A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Merida vs. Sacramento for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Backpackers

Should you visit Merida or Sacramento?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Merida or Sacramento, 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.

Merida

Merida is a historical, traditional, and colonial city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums. See Merida travel costs.

Sacramento

Sacramento is a undiscovered, laid back, and relaxed city. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums. See Sacramento travel costs.

Merida and Sacramento: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Merida or Sacramento?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Merida than Sacramento, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Merida is more touristy than Sacramento and is known for its vibrant plazas, long running history, and colonial architecture. It is also home to Grand Plaza. Sacramento is popular for its history and state capital.

How is Merida different from Sacramento?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Merida or Sacramento?

You'll find a number of superb museums and attractions in both Sacramento and Merida.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Merida can be an interesting and educational experience. The city is filled with culture and traditional heritage, and there are many museums and architectural landmarks that will educate and inform visitors on the area. Gran Museo del Mundo Maya is a highlight for many visitors. It's also worth visiting Museo Casa Montejo and Museo Palacio Canton. If you want to visit ruins, then the Dzibilchaltun Mayan Ruins are about 45 minutes outside of town.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Sacramento. As the state capital, you'll find a number of historical and informational museums around town. You should check out the State Capital, as well as the California State Railroad Museum, the Crocker Museum of Art, Sutter's Fort State Historic Park, and the California Automobile Museum.

Is the Food Better in Merida or Sacramento? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Merida is a very popular place for its restaurants. Also, Sacramento is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Merida has a huge number of terrific restaurants. It's a top foodie destination in the Yucatan region and visitors will enjoy the many local restaurants and diverse local dishes that are influenced by the Mayan, Spanish, and Caribbean cultures. The most well known local dish is cochinita pibil, which is marinated pork shoulder. Other popular dishes include sopa de lima (lime soup), papadzules (enchiladas with pumpkin seed sauce), and relleno negro (a local stew).

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Sacramento area. Casual restaurants with laid back atmospheres are what's most common around town. You'll also find a variety of international cuisines that include Korean and Vietnamese.

Is Merida or Sacramento Better for Nightlife?

Merida is a very popular place for nightlife and partying. Also, Sacramento is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its evening party scene.

Merida has a large number of nightlife venues. Most tourists take advantage of the nightlife scene in the city's downtown area, while locals congregate in the northern part of town. The city has bars, theaters, night clubs, and live music that keeps the energy high late into the night.

Sacramento has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There highest concentration of activities are found in Downtown Sacramento. You'll find bars, clubs and live music in the area. You can also head to midtown, which has performing arts and comedy shows.

Is Merida or Sacramento Better for its Old Town?

Merida is a very popular place for its old town. However, Sacramento does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to Merida to see the historical old town. Centered around the city's Grand Plaza, the old town is filled with colonial architecture and colorful buildings. The Catedral de San Ildefonso was the first cathedral built in the Americas. There are also monuments and examples of Mayan art and culture.

Sacramento does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Merida or Sacramento?

Merida is a very popular place for its shopping opportunities. Also, Sacramento is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping areas.

Merida is well-known for its shopping. There are colorful markets that are filled with artisan crafts and traditional clothing. Visitors enjoy discovering the unique vendors and picking up souvenirs that are unique to the area.

Many visitors go to Sacramento to go shopping. You'll find down-to-earth vendors who have reasonable prices and a great selection. Some of the most interesting shopping is found at the Old Sacramento Waterfront or along Folsom Boulevard.

Is Merida or Sacramento Better for Families?

Merida and Sacramento are both good destinations for the whole family.

Merida is a family-friendly city. The weekend is the best time to visit the city, as this is when there are the most activities. There are live performances that educate visitors on Mayan traditions. There are also historic museums, bike-friendly streets, and a vibrant central market.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Sacramento. With the large number of families that live in the area, you'll a variety of kid-friendly activities. Options include smaller amusement parks like Funderland Amusement Park, museums like the Sacramento Children's Museum, and indoor trampoline parks. There's also Fairytale Town, which is an imagination filled playground.

Is Merida or Sacramento Better for Couples?

Merida is a nice place to visit for its romantic activities. However, Sacramento is lacking in good options for couples.

