a great San Diego vacation in my Local’s Guide.