A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America New Orleans vs. Santa Cruz for Food, Nightlife, Families, and Couples

Should you visit New Orleans or Santa Cruz?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between New Orleans and Santa Cruz 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.

New Orleans

New Orleans is a vibrant, energetic, and fun-filled city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. This is a quaint and attractive place to visit, too. It's also known for nightlife, live music, and food. See New Orleans travel costs.

Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is a coastal, scenic, and laid back town. Other reasons to visit include hiking, shopping, and museums. See Santa Cruz travel costs.

New Orleans and Santa Cruz: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in New Orleans or Santa Cruz?

Travelers will usually find more to do in New Orleans than Santa Cruz, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. New Orleans is more popular for its food, nightlife, music, historical sights, big city activities, and quaint atmosphere, while Santa Cruz is known for its museums and attractions, beaches, hiking, and shopping. New Orleans is more touristy than Santa Cruz and is popular for its jazz festivals, local cuisine, quaint balconies, and world class Mardi Gras parties. It is also home to The French Quarter. Santa Cruz is popular for its dramatic coastline, fun-filled boardwalk, and beautiful beaches.

The French Quarter

How is New Orleans different from Santa Cruz?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in New Orleans or Santa Cruz?

Santa Cruz is a town with good options for its museums and history. However, New Orleans does not have museums and landmarks.

Santa Cruz is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Local museums in town include the Surfing Museum, Seymour Marine Discovery Center, and Santa Cruz Mission.

New Orleans does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in New Orleans or Santa Cruz? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

New Orleans is very popular for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Santa Cruz is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its restaurants.

For foodies, New Orleans is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. It has rapidly grown into one of the United State's most well known foodie destinations. It's the birthplace of bananas foster and popular for it's gumbo, crawfish etouffee, jambalaya, and red beans and rice. While there are a number of celebrity chefs from New Orleans, you'll also find many local restaurants that aren't as well known but are equally worth visiting.

Santa Cruz has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. Sampling local seafood is a top priority for many visitors. Most restaurants have a casual vibe and serve up high quality dishes in a relaxed setting. You'll find cafes, Mexican food, and Italian eateries among other options.

Is New Orleans or Santa Cruz Better for Nightlife?

New Orleans is very popular for nightlife. Also, Santa Cruz is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for nightlife and partying.

New Orleans is a party destination, and you'll find plenty of activity all night long. The nightlife scene is at its best during Mardi Gras. But year-round you'll find Bachelor and Bachelorette parties, spring breakers, and anyone who wants to enjoy a crazy time heads to New Orleans. New Orleans is a destination that attracts partiers any time of the year, and the French Quarter is the place to be if you're looking for a party.

Santa Cruz has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. You'll find a range of nighttime options around town that include live entertainment, bars, clubs, and even a casino.

Is New Orleans or Santa Cruz Better for Music?

New Orleans is very popular for live music. However, Santa Cruz is not a live music destination.

New Orleans is a world class music destination. The city is known for its music festivals that feature jazz, blues, and many other types of live music. The Jazz Festival is a great time to visit.

Santa Cruz is not a live music destination.

Is New Orleans or Santa Cruz Better for Beaches?

Santa Cruz is an excellent place to visit for its beaches. However, New Orleans is not a beach destination.

The beaches at Santa Cruz attract visitors from all over. The beaches are beautiful and fun. Head to Main Beach for the most activity. This is where you'll find the town's boardwalk, which has a historic carousel and several classic amusement rides. For a more peaceful and scenic spot, check out Natural Bridges State Beach or Seacliff State Beach.

New Orleans is not a beach destination.

Is New Orleans or Santa Cruz Better for its Old Town?

New Orleans is notable for its historic old town. However, Santa Cruz does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors explore the old town while visiting New Orleans. The French Quarter is filled with old architecture and beautiful historic landmarks.

Santa Cruz does not have a historic old town.

Is New Orleans or Santa Cruz Better for Hiking?

Santa Cruz is a town with good options for its hiking trails. However, New Orleans is not a hiking destination.

Plenty of visitors go hiking around Santa Cruz. There are several great parks in the area and trails that follow along the rugged coastline or go through the impressive redwood forests.

New Orleans is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in New Orleans or Santa Cruz?

Santa Cruz is a town with good options for shopping. However, New Orleans is lacking in options for its shopping opportunities.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Santa Cruz. Downtown Santa Cruz is where you'll find some of the best shopping.

If you're looking to go shopping, New Orleans has some nice offerings. New Orleans shopping is mostly centered around shopping malls and chain stores.

Is New Orleans or Santa Cruz Better for Families?

Santa Cruz is an excellent place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. However, New Orleans is lacking in options for its family-friendly activities.

Santa Cruz is a very family-friendly destination. It's filled with beaches, parks, playgrounds, and museums that kids and adults will enjoy. Highlights for many families include visiting the boardwalk, playing around at Seacliff State Beach, entertaining the kids at Seymour Center at Long Marine Lab, and taking in the beauty at Natural Bridges State Beach.

