A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Raleigh vs. Edmonton for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Raleigh or Edmonton?

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

Should I visit Raleigh or Edmonton? 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.

Raleigh

Raleigh is a suburban-style, friendly, and southern city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for nightlife, food, and museums. See Raleigh travel costs.

Edmonton

Edmonton is a friendly, cultural, and authentic city. Other popular activities here include museums, nightlife, and shopping. See Edmonton travel costs.

Raleigh and Edmonton: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Raleigh or Edmonton?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Raleigh than Edmonton. While Edmonton is larger than Raleigh, Raleigh has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Raleigh is better known for its food and big city activities, while Edmonton is more popular for its museums and attractions and shopping. Raleigh is well known for its many museums and being the home to North Carolina State University. Also, Raleigh is famous for North Carolina State University. Edmonton is well known for its many festivals and lively personality.

How is Raleigh different from Edmonton?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Raleigh or Edmonton?

Edmonton is well known for its museums and landmarks. Also, Raleigh is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

Edmonton offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. You'll find a number of good museums around town such as the Royal Alberta Museum, Muttart Conservatory, the Alberta Aviation Museum, and the Art Gallery of Alberta.

Raleigh is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. As the state capital, there are a number of free museums in the area. There are also some kid-friendly options and other activities that are affiliated with the colleges and universities. Popular options include the NC Museum of Natural Sciences (free), the NC Museum of History (free), the NC Museum of Art (free), and Marbles Kids Museum.

Is the Food Better in Raleigh or Edmonton? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Raleigh is very good for its local cuisine and restaurants. However, Edmonton is not a good city for its restaurants.

Raleigh offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. In addition to the standard chain restaurants, you'll find a number of local eateries with great southern dishes. Try some southern classics like barbecue, pimento cheese, and fried chicken and waffles. There are also good international options including Nepalese, Laotian, and Ethiopian flavors.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Edmonton. You'll find a mix of casual cafes, international eateries, and more upscale dining options.

Is Raleigh or Edmonton Better for Nightlife?

Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in Raleigh and Edmonton.

Raleigh has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. Head to downtown Raleigh or the areas around NC State University for some of the best nightlife. Trivia nights and happy hours are popular and you'll find breweries popping up in many places.

If you're looking for night time activities Edmonton has a few options to choose from. There's a mix of nightclubs, bars, and breweries around town. Head to Jasper Avenue for the high end clubs or check out a live show at one of the active theaters around town.

Is the Shopping Better in Raleigh or Edmonton?

Edmonton is well known for its shopping areas. However, Raleigh is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Edmonton. The city is home to the West Edmonton Mall, which is the largest shopping mall in Canada, and among the largest in the world. The mall includes hundreds of shops, restaurants, a hotel, ice rink, movie theaters, an aquarium, and Galaxyland, which is one of the largest indoor amusement parks in the world. The mall is divided into themed sections that represent iconic places from around the world such as Europa Boulevard and Bourbon Street.

Raleigh is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Raleigh or Edmonton Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Raleigh or Edmonton.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Raleigh. For such a small city, Raleigh has a number of unique kid-friendly activities like the popular Pullen Park and Marbles Kids' Museum. Pullen Park has small rides and a playground that are perfect for young kids. There's also the NC Museum of Natural History which is free and fun to explore with kids.

Edmonton offers lots of family activities. Many families live in town so if you're visiting for a few days you'll find plenty to do with kids. Most of the activities are concentrated in the downtown areas and along the south side of the North Saskatchewan River. The whole family will enjoy a visit to Telus World of Science. There's also the Edmonton Valley Zoo, the Alberta Aviation Museum, and Galaxyland, as well as many other activities.

Is Raleigh or Edmonton Better for Couples?

Edmonton is a popular place for couples. However, Raleigh is not particularly known for romance.

Edmonton is a good city for couples to visit. There's a good theater scene, so you can enjoy dinner and a show. There are also quaint cafes, mellow breweries, and plenty of cultural activities like art museums.

Raleigh is not the best destination for a couple to visit. While it's often overlooked by couples who want a weekend away, there are a number of museums and some nice restaurants to explore.

Is Raleigh or Edmonton Better for Students?

Raleigh is a well-known place for students. However, Edmonton is not popular with students.

Raleigh is very popular with students. The city has a diverse student population with many nearby universities and colleges.

Edmonton is not popular with students.

Is Raleigh or Edmonton Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Edmonton is a popular place for its public transit. However, Raleigh is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

You'll find some public transit in Edmonton, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. The city has both bus and light rail systems.

Public transit is quite limited in Raleigh. The city's public transportation options are limited to a few bus lines that are mostly used by students.

Is Raleigh or Edmonton a more walkable city?

Edmonton is a popular place for its ease of walking around. However, Raleigh is not particularly known for its walkability.

Edmonton is a somewhat walkable city. There are parts of the city that are very walkable.

Raleigh is generally not a very walkable city. The city is somewhat walkable in the downtown area, but everywhere else you'll need a car.

For even more information, also check out Is Raleigh Worth Visiting? and Is Edmonton Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Edmonton or Raleigh?

How long in Raleigh or Edmonton?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Edmonton than Raleigh 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 Edmonton.

One day in Raleigh or Edmonton?

The city of Raleigh offers nightlife and food. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

In Edmonton, 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.

A weekend in Raleigh or Edmonton?

Raleigh is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Raleigh, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

In Edmonton, 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 Edmonton has to offer.

Five days in Raleigh or Edmonton?

Raleigh is a popular choice for travelers. Five days 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Edmonton 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.

A week in Raleigh or Edmonton?

Raleigh is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

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

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, The Best Contiki Tours to Canada, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Canada.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Raleigh or Edmonton?

Edmonton has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Raleigh. When comparing the sizes of Raleigh and Edmonton, 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.