A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Roswell, New Mexico vs. Calgary for Attractions, Food, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Roswell, New Mexico or Calgary?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Roswell, New Mexico and Calgary. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Roswell, New Mexico

Roswell, New Mexico is a mysterious, infamous, and quirky town. And you can't forget about the food and museums. See Roswell, New Mexico travel costs.

Calgary

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

Roswell, New Mexico and Calgary: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Roswell, New Mexico or Calgary?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Calgary than Roswell, New Mexico, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Calgary is better known for its nightlife and shopping, while Roswell, New Mexico is more popular for its food. Calgary is more touristy than Roswell, New Mexico and is popular for its farming and oil industries as well as the Calgary Stampede. Also, Calgary is famous for Calgary Olympic Park. Roswell, New Mexico is well known for being the site of an alleged UFO crash.

How is Roswell, New Mexico different from Calgary?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Roswell, New Mexico or Calgary?

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Roswell, New Mexico and Calgary.

Roswell, New Mexico offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Most people stop in town specifically for the International UFO Museum and Research Center. It has a lot of information on the 1947 Roswell Crash and other supposed UFO incidents. Other museums in town include the Roswell UFO Spacewalk, the Roswell Museum, and the Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art.

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 Roswell, New Mexico or Calgary? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Roswell, New Mexico is a town with good options for its restaurant scene. However, Calgary is not particularly known for its local flavors and cuisine.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Roswell, New Mexico. It's a good place to grab lunch as there are many casual restaurants that serve everything from burgers to tacos or other Mexican dishes.

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 Roswell, New Mexico or Calgary Better for Nightlife?

Calgary is a good destination for nightlife and partying. However, Roswell, New Mexico is lacking in good options for its evening party scene.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Calgary. Visitors often head to Stephen Avenue Walk for its bars and pubs. There's also a decent theater scene around town.

Things get quiet in the evenings in Roswell, New Mexico. There's no real nightlife scene and many visitors stop over in route somewhere else.

Is the Shopping Better in Roswell, New Mexico or Calgary?

Calgary is a good destination for its shopping opportunities. However, Roswell, New Mexico is lacking in good options for its shopping areas.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Calgary. 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.

Roswell, New Mexico has some good spots for those that want to go shopping. You'll find the typical suburban chains where you can pick up essentials or food while you're in town.

Is Roswell, New Mexico or Calgary Better for Families?

Both Roswell, New Mexico and Calgary are notable family-friendly destinations.

Roswell, New Mexico is a family-friendly town. Kids who enjoy a mystery will appreciate a visit to the International UFO Museum and Research Center. There's also the Spring River Park and Zoo which has native animals and a carousel.

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 Roswell, New Mexico or Calgary Better for Couples?

Calgary is a good destination for its romantic activities. However, Roswell, New Mexico is lacking in good 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.

Roswell, New Mexico is not always the best place to visit for a couple. It's a bit outside the box as far as destinations go, so couples who enjoy the weird and quirky will enjoy a stop here.

Is Roswell, New Mexico or Calgary Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Calgary is a good destination for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Roswell, New Mexico is lacking in good options for backpackers.

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

Roswell, New Mexico is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Most people pass through in route to other destinations, and backpackers are no different.

Is Roswell, New Mexico or Calgary Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Calgary is a good destination for times when you don't have a car. However, Roswell, New Mexico is lacking in good 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 Roswell, New Mexico. There are buses, but it's easier to have your own car.

Is Roswell, New Mexico or Calgary a more walkable city?

Roswell, New Mexico is a town with good options for its high level of walkability. However, Calgary is not particularly known for its ease of walking around.

Roswell, New Mexico is a somewhat walkable place. The historic district is compact and walkable.

Calgary is generally not a very walkable town. 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 Roswell, New Mexico Worth Visiting? and Is Calgary Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Calgary or Roswell, New Mexico?

How long in Roswell, New Mexico or Calgary?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Roswell, New Mexico 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 Roswell, New Mexico. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

Couples should spend more time in Calgary than Roswell, New Mexico. 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 Roswell, New Mexico 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 Roswell, New Mexico or Calgary?

In Roswell, New Mexico, you'll find food and museums. This town offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

In Calgary, many people enjoy the museums and nightlife that this destination offers. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Roswell, New Mexico or Calgary?

In Roswell, New Mexico, you'll find museums and food. 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 Roswell, New Mexico has to offer.

Many people visit Calgary for a weekend. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Calgary, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Roswell, New Mexico or Calgary?

Roswell, New Mexico 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.

The destination of Calgary offers shopping and museums. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Roswell, New Mexico or Calgary?

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

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Calgary. This city offers something for everyone. 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Northern Lights Tours in Alaska, The Best Tours Under $1000 in 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 Roswell, New Mexico and Calgary, we can see that Calgary is more expensive. And not only is Roswell, New Mexico much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Roswell, New Mexico would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Roswell, New Mexico 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 Calgary would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Calgary than you might in Roswell, New Mexico.

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

Which is Bigger, Roswell, New Mexico or Calgary?

Calgary has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Roswell, New Mexico. When comparing the sizes of Roswell, New Mexico 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.