A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Austin vs. Santa Barbara for Food, Nightlife, Hiking, and Couples

Should you visit Austin or Santa Barbara?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Austin or Santa Barbara, 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 eccentric, unconventional, and lively city. With a variety of activities, it's a big city. This is a very beautiful destination, too. Other popular activities here include food, shopping, and museums.

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is a wealthy, opulent, and pristine coastal town. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. This is a quaint and attractive place to visit, too. It's also known for nightlife, food, and beaches.

Austin and Santa Barbara: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Austin or Santa Barbara?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Santa Barbara than Austin. While Austin is larger than Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Santa Barbara is better known for its resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, historical sights, hiking, shopping, big city activities, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Austin is more popular for its food, nightlife, and music. Santa Barbara is more touristy than Austin and is known for its historic missions, pristine beaches, world-class surfing, and scenic hikes that are full of coastal views. Also, Santa Barbara is famous for The Old Mission Santa Barbara. Austin is well known for its live music scene, excellent Texas barbecue, authentic Mexican food, and vibrant student population.

How is Austin different from Santa Barbara?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara?

Both Austin and Santa Barbara have very good 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 Santa Barbara. The city is famous for its missions, with Mission Santa Barbara being the most iconic. Also visit the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and Sea Center.

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

Austin is renowned for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Santa Barbara is not as famous, but is still a good coastal town to visit for its restaurants.

For foodies, Austin is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. 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.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Santa Barbara. The city is best known for its fine dining, particularly if you enjoy seafood. The scallops, oysters, clam chowder, and sea urchin (when available) are all world class. Head for a waterfront setting for the best views and some of the freshest seafood.

Is Austin or Santa Barbara Better for Nightlife?

Austin is renowned for its evening party scene. Also, Santa Barbara is not as famous, but is still a good coastal town to visit for nightlife.

Austin is a destination that you simply have to visit at least once for nightlife. 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.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Santa Barbara. For the best nightlife in the city, head downtown to State Street. This is where you'll find the most active bars and biggest crowds. There's a large student population in town, so you'll find much of the nightlife scene is focused on the younger population.

Is Austin or Santa Barbara Better for Music?

Austin is renowned for its music scene. However, Santa Barbara is not a live music destination.

In Austin you'll find nightly musicians performing at a variety of venues. 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.

Santa Barbara is not a live music destination.

Is Austin or Santa Barbara Better for Resorts?

Santa Barbara is a great destination for its resorts. However, Austin is not a resort destination.

Santa Barbara is a popular resort destination that attracts visitors from everywhere. Many people enjoy the luxurious vacation rentals around Santa Barbara, but there are also a number of high end resorts including the Rosewood Miramar Beach Resort, The Ritz-Carlton, and Hotel Californian.

Austin is not a resort destination.

Is Austin or Santa Barbara Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Santa Barbara is a coastal town with a few options for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Austin is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Santa Barbara has a few snorkeling spots. Snorkeling areas not far from town include Refugio State Beach and Tajiguas. You'll see a few fish, beautiful rocks, and anemones that are unique and impressive.

Austin is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Austin or Santa Barbara Better for Beaches?

Santa Barbara is a world-class destination for its beaches. However, Austin is not a beach destination.

The beaches in Santa Barbara are among the best in the world. The city is famous for its pristine, sandy beaches. Whether you want to enjoy world class surfing or enjoy a gentle ocean setting, Santa Barbara has many options.

Austin is not a beach destination.

Is Austin or Santa Barbara Better for its Old Town?

Santa Barbara is a nice place to visit for its historic old town. However, Austin does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to Santa Barbara to see the historical old town. The city's downtown "Old Town" is a high end, pedestrian-friendly area with plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment options.

Austin does not have a historic old town.

Is Austin or Santa Barbara Better for Hiking?

Santa Barbara is a world-class destination for its hiking experiences. However, Austin is a city with minimal options for hiking.

Known for its hiking, Santa Barbara draws a crowd to experience the nature and the trails. Just outside of town are countless hiking opportunities that offer spectacular ocean views. Popular hikes include Inspiration Point, San Ysidro Trail, and Cold Spring East Fork.

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

Is the Shopping Better in Austin or Santa Barbara?

Santa Barbara is a world-class destination for shopping. Also, Austin is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping opportunities.

Santa Barbara is a famous shopping destination with plenty of stores. The city is famous as a high end shopping destination. Head to State Street for a palm tree lined street with local boutiques.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Austin. There are a number of local boutiques around town where you can enjoy shopping.

Is Austin or Santa Barbara Better for Families?

Santa Barbara is a great destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Austin is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Santa Barbara is a very family-friendly place to visit. The city has some nice family-friendly activities including a zoo, some cool museums, and even whale watching. There are also many beautiful beaches where everyone can run around and play, as well as parks and other outdoor settings. For animal-lovers, there are wildlife centers and sea life opportunities.

Austin offers lots of family activities. 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.

Is Austin or Santa Barbara Better for Couples?

Santa Barbara is a world-class destination for romance. Also, Austin is still popular, but not quite as popular for its romantic activities.

Santa Barbara has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. The town is a stunningly beautiful destination with beautiful beaches, excellent shopping, and nice resorts that make for a great honeymoon or romantic trip.

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.

Is Austin or Santa Barbara Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Austin is a well-known place for backpackers. However, Santa Barbara is not a good coastal town for backpackers and budget travelers.

Austin is a very popular city for backpackers and budget travelers. Although the city is relatively small, it does see a disproportionate number of backpackers. There are a couple of hostels in town as well.

Santa Barbara is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. The city isn't really known as a budget friendly destination, but there are a couple of hostels in the area. There's also a large student population with a fun nightlife scene.

Is Austin or Santa Barbara Better for Students?

Austin and Santa Barbara are very good places to visit for 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.

Students come from all over to stay in Santa Barbara. With a major university right in town, there's plenty of student life that international students or locals can enjoy.

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

Santa Barbara is a nice place to visit for its public transit. However, Austin is a city with minimal options for times when you don't have a car.

You'll find some public transit in Santa Barbara, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. Transit options include buses, trolleys and water taxis.

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

Is Austin or Santa Barbara a more walkable city?

Santa Barbara is a great destination for its walkability. However, Austin is a city with minimal options for its high level of walkability.

Santa Barbara is very walkable. The downtown area is very pedestrian-friendly and best explored on foot.

Austin is generally not a very walkable city. 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.

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

Should I spend more time in Santa Barbara or Austin?

How long in Austin or Santa Barbara?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Austin and Santa Barbara. In our opinion, Santa Barbara has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Santa Barbara than Austin. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

One day in Austin or Santa Barbara?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the unconventional destination of Austin. Your budget might influence how long you stay. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Santa Barbara. Hikers are also drawn to this area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Austin or Santa Barbara?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Austin. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara?

Travelers enjoy the live music and food when visiting the eccentric destination of Austin. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Santa Barbara. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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 Santa Barbara?

You'll find food and shopping around the city of Austin. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the scenic destination of Santa Barbara. This coastal town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. 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 comparing the travel costs between Austin and Santa Barbara, we can see that Santa Barbara 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 Austin Expensive? and Is Santa Barbara Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Austin or Santa Barbara?

Austin has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Santa Barbara. When comparing the sizes of Austin and Santa Barbara, 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 Santa Barbara?

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 Austin or Santa Barbara in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Austin and Santa Barbara. Many visitors come to Austin in the summer for the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Santa Barbara for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Austin is generally much warmer than Santa Barbara. Daily temperatures in Austin average around 87°F (30°C), and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 65°F (19°C).

In July, Austin usually receives more rain than Santa Barbara. Austin gets 1.9 inches (48 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Austin or Santa Barbara in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Austin as well as Santa Barbara. Most visitors come to Austin for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Santa Barbara because of the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

Austin is a little warmer than Santa Barbara in the autumn. The daily temperature in Austin averages around 73°F (23°C) in October, and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).

Austin usually gets more rain in October than Santa Barbara. Austin gets 3 inches (77 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 0.5 inches (13 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Austin or Santa Barbara in the Winter?

Both Santa Barbara and Austin are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The winter months attract visitors to Austin because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Santa Barbara this time of year.

In the winter, Austin is around the same temperature as Santa Barbara. Typically, the winter temperatures in Austin in January average around 51°F (11°C), and Santa Barbara averages at about 52°F (11°C).

In January, Austin usually receives less rain than Santa Barbara. Austin gets 1.9 inches (48 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Austin or Santa Barbara in the Spring?

Both Santa Barbara and Austin during the spring are popular places to visit. The activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Austin this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Santa Barbara for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.

In April, Austin is generally much warmer than Santa Barbara. Daily temperatures in Austin average around 71°F (22°C), and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).

Austin usually gets more rain in April than Santa Barbara. Austin gets 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Santa Barbara and Austin