A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Austin vs. Sacramento for Food, Nightlife, Attractions, and Backpackers

Should you visit Austin or Sacramento?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Austin or Sacramento, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Austin

Austin is a unconventional, lively, and entrepreneurial city. It's a big city with many activities to entertain visitors, too. This is beautiful destination to visit. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and live music.

Sacramento

Sacramento is a laid back, relaxed, and undiscovered city. It's also known for shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Austin and Sacramento: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Austin or Sacramento?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Austin than Sacramento. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Austin is more touristy than Sacramento and is popular for its live music scene, excellent Texas barbecue, authentic Mexican food, and vibrant student population. It is also well known for The Texas Capital. Sacramento is famous for its history and state capital.

How is Austin different from Sacramento?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Austin or Sacramento?

Both Austin and Sacramento have superb landmarks and museums for visitors.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Austin can be an interesting and educational experience. Austin has a number of great museums and sights including the Blanton Museum of Art, the Mexic-Arte Museum, and the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. There's also a huge supply of local art galleries. Perhaps the most notable landmark in town is the beautiful Texas Capital Building

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Sacramento. As the state capital, you'll find a number of historical and informational museums around town. You should check out the State Capital, as well as the California State Railroad Museum, the Crocker Museum of Art, Sutter's Fort State Historic Park, and the California Automobile Museum.

Is the Food Better in Austin or Sacramento? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Austin is very popular for its restaurants. Also, Sacramento is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Austin is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. It is credited with being the original food truck city and you'll find many diverse food truck options around town. There is also amazing Mexican food, world renowned Texas barbecue, and many modern restaurants that reflect the city's culinary influence.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Sacramento area. Casual restaurants with laid back atmospheres are what's most common around town. You'll also find a variety of international cuisines that include Korean and Vietnamese.

Is Austin or Sacramento Better for Nightlife?

Austin is very popular for nightlife and partying. Also, Sacramento is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its evening party scene.

Austin is a party destination, and you'll find plenty of activity all night long. It's nightlife is centered around its thriving live music scene. Head for Sixth Street for some of the most popular bars and clubs. There are also many music festivals and outdoor concerts, particularly during the summer months. Popular bars and clubs around town include the White Horse, the Rose Room, and Antone's Nightclub.

Sacramento has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There highest concentration of activities are found in Downtown Sacramento. You'll find bars, clubs and live music in the area. You can also head to midtown, which has performing arts and comedy shows.

Is Austin or Sacramento Better for Music?

Austin is very popular for its live music scene. However, Sacramento is not a live music destination.

With so many music venues, you're guaranteed a show any night of the week in Austin. Music is what gives this city its character. There are many live music venues, concerts, and music festivals to experience. Austin has influenced many music genres such as rock, blues, jazz, hip hop, punk, and country.

Sacramento is not a live music destination.

Is Austin or Sacramento Better for Hiking?

Austin is a decent place to visit for its hiking trails. However, Sacramento is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors include a hike while visiting Austin. Head just outside of town to explore a few great hiking spots right near town.

Sacramento is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Austin or Sacramento?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Sacramento and Austin.

Austin is a great destination for shopping. There are a number of local boutiques around town where you can enjoy shopping.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Sacramento. You'll find down-to-earth vendors who have reasonable prices and a great selection. Some of the most interesting shopping is found at the Old Sacramento Waterfront or along Folsom Boulevard.

Is Austin or Sacramento Better for Families?

Austin and Sacramento are both nice destinations for the whole family.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Austin. The city is a popular destination for young travelers, but there are also some family-friendly activities like Barton Springs, Zilker Park, and several natural swimming holes. There's a number of nice parks around town that are great for kids of all ages.

Sacramento offers lots of family activities. With the large number of families that live in the area, you'll a variety of kid-friendly activities. Options include smaller amusement parks like Funderland Amusement Park, museums like the Sacramento Children's Museum, and indoor trampoline parks. There's also Fairytale Town, which is an imagination filled playground.

Is Austin or Sacramento Better for Couples?

Austin is a nice place to visit for its romantic activities. However, Sacramento is lacking in good options for couples.

Austin makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Young couples will enjoy the city for its lively nightlife, fun music scene, and youthful vibe. There are also many outdoor areas where you can hike or explore. The restaurant scene is among the best as well.

