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

Should you visit Gainesville or Saskatoon?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Gainesville or Saskatoon, 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.

Gainesville

Gainesville is a vibrant, high energy, and active city. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping. See Gainesville travel costs.

Saskatoon

Saskatoon is a cultural, friendly, and authentic city. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping. See Saskatoon travel costs.

Gainesville and Saskatoon: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Gainesville or Saskatoon?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Gainesville than Saskatoon. While Saskatoon is larger than Gainesville, Gainesville has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Saskatoon is more touristy than Gainesville and is known for its agriculture and outdoor spaces. Gainesville is famous for being the home of the University of Florida It is also well known for the Florida Museum of Natural History.

How is Gainesville different from Saskatoon?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Gainesville 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 Gainesville. There's a surprising number of museums around town such as the Florida Museum of Natural History, the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art, and the Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention. Also fascinating is the Historic Haile Homestead, the Butterfly Rainforest, and the city's planetarium.

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 Gainesville or Saskatoon? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Both Gainesville and Saskatoon offer nice local cuisine and restaurants.

Gainesville offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. Casual eateries are popular around town, particularly with the student population. There are grills, diners, and bistros that serve local dishes at affordable prices.

Saskatoon has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. 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 Gainesville or Saskatoon Better for Nightlife?

Gainesville is a well-known place for nightlife and partying. Also, Saskatoon is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its evening party scene.

Gainesville offers plenty to do in the evening. The nightlife centers around the student population. The two main party areas are Midtown and Downtown. Midtown is between Northwest 17th Street and Northwest 18th Street and it's convenient for students who live on campus. The area has a great stretch of bars and clubs. The Downtown area has many of the city's top clubs, and it's popular with upperclassmen and students who live off campus.

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 Gainesville or Saskatoon?

Both Gainesville and Saskatoon are nice shopping destinations.

Gainesville is a great destination for shopping. You'll find all of the standard shopping options around town such as malls, shopping centers, and retail outlets. Two popular areas are the Neighborhoods at Butler and Celebration Pointe.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting 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 Gainesville or Saskatoon Better for Families?

Gainesville and Saskatoon are both nice destinations for the whole family.

Gainesville is a family-friendly place to visit. You'll find outdoor activities, nature parks, and a couple of museums that will appeal to all ages. Highlights for families include A. Quinn Jones Museum and Cultural Center, the Adventure Outpost, and Alfred A. Ring Park.

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 Gainesville or Saskatoon Better for Couples?

Gainesville and Saskatoon are both nice to visit as a couple.

Gainesville is a nice destination for couples. Couples can enjoy wine tasting and fine dining or enjoying the city's many outdoor activities. Go on a picnic or explore one of the museums in Downtown Gainesville.

Saskatoon makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There are plenty of evening activities like dining out at a nice restaurant or taking in a show at the Persephone Theatre.

Is Gainesville or Saskatoon Better for Students?

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

Many students visit Gainesville. As the location of the University of Florida, you'll find many students around town. This keeps the energy high with plenty of evening activities and affordable entertainment options.

Saskatoon is not popular with students.

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

Gainesville is a good destination for its public transit. However, Saskatoon is not a good city for times when you don't have a car.

Gainesville has a few public transit options. There's a decent bus system that's free to students and employees of the university.

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

Is Gainesville or Saskatoon a more walkable city?

Gainesville and Saskatoon both are nice when exploring on foot.

Gainesville is somewhat walkable. Biking is actually a popular way to get around town and some areas are pedestrian-friendly.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Saskatoon or Gainesville?

How long in Gainesville or Saskatoon?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Gainesville 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 Gainesville.

One day in Gainesville or Saskatoon?

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

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the cultural city of Saskatoon. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A weekend in Gainesville or Saskatoon?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the high energy destination of Gainesville. 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.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the friendly destination of Saskatoon. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Five days in Gainesville or Saskatoon?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the active city of Gainesville. 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.

The cultural city of Saskatoon offers shopping and museums. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A week in Gainesville or Saskatoon?

Gainesville 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.

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Saskatoon. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in United States of America, The Best Cultural Tours 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 Gainesville and Saskatoon, we can see that Gainesville 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 Gainesville would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Gainesville 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 Gainesville Expensive? and Is Saskatoon Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Gainesville or Saskatoon?

Saskatoon has a larger population, and is about 58% larger than the population of Gainesville. When comparing the sizes of Gainesville 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.