A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Acapulco de Juarez vs. Santa Monica for Nightlife, Beaches, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Monica?

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

Should I visit Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Monica? 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.

Acapulco de Juarez

Acapulco de Juarez is a well-known, vibrant, and built-up city. And you can't forget about the scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and shopping.

Santa Monica

Santa Monica is a funfilled, energetic, and active town. Other popular activities here include beaches, shopping, and museums.

Acapulco de Juarez and Santa Monica: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Monica?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Santa Monica than Acapulco de Juarez. While Acapulco de Juarez is larger than Santa Monica, Santa Monica has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Santa Monica is more popular for its museums, food, beaches, and shopping, while Acapulco de Juarez is known for its nightlife, resorts, and scuba diving & snorkeling. Santa Monica is more touristy than Acapulco de Juarez and is known for its active lifestyle and fun-filled activities. It is also home to the Santa Monica Pier. Acapulco de Juarez is popular for its large hotels, golf courses, and lively bars and clubs.

How is Acapulco de Juarez different from Santa Monica?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Monica?

Santa Monica is a popular place for its museums and landmarks. However, Acapulco de Juarez is a city with minimal options for its historical sights.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Santa Monica. 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.

While most people don't head to Acapulco de Juarez specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. There are a couple of history and cultural museums in the city that can be a nice way to spend a rainy day.

Is the Food Better in Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Monica? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Santa Monica is a great destination for its restaurant scene. Also, Acapulco de Juarez is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Dining out in Santa Monica is an experience not to be missed. 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.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Acapulco de Juarez. The local cuisine is influenced by the area's indigenous cultures combined with Hispanic influences. Seafood is common as well.

Is Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Monica Better for Nightlife?

Acapulco de Juarez is an amazing city to visit for nightlife and partying. Also, Santa Monica is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its evening party scene.

Acapulco de Juarez has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. The nightlife scene is part of what originally put this city on the map. Spring break is a prime time for partying and you'll find many bars along Costera Street, with the liveliest around Condesa Beach.

Santa Monica has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. 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.

Is Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Monica Better for Resorts?

Acapulco de Juarez is an amazing city to visit for its resorts. However, Santa Monica is not a resort destination.

For the ultimate resort vacation, Acapulco de Juarez is a great choice. You'll find no shortage of resorts in the city, most with large pools and beachfront views.

Santa Monica is not a resort destination.

Is Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Monica Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Acapulco de Juarez is notable for its diving and snorkeling. However, Santa Monica is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Many visitors partake in scuba diving or snorkeing while visiting Acapulco de Juarez. There are plenty of dive shops that offer snorkeling and scuba diving trips to premier spots.

Santa Monica is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Monica Better for Beaches?

Santa Monica is an unbeatable place for the beach. Also, Acapulco de Juarez is still popular, but not quite as popular for its beaches.

Travelers come from around the world to visit the beaches in Santa Monica. 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.

Acapulco de Juarez is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. The beaches are well developed with restaurants, hotels and bars lining the long stretches of sand. You'll find all kinds of water sports and activities nearby and several of the most popular beaches include Condesa Beach, Caleta Beach, and Icacos Beach.

Is the Shopping Better in Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Monica?

Santa Monica is a great destination for its shopping areas. Also, Acapulco de Juarez is still popular, but not quite as popular for shopping.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in 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.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Acapulco de Juarez. You'll find tons of beachside shops where you can pick up any beach supplies you may need as well as souvenirs from your trip. The city also has retail outlets and shopping centers.

Is Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Monica Better for Families?

Santa Monica is an unbeatable place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Acapulco de Juarez is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

As it has a large number of activities for kids, Santa Monica is a very family-friendly destination. 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.

Acapulco de Juarez is a very family-friendly destination. It may have been made famous by spring breakers, but families with kids will find plenty to do as well. There are water parks, playgrounds, museums and, of course, the beach.

Is Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Monica Better for Couples?

Acapulco de Juarez is an amazing city to visit for its romantic activities. Also, Santa Monica is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for couples.

Acapulco de Juarez makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. Whether you're looking for an active nightlife scene, or romantic sunset walks, then this city has it all. The beach is active and beautiful, there are also botanical gardens and wonderful restaurants to experience.

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.

Is Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Monica Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Santa Monica is a popular place for backpackers. However, Acapulco de Juarez is a city with minimal options for backpackers and budget travelers.

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.

Acapulco de Juarez is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are more hotels and resorts than hostels, so most backpackers head elsewhere. There is a young crowd during the spring break season.