Sacramento is not always the best place to visit for a couple. Picnics, nice restaurants, and shows make for enjoyable date activities while you're in town.

Is Austin or Sacramento Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Austin is a very popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Sacramento is lacking in good options for backpackers.

Many backpackers visit Austin. Although the city is relatively small, it does see a disproportionate number of backpackers. There are a couple of hostels in town as well.

Sacramento is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Although most backpackers skip this town for more popular destinations, there are a couple of hostels in town.

Is Austin or Sacramento Better for Students?

Austin is a very popular place for its student-friendly activities. However, Sacramento is not popular with students.

Austin is a great city to visit as a student. The city has a huge university, the University of Texas at Austin, and it is a young city with tons for international students. There is a great nightlife scene and plenty for students to see and do.

Sacramento is not popular with students.

Is Austin or Sacramento Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Austin and Sacramento.

Public transit is generally limited in Austin. There are city buses and a very limited lightrail system, but you really need a car to explore the city.

Public transit is mostly limited in Sacramento. There's both light rail and buses around town.

Is Austin or Sacramento a more walkable city?

Austin and Sacramento both are reasonable when exploring on foot.

Austin is generally not very walkable. The city, like most southern cities, isn't very walkable and it's important to have a car to get around. There are some downtown areas that are pedestrian-friendly.

Sacramento is generally not a very walkable city. You'll really want a car to get around town, but Midtown is one of the more walkable areas.

For even more information, also check out Is Austin Worth Visiting? and Is Sacramento Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Sacramento or Austin?

How long in Austin or Sacramento?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Austin than Sacramento 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 Austin.

One day in Austin or Sacramento?

With live music and food around the eccentric city of Austin, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Sacramento. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Austin or Sacramento?

With food and shopping around the destination of Austin, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Sacramento is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Austin or Sacramento?

Austin, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Sacramento. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Austin or Sacramento?

Austin is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the laid back destination of Sacramento. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Walking Tours in United States of America, The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, and The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Austin or Sacramento?

Austin has a larger population, and is about 45% larger than the population of Sacramento. When comparing the sizes of Austin and Sacramento, 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 Austin or Sacramento?

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 Austin or Sacramento in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Austin as well as Sacramento. The summer months attract visitors to Austin because of the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Sacramento this time of year.

In the summer, Austin is a little warmer than Sacramento. Typically, the summer temperatures in Austin in July average around 87°F (30°C), and Sacramento averages at about 76°F (24°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sacramento. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Austin this time of the year. In the summer, Austin often gets less sunshine than Sacramento. Austin gets 318 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sacramento receives 439 hours of full sun.

Austin usually gets more rain in July than Sacramento. Austin gets 1.9 inches (48 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Austin or Sacramento in the Autumn?

Both Sacramento and Austin are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Austin this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Sacramento for the shopping scene.

In October, Austin is generally a little warmer than Sacramento. Daily temperatures in Austin average around 73°F (23°C), and Sacramento fluctuates around 64°F (18°C).

It's quite sunny in Sacramento. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Austin. Austin usually receives less sunshine than Sacramento during autumn. Austin gets 214 hours of sunny skies, while Sacramento receives 300 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Austin usually receives more rain than Sacramento. Austin gets 3 inches (77 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Austin or Sacramento in the Winter?

Both Sacramento and Austin during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Austin for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Sacramento in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Austin is a little warmer than Sacramento in the winter. The daily temperature in Austin averages around 51°F (11°C) in January, and Sacramento fluctuates around 45°F (7°C).

In the winter, Austin often gets more sunshine than Sacramento. Austin gets 163 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sacramento receives 149 hours of full sun.

Austin usually gets less rain in January than Sacramento. Austin gets 1.9 inches (48 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 3.8 inches (97 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Austin or Sacramento in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Austin and Sacramento. Many visitors come to Austin in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Austin is a little warmer than Sacramento. Typically, the spring temperatures in Austin in April average around 71°F (22°C), and Sacramento averages at about 58°F (15°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sacramento this time of the year. In Austin, it's very sunny this time of the year. Austin usually receives less sunshine than Sacramento during spring. Austin gets 209 hours of sunny skies, while Sacramento receives 328 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Austin usually receives more rain than Sacramento. Austin gets 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 1.3 inches (32 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Sacramento and Austin