A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Cincinnati vs. Santa Barbara for Couples, Attractions, Food, and Families

Should you visit Cincinnati or Santa Barbara?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Cincinnati or Santa Barbara? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Cincinnati

Cincinnati is a authentic, hard-working, and blue collar city. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping. See Cincinnati travel costs.

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is a scenic, stunning, and wealthy coastal town. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. The famous beauty of Santa Barbara is one of the main draws. This destination also has one of those special and quaint feelings. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Santa Barbara travel costs.

Cincinnati and Santa Barbara: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Cincinnati or Santa Barbara?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Santa Barbara than Cincinnati. While Cincinnati is larger than Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Santa Barbara is more touristy than Cincinnati and is known for its historic missions, pristine beaches, world-class surfing, and scenic hikes that are full of coastal views. It is also home to The Old Mission Santa Barbara. Cincinnati is popular for its breweries and down-to-earth personality.

How is Cincinnati different from Santa Barbara?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Santa Barbara and Cincinnati. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Cincinnati or Santa Barbara?

Plenty of people visit the high quality sights and museums in both Cincinnati and Santa Barbara.

Cincinnati offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. You'll find both traditional and quirky museums around town. For outside-the-box, check out the American Sign Museum or the Behringer-Crawford Museum. Art museums include the Cincinnati Art Museum, the Contemporary Arts Center, and the Taft Museum of Art. Other popular museums include the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, and the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal.

Many visitors head to Santa Barbara specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. The city is famous for its missions, with Mission Santa Barbara being the most iconic. Also visit the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and Sea Center.

Is the Food Better in Cincinnati or Santa Barbara? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Santa Barbara is well known for its restaurant scene. Also, Cincinnati is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Santa Barbara. The city is best known for its fine dining, particularly if you enjoy seafood. The scallops, oysters, clam chowder, and sea urchin (when available) are all world class. Head for a waterfront setting for the best views and some of the freshest seafood.

Cincinnati is becoming an appealing option for foodies. Mixed in with the standard chain and fast food options, you'll find some local restaurants that serve up the iconic Midwestern favorites. For a taste of the town, try Cincinnati chili, barbecue ribs, and a corned beef Reuben.

Is Cincinnati or Santa Barbara Better for Nightlife?

Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in Cincinnati and Santa Barbara.

Cincinnati has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The nightlife scene is diverse and includes music venues, breweries, and nightclubs. In addition to the city's downtown, you'll find trendy places to hang out in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. Breweries are popular in the city, in part because of its German roots.

If you're looking for night time activities Santa Barbara has a few options to choose from. For the best nightlife in the city, head downtown to State Street. This is where you'll find the most active bars and biggest crowds. There's a large student population in town, so you'll find much of the nightlife scene is focused on the younger population.

Is Cincinnati or Santa Barbara Better for Resorts?

Santa Barbara is well known for its resorts. However, Cincinnati is not a resort destination.

Santa Barbara is known as a popular and fun resort destination. Many people enjoy the luxurious vacation rentals around Santa Barbara, but there are also a number of high end resorts including the Rosewood Miramar Beach Resort, The Ritz-Carlton, and Hotel Californian.

Cincinnati is not a resort destination.

Is Cincinnati or Santa Barbara Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Santa Barbara is a coastal town with a few options for its diving and snorkeling. However, Cincinnati is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Santa Barbara has a few snorkeling spots. Snorkeling areas not far from town include Refugio State Beach and Tajiguas. You'll see a few fish, beautiful rocks, and anemones that are unique and impressive.

Cincinnati is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Cincinnati or Santa Barbara Better for Beaches?

Santa Barbara is a world-class destination for the beach. However, Cincinnati is not a beach destination.

Travelers come from around the world to visit the beaches in Santa Barbara. The city is famous for its pristine, sandy beaches. Whether you want to enjoy world class surfing or enjoy a gentle ocean setting, Santa Barbara has many options.

Cincinnati is not a beach destination.

Is Cincinnati or Santa Barbara Better for its Old Town?

Santa Barbara is a popular place for its old town. However, Cincinnati does not have a historic old town.

Many people head to Santa Barbara to see the old town. The city's downtown "Old Town" is a high end, pedestrian-friendly area with plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment options.

Cincinnati does not have a historic old town.

Is Cincinnati or Santa Barbara Better for Hiking?

Santa Barbara is a world-class destination for its hiking experiences. However, Cincinnati is not a hiking destination.

People visit Santa Barbara specifically for its hiking, as the natural beauty is well-known. Just outside of town are countless hiking opportunities that offer spectacular ocean views. Popular hikes include Inspiration Point, San Ysidro Trail, and Cold Spring East Fork.

Cincinnati is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Cincinnati or Santa Barbara?

Santa Barbara is a world-class destination for its shopping opportunities. Also, Cincinnati is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

The abundance of shops in Santa Barbara make it a world-class shopping destination. The city is famous as a high end shopping destination. Head to State Street for a palm tree lined street with local boutiques.

Cincinnati has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There are large shopping malls and retail outlets. You'll also find local boutiques in the Montgomery or Mariemont areas.

Is Cincinnati or Santa Barbara More Beautiful?

Santa Barbara is a world-class destination for its scenery and beauty. However, Cincinnati is not a destination known for its beauty.

The famous beauty of Santa Barbara is one of the main draws. The city is beautifully situated right by the ocean and offers stunning views and and an amazing setting. It is also filled with opulent houses and grand estates, giving it an air of grandeur.

Cincinnati is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Cincinnati or Santa Barbara Better for Families?

