A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Detroit vs. Santa Cruz for Nightlife, Families, Couples, and Attractions

Should you visit Detroit or Santa Cruz?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Detroit or Santa Cruz, 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.

Detroit

Detroit is a under-rated, hardworking, and overlooked city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for food, shopping, and museums. See Detroit travel costs.

Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is a scenic, laid back, and coastal town. Visitors also love the food, beaches, and hiking. See Santa Cruz travel costs.

Detroit and Santa Cruz: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Detroit or Santa Cruz?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Detroit than Santa Cruz. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Detroit is very popular for its music and big city activities, while Santa Cruz attracts visitors for its beaches and hiking. Santa Cruz is more touristy than Detroit and is popular for its dramatic coastline, fun-filled boardwalk, and beautiful beaches. Detroit is famous for its Motown music, blue collar atmosphere, and influential auto industry. It is also well known for the Henry Ford Experience.

How is Detroit different from Santa Cruz?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Detroit or Santa Cruz?

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Detroit and Santa Cruz.

Detroit offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Popular museums around town include the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Detroit Historical Museum, and the Michigan Science Center.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Santa Cruz. Local museums in town include the Surfing Museum, Seymour Marine Discovery Center, and Santa Cruz Mission.

Is the Food Better in Detroit or Santa Cruz? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dining out at restaurants in both Detroit and Santa Cruz can be an enjoyable experience.

Detroit has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. There's a local flavor to the food with a number of classic dishes that are popular like square pizza, Coney dogs, and corned beef egg rolls.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Santa Cruz area. Sampling local seafood is a top priority for many visitors. Most restaurants have a casual vibe and serve up high quality dishes in a relaxed setting. You'll find cafes, Mexican food, and Italian eateries among other options.

Is Detroit or Santa Cruz Better for Nightlife?

The very good nightlife scene is relatively similar in Detroit and Santa Cruz.

Detroit has a large number of nightlife venues. It's long history in music still influences the nightlife scene. You'll find bars, clubs, and other activities around town. Greektown and Midtown are both popular neighborhoods during the evening.

Santa Cruz is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. You'll find a range of nighttime options around town that include live entertainment, bars, clubs, and even a casino.

Is Detroit or Santa Cruz Better for Music?

Detroit is very popular for live music. However, Santa Cruz is not a live music destination.

Detroit is a world class music destination. Few cities have such an influential music industry. It's home to Motown and is well known for its soul music, jazz, blues, and rap.

Santa Cruz is not a live music destination.

Is Detroit or Santa Cruz Better for Beaches?

Santa Cruz is a very popular place for the beach. However, Detroit is not a beach destination.

You'll have a great beach vacation in Santa Cruz. The beaches are beautiful and fun. Head to Main Beach for the most activity. This is where you'll find the town's boardwalk, which has a historic carousel and several classic amusement rides. For a more peaceful and scenic spot, check out Natural Bridges State Beach or Seacliff State Beach.

Detroit is not a beach destination.

Is Detroit or Santa Cruz Better for Hiking?

Santa Cruz is a nice place to visit for its hiking trails. However, Detroit is not a hiking destination.

Santa Cruz has hiking trails worth exploring. There are several great parks in the area and trails that follow along the rugged coastline or go through the impressive redwood forests.

Detroit is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Detroit or Santa Cruz?

Shoppers can find a variety of nice stores in both Detroit and Santa Cruz.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Detroit. There are several shopping streets like Woodward Avenue. There are also outlet malls, shopping centers, and Eastern Market.

Many visitors go to Santa Cruz to go shopping. Downtown Santa Cruz is where you'll find some of the best shopping.

Is Detroit or Santa Cruz Better for Families?

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

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Santa Cruz is very family-friendly. It's filled with beaches, parks, playgrounds, and museums that kids and adults will enjoy. Highlights for many families include visiting the boardwalk, playing around at Seacliff State Beach, entertaining the kids at Seymour Center at Long Marine Lab, and taking in the beauty at Natural Bridges State Beach.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Detroit. Head to the Detroit Zoo or check out one of the amusement parks in the area. Kids will enjoy a visit to Legoland and there's also the Sea Life Michigan Aquarium. You could also spend some time visiting the unique museums in the area.

Is Detroit or Santa Cruz Better for Couples?

Santa Cruz is a very popular place for its romantic activities. However, Detroit is lacking in good options for couples.

Santa Cruz makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Dining in downtown Santa Cruz, hiking through Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, and relaxing on the beach at Natural Bridges State Beach all make for a romantic getaway.

Detroit is not always the best place to visit for a couple. It's not a city that usually brings to mind romance, but if you find yourself here for a couple of days, there's a RiverWalk area and some interesting local neighborhoods.

Is Detroit or Santa Cruz Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Santa Cruz is a nice place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Detroit is lacking in good options for backpackers.

It's common for backpackers to visit Santa Cruz. There's a laid back vibe that is fun to experience and there's even a hostel in town.

Detroit is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a couple of hostels in the area, but this is still an often overlooked city.

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

Visitors will find reasonable public transit in both Detroit and Santa Cruz.

Public transit is mostly limited in Detroit. There's a streetcar and bus system, but the car is still king in Motor City.

Public transit is generally limited in Santa Cruz. There are buses that travel around town.

Is Detroit or Santa Cruz a more walkable city?

Santa Cruz is an unbeatable place for its high level of walkability. Also, Detroit is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its ease of walking around.

It's very easy to get around on foot in Santa Cruz. It's considered to be one of the most walkable cities in California.

Detroit is a somewhat walkable city. There are parts of downtown Detroit that are walkable, but most people need a car to get around.

For even more information, also check out Is Detroit Worth Visiting? and Is Santa Cruz Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Santa Cruz or Detroit?

How long in Detroit or Santa Cruz?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Detroit or Santa Cruz to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Detroit than Santa Cruz because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Detroit, and 1-2 days is enough time in Santa Cruz.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Santa Cruz than Detroit 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 Cruz.

One day in Detroit or Santa Cruz?

With live music and food around the hardworking city of Detroit, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. One of the main draws to the area is the live music. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Detroit, one day is sufficent for most.

In Santa Cruz, you'll find nightlife and food. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. This town offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A weekend in Detroit or Santa Cruz?

With food and shopping around the destination of Detroit, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. One of the main draws to the area is the live music. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

In Santa Cruz, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Most people come for the beaches. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Santa Cruz has to offer.

Five days in Detroit or Santa Cruz?

Detroit, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Santa Cruz is a great place to explore. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Detroit or Santa Cruz?

Detroit is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One of the main draws to the area is the live music. 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Santa Cruz. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Santa Cruz. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America, The Best Coach Bus Tours in United States of America, The Best Adventure Tours to United States of America, and The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America.

When comparing the travel costs between Detroit and Santa Cruz, we can see that Detroit 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 Detroit Expensive? and Is Santa Cruz Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Detroit or Santa Cruz?

Detroit has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Santa Cruz. When comparing the sizes of Detroit and Santa Cruz, 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 Detroit or Santa Cruz?

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 Detroit or Santa Cruz in the Summer?

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

In July, Detroit is generally a little warmer than Santa Cruz. Daily temperatures in Detroit average around 74°F (24°C), and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 67°F (19°C).

Detroit usually gets more rain in July than Santa Cruz. Detroit gets 3.4 inches (85 mm) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 0.1 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Detroit or Santa Cruz in the Autumn?

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

Detroit is cooler than Santa Cruz in the autumn. The daily temperature in Detroit averages around 54°F (12°C) in October, and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).

In October, Detroit usually receives more rain than Santa Cruz. Detroit gets 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Detroit or Santa Cruz in the Winter?

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

The weather in Detroit can be very cold. In the winter, Detroit is much colder than Santa Cruz. Typically, the winter temperatures in Detroit in January average around 25°F (-4°C), and Santa Cruz averages at about 51°F (10°C).

Detroit usually gets less rain in January than Santa Cruz. Detroit gets 2 inches (50 mm) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Detroit or Santa Cruz in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Detroit and Santa Cruz. The activities around the city are the main draw to Detroit this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Santa Cruz for the beaches.

In April, Detroit is generally much colder than Santa Cruz. Daily temperatures in Detroit average around 49°F (9°C), and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).

In April, Detroit usually receives more rain than Santa Cruz. Detroit gets 3.2 inches (80 mm) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 1 inches (26 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Santa Cruz and Detroit