Which place is cheaper, El Paso or Chattanooga?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Chattanooga or El Paso? 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.
Chattanooga is a outdoorsy, thriving, and bustling city. Other reasons to visit include shopping, museums, and nightlife.
El Paso is a undiscovered, laid-back, and low-key city. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.
Travelers will generally find more things to do in Chattanooga than El Paso. While El Paso is larger than Chattanooga, Chattanooga has more sights and attractions for tourists. Chattanooga is more touristy than El Paso and is popular for it's hikes, railways, and nearby natural areas. Also, Chattanooga is famous for Rock City. El Paso is well known for its Spanish missions and its outstanding Mexican food.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between El Paso and Chattanooga. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
For an educational experience, head to a museum or a notable sight in either Chattanooga or El Paso.
If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Chattanooga. It's a thriving city and there are a number of museums to explore. The Hunter Museum of American Art is great for art enthusiasts. There's also the Creative Discovery Museum, the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, and the 6th Cavalry Museum, as well as several smaller museums that you can visit.
El Paso is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Visitors can learn about local art, culture, and history at the El Paso Museum of Art, the El Paso Museum of History, the 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss Museum, and the Eduardo Pedregón Memorial Veterans Museum.
Dining out at restaurants in both Chattanooga and El Paso can be an enjoyable experience.
There are many up and coming restaurants in the Chattanooga area. There are a growing number of restaurants that range from local dives to fine dining. Fried food is common, but you'll also find Mexican and classic hamburgers. Popular dishes that are local to the area include catfish, southern barbecue, and hush puppies.
There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around El Paso. Mexican food and barbecue are popular around town but you'll also find burgers, pizza, and other American favorites.
It's hard to distinguish whether Chattanooga or El Paso has a better nightlife scene.
Chattanooga has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. You'll find plenty of bars and clubs around town. There are also a number of comedy and improv clubs that are fun to check out.
If you're looking for night time activities El Paso has a few options to choose from. There are a number of bars, nightclubs, and lounges around town where you can enjoy a fun night out.
Chattanooga is a very popular place for its hiking trails. However, El Paso is not a hiking destination.
Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Chattanooga. It's proximity to the mountains means that you don't have to go far to find good hiking. Within a half hour of town there are more than 50 trailheads. Lookout Mountain and Signal Mountain are both hiking destinations. Several trails have swimming spots and many pass through nice forests or head to impressive viewpoints.
El Paso is not a hiking destination.
Shopping is a popular activity in both El Paso and Chattanooga.
Many visitors go to Chattanooga to go shopping. Head downtown for local shops or to the larger malls if you want mainstream stores. Many visitors enjoy antiquing while they're in town, but there are also farmer's markets and thrift stores.
Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in El Paso. There are a number of malls and outlet centers around town. One of the most well known is Bassett Place, but other options include Cielo Vista Mall and the Fountains at Farah.
Kids will enjoy a visit to either Chattanooga or El Paso.
You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Chattanooga. Many people enjoy a visit to the Tennessee Aquarium, which has a touch tank and a butterfly exhibit, among other things. Near downtown, Coolidge Park is a great place for kids to get their energy out. There's also the popular Lookout Mountain Incline Railway as well as many hiking trails in the area.
El Paso offers lots of family activities. There are adventure parks, playgrounds, outdoor centers and nature activities that families can enjoy.
Chattanooga is very good for romance. However, El Paso is lacking in good options for its romantic activities.
Chattanooga is a nice destination for couples. Many couples enjoy staying at a local inn and then dining in a nice restaurant or visiting a winery. There's an eclectic art district to explore as well as horse drawn carriages and plenty of nearby hiking trails.
Most people don't think of El Paso as a couple's destination. Couples can enjoy dinner and a show or taking a romantic drive up to the overlook.
Chattanooga is a very popular place for times when you don't have a car. However, El Paso is lacking in good options for its public transit.
Public transit in Chattanooga is fairly effecient and thorough. The city has a convenient and free electric shuttle service. It travels through the downtown and has stops at many points of interest such as the Chattanooga Choo Choo and the Tennessee Aquarium.
Public transit is generally limited in El Paso. While there are some bus routes in town, you shouldn't rely on them and must have a private vehicle to efficiently visit the city.
Chattanooga is a very popular place for its walkability. However, El Paso is lacking in good options for its high level of walkability.
Chattanooga is very walkable. The city has put a lot of effort into improving its walkability. In particular, the downtown is nice to explore on foot.
El Paso is generally not very walkable. You really need a car to get around town.
For even more information, also check out Is Chattanooga Worth Visiting? and Is El Paso Worth Visiting?.
You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Chattanooga or El Paso to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Chattanooga than El Paso because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Chattanooga, and 1-2 days is enough time in El Paso.
Families should spend more time in Chattanooga than El Paso. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Chattanooga, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Chattanooga than El Paso. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Chattanooga that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Chattanooga than El Paso 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 Chattanooga.
In Chattanooga, you'll find nightlife and food. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.
Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the laid-back city of El Paso. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.
In Chattanooga, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Chattanooga has to offer.
Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the low-key destination of El Paso. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.
Chattanooga is a great place to explore. Hikers are also drawn to this 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.
The undiscovered city of El Paso offers shopping and museums. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Chattanooga. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Chattanooga. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.
Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting El Paso. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in United States of America, The Best Cultural Tours in United States of America, The Best Photography Tours in United States of America, and The Best Camping Tours in United States of America.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Chattanooga is $182, while the average daily cost in El Paso is $161. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Chattanooga and El Paso in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Chattanooga or El Paso? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Chattanooga:
Also for El Paso, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both El Paso and Chattanooga change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chattanooga.
For El Paso, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Here are a few actual costs in Chattanooga for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
For El Paso, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
When comparing the travel costs between Chattanooga and El Paso, we can see that Chattanooga 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 Chattanooga Expensive? and Is El Paso Expensive?.
El Paso has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Chattanooga. When comparing the sizes of Chattanooga and El Paso, 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.