A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Detroit vs. Santa Barbara for Couples, Attractions, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit Detroit or Santa Barbara?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Detroit or Santa Barbara, 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. Other popular activities here include food, shopping, and museums.

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is a opulent, pristine, and affluent coastal town. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. It's considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. This destination also has one of those special and quaint feelings. Visitors also love the food, beaches, and hiking.

Detroit and Santa Barbara: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Detroit or Santa Barbara?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Santa Barbara than Detroit. While Detroit is larger than Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara has more sights and attractions for tourists. Santa Barbara is more popular for its museums, food, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, historical sights, hiking, shopping, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Detroit is known for its nightlife and music. Santa Barbara is more touristy than Detroit and is popular for its historic missions, pristine beaches, world-class surfing, and scenic hikes that are full of coastal views. It is also home to The Old Mission Santa Barbara. Detroit is popular for its Motown music, blue collar atmosphere, and influential auto industry.

How is Detroit different from Santa Barbara?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara?

Santa Barbara is a very popular place for its museums and history. Also, Detroit is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Santa Barbara can be an interesting and educational experience. The city is famous for its missions, with Mission Santa Barbara being the most iconic. Also visit the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and Sea Center.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Detroit. Popular museums around town include the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Detroit Historical Museum, and the Michigan Science Center.

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

Santa Barbara is a very popular place for its restaurants. Also, Detroit is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Santa Barbara has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The city is best known for its fine dining, particularly if you enjoy seafood. The scallops, oysters, clam chowder, and sea urchin (when available) are all world class. Head for a waterfront setting for the best views and some of the freshest seafood.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Detroit area. 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.

Is Detroit or Santa Barbara Better for Nightlife?

Detroