A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers El Paso vs. Edmonton for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit El Paso or Edmonton?

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 El Paso and Edmonton can help you decide which place is right for you.

El Paso

El Paso is a laid-back, low-key, and undiscovered city. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping. See El Paso travel costs.

Edmonton

Edmonton is a cultural, authentic, and friendly city. Other reasons to visit include nightlife, shopping, and museums. See Edmonton travel costs.

El Paso and Edmonton: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in El Paso or Edmonton?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Edmonton than El Paso, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Edmonton is more popular for its museums and attractions and shopping, while El Paso is known for its food. El Paso is popular for its Spanish missions and its outstanding Mexican food. Edmonton is popular for its many festivals and lively personality. It is also home to the West Edmonton Mall.

How is El Paso different from Edmonton?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in El Paso or Edmonton?

Edmonton is a very popular place for its museums and history. Also, El Paso is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

Many visitors head to Edmonton specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. You'll find a number of good museums around town such as the Royal Alberta Museum, Muttart Conservatory, the Alberta Aviation Museum, and the Art Gallery of Alberta.

El Paso offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Visitors can learn about local art, culture, and history at the El Paso Museum of Art, the El Paso Museum of History, the 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss Museum, and the Eduardo Pedregón Memorial Veterans Museum.

Is the Food Better in El Paso or Edmonton? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

El Paso is very good for its local cuisine and restaurants. However, Edmonton is not a good city for its restaurants.

El Paso offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. Mexican food and barbecue are popular around town but you'll also find burgers, pizza, and other American favorites.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Edmonton. You'll find a mix of casual cafes, international eateries, and more upscale dining options.

Is El Paso or Edmonton Better for Nightlife?

The good nightlife scene is relatively similar in El Paso and Edmonton.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in El Paso. There are a number of bars, nightclubs, and lounges around town where you can enjoy a fun night out.

Edmonton has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There's a mix of nightclubs, bars, and breweries around town. Head to Jasper Avenue for the high end clubs or check out a live show at one of the active theaters around town.

Is the Shopping Better in El Paso or Edmonton?

Edmonton is a very popular place for shopping. Also, El Paso is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping opportunities.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Edmonton. The city is home to the West Edmonton Mall, which is the largest shopping mall in Canada, and among the largest in the world. The mall includes hundreds of shops, restaurants, a hotel, ice rink, movie theaters, an aquarium, and Galaxyland, which is one of the largest indoor amusement parks in the world. The mall is divided into themed sections that represent iconic places from around the world such as Europa Boulevard and Bourbon Street.

El Paso offers some nice shopping areas. There are a number of malls and outlet centers around town. One of the most well known is Bassett Place, but other options include Cielo Vista Mall and the Fountains at Farah.

Is El Paso or Edmonton Better for Families?

You'll find good kid-friendly activities in either El Paso or Edmonton.

El Paso is a family-friendly city. There are adventure parks, playgrounds, outdoor centers and nature activities that families can enjoy.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Edmonton. Many families live in town so if you're visiting for a few days you'll find plenty to do with kids. Most of the activities are concentrated in the downtown areas and along the south side of the North Saskatchewan River. The whole family will enjoy a visit to Telus World of Science. There's also the Edmonton Valley Zoo, the Alberta Aviation Museum, and Galaxyland, as well as many other activities.

Is El Paso or Edmonton Better for Couples?

Edmonton is very good for romance. However, El Paso is lacking in good options for its romantic activities.

Edmonton is a nice destination for couples. There's a good theater scene, so you can enjoy dinner and a show. There are also quaint cafes, mellow breweries, and plenty of cultural activities like art museums.

Most people don't think of El Paso as a couple's destination. Couples can enjoy dinner and a show or taking a romantic drive up to the overlook.

Is El Paso or Edmonton Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Edmonton is very good for times when you don't have a car. However, El Paso is lacking in good options for its public transit.

Edmonton has some public transit options. The city has both bus and light rail systems.

Public transit is generally limited in El Paso. While there are some bus routes in town, you shouldn't rely on them and must have a private vehicle to efficiently visit the city.

Is El Paso or Edmonton a more walkable city?

Edmonton is very good for its walkability. However, El Paso is lacking in good options for its high level of walkability.

Edmonton is somewhat walkable. There are parts of the city that are very walkable.

El Paso is generally not very walkable. You really need a car to get around town.

For even more information, also check out Is El Paso Worth Visiting? and Is Edmonton Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Edmonton or El Paso?

How long in El Paso or Edmonton?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in El Paso or Edmonton to fill your time. In our opinion, Edmonton has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Edmonton than El Paso. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Edmonton than El Paso 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 Edmonton.

One day in El Paso or Edmonton?

The city of El Paso offers food and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

In Edmonton, you'll find museums and nightlife. This city 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 El Paso or Edmonton?

El Paso is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in El Paso, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

In Edmonton, you'll find nightlife and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Edmonton has to offer.

Five days in El Paso or Edmonton?

El Paso is a popular choice for travelers. 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Edmonton is a great place to explore. 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 El Paso or Edmonton?

El Paso is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

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

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, The Best Contiki Tours to Canada, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Canada.

When comparing the travel costs between El Paso and Edmonton, we can see that El Paso 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 El Paso Expensive? and Is Edmonton Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, El Paso or Edmonton?

Edmonton has a larger population, and is about 26% larger than the population of El Paso. When comparing the sizes of El Paso and Edmonton, 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.