New Orleans doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. While there are some family-friendly activities in New Orleans like a zoo and several great parks, the city is more known for its parties and nightlife scene. Particularly during certain seasons, most people choose to visit New Orleans without kids.

Is New Orleans or Santa Cruz Better for Couples?

Santa Cruz is an excellent place to visit for romance. Also, New Orleans is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its romantic activities.

Santa Cruz makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Dining in downtown Santa Cruz, hiking through Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, and relaxing on the beach at Natural Bridges State Beach all make for a romantic getaway.

New Orleans makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples who enjoy a lively evening, fun festivals, and exploring absolutely amazing restaurants will enjoy a visit to New Orleans. It has a festive and unique atmosphere any time of the year. There are also nice hotels and beautiful parks.

Is New Orleans or Santa Cruz Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Santa Cruz is a town with good options for backpackers and budget travelers. However, New Orleans is lacking in options for backpackers.

Santa Cruz is a good town to visit for backpackers. There's a laid back vibe that is fun to experience and there's even a hostel in town.

New Orleans is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a handful of hostels in New Orleans that are good options for backpackers who want to meet other travelers.

Is New Orleans or Santa Cruz Better for Students?

New Orleans is a popular place for students. However, Santa Cruz is not popular with students.

New Orleans is a good city to visit for students. Students head to New Orleans to enjoy spring break and Mardi Gras.

Santa Cruz is not popular with students.

Is New Orleans or Santa Cruz Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Visitors will find decent public transit in both New Orleans and Santa Cruz.

Public transit is mostly limited in New Orleans. The city has streetcar lines and bus lines that you can use, but you'll want to have a car if you want to venture outside of these main areas.

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

Is New Orleans or Santa Cruz a more walkable city?

Santa Cruz is a world-class destination for its walkability. Also, New Orleans is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its high level of walkability.

It's very easy to get around on foot in Santa Cruz. It's considered to be one of the most walkable cities in California.

New Orleans is a somewhat walkable place. If you stick to the French Quarter and downtown areas, most things are walkable in New Orleans.

For even more information, also check out Is New Orleans Worth Visiting? and Is Santa Cruz Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Santa Cruz or New Orleans?

How long in New Orleans or Santa Cruz?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Santa Cruz than New Orleans 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 Santa Cruz.

One day in New Orleans or Santa Cruz?

With food and nightlife around the festive city of New Orleans, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the laid back town of Santa Cruz. It's also a great beach destination, too. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A weekend in New Orleans or Santa Cruz?

With nightlife and live music around the destination of New Orleans, 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.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the scenic destination of Santa Cruz. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. This town 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 New Orleans or Santa Cruz?

New Orleans, 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.

The scenic town of Santa Cruz offers shopping and museums. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. 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 New Orleans or Santa Cruz?

New Orleans 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.

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

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

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

Which is Bigger, New Orleans or Santa Cruz?

New Orleans has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Santa Cruz. When comparing the sizes of New Orleans and Santa Cruz, 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 New Orleans or Santa Cruz?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit New Orleans or Santa Cruz in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to New Orleans as well as Santa Cruz. Many travelers come to New Orleans for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, many visitors come to Santa Cruz in the summer for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.

New Orleans is a little warmer than Santa Cruz in the summer. The daily temperature in New Orleans averages around 82°F (28°C) in July, and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 67°F (19°C).

New Orleans receives a lot of rain in the summer. New Orleans usually gets more rain in July than Santa Cruz. New Orleans gets 5.9 inches (149 mm) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 0.1 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Orleans or Santa Cruz in the Autumn?

Both Santa Cruz and New Orleans are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to New Orleans in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene. Also, most visitors come to Santa Cruz for the hiking trails and the shopping scene during these months.

In the autumn, New Orleans is a little warmer than Santa Cruz. Typically, the autumn temperatures in New Orleans in October average around 69°F (21°C), and Santa Cruz averages at about 63°F (17°C).

In October, New Orleans usually receives more rain than Santa Cruz. New Orleans gets 3 inches (77 mm) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit New Orleans or Santa Cruz in the Winter?

Both Santa Cruz and New Orleans during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to New Orleans for the shopping scene and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Santa Cruz because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In January, New Orleans is generally around the same temperature as Santa Cruz. Daily temperatures in New Orleans average around 51°F (11°C), and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 51°F (10°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in New Orleans. New Orleans usually gets more rain in January than Santa Cruz. New Orleans gets 5.2 inches (131 mm) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Orleans or Santa Cruz in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both New Orleans and Santa Cruz. The spring months attract visitors to New Orleans because of the activities around the city. Also, the beaches are the main draw to Santa Cruz this time of year.

New Orleans is a little warmer than Santa Cruz in the spring. The daily temperature in New Orleans averages around 68°F (20°C) in April, and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).

New Orleans gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, New Orleans usually receives more rain than Santa Cruz. New Orleans gets 4.5 inches (114 mm) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 1 inches (26 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Santa Cruz and New Orleans