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

Should you visit Cleveland or Santa Barbara?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Cleveland or Santa Barbara, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Cleveland

Cleveland is a authentic, under-rated, and diverse city. Other popular activities here include nightlife, live music, and shopping. See Cleveland travel costs.

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is a affluent, scenic, and stunning coastal town. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Santa Barbara is considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. This is a quaint and attractive place to visit, too. Other reasons to visit include hiking, shopping, and museums. See Santa Barbara travel costs.

Cleveland and Santa Barbara: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Cleveland or Santa Barbara?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Santa Barbara than Cleveland. While Cleveland is larger than Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara has more sights and attractions for tourists. Santa Barbara is better known for its food, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, historical sights, hiking, shopping, big city activities, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Cleveland is more popular for its music. Santa Barbara is more touristy than Cleveland and is popular for its historic missions, pristine beaches, world-class surfing, and scenic hikes that are full of coastal views. Also, Santa Barbara is famous for The Old Mission Santa Barbara. Cleveland is well known for being the home to "rock 'n roll" as well as its friendly and hard working people.

How is Cleveland different from Santa Barbara?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Spend time exploring the very good sights and museums in either Cleveland or Santa Barbara.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Cleveland can be an interesting and educational experience. There are diverse museums around town such as the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art (moCa), and the Great Lakes Science Center. Music lovers will appreciate a visit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Santa Barbara. 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 Cleveland or Santa Barbara? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Santa Barbara is a very popular place for its restaurants. However, Cleveland is lacking in good options for its restaurant scene.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in 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.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Cleveland. Casual dining with comfort food is the way most residents prefer to eat. There are local foods that have made a name for themselves such as gourmet hot dogs and deli sandwiches. The food is also influenced by the city's German, Irish, Polish, and Italian roots. Pierogis, bratwurst, and chicken paprikash are all common.

Is Cleveland or Santa Barbara Better for Nightlife?

The notable nightlife scene is relatively similar in Cleveland and Santa Barbara.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Cleveland. Breweries have become a popular nighttime activity. There are also comedy clubs, music venues, and several theaters.

Santa Barbara has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. 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 Cleveland or Santa Barbara Better for Music?

Cleveland is a well-known place for its music scene. However, Santa Barbara is not a live music destination.

The music scene in Cleveland is very popular with diverse venues. Home to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, it has long been a destination for music enthusiasts. There are many independent music venues and it's the perfect place to catch a show.

Santa Barbara is not a live music destination.

Is Cleveland or Santa Barbara Better for Resorts?

Santa Barbara is a very popular place for its luxury resorts. However, Cleveland is not a resort destination.

Santa Barbara is a popular resort destination that attracts visitors from everywhere. 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.

Cleveland is not a resort destination.

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

Santa Barbara is a decent place to visit for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Cleveland is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

It's possible to go snorkeling in Santa Barbara. 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.

Cleveland is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Cleveland or Santa Barbara Better for Beaches?

Santa Barbara is an amazing coastal town to visit for its beaches. However, Cleveland is not a beach destination.

The beaches in Santa Barbara are among the best in the world. 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.

Cleveland is not a beach destination.

Is Cleveland or Santa Barbara Better for its Old Town?

Santa Barbara is a nice place to visit for its historic old town. However, Cleveland does not have a historic old town.

Santa Barbara is a good destination for visiting its old town. The city's downtown "Old Town" is a high end, pedestrian-friendly area with plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment options.

Cleveland does not have a historic old town.

Is Cleveland or Santa Barbara Better for Hiking?

Santa Barbara is an amazing coastal town to visit for its hiking trails. However, Cleveland is not a hiking destination.

Known for its hiking, Santa Barbara draws a crowd to experience the nature and the trails. 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.

Cleveland is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Cleveland or Santa Barbara?

Santa Barbara is an amazing coastal town to visit for shopping. Also, Cleveland is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping opportunities.

People travel from around the world to go shopping in Santa Barbara. The city is famous as a high end shopping destination. Head to State Street for a palm tree lined street with local boutiques.

Cleveland offers some nice shopping areas. Large shopping malls offer plenty of selection. There's also West Side Market, which is the oldest public market in the city. Other interesting shopping areas include Little Italy and the Cleveland Flea.

Is Cleveland or Santa Barbara More Beautiful?

Santa Barbara is an amazing coastal town to visit for its scenery and beauty. However, Cleveland is not a destination known for its beauty.

Santa Barbara is considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. 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.

Cleveland is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Cleveland or Santa Barbara Better for Families?

Santa Barbara is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Cleveland is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Santa Barbara is a very family-friendly destination. 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.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Cleveland. Kid-friendly activities in the area include the Children’s Museum of Cleveland, the Great Lakes Science Center, and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. There's also the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo as well as the smaller Akron Zoo.

Is Cleveland or Santa Barbara Better for Couples?

Santa Barbara is an amazing coastal town to visit for romance. However, Cleveland is lacking in good options for its romantic activities.

Santa Barbara has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. The town is a stunningly beautiful destination with beautiful beaches, excellent shopping, and nice resorts that make for a great honeymoon or romantic trip.

Most people don't think of Cleveland as a couple's destination. There are several romantic date night activities like boat rides on Lake Erie or dining at a nice restaurant.

Is Cleveland or Santa Barbara Better for Students?

Santa Barbara is a very popular place for its student-friendly activities. However, Cleveland is not popular with students.

Santa Barbara is a great coastal town to visit as a student. With a major university right in town, there's plenty of student life that international students or locals can enjoy.

Cleveland is not popular with students.

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

Santa Barbara is a nice place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Cleveland is lacking in good options for its public transit.

Santa Barbara has some public transit options. Transit options include buses, trolleys and water taxis.

Public transit is generally limited in Cleveland. There are bus, trolley, and train lines through the city, but a car is the most efficient way to get around.

Is Cleveland or Santa Barbara a more walkable city?

Santa Barbara is a very popular place for its walkability. However, Cleveland is lacking in good options for its high level of walkability.

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

Cleveland is generally not very walkable. While some neighborhoods are more walkable than others (Downtown, Ohio City and Buckeye - Shaker), most visitors need a car to easily access everything they wish to do.

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

Should I spend more time in Santa Barbara or Cleveland?

How long in Cleveland or Santa Barbara?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Cleveland and Santa Barbara. In our opinion, Santa Barbara has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Santa Barbara than Cleveland. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Cleveland, and 2-3 days is enough time in Santa Barbara.

Families should spend more time in Santa Barbara than Cleveland. 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 Cleveland. 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 Cleveland 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 Cleveland or Santa Barbara?

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the under-rated destination of Cleveland. 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.

You'll find shopping and museums around the coastal town of Santa Barbara. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Cleveland or Santa Barbara?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Cleveland. 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.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the pristine destination of Santa Barbara. Hikers are also drawn to this area. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this coastal town has to offer. This coastal town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Cleveland or Santa Barbara?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the diverse destination of Cleveland. 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.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the wealthy coastal town of Santa Barbara. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. It's also a relaxing resort destination. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Cleveland or Santa Barbara?

You'll find live music and shopping around the city of Cleveland. 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 choice for travelers. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. One week 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America, The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cleveland and Santa Barbara, we can see that Santa Barbara is more expensive. And not only is Cleveland much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cleveland would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cleveland and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Santa Barbara would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santa Barbara than you might in Cleveland.

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

Which is Bigger, Cleveland or Santa Barbara?

Cleveland has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Santa Barbara. When comparing the sizes of Cleveland 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 Cleveland or Santa Barbara?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Cleveland or Santa Barbara in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Cleveland as well as Santa Barbara. Many visitors come to Cleveland in the summer for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, most visitors come to Santa Barbara for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Cleveland is generally a little warmer than Santa Barbara. Daily temperatures in Cleveland average around 75°F (24°C), and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 65°F (19°C).

Cleveland receives a lot of rain in the summer. Cleveland usually gets more rain in July than Santa Barbara. Cleveland gets 4 inches (101 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Cleveland or Santa Barbara in the Autumn?

Both Santa Barbara and Cleveland are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Cleveland for the shopping scene and the music scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Santa Barbara because of the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

Cleveland is cooler than Santa Barbara in the autumn. The daily temperature in Cleveland averages around 56°F (13°C) in October, and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).

In October, Cleveland usually receives more rain than Santa Barbara. Cleveland gets 1.9 inches (49 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 0.5 inches (13 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Cleveland or Santa Barbara in the Winter?

Both Santa Barbara and Cleveland during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Cleveland because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Santa Barbara this time of year.

The weather in Cleveland can be very cold. In the winter, Cleveland is much colder than Santa Barbara. Typically, the winter temperatures in Cleveland in January average around 28°F (-2°C), and Santa Barbara averages at about 52°F (11°C).

Cleveland usually gets less rain in January than Santa Barbara. Cleveland gets 1.5 inches (39 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Cleveland or Santa Barbara in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Cleveland and Santa Barbara. Also, many travelers come to Santa Barbara for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.

In April, Cleveland is generally cooler than Santa Barbara. Daily temperatures in Cleveland average around 51°F (10°C), and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).

In April, Cleveland usually receives more rain than Santa Barbara. Cleveland gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Santa Barbara and Cleveland