A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Pittsburgh vs. Halifax for Attractions, Nightlife, Food, and Families

Should you visit Pittsburgh or Halifax?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Pittsburgh or Halifax, 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.

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh is a industrial, authentic, and under-rated city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums. See Pittsburgh travel costs.

Halifax

Halifax is a friendly, cultural, and historical city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food. See Halifax travel costs.

Pittsburgh and Halifax: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Pittsburgh or Halifax?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Pittsburgh than Halifax, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Halifax is more touristy than Pittsburgh and is known for its maritime past. Pittsburgh is well known for its many bridges, its steel industry, and being the home of "Mr. Roger's Neighborhood". Also, Pittsburgh is famous for Mount Washington.

How is Pittsburgh different from Halifax?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Pittsburgh or Halifax?

Pittsburgh is a very popular place for its museums and history. Also, Halifax is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Pittsburgh can be an interesting and educational experience. The museums range from science and nature focused, like the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Garden, to quirky and artsy, like the Mattress Factory. The Warhol Museum is dedicated to the works of Andy Warhol and it's not to be missed. Also worth a visit is the Heinz History Center, Randyland, and the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History.

Halifax offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. You should head to Pier 21, where you'll find the Canadian Museum of Immigration. The Discovery Center is a great spot for kids, as is the Natural History Museum. Finally, check out the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic and the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site.

Is the Food Better in Pittsburgh or Halifax? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Both Pittsburgh and Halifax offer a number of notable restaurants to choose from.

Pittsburgh is becoming an appealing option for foodies. The city is known for its working class roots, and the food is hearty and filling, which is great for those on a budget. Popular local dishes include pierogis, deli sandwiches, Pittsburgh salads (complete with French fries), and hotcakes.

Halifax offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. You'll find lobster rolls and other seafood around town, but also make sure you try the Halifax donair, which is a shaved beef sandwich wrap that can be found a many pizza restaurants.

Is Pittsburgh or Halifax Better for Nightlife?

Pittsburgh is a very popular place for nightlife. Also, Halifax is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife and partying.

Pittsburgh has a large number of nightlife venues. There's an active music and dance scene in town. For the best bars and clubs, head to the Strip and South Side and for live entertainment and casinos check out the North Shore.

Halifax has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There's a laid back atmosphere to the nightlife scene. There are casual bars and pubs where you can meet the locals and a few nightclubs where there's a relaxed but fun atmosphere.

Is the Shopping Better in Pittsburgh or Halifax?

If you're looking to go shopping, Pittsburgh and Halifax both offer plenty of notable spots.

Pittsburgh has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. You'll find local fashion boutiques and shopping centers in the city's downtown. Other great shopping neighborhoods include Shadyside, Station Square, and Fifth Avenue Place.

Halifax is a great destination for shopping. You'll find a mix of boutiques, artisan shops, large malls, and shopping centers.

Is Pittsburgh or Halifax Better for Families?

Pittsburgh and Halifax are both notable destinations for the whole family.

Pittsburgh offers lots of family activities. There's a surprising number of kid-friendly activities packed into this city. Check out the National Aviary or visit the popular Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium. There are also kid-focused museums and science centers as well as parks and playgrounds. Also make sure you take the cable car up Duquesne Incline or enjoy a boat ride on one of the rivers as well.

Halifax is a family-friendly place to visit. There are a handful of kid-friendly museums like the Museum of Natural History. Kids will also appreciate a visit to the Discovery Center or stretching their legs at Point Pleasant Park. History lovers should go see the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site.

Is Pittsburgh or Halifax Better for Couples?

Halifax is a nice place to visit for couples. However, Pittsburgh is not a good destination for romance.

Halifax is a good city for couples to visit. Couples can wander down the waterfront or take a stroll through Point Pleasant Park. The city also has number of romantic restaurants and hotels.

Pittsburgh is not the best destination for a couple to visit. There are a few good date night activities like taking river cruises, enjoying dinner and show, or going to a Pirate's game.

Is Pittsburgh or Halifax Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Halifax is a nice place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Pittsburgh is not a good destination for backpackers.

It's common for backpackers to visit Halifax. There's actually a decent number of hostels around town for backpackers and budget travelers.

Pittsburgh is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's usually overlooked by backpackers, but there is some cheap accommodation in town.

Is Pittsburgh or Halifax Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Pittsburgh and Halifax both offer notable public transit to get you around.

While Pittsburgh offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are bus and lightrail options through the city's downtown. There's also the unique incline, which is an experience worth doing.

Halifax has a few public transit options. There are buses around town as well as a ferry to Dartmouth.

Is Pittsburgh or Halifax a more walkable city?

Pittsburgh and Halifax are notable when it comes to walkability.

Pittsburgh is a somewhat walkable city. Some of the attractions are spread out, but if you're willing to do a bit of walking, it's possible to get around on foot.

Halifax is somewhat walkable. It's a compact town that's relatively easy to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Pittsburgh Worth Visiting? and Is Halifax Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Halifax or Pittsburgh?

How long in Pittsburgh or Halifax?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Pittsburgh and Halifax. You can spend similar amounts of time exploring each one. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Halifax than Pittsburgh 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 Halifax.

One day in Pittsburgh or Halifax?

In Pittsburgh, you'll find nightlife and food. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

With museums and nightlife around the friendly city of Halifax, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Pittsburgh or Halifax?

In Pittsburgh, you'll find food 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 Pittsburgh has to offer.

With nightlife and food around the destination of Halifax, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Five days in Pittsburgh or Halifax?

Pittsburgh 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.

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

A week in Pittsburgh or Halifax?

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

Halifax 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America, The Best G Adventures Tours to Canada, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Vancouver.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Pittsburgh or Halifax?

Halifax has a larger population, and is about 12% larger than the population of Pittsburgh. When comparing the sizes of Pittsburgh and Halifax, 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.