A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Durham vs. Saskatoon for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Durham or Saskatoon?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Durham and Saskatoon can help you decide which place is right for you.

Durham

Durham is a sports oriented, diverse, and student-filled city. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping. See Durham travel costs.

Saskatoon

Saskatoon is a authentic, cultural, and friendly city. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping. See Saskatoon travel costs.

Durham and Saskatoon: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Durham or Saskatoon?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Durham. Although Durham and Saskatoon are about the same size, Durham has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Durham is popular for its college town vibe as well as being the home of the famous Blue Devil basketball team. It is also home to the Duke University Chapel. Saskatoon is popular for its agriculture and outdoor spaces.

How is Durham different from Saskatoon?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Durham or Saskatoon?

Durham is a well-known place for its sights and museums. Also, Saskatoon is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Durham. Duke University is one of the most popular destinations in town. There are several museums on campus as well as the famous Duke Chapel. Elsewhere in Durham there's the Durham Museum of Life and Science.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Saskatoon. There are some museums and historical sites to check out such as Fort Battleford National Historic Site, Batoche National Historic Site, and the Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre.

Is the Food Better in Durham or Saskatoon? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Durham and Saskatoon can be difficult as they are each good in their own way.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Durham area. Barbecue is a favorite around town. You'll also find plenty of restaurants that cater to the student population, particularly along Nineth Street near Duke's campus.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Saskatoon. There's a great food scene around town with diverse restaurants and cuisines to choose from. You can sample dim sum, Mexican, Middle Eastern, Indian, and many more.

Is Durham or Saskatoon Better for Nightlife?

Both Durham and Saskatoon are good when it comes to partying.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Durham. The younger population tends to hang out near campus and along Nineth Street. If you're looking for something less student oriented, head to downtown Durham.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Saskatoon. There are enough clubs and bars around town to keep things entertaining. Most cater to a younger crowd, but the vibe is fun and full of energy.

Is the Shopping Better in Durham or Saskatoon?

Both Durham and Saskatoon are good shopping destinations.

Many visitors go to Durham to go shopping. The Streets of Southpoint is the best mall in the area. Other shopping areas include Brightleaf Square and Nineth Street.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Saskatoon. A number of brands have opened stores in the downtown area in recent years, so the shopping scene continues to grow and diversify.

Is Durham or Saskatoon Better for Families?

You'll find good kid-friendly activities in either Durham or Saskatoon.

Durham is a family-friendly place to visit. A highlight for kids is a visit to the Durham Museum of Life and Science. It has both an indoor and an outdoor section and brings science to life for families. There's also an impressive playground and climbing area. Other activities in town include the Notasium and Eno River State Park. If you plan ahead you could also organize a trip to the Duke Lemur Center.

Saskatoon is a family-friendly city. It's filled with indoor and outdoor play areas. Make sure you check out the Nutrien Wonderhub as well as the countless playgrounds around town.

Is Durham or Saskatoon Better for Couples?

Both Durham and Saskatoon are good destinations to visit as a couple.

Durham is a good city for couples to visit. Have a picnic at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens or spend the day hiking at Eno River State Park. In the evening there's a wonderful selection of restaurants around town. Then you can check out a show at the Durham Performing Arts Center or see a Durham Bulls game.

Saskatoon is a nice destination for couples. There are plenty of evening activities like dining out at a nice restaurant or taking in a show at the Persephone Theatre.

Is Durham or Saskatoon Better for Students?

Durham is a well-known place for students. However, Saskatoon is not popular with students.

Many students visit Durham. Duke University has a stunning campus with a world class garden. There's also nearby Nineth Street, which has shops, restaurants, and bars that are geared toward the student population.

Saskatoon is not popular with students.

Is Durham or Saskatoon Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Durham and Saskatoon offer decent public transit options.

Public transit is generally limited in Durham. There are buses around town, but you really need a car to explore the area.

Public transit is mostly limited in Saskatoon. There is a bus system around town.

Is Durham or Saskatoon a more walkable city?

Saskatoon is very good for its ease of walking around. However, Durham is not a good city for its walkability.

Saskatoon is a somewhat walkable city. The downtown is walkable and easy to explore on foot.

Durham is generally not a very walkable city. Downtown Durham and a few areas near Duke University are the most walkable areas.

For even more information, also check out Is Durham Worth Visiting? and Is Saskatoon Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Saskatoon or Durham?

How long in Durham or Saskatoon?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Durham and Saskatoon. In our opinion, Durham has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Durham than Saskatoon. However, 1-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Durham than Saskatoon 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 Durham.

One day in Durham or Saskatoon?

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Durham. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Durham has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Saskatoon. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Durham or Saskatoon?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the sports oriented destination of Durham. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Saskatoon is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Durham or Saskatoon?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the sports oriented city of Durham. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Saskatoon. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Durham or Saskatoon?

Durham is a popular choice for travelers. 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.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the friendly destination of Saskatoon. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America, The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in United States of America, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Canada.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Durham and Saskatoon, we can see that Durham is more expensive. And not only is Saskatoon much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Saskatoon would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Saskatoon 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 Durham would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Durham than you might in Saskatoon.

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

Which is Bigger, Durham or Saskatoon?

Durham has a larger population, and is about 3% larger than the population of Saskatoon. When comparing the sizes of Durham and Saskatoon, 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.