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

Acapulco de Juarez is a popular place for its public transit. However, Santa Monica does not have public transit.

Acapulco de Juarez has a few public transit options. There's an elaborate and fun bus system that travels around the city.

Santa Monica does not have public transit. 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.

Is Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Monica a more walkable city?

Santa Monica is a great destination for its ease of walking around. Also, Acapulco de Juarez is still popular, but not quite as popular for its walkability.

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

Acapulco de Juarez is somewhat walkable. The downtown and beachfront areas are the most walkable and many sights are within a short distance of each other.

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

Should I spend more time in Santa Monica or Acapulco de Juarez?

How long in Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Monica?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Acapulco de Juarez and Santa Monica. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Acapulco de Juarez than in Santa Monica. Usually, 3-5 days is a good amount of time for Acapulco de Juarez, and 1-3 days is enough time in Santa Monica.

Families should spend more time in Santa Monica than Acapulco de Juarez. 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 Acapulco de Juarez than Santa Monica. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Acapulco de Juarez 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 Acapulco de Juarez 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 Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Monica?

In Acapulco de Juarez, many people enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling that this well-known city offers. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. 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.

Visitors enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the active destination of Santa Monica. This town offers something for everyone. Most people visit for the beaches. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A weekend in Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Monica?

Acapulco de Juarez is a fun place to experience. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. Lots of people come for the nightlife. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring.

Santa Monica is a popular place to visit. Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the energetic town of Santa Monica. Most people visit for the beaches. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Santa Monica has to offer.

Five days in Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Monica?

In Acapulco de Juarez, many people enjoy the shopping and nightlife that this well-known destination offers. Most people come for the beaches. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Lots of people come for the nightlife. So, five days is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Many people enjoy the food and shopping when visiting Santa Monica. Most people come for the beaches. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people visit for the beaches. 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.

A week in Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Monica?

Acapulco de Juarez is a popular place to visit. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. 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.

Santa Monica is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. It offers something for everyone. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Acapulco de Juarez and Santa Monica, we can see that Santa Monica is more expensive. And not only is Acapulco de Juarez much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Acapulco de Juarez would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Acapulco de Juarez 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 Acapulco de Juarez.

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

Which is Bigger, Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Monica?

Acapulco de Juarez has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Santa Monica. When comparing the sizes of Acapulco de Juarez and Santa Monica, 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 Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Monica?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Monica in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Acapulco de Juarez and Santa Monica. The summer months attract visitors to Acapulco de Juarez because of the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, the beaches and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Santa Monica this time of year.

In July, Acapulco de Juarez is generally a little warmer than Santa Monica. Daily temperatures in Acapulco de Juarez average around 29°C (83°F), and Santa Monica fluctuates around 70°F (21°C).

Acapulco de Juarez gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Acapulco de Juarez usually receives more rain than Santa Monica. Acapulco de Juarez gets 209 mm (8.2 in) of rain, while Santa Monica receives 0 inches (0 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Monica in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Acapulco de Juarez as well as Santa Monica. The shopping scene are the main draw to Acapulco de Juarez this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Santa Monica for the shopping scene.

Acapulco de Juarez is a little warmer than Santa Monica in the autumn. The daily temperature in Acapulco de Juarez averages around 28°C (83°F) in October, and Santa Monica fluctuates around 67°F (20°C).

Acapulco de Juarez receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Acapulco de Juarez usually gets more rain in October than Santa Monica. Acapulco de Juarez gets 145 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Santa Monica receives 0.2 inches (6 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Monica in the Winter?

Both Santa Monica and Acapulco de Juarez are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Acapulco de Juarez for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Santa Monica in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In the winter, Acapulco de Juarez is much warmer than Santa Monica. Typically, the winter temperatures in Acapulco de Juarez in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Santa Monica averages at about 57°F (14°C).

In January, Acapulco de Juarez usually receives less rain than Santa Monica. Acapulco de Juarez gets 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Santa Monica receives 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Monica in the Spring?

Both Santa Monica and Acapulco de Juarez during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Acapulco de Juarez in the spring for the beaches. Also, most visitors come to Santa Monica for the beaches during these months.

In April, Acapulco de Juarez is generally much warmer than Santa Monica. Daily temperatures in Acapulco de Juarez average around 27°C (81°F), and Santa Monica fluctuates around 61°F (16°C).

Acapulco de Juarez usually gets more rain in April than Santa Monica. Acapulco de Juarez gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Santa Monica receives 0.2 inches (4 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Santa Monica and Acapulco de Juarez