A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Mexico City vs. Boise for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Mexico City or Boise?

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

Should I visit Mexico City or Boise? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Mexico City

Mexico City is a diverse, vibrant, and dynamic city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums. See Mexico City travel costs.

Boise

Boise is a authentic, friendly, and welcoming city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and shopping. See Boise travel costs.

Is there more to do in Mexico City or Boise?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Mexico City than Boise. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Mexico City is more touristy than Boise and is known for its vibrant street food scene, colorful markets, and historic architecture. It is also well known for Zócalo. Boise is famous for its many outdoor and recreational activities.

How is Mexico City different from Boise?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Mexico City or Boise?

Mexico City is a must-visit destination for its museums and history. Also, Boise is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

With plenty of landmarks, attractions, and museums, Mexico City has many famous sights for visitors. The city is filled with historic buildings, fascinating museums, and interesting landmarks. At the heart of the city is Zócalo, where the country's constitution was signed. Nearby you'll find the National Palace, the Metropolitan Cathedral, and the Templo Mayor. Other interesting museums in the city include the National Museum of Anthropology, the Palace of Fine Arts, and the National History Museum.

Boise is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. As the state capital, there's a nice selection of local museums around town. Favorites include the Boise Art Museum, the Basque Museum & Cultural Center, the Idaho Black History Museum, and Discovery Center.

Is the Food Better in Mexico City or Boise? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Mexico City is a must-visit destination for its restaurants. However, Boise is lacking in options for its restaurant scene.

For foodies, Mexico City is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. The city food scene is as diverse as the population itself. There are countless ways to experience the amazing street food, but there are also world class chefs working in award winning restaurants. Make sure you try the chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, and chiles en nogada.

Boise offers some easy restaurants to choose from. While Idaho has long been associated with the potato, the locals usually think of "finger steaks" when describing local food. These are deep-friend beef strips that are as good as they sound.

Is Mexico City or Boise Better for Nightlife?

Mexico City is a must-visit destination for its evening party scene. Also, Boise is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife.

Mexico City is a world class party destination. It's a huge city, so of course there's no shortage of diverse nightlife activities. Some of the most popular neighborhoods for nightlife include the downtown, La Condesa, and Colonia Juárez. For upscale clubs head to Polanco and for trendy and eclectic venues check out Roma.

Boise has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. In downtown Boise you'll find a selection of bars, lounges, and breweries. There's enough around town to keep the nightlife scene interesting.

Is Mexico City or Boise Better for its Old Town?

Mexico City is a popular place for its historic old town charm. However, Boise does not have a historic old town.

Mexico City has an old town worth visiting. Centro Historico spreads out from Zócalo Plaza, and has many buildings that date back as far as the Aztec period. Many tourists gather here to explore the history and wander down the pedestrian-only Calle Madero.

Boise does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Mexico City or Boise?

Mexico City is a must-visit destination for its shopping areas. Also, Boise is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.

Many people travel to Mexico City specifically to go shopping. The city has everything from open-air bazaars (tianguis) to modern shopping malls. There are international brands as well as local art galleries, handicrafts, and retail outlets.

Boise is a great destination for shopping. You'll find a mix of local boutiques, independent vendors, and suburban shopping centers where you'll find anything that you might need.

Is Mexico City or Boise Better for Families?

Mexico City is an excellent place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. However, Boise is lacking in options for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Mexico City. It's a huge city, so there are enough diverse activities to keep everyone entertained. There's even a Six Flags. Popular museums for kids include Papalote Museo del Niño and Museo de Geología. There's also the Acuario Inbursa, and make sure you check out a Lucha Libre show.

Boise doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. You'll find parks, playgrounds, and the Discovery Center which will help keep kids entertained.

Is Mexico City or Boise Better for Couples?

Mexico City is a popular place for couples. However, Boise is lacking in options for romance.

Mexico City is a good city for couples to visit. The city is filled with parks where you can enjoy a picnic, museums that are fascinating to walk through, and cultural activities that are one-of-a-kind. You can ride on a gondola in Xochimilco or spend the day exploring the amazing food scene.

Boise is not the best destination for a couple to visit. Date night activities include dining at a nice restaurants and seeing a show at the theater.

Is Mexico City or Boise Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Mexico City is an excellent place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Boise is lacking in options for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Mexico City. It's a big city with a wonderful atmosphere and many hostels. Backpackers who want to experience the culture, food, and personality of Mexico will love a visit here.

Boise is not the best destination for backpackers and budget travelers due to its high prices. Backpackers rarely make their way to this town.

Is Mexico City or Boise Better for Students?

Mexico City is an excellent place to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Boise is not popular with students.

Mexico City is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. International students love the art, architecture, food, and culture that this colorful city has to offer.

Boise is not popular with students.

Is Mexico City or Boise Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Mexico City is an excellent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Boise is lacking in options for its public transit.

Mexico City offers a very effecient public transportation network. The city has a complex and comprehensive public transit system that includes a metro, metrobus, and local buses.

Public transit is generally limited in Boise. There are infrequent buses around town, but visitors usually have a car to get around town efficiently.

Is Mexico City or Boise a more walkable city?

Mexico City and Boise are reasonable when it comes to walkability.

Mexico City is generally not a very walkable city. While you can walk within many neighborhoods, such as the historic city center, it's impossible to walk between neighborhoods and in many parts of the city.

Boise is generally not very walkable. There are a couple of walkable neighborhoods but, in general, the town isn't very walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Mexico City Worth Visiting? and Is Boise Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Boise or Mexico City?

How long in Mexico City or Boise?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Mexico City or Boise to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Mexico City than Boise because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 3-5 days is a good amount of time for Mexico City, and 1-2 days is enough time in Boise.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Mexico City than Boise 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 Mexico City.

One day in Mexico City or Boise?

Each neighborhood in Mexico City has its own distinct appeal, so there are pleny of areas to explore. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and shopping when visiting the welcoming city of Boise. 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 Mexico City or Boise?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Mexico City. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Visitors enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the welcoming destination of Boise. 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 Mexico City or Boise?

Mexico City is a fun place to experience. Each neighborhood in Mexico City has its own distinct appeal, so there are pleny of areas to explore. This would be the perfect place to spend five days, as it has just the right amount of activities.

The welcoming city of Boise offers museums and nightlife. 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 Mexico City or Boise?

You'll find food and shopping around the colorful big city of Mexico City. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Many people enjoy the nightlife and shopping when visiting Boise. 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 2-Week Tours in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, The Best Camping Tours in United States of America, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Mexico City or Boise?

Mexico City has a larger population, and is about 80 times larger than the population of Boise. When comparing the sizes of Mexico City and Boise, 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.