A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Dallas vs. Pittsburgh for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Dallas or Pittsburgh?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Dallas and Pittsburgh can help you decide which place is right for you.

Dallas

Dallas is a chic, active, and upscale city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Pittsburgh

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

Dallas and Pittsburgh: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Dallas or Pittsburgh?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Dallas than Pittsburgh, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Dallas is popular for its Tex Mex cuisine, upscale shopping venues, and cowboy culture. It is also home to the Sixth Floor Museum. Pittsburgh is popular for its many bridges, its steel industry, and being the home of "Mr. Roger's Neighborhood".

How is Dallas different from Pittsburgh?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Dallas or Pittsburgh?

Plenty of people visit the excellent sights and museums in both Dallas and Pittsburgh.

Many visitors head to Dallas specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. Museums range from historical to art and science with some of the favorites being the Dallas Contemporary Museum, the African American Museum, the Dallas Museum of Art, and the Frontiers of Flight Museum. The city is also home to the George W. Bush Presidential Library and the Nasher Sculpture Center. A must-see is the Sixth Floor Museum, which is in historic Dealey Plaza and is where Lee Harvey Oswald fired the shots that killed JFK. Today there's a museum that goes over the events of that day.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Pittsburgh can be an interesting and educational experience. The museums range from science and nature focused, like the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Garden, to quirky and artsy, like the Mattress Factory. The Warhol Museum is dedicated to the works of Andy Warhol and it's not to be missed. Also worth a visit is the Heinz History Center, Randyland, and the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History.

Is the Food Better in Dallas or Pittsburgh? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dallas is great for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Pittsburgh is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Dallas has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. There's a perfect combination of Texas cuisine and international flavors. You'll find Texas barbecue, Tex Mex, and steakhouses intermixed with Thai, Japanese, and Caribbean cuisine. There's also a great food truck scene and many local eateries.

Pittsburgh offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. The city is known for its working class roots, and the food is hearty and filling, which is great for those on a budget. Popular local dishes include pierogis, deli sandwiches, Pittsburgh salads (complete with French fries), and hotcakes.

Is Dallas or Pittsburgh Better for Nightlife?

Both Dallas and Pittsburgh are excellent when it comes to partying.

Dallas offers plenty to do in the evening. Head to East Dallas for the most active clubs with large dance floors and great music. The city also has rooftop lounges and plenty of live music as well as comedy clubs.

Pittsburgh has a large number of nightlife venues. There's an active music and dance scene in town. For the best bars and clubs, head to the Strip and South Side and for live entertainment and casinos check out the North Shore.

Is the Shopping Better in Dallas or Pittsburgh?

Dallas is great for its shopping areas. Also, Pittsburgh is not as popular, but is still a nice city for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Dallas. You'll find a very diverse shopping scene around town, with everything from quirky local vendors to upscale fashion boutiques. There are cowboy outfitters where you can get a feel for the Texas style, but there are also posh shopping centers and local flea markets.

Pittsburgh is a great destination for shopping. You'll find local fashion boutiques and shopping centers in the city's downtown. Other great shopping neighborhoods include Shadyside, Station Square, and Fifth Avenue Place.

Is Dallas or Pittsburgh Better for Families?

Dallas is great for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Pittsburgh is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Dallas. The city is filled with families, and you'll find many kid-friendly activities around town. For some outdoor time you can visit the Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden or the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. The Dallas Zoo is a favorite for many kids and there are also a number of kid-friendly museums around town such as the Perot Museum of Nature and Science and the Dallas World Aquarium.

Pittsburgh is a family-friendly place to visit. There's a surprising number of kid-friendly activities packed into this city. Check out the National Aviary or visit the popular Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium. There are also kid-focused museums and science centers as well as parks and playgrounds. Also make sure you take the cable car up Duquesne Incline or enjoy a boat ride on one of the rivers as well.

Is Dallas or Pittsburgh Better for Couples?

Dallas is great for couples. However, Pittsburgh is not a good destination for romance.

Dallas is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. Head to the observation deck at Reunion Tower for spectacular views of the night skyline. The city also has many great comedy clubs and performing arts venues as well as fine dining restaurants that make for a great date night.

Pittsburgh is not the best destination for a couple to visit. There are a few good date night activities like taking river cruises, enjoying dinner and show, or going to a Pirate's game.

Is Dallas or Pittsburgh Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Dallas and Pittsburgh offer good public transit options.

Dallas has a few public transit options. While it's still very much a car-centered city, the public transportation system, DART, is one of the fastest growing in the country. It includes both light rail and bus service.

Pittsburgh has some public transit options. There are bus and lightrail options through the city's downtown. There's also the unique incline, which is an experience worth doing.

Is Dallas or Pittsburgh a more walkable city?

Pittsburgh is very good for its high level of walkability. However, Dallas is not a good city for its ease of walking around.

Pittsburgh is a somewhat walkable place. Some of the attractions are spread out, but if you're willing to do a bit of walking, it's possible to get around on foot.

Dallas is generally not a very walkable city. The city is not particularly walkable, but there are several more walkable areas such as Ellum and Uptown.

For even more information, also check out Is Dallas Worth Visiting? and Is Pittsburgh Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Pittsburgh or Dallas?

How long in Dallas or Pittsburgh?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Dallas and Pittsburgh. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Dallas than in Pittsburgh. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Dallas, and 2-3 days is enough time in Pittsburgh.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Dallas than Pittsburgh 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 Dallas.

One day in Dallas or Pittsburgh?

With museums and nightlife around the upscale city of Dallas, 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 Pittsburgh. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Dallas or Pittsburgh?

With nightlife and food around the destination of Dallas, 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.

Pittsburgh 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 Dallas or Pittsburgh?

Dallas, 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 Pittsburgh. 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 Dallas or Pittsburgh?

Dallas 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 industrial destination of Pittsburgh. 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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Dallas or Pittsburgh?

Dallas has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Pittsburgh. When comparing the sizes of Dallas and Pittsburgh, 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.