Merida makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. If you're interested in Mayan culture and history, then this is a wonderful destination. There are also romantic hotels, excellent restaurants, and plenty of fascinating activities that couples will enjoy.

Sacramento is not always the best place to visit for a couple. Picnics, nice restaurants, and shows make for enjoyable date activities while you're in town.

Is Merida or Sacramento Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Merida is a very popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Sacramento is lacking in good options for backpackers.

Many backpackers visit Merida. It's a relatively large city with a number of hostels and budget hotels, so backpackers will have no problem finding a place to stay.

Sacramento is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Although most backpackers skip this town for more popular destinations, there are a couple of hostels in town.

Is Merida or Sacramento Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

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

Merida has some public transit options. While there are local bus routes, they can be a bit challenging to figure out when you first arrive.

Public transit is generally limited in Sacramento. There's both light rail and buses around town.

Is Merida or Sacramento a more walkable city?

Merida is a very popular place for its high level of walkability. However, Sacramento is lacking in good options for its ease of walking around.

Merida is a very walkable city. It's a very walkable city and most visitors don't have a car.

Sacramento is generally not very walkable. You'll really want a car to get around town, but Midtown is one of the more walkable areas.

For even more information, also check out Is Merida Worth Visiting? and Is Sacramento Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Sacramento or Merida?

How long in Merida or Sacramento?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Merida than Sacramento 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 Merida.

One day in Merida or Sacramento?

With museums and nightlife around the traditional city of Merida, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Merida, one day is sufficent for most.

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

A weekend in Merida or Sacramento?

With nightlife and food around the destination of Merida, there's plenty to do. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Sacramento 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 Merida or Sacramento?

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

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Sacramento. 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 Merida or Sacramento?

Merida is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. 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.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the laid back destination of Sacramento. 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 2-Week Tours from Cancun, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in United States of America, and The Best Cultural Tours in United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Merida or Sacramento?

Merida has a larger population, and is about 53% larger than the population of Sacramento. When comparing the sizes of Merida and Sacramento, 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 Merida or Sacramento?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Merida or Sacramento in the Summer?

Both Sacramento and Merida are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Merida because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Sacramento this time of year.

In July, Merida is generally cooler than Sacramento. Daily temperatures in Merida average around 21°C (70°F), and Sacramento fluctuates around 76°F (24°C).

It's quite sunny in Sacramento. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Merida. Merida usually receives less sunshine than Sacramento during summer. Merida gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Sacramento receives 439 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Merida usually receives more rain than Sacramento. Merida gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Sacramento receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Merida or Sacramento in the Autumn?

Both Sacramento and Merida during the autumn are popular places to visit. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Merida this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Sacramento for the shopping scene.

Merida is a little warmer than Sacramento in the autumn. The daily temperature in Merida averages around 21°C (70°F) in October, and Sacramento fluctuates around 64°F (18°C).

In Sacramento, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Merida. In the autumn, Merida often gets less sunshine than Sacramento. Merida gets 233 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sacramento receives 300 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Merida. Merida usually gets more rain in October than Sacramento. Merida gets 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Sacramento receives 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Merida or Sacramento in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Merida and Sacramento. Many travelers come to Merida for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Sacramento in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In the winter, Merida is much warmer than Sacramento. Typically, the winter temperatures in Merida in January average around 20°C (68°F), and Sacramento averages at about 45°F (7°C).

In Merida, it's very sunny this time of the year. Merida usually receives more sunshine than Sacramento during winter. Merida gets 209 hours of sunny skies, while Sacramento receives 149 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Merida usually receives less rain than Sacramento. Merida gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Sacramento receives 3.8 inches (97 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Merida or Sacramento in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Merida as well as Sacramento. Many visitors come to Merida in the spring for the activities around the city.

In April, Merida is generally a little warmer than Sacramento. Daily temperatures in Merida average around 21°C (70°F), and Sacramento fluctuates around 58°F (15°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sacramento. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Merida this time of the year. In the spring, Merida often gets less sunshine than Sacramento. Merida gets 260 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sacramento receives 328 hours of full sun.

Merida receives a lot of rain in the spring. Merida usually gets more rain in April than Sacramento. Merida gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Sacramento receives 1.3 inches (32 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Sacramento and Merida