A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Milwaukee vs. Calgary for Attractions, Nightlife, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Milwaukee or Calgary?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Milwaukee and Calgary can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Milwaukee

Milwaukee is a welcoming, undiscovered, and friendly city. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Milwaukee travel costs.

Calgary

Calgary is a local, authentic, and western city. Visitors also love the shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Calgary travel costs.

Milwaukee and Calgary: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Milwaukee or Calgary?

You'll generally find more things to do in Calgary than Milwaukee. Calgary is bigger than Milwaukee, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Calgary is more touristy than Milwaukee and is popular for its farming and oil industries as well as the Calgary Stampede. Also, Calgary is famous for Calgary Olympic Park. Milwaukee is well known for its many breweries and its baseball culture.

How is Milwaukee different from Calgary?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Milwaukee or Calgary?

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Milwaukee and Calgary.

Milwaukee offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There are several unique museums like the Harley-Davidson Museum, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, and the Milwaukee Public Museum. There's also the Milwaukee Art Museum and the Grohmann Museum as well as outdoor sculpture parks and other cultural and historic museums.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Calgary. It's worth visiting the Calgary Zoo, Fort Calgary, the Hangar Flight Museum, and Heritage Park, among others.

Is the Food Better in Milwaukee or Calgary? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Local dishes at restaurants are fun to try in both Milwaukee and Calgary.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Milwaukee. The Midwest is known for its artery clogging comfort foods, and Milwaukee is no exception. Cheese curds, fried fish, fruit dumplings, and frozen custard are all popular.

Calgary may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. The food scene is constantly evolving and you'll find plenty of casual restaurants. The city is known for its beef, so you should definitely sample a local steak.

Is Milwaukee or Calgary Better for Nightlife?

Both Milwaukee and Calgary have notable vibes after the sun sets.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Milwaukee. You'll find a decent number of breweries around town. There are also wine bars, nightclubs, and live music venues that are worth checking out.

Calgary has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. Visitors often head to Stephen Avenue Walk for its bars and pubs. There's also a decent theater scene around town.

Is the Shopping Better in Milwaukee or Calgary?

Shoppers can find a variety of notable stores in both Milwaukee and Calgary.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Milwaukee. You'll find the standard shopping centers and shopping malls around town, but if you want some more local vendors, check out the areas around the Historic Third Ward and The Village in Wauwatosa.

Many visitors go to Calgary to go shopping. There are plenty of independent shops around town as well as some great shopping neighborhoods. Make sure you check out Fourth Street and 17th Avenue. There are also large shopping malls.

Is Milwaukee or Calgary Better for Families?

Both Milwaukee and Calgary are notable to visit with kids.

Milwaukee is a family-friendly city. Kids will enjoy a visit to Discovery World, which is a science center with hands-on exhibits. There's also the Milwaukee County Zoo and the Milwaukee Public Museum. Younger kids will also enjoy a stop at Betty Brinn Children's Museum.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Calgary. There are a surprising number of things around town to do with kids such as petting zoos, museums, and even amusement parks. The Calgary Zoo is worth a visit, but also make sure you check out Calaway Park Amusement Park and the Telus Spark science center.

Is Milwaukee or Calgary Better for Couples?

Calgary is a city with good options for its romantic activities. However, Milwaukee is lacking in options for couples.

Calgary makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. You'll find outdoor sports, boat tours, and plenty of great restaurants around town. If you're looking for a low key destination with a great vibe, then this is a great city for a weekend trip.

Milwaukee is not always the best place to visit for a couple. Take a walk or visit a local restaurant. There are also museums and performances that make for a nice outing.

Is Milwaukee or Calgary Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Calgary is a city with good options for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Milwaukee is lacking in options for backpackers.

Calgary is a good city to visit for backpackers. A surprising number of backpackers end up passing through town, so you'll find a handful of hostels to choose from.

Milwaukee is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There's not a lot to attract backpackers to the area.

Is Milwaukee or Calgary Better for Students?

Milwaukee is a city with good options for students. However, Calgary is not popular with students.

Milwaukee is popular with students. It's home to a number of colleges and universities, so there is a bit of a college town vibe.

Calgary is not popular with students.

Is Milwaukee or Calgary Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Calgary is a city with good options for times when you don't have a car. However, Milwaukee is lacking in options for its public transit.

Calgary has some public transit options. The public transportation system is relatively efficient with both light rail and buses.

Public transit is generally limited in Milwaukee. There are buses that travel around town.

Is Milwaukee or Calgary a more walkable city?

Milwaukee is a city with good options for its high level of walkability. However, Calgary is not particularly known for its ease of walking around.

Milwaukee is a somewhat walkable place. Parts of the city are relatively compact and walkable. The most walkable neighborhoods are East Side, Riverwest, Brewers Hill, Downtown, Avenues West/Marquette, Third Ward, Walker's Point, and Bay View.

Calgary is generally not a very walkable city. While there are a couple of walkable neighborhood's around town, it's definitely not the most walkable city.

For even more information, also check out Is Milwaukee Worth Visiting? and Is Calgary Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Calgary or Milwaukee?

How long in Milwaukee or Calgary?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Calgary than Milwaukee 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 Calgary.

One day in Milwaukee or Calgary?

In Milwaukee, 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.

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

A weekend in Milwaukee or Calgary?

In Milwaukee, 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 Milwaukee has to offer.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the western destination of Calgary. 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.

Five days in Milwaukee or Calgary?

Milwaukee 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.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and shopping when visiting the local city of Calgary. 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.

A week in Milwaukee or Calgary?

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

Calgary 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America, The Best G Adventures Tours to 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 Milwaukee and Calgary, we can see that Milwaukee is more expensive. And not only is Calgary much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Calgary would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Calgary 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 Milwaukee would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Milwaukee than you might in Calgary.

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

Which is Bigger, Milwaukee or Calgary?

Calgary has a larger population, and is about 76% larger than the population of Milwaukee. When comparing the sizes of Milwaukee and Calgary, 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.