Which place is cheaper, Sacramento or Chattanooga?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Chattanooga or Sacramento? 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 thriving, bustling, and outdoorsy city. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.
Sacramento is a undiscovered, laid back, and relaxed city. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.
Travelers will generally find more things to do in Chattanooga than Sacramento. While Sacramento is larger than Chattanooga, Chattanooga has more sights and attractions for tourists. Chattanooga is more popular for its hiking, while Sacramento is known for its museums. Chattanooga is more touristy than Sacramento and is popular for it's hikes, railways, and nearby natural areas. It is also home to Rock City. Sacramento is popular for its history and state capital.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Sacramento and Chattanooga. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Sacramento is a great destination for its museums and landmarks. Also, Chattanooga is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.
Sacramento offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. 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.
Chattanooga is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. 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.
Dining out at restaurants in both Chattanooga and Sacramento 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 Sacramento. 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.
It's hard to distinguish whether Chattanooga or Sacramento 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 Sacramento has a few options to choose from. 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.
Chattanooga is a very popular place for its hiking trails. However, Sacramento 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.
Sacramento is not a hiking destination.
Shopping is a popular activity in both Sacramento 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 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.
Kids will enjoy a visit to either Chattanooga or Sacramento.
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.
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.
Chattanooga is a nice place to visit for its romantic activities. However, Sacramento is lacking in good options for couples.
Chattanooga makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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.
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.
Chattanooga is a very popular place for times when you don't have a car. However, Sacramento is lacking in good options for its public transit.
The public transit in Chattanooga can get you around easily. 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 Sacramento. There's both light rail and buses around town.
Chattanooga is a very popular place for its high level of walkability. However, Sacramento is lacking in good options for its ease of walking around.
Chattanooga is a very walkable city. The city has put a lot of effort into improving its walkability. In particular, the downtown is nice to explore on foot.
Sacramento is generally not very walkable. 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 Chattanooga Worth Visiting? and Is Sacramento Worth Visiting?.
You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Chattanooga or Sacramento to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Chattanooga 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 Chattanooga, and 1-2 days is enough time in Sacramento.
Couples should spend more time in Chattanooga than Sacramento. 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 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 Chattanooga.
With museums and nightlife around the outdoorsy city of Chattanooga, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.
Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the laid back city of Sacramento. 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.
With nightlife and food around the destination of Chattanooga, there's plenty to do. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.
Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the laid back destination of Sacramento. 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, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.
The relaxed city of Sacramento 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.
Chattanooga 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.
Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Sacramento. 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 Sacramento is $281. 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 Sacramento in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Chattanooga or Sacramento? 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 Sacramento, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Sacramento 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 Sacramento, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Here are a few actual costs in Chattanooga for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
For Sacramento, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Also in Sacramento, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chattanooga and Sacramento, we can see that Sacramento is more expensive. And not only is Chattanooga much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Chattanooga would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chattanooga 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 Chattanooga.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Chattanooga Expensive? and Is Sacramento Expensive?.
Sacramento has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Chattanooga. When comparing the sizes of Chattanooga 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.
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.
The summer brings many poeple to Chattanooga as well as Sacramento. Many travelers come to Chattanooga for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Sacramento in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Chattanooga is generally a little warmer than Sacramento. Daily temperatures in Chattanooga average around 81°F (27°C), and Sacramento fluctuates around 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 Chattanooga this time of the year. In the summer, Chattanooga often gets less sunshine than Sacramento. Chattanooga gets 265 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sacramento receives 439 hours of full sun.
Chattanooga receives a lot of rain in the summer. Chattanooga usually gets more rain in July than Sacramento. Chattanooga gets 5.2 inches (131 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Both Sacramento and Chattanooga are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Chattanooga in the autumn for the hiking trails and the shopping scene. Also, most visitors come to Sacramento for the shopping scene during these months.
Chattanooga is around the same temperature as Sacramento in the autumn. The daily temperature in Chattanooga averages around 63°F (17°C) in October, 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 Chattanooga. Chattanooga usually receives less sunshine than Sacramento during autumn. Chattanooga gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while Sacramento receives 300 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Chattanooga usually receives more rain than Sacramento. Chattanooga gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
Both Sacramento and Chattanooga during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Chattanooga for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Sacramento because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Chattanooga can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Chattanooga is much colder than Sacramento. Typically, the winter temperatures in Chattanooga in January average around 40°F (5°C), and Sacramento averages at about 45°F (7°C).
In the winter, Chattanooga often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Sacramento. Chattanooga gets 145 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sacramento receives 149 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Chattanooga. Chattanooga usually gets more rain in January than Sacramento. Chattanooga gets 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 3.8 inches (97 mm) of rain this time of the year.
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Chattanooga and Sacramento.
In April, Chattanooga is generally a little warmer than Sacramento. Daily temperatures in Chattanooga average around 62°F (17°C), and Sacramento fluctuates around 58°F (15°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sacramento this time of the year. In Chattanooga, it's very sunny this time of the year. Chattanooga usually receives less sunshine than Sacramento during spring. Chattanooga gets 243 hours of sunny skies, while Sacramento receives 328 hours of full sun in the spring.
Chattanooga gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Chattanooga usually receives more rain than Sacramento. Chattanooga gets 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 1.3 inches (32 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
Chattanooga | Sacramento | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 40°F (5°C) | 5.4 inches (137 mm) | 45°F (7°C) | 3.8 inches (97 mm) |
Feb | 44°F (7°C) | 5.2 inches (132 mm) | 51°F (10°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) |
Mar | 53°F (12°C) | 5.6 inches (143 mm) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
Apr | 62°F (17°C) | 4.4 inches (112 mm) | 58°F (15°C) | 1.3 inches (32 mm) |
May | 70°F (21°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) | 65°F (18°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) |
Jun | 78°F (25°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
Jul | 81°F (27°C) | 5.2 inches (131 mm) | 76°F (24°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) |
Aug | 80°F (27°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 75°F (24°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
Sep | 74°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (94 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 0.5 inches (12 mm) |
Oct | 63°F (17°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 1.1 inches (27 mm) |
Nov | 53°F (12°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) | 53°F (12°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
Dec | 44°F (7°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) | 45°F (7°C) | 2.6 inches (65 mm) |