Santa Barbara is well known for its family-friendly activities. Also, Cincinnati is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Santa Barbara is a very kid-friendly coastal town. The city has some nice family-friendly activities including a zoo, some cool museums, and even whale watching. There are also many beautiful beaches where everyone can run around and play, as well as parks and other outdoor settings. For animal-lovers, there are wildlife centers and sea life opportunities.

Cincinnati offers lots of family activities. There's a surprising number of kid-friendly activities around town like the Cincinnati Zoo, the Cincinnati Museum Center, Newport Aquarium, and Smale Riverfront Park.

Is Cincinnati or Santa Barbara Better for Couples?

Santa Barbara is a world-class destination for its romantic activities. However, Cincinnati is not particularly known for couples.

Santa Barbara makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. The town is a stunningly beautiful destination with beautiful beaches, excellent shopping, and nice resorts that make for a great honeymoon or romantic trip.

Cincinnati is not always the best place to visit for a couple. If you do find yourself in town for a few days, there are several good restaurants and a number of music venues that can keep the visit fun and entertaining.

Is Cincinnati or Santa Barbara Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Cincinnati is a popular place for backpackers. However, Santa Barbara is not a good coastal town for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Cincinnati. There are actually a couple of hostels in town for backpackers or students.

Santa Barbara is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. The city isn't really known as a budget friendly destination, but there are a couple of hostels in the area. There's also a large student population with a fun nightlife scene.

Is Cincinnati or Santa Barbara Better for Students?

Santa Barbara is well known for students. However, Cincinnati is not popular with students.

Santa Barbara is a very popular coastal town for students and younger travelers. With a major university right in town, there's plenty of student life that international students or locals can enjoy.

Cincinnati is not popular with students.

Is Cincinnati or Santa Barbara Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Cincinnati and Santa Barbara.

You'll find some public transit in Cincinnati, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are two bus systems around town - the METRO and TANK bus systems. There's also a streetcar that travels through the downtown.

While Santa Barbara offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. Transit options include buses, trolleys and water taxis.

Is Cincinnati or Santa Barbara a more walkable city?

Cincinnati and Santa Barbara both are high quality when exploring on foot.

Cincinnati is a very walkable city. There are several surprisingly walkable areas, particularly downtown and the nearby neighborhoods.

Santa Barbara is a very walkable destination. The downtown area is very pedestrian-friendly and best explored on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Cincinnati Worth Visiting? and Is Santa Barbara Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Santa Barbara or Cincinnati?

How long in Cincinnati or Santa Barbara?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Cincinnati and Santa Barbara. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Santa Barbara than in Cincinnati. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Cincinnati, and 2-3 days is enough time in Santa Barbara.

Families should spend more time in Santa Barbara than Cincinnati. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Santa Barbara, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Santa Barbara than Cincinnati. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Santa Barbara that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Santa Barbara than Cincinnati if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Santa Barbara.

One day in Cincinnati or Santa Barbara?

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the hard-working destination of Cincinnati. Your budget might influence how long you stay. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then one day is just the right amount of time to spend here.

With museums and nightlife around the scenic coastal town of Santa Barbara, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Cincinnati or Santa Barbara?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Cincinnati. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.

With nightlife and food around the destination of Santa Barbara, there's plenty to do. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this coastal town.

Five days in Cincinnati or Santa Barbara?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the hard-working destination of Cincinnati. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

Santa Barbara, a popular coastal town, is full of activities for travelers. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Cincinnati or Santa Barbara?

You'll find food and shopping around the city of Cincinnati. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Santa Barbara is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, and The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America.

When comparing the travel costs between Cincinnati and Santa Barbara, we can see that Cincinnati is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cincinnati Expensive? and Is Santa Barbara Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Cincinnati or Santa Barbara?

Cincinnati has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Santa Barbara. When comparing the sizes of Cincinnati and Santa Barbara, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Cincinnati or Santa Barbara?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Cincinnati or Santa Barbara in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Cincinnati and Santa Barbara. The summer months attract visitors to Cincinnati because of the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Santa Barbara this time of year.

In the summer, Cincinnati is a little warmer than Santa Barbara. Typically, the summer temperatures in Cincinnati in July average around 79°F (26°C), and Santa Barbara averages at about 65°F (19°C).

In July, Cincinnati usually receives more rain than Santa Barbara. Cincinnati gets 3.5 inches (90 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Cincinnati or Santa Barbara in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Cincinnati as well as Santa Barbara. The shopping scene are the main draw to Cincinnati this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Santa Barbara for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Cincinnati is generally cooler than Santa Barbara. Daily temperatures in Cincinnati average around 58°F (15°C), and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).

Cincinnati usually gets more rain in October than Santa Barbara. Cincinnati gets 2.2 inches (56 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 0.5 inches (13 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Cincinnati or Santa Barbara in the Winter?

Both Santa Barbara and Cincinnati are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Cincinnati for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Santa Barbara in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Cincinnati. Cincinnati is much colder than Santa Barbara in the winter. The daily temperature in Cincinnati averages around 31°F (-0°C) in January, and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).

In January, Cincinnati usually receives less rain than Santa Barbara. Cincinnati gets 2.2 inches (57 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Cincinnati or Santa Barbara in the Spring?

Both Santa Barbara and Cincinnati during the spring are popular places to visit. Also, most visitors come to Santa Barbara for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty during these months.

In the spring, Cincinnati is around the same temperature as Santa Barbara. Typically, the spring temperatures in Cincinnati in April average around 56°F (14°C), and Santa Barbara averages at about 57°F (14°C).

Cincinnati usually gets more rain in April than Santa Barbara. Cincinnati gets 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Santa Barbara and Cincinnati