A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Canberra vs. Houston for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Canberra or Houston?

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

Should I visit Canberra or Houston? 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.

Canberra

Canberra is a cultural, diverse, and under-rated city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. And you can't forget about the food, hiking, and shopping.

Houston

Houston is a southern, one-of-a-kind, and diverse city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums.

Canberra and Houston: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Canberra or Houston?

You'll generally find more things to do in Houston than Canberra. Houston is bigger than Canberra, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Houston is better known for its nightlife, music, and big city activities, while Canberra is more popular for its food and hiking. Canberra is well known for its educational museums and the nearby nature reserves. Houston is well known for its sprawling size, its local Texas restaurants, and being the home to NASA. Also, Houston is famous for The Space Center Houston.

How is Canberra different from Houston?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Canberra or Houston?

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Canberra and Houston.

Canberra offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. As Australia's capital, there are a large number of museums around town that focus on everything from history and culture to science and nature. Some of the most interesting are the Australian War Memorial, the New Parliament House, the Museum of Australian Democracy, the National Gallery of Australia, and the National Science and Technology Centre, but there are many more.

Many visitors head to Houston specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. Head to Houston's Museum District to explore 19 different museums in a walkable area. A highlight of a trip to the city is a visit to the Space Center, but other popular museums include the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Houston Children's Museum.

Is the Food Better in Canberra or Houston? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Canberra is well known for its restaurant scene. Also, Houston is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Canberra. There's a trendy culinary scene as well as nearby vineyards that provide great wine. You'll find everything from family-friendly and casual to upscale and fine dining.

Houston is becoming an appealing option for foodies. The city is famous for its Texas barbecue, Mexican food, and a wide diversity of other different ethnic foods. It's a surprisingly diverse city and this is reflected in the restaurant selection around town.

Is Canberra or Houston Better for Nightlife?

Houston is an excellent place to visit for nightlife and partying. Also, Canberra is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its evening party scene.

Houston has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. The nightlife is at its best on weekends when bars, dance clubs, and concert halls come to life. There are a diversity of venues around town including dance clubs, Honky Tonks, and cocktail bars. Some of the most active nightlife areas are Downtown, Midtown, Montrose, Washington Avenue, and Rice Village.

Canberra has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There are local pubs and music venues that offer fun entertainment in the evening. You can sip wine or practice your dance moves at one of the city's clubs.

Is Canberra or Houston Better for Music?

Houston is a popular place for its live music scene. However, Canberra is not a live music destination.

The music scene in Houston is active and vibrant. Popular music venues include Fitzgerald's, Walter's Downtown, and The Continental Club.

Canberra is not a live music destination.

Is Canberra or Houston Better for Hiking?

Canberra is a good destination for its hiking experiences. However, Houston is not a hiking destination.

Canberra offers some nice hiking trails. There's one national park - Namadgi, as well as green space, rolling hills, and hiking trails just outside of town.

Houston is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Canberra or Houston?

Shoppers can find a variety of notable stores in both Canberra and Houston.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Canberra. Caberra Centre is the city's largest shopping centre and it has all of the usual international brands.

Many visitors go to Houston to go shopping. There are a number of upscale malls and shopping centers that have brand names, chain stores, and the occasional local shop where you can pick up items.

Is Canberra or Houston Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Canberra or Houston.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Canberra is very family-friendly. There are interactive museums and science centers such as Questacon, the National Dinosaur Museum, and the National Zoo and Aquarium. There are also cultural and historical museums such as the Australian War Memorial, the Museum of Australian Democracy, and the National Museum of Australia. The city also has plenty of outdoor space and hands on crafts that kids will enjoy.

Houston is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. It is a large city with plenty of things that kids can enjoy including museums, theaters, a zoo, and even the Space Center. The Children's Museum of Houston is perfect for a rainy day. For science loving kids there's the Health Museum and the Museum of Natural Science. Houston also has a Six Flags nearby which the whole family can enjoy.

Is Canberra or Houston Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Canberra and Houston make for a notable place to visit.

