A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Santa Fe vs. Calgary for Food, Attractions, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Santa Fe or Calgary?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Santa Fe and Calgary can help you decide which place is right for you.

Santa Fe

Santa Fe is a historic, charming, and artsy historic town. Santa Fe is a beautiful place to visit, too. This destination also has one of those special and quaint feelings. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and skiing. See Santa Fe travel costs.

Calgary

Calgary is a authentic, western, and local city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and shopping. See Calgary travel costs.

Santa Fe and Calgary: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Santa Fe or Calgary?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Santa Fe than Calgary. While Calgary is larger than Santa Fe, Santa Fe has more sights and attractions for tourists. Santa Fe is more popular for its skiing, food, music, historical sights, hiking, shopping, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Calgary is known for its nightlife. Calgary is more touristy than Santa Fe and is popular for its farming and oil industries as well as the Calgary Stampede. Santa Fe is popular for its strong arts scene, its Pueblo-style architecture, and its unique local cuisine. It is also home to The Museum of New Mexico Complex.

How is Santa Fe different from Calgary?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Santa Fe or Calgary Better for Skiing?

Santa Fe is a historic town with good options for winter skiing. However, Calgary is not a skiing destination.

For winter sports and skiing, Santa Fe is a great destination to visit. There are a few good ski resorts not far from Santa Fe. Popular options include Taos Ski Valley, Ski Santa Fe, Pajarito Mountain Ski Area, and Sipapu Ski and Summer Resort.

Calgary is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Santa Fe or Calgary?

You'll find a number of good museums and attractions in both Calgary and Santa Fe.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Santa Fe. Head to the Museum of New Mexico Complex, which has four museums that give a great overview of the history of the area. Also make sure you visit the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi and the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum.

Calgary is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. It's worth visiting the Calgary Zoo, Fort Calgary, the Hangar Flight Museum, and Heritage Park, among others.

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

Santa Fe is well known for its restaurant scene. However, Calgary is not particularly known for its local flavors and cuisine.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Santa Fe. There are many local restaurants that use regional ingredients and offer great flavors. There are also cafes and bistros where you can enjoy breakfast or brunch. Local dishes include sopaipillas made with Native American fry bread, slow-cooked beans, and anything made with red and green chili peppers.

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 Santa Fe or Calgary Better for Nightlife?

Calgary is very good for its evening party scene. However, Santa Fe is not known for nightlife.

If you're looking for night time activities Calgary has a few options to choose from. Visitors often head to Stephen Avenue Walk for its bars and pubs. There's also a decent theater scene around town.

Most people don't head to Santa Fe specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. While most of the town quiets down at night, the city has a few areas that stay active late into the night. Live music is popular and diverse. It often includes different genres such as the blues, country, salsa or bluegrass.

Is Santa Fe or Calgary Better for Music?

Santa Fe is a historic town with good options for its live music scene. However, Calgary is not a live music destination.

You'll find some good live music in Santa Fe. The town has an eclectic music scene that includes a mix of the blues, country, Latin American music, and bluegrass.

Calgary is not a live music destination.

Is Santa Fe or Calgary Better for its Old Town?

Santa Fe is well known for its old town. However, Calgary does not have a historic old town.

Santa Fe is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. As the 2nd oldest city in the United States, the old town historic district is filled with charm. The Pueblo-style buildings are brightly colored and there are churches throughout.

Calgary does not have a historic old town.

Is Santa Fe or Calgary Better for Hiking?

Santa Fe is a historic town with good options for its hiking experiences. However, Calgary is not a hiking destination.

Plenty of visitors go hiking around Santa Fe. Because it's located right by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, there are many beautiful hikes right outside of town. Popular trails include the Picacho Peak Trail and the Nambe Lake Trail. Bandelier National also has many places to hike.

Calgary is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Santa Fe or Calgary?

Santa Fe is well known for its shopping opportunities. Also, Calgary is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

Santa Fe is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. There are many unique shops and art galleries that feature local artists and craftsmen.

Calgary has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. 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 Santa Fe or Calgary More Beautiful?

Santa Fe is a historic town with good options for its scenery and beauty. However, Calgary is not a destination known for its beauty.

Santa Fe is a beautiful place to visit, too. This cultural city has a unique beauty that is hard to find anywhere else.

Calgary is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Santa Fe or Calgary Better for Families?

You'll find good kid-friendly activities in either Santa Fe or Calgary.

Santa Fe offers lots of family activities. There are a few kids' museums in Santa Fe including the Santa Fe Children's Museum and the Meow Wolf Art Complex. Kids also enjoy the botanical gardens at Museum Hill and Bandelier National Monument just outside of the city.

Calgary is a family-friendly place to visit. 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 Santa Fe or Calgary Better for Couples?

Both Santa Fe and Calgary are good destinations to visit as a couple.

Santa Fe is a good historic town for couples to visit. There are many romantic inns around town, each with a lot of character. The town also has a lot of atmosphere that makes for a romantic getaway.

Calgary is a nice destination for couples. 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.

Is Santa Fe or Calgary Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Calgary is very good for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Santa Fe is not known for backpackers.

Calgary is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. A surprising number of backpackers end up passing through town, so you'll find a handful of hostels to choose from.

Santa Fe is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There's a hostel in town as well as several campgrounds.

Is Santa Fe or Calgary Better for Students?

Santa Fe is a historic town with good options for students. However, Calgary is not popular with students.

Santa Fe is popular with students. There are a few colleges and universities in town and students will appreciate the reasonable cost of living and outdoor activities nearby.

Calgary is not popular with students.

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

Calgary is very good for times when you don't have a car. However, Santa Fe is not known for its public transit.

While Calgary offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. The public transportation system is relatively efficient with both light rail and buses.

Public transit is generally limited in Santa Fe. There is a bus system - the Santa Fe Trails Bus Service.

Is Santa Fe or Calgary a more walkable city?

Santa Fe is well known for its high level of walkability. However, Calgary is not particularly known for its ease of walking around.

Santa Fe is a very walkable historic town. The historic district is walkable and it's easy to visit most of the tourist sights in this area on foot.

Calgary is generally not a very walkable historic 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 Santa Fe Worth Visiting? and Is Calgary Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Calgary or Santa Fe?

How long in Santa Fe or Calgary?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Santa Fe or Calgary to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Santa Fe than Calgary because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Santa Fe, and 1-2 days is enough time in Calgary.

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

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

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

One day in Santa Fe or Calgary?

In Santa Fe, you'll find shopping and museums. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This historic town offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

The city of Calgary offers nightlife and shopping. 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 Santa Fe or Calgary?

In Santa Fe, you'll find museums and skiing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Visiting the old town is also a must. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Santa Fe has to offer.

Calgary 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 Calgary, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Santa Fe or Calgary?

Santa Fe is a great place to explore. It is common to spend five days here. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Five days is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Santa Fe has to offer. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Calgary 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.

A week in Santa Fe or Calgary?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Santa Fe. Many people enjoy the live music and food when visiting Santa Fe. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Calgary 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Canada.

When comparing the travel costs between Santa Fe and Calgary, we can see that Santa Fe is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Santa Fe or Calgary?

Calgary has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Santa Fe. When comparing the sizes of Santa Fe 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.