A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Santa Monica vs. Halifax for Families, Food, Nightlife, and Couples

Should you visit Santa Monica or Halifax?

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

Should I visit Santa Monica or Halifax? 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.

Santa Monica

Santa Monica is a lively, funfilled, and energetic town. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food. See Santa Monica travel costs.

Halifax

Halifax is a historical, friendly, and cultural city. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping. See Halifax travel costs.

Santa Monica and Halifax: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Santa Monica or Halifax?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Santa Monica than Halifax. While Halifax is larger than Santa Monica, Santa Monica has more sights and attractions for tourists. Santa Monica is more touristy than Halifax and is popular for its active lifestyle and fun-filled activities. It is also well known for the Santa Monica Pier. Halifax is famous for its maritime past.

How is Santa Monica different from Halifax?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Santa Monica or Halifax?

Plenty of people visit the nice sights and museums in both Santa Monica and Halifax.

Santa Monica offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There's a thriving arts scene and a number of museums around town. Check out the Museum of Flying, the California Heritage Museum, or the Santa Monica History Museum.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Halifax. 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 Santa Monica or Halifax? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Santa Monica is a very popular place for its restaurants. Also, Halifax is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Santa Monica. You'll find a diversity of restaurants in the area, many of which make use of the town's many farmer's markets. The restaurant scene has a beachy vibe with a lot of outdoor dining opportunities. There are also a range of cuisines to choose from such as Mexican, Italian, casual, and upscale.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Halifax. 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 Santa Monica or Halifax Better for Nightlife?

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

Santa Monica has a large number of nightlife venues. There's a relaxed and laid back vibe to the nightlife scene. Many venues offer outdoor seating and live music in a casual setting. You can hang out on a patio and enjoy the California climate while you sip cold drinks and the beach town atmosphere.

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 Santa Monica or Halifax Better for Beaches?

Santa Monica is renowned for its beaches. However, Halifax is not a beach destination.

The beaches in Santa Monica are among the best in the world. Santa Monica Beach is large and lined with bike trails. It's also filled with activity and you'll find many water sports, beach volleyball, and surfing in the area. There's also the famous Santa Monica Pier, which has an amusement park aquarium, Ferris wheal, dining, and shopping.

Halifax is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Santa Monica or Halifax?

Santa Monica is a very popular place for shopping. Also, Halifax is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping opportunities.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Santa Monica. It's easy to pass the time shopping in Santa Monica. There are independent vendors, fashion boutiques, and art galleries. Head to Montana Avenue or Main Street for some of the best shopping.

Halifax offers some nice shopping areas. You'll find a mix of boutiques, artisan shops, large malls, and shopping centers.

Is Santa Monica or Halifax Better for Families?

Santa Monica is renowned for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Halifax is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Santa Monica is an amazing family-friendly town to visit. Many families spend their days hanging out on the beaches, soaking up the sun, and even trying to surf. There's a boardwalk as well as bike paths that are perfect for people watching. You should also check out the Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier, which is a thrilling amusement park.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Halifax. 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 Santa Monica or Halifax Better for Couples?

Santa Monica is a very popular place for romance. Also, Halifax is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its romantic activities.

Santa Monica makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Fun days on the beach, peaceful walks at sunset, and a wild nightlife scene make this the perfect couples destination for couples who enjoy activity and excitement.

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

Is Santa Monica or Halifax Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Santa Monica and Halifax are nice destinations for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Santa Monica. There's no shortage of activities in the area, whether you're into surfing, partying, or sunbathing. There's also at least one hostel that's great for budget travelers and backpackers.

Halifax is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There's actually a decent number of hostels around town for backpackers and budget travelers.

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

Santa Monica is a very popular place for times when you don't have a car. Also, Halifax is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

Public transit in Santa Monica is fairly effecient and thorough. The Metro E Line connects the city to downtown Los Angeles. There's also the Big Blue Bus as well the Santa Monica Circuit, which are small electric carts that offer free rides between Wilshire Boulevard and Marine Street, and from the ocean to Fifth Street.

You'll find some public transit in Halifax, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are buses around town as well as a ferry to Dartmouth.

Is Santa Monica or Halifax a more walkable city?

Santa Monica is a very popular place for its walkability. Also, Halifax is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its high level of walkability.

Santa Monica is very walkable. The city is very walkable, particularly in the more touristy areas.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Halifax or Santa Monica?

How long in Santa Monica or Halifax?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Santa Monica and Halifax. In our opinion, Santa Monica has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Santa Monica than Halifax. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Santa Monica, and 2-3 days is enough time in Halifax.

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

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

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

One day in Santa Monica or Halifax?

In Santa Monica, you'll find nightlife and food. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. One reason most visitors come is for the beaches. 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 Halifax, many people enjoy the food and shopping that this cultural city offers. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in Santa Monica or Halifax?

In Santa Monica, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Most people come for the beaches. One reason most visitors come is for the beaches. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Santa Monica has to offer.

Halifax is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. So, a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Five days in Santa Monica or Halifax?

Santa Monica is a great place to explore. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. 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.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the historical destination of Halifax. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

A week in Santa Monica or Halifax?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Santa Monica. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Santa Monica. One reason most visitors come is for the beaches. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Halifax is a popular place to visit. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage, 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 Santa Monica and Halifax, we can see that Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica Expensive? and Is Halifax Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Santa Monica or Halifax?

Halifax has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Santa Monica. When comparing the sizes of Santa Monica 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.

When is the best time to visit Santa Monica or Halifax?

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 Santa Monica or Halifax in the Summer?

Both Halifax and Santa Monica during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Santa Monica for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, many visitors come to Halifax in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Santa Monica is generally a little warmer than Halifax. Daily temperatures in Santa Monica average around 70°F (21°C), and Halifax fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

Santa Monica usually gets less rain in July than Halifax. Santa Monica gets 0 inches (0 mm) of rain, while Halifax receives 99 mm (3.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Santa Monica or Halifax in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Santa Monica and Halifax. Many visitors come to Santa Monica in the autumn for the shopping scene. Furthermore, most visitors come to Halifax for the shopping scene during these months.

Santa Monica is much warmer than Halifax in the autumn. The daily temperature in Santa Monica averages around 67°F (20°C) in October, and Halifax fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).

Halifax receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Santa Monica usually receives less rain than Halifax. Santa Monica gets 0.2 inches (6 mm) of rain, while Halifax receives 121 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Santa Monica or Halifax in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Santa Monica as well as Halifax. Most visitors come to Santa Monica for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Additionally, the winter months attract visitors to Halifax because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Halifax can be very cold. In the winter, Santa Monica is much warmer than Halifax. Typically, the winter temperatures in Santa Monica in January average around 57°F (14°C), and Halifax averages at about -4°C (24°F).

It's quite rainy in Halifax. Santa Monica usually gets less rain in January than Halifax. Santa Monica gets 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain, while Halifax receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Santa Monica or Halifax in the Spring?

Both Halifax and Santa Monica are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Santa Monica because of the beaches.

It's quite cold in Halifax in the spring. In April, Santa Monica is generally much warmer than Halifax. Daily temperatures in Santa Monica average around 61°F (16°C), and Halifax fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Halifax. In April, Santa Monica usually receives less rain than Halifax. Santa Monica gets 0.2 inches (4 mm) of rain, while Halifax receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Halifax and Santa Monica