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

Should you visit Detroit or Boise?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Detroit or Boise, 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.

Detroit

Detroit is a overlooked , under-rated, and hardworking city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.

Boise

Boise is a welcoming, authentic, and friendly city. Visitors also love the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Detroit and Boise: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Detroit or Boise?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Detroit than Boise, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Detroit is popular for its Motown music, blue collar atmosphere, and influential auto industry. It is also home to the Henry Ford Experience. Boise is popular for its many outdoor and recreational activities.

How is Detroit different from Boise?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Detroit or Boise?

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Detroit and Boise.

Detroit offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Popular museums around town include the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Detroit Historical Museum, and the Michigan Science Center.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Boise. As the state capital, there's a nice selection of local museums around town. Favorites include the Boise Art Museum, the Basque Museum & Cultural Center, the Idaho Black History Museum, and Discovery Center.

Is the Food Better in Detroit or Boise? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Detroit is a popular place for its restaurants. However, Boise is lacking in options for its restaurant scene.

Detroit is becoming an appealing option for foodies. There's a local flavor to the food with a number of classic dishes that are popular like square pizza, Coney dogs, and corned beef egg rolls.

Boise offers some easy restaurants to choose from. While Idaho has long been associated with the potato, the locals usually think of "finger steaks" when describing local food. These are deep-friend beef strips that are as good as they sound.

Is Detroit or Boise Better for Nightlife?

Detroit is an excellent place to visit for its evening party scene. Also, Boise is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife.

Detroit has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. It's long history in music still influences the nightlife scene. You'll find bars, clubs, and other activities around town. Greektown and Midtown are both popular neighborhoods during the evening.

Boise has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. In downtown Boise you'll find a selection of bars, lounges, and breweries. There's enough around town to keep the nightlife scene interesting.

Is Detroit or Boise Better for Music?

Detroit is a must-visit destination for its music scene. However, Boise is not a live music destination.

Detroit has become a mecca for musicians from around the world. Few cities have such an influential music industry. It's home to Motown and is well known for its soul music, jazz, blues, and rap.

Boise is not a live music destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Detroit or Boise?

Shoppers can find a variety of good stores in both Detroit and Boise.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Detroit. There are several shopping streets like Woodward Avenue. There are also outlet malls, shopping centers, and Eastern Market.

Many visitors go to Boise to go shopping. You'll find a mix of local boutiques, independent vendors, and suburban shopping centers where you'll find anything that you might need.

Is Detroit or Boise Better for Families?

Detroit is a popular place for its kid-friendly activities. However, Boise is lacking in options for its family-friendly activities.

Detroit is a family-friendly city. Head to the Detroit Zoo or check out one of the amusement parks in the area. Kids will enjoy a visit to Legoland and there's also the Sea Life Michigan Aquarium. You could also spend some time visiting the unique museums in the area.

Boise doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. You'll find parks, playgrounds, and the Discovery Center which will help keep kids entertained.

Is Detroit or Boise Better for Couples?

Neither Detroit or Boise is generally regarded as a top spot for a couple to visit.

Most people don't think of Detroit as a couple's destination. It's not a city that usually brings to mind romance, but if you find yourself here for a couple of days, there's a RiverWalk area and some interesting local neighborhoods.

Boise is not always the best place to visit for a couple. Date night activities include dining at a nice restaurants and seeing a show at the theater.

Is Detroit or Boise Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Visitors will find decent public transit in both Detroit and Boise.

Public transit is mostly limited in Detroit. There's a streetcar and bus system, but the car is still king in Motor City.

Public transit is generally limited in Boise. There are infrequent buses around town, but visitors usually have a car to get around town efficiently.

Is Detroit or Boise a more walkable city?

Detroit is a popular place for its ease of walking around. However, Boise is lacking in options for its walkability.

Detroit is a somewhat walkable city. There are parts of downtown Detroit that are walkable, but most people need a car to get around.

Boise is generally not very walkable. There are a couple of walkable neighborhoods but, in general, the town isn't very walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Detroit Worth Visiting? and Is Boise Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Boise or Detroit?

How long in Detroit or Boise?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Detroit or Boise to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Detroit than Boise because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Detroit, and 1-2 days is enough time in Boise.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Detroit than Boise 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 Detroit.

One day in Detroit or Boise?

In Detroit, many people enjoy the live music and food that this hardworking destination offers. Lots of people come for the live music. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

In Boise, you'll find museums and nightlife. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A weekend in Detroit or Boise?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Detroit. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

In Boise, you'll find nightlife 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 Boise has to offer.

Five days in Detroit or Boise?

Detroit is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the destination of Detroit. Lots of people come for the live music. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

Boise 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.

A week in Detroit or Boise?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the under-rated destination of Detroit. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Lots of people come for the live music. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

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

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in United States of America.

When comparing the travel costs between Detroit and Boise, we can see that Boise 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 Detroit Expensive? and Is Boise Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Detroit or Boise?

Detroit has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Boise. When comparing the sizes of Detroit and Boise, 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.