Canberra makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. As the city has plenty of date night activities like nice restaurants, interesting shows, and trendy wineries. During the day you can explore the outdoor setting, have a picnic, or visit a vineyard.

Houston is a good city for couples to visit. There's a surprising diversity of restaurants around the city. There are also performing arts productions and many outdoor parks and gardens.

Is Canberra or Houston Better for Students?

Canberra is well known for students. Also, Houston is still popular, but not quite as popular for its student-friendly activities.

Many students visit Canberra. It's a welcoming city that is a fairly popular study abroad destination. Many students appreciate the friendly atmosphere, safe environment, and great economic setting.

It's common for students to visit Houston. It's a large city with a number of universities and a large student population.

Is Canberra or Houston Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Canberra is a good destination for its public transit. However, Houston is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

You'll find some public transit in Canberra, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are public buses as well as a light rail system. The Red Explorer Loop bus goes by many of the city's sights.

Public transit is mostly limited in Houston. The system includes buses and a limited light rail. Houston is known as a car-centric city and you really need a car to fully experience it.

Is Canberra or Houston a more walkable city?

Canberra is a good destination for its high level of walkability. However, Houston is not particularly known for its ease of walking around.

Canberra is a somewhat walkable place. There are parts of the city that are walkable and possible to explore on foot, but in general this is a very car-centered city.

Houston is generally not a very walkable city. The most walkable neighborhood is the historic Houston Heights, but most parts of the city aren't very walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Canberra Worth Visiting? and Is Houston Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Houston or Canberra?

How long in Canberra or Houston?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Canberra than Houston 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 Canberra.

One day in Canberra or Houston?

In Canberra, you'll find nightlife and food. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

Houston is a big city with plenty to do. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Canberra or Houston?

In Canberra, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Canberra has to offer.

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

Five days in Canberra or Houston?

Canberra is a great place to explore. 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.

Houston 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 Canberra or Houston?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Canberra. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Canberra. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Houston 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 Walking Tours in Australia, The Best Eco Tours in Australia, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Canberra and Houston, we can see that Houston is more expensive. And not only is Canberra much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Canberra is in Pacific and Houston is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Canberra would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Canberra 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 Houston would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Houston than you might in Canberra.

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

Which is Bigger, Canberra or Houston?

Houston has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Canberra. When comparing the sizes of Canberra and Houston, 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 Canberra or Houston?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Canberra is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Houston has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Canberra or Houston in the Summer?

Both Houston and Canberra during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Canberra for the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Houston because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

Canberra is cooler than Houston in the summer. The daily temperature in Canberra averages around 20°C (68°F) in January, and Houston fluctuates around 84°F (29°C)in July.

Houston gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Canberra usually gets less rain in January than Houstonin July. Canberra gets 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Houston receives 4.8 inches (122 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Canberra or Houston in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Canberra and Houston. The autumn months attract visitors to Canberra because of the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, and the shopping scene. Furthermore, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene are the main draw to Houston this time of year.

In the autumn, Canberra is cooler than Houston. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Canberra in April average around 17°C (63°F), and Houston averages at about 71°F (22°C)in October.

Houston receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Canberra gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Canberra usually receives around the same amount of rain as Houstonin October. Canberra gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Houston receives 4.2 inches (107 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Canberra or Houston in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Canberra as well as Houston. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Canberra this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Houston for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In July, Canberra is generally around the same temperature as Houstonin January. Daily temperatures in Canberra average around 11°C (52°F), and Houston fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).

Canberra usually gets less rain in July than Houstonin January. Canberra gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Houston receives 3.6 inches (91 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Canberra or Houston in the Spring?

Both Houston and Canberra are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Canberra for the activities around the city. Also, many visitors come to Houston in the spring for the activities around the city.

Canberra is cooler than Houston in the spring. The daily temperature in Canberra averages around 15°C (60°F) in October, and Houston fluctuates around 70°F (21°C)in April.

In October, Canberra usually receives more rain than Houstonin April. Canberra gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Houston receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Houston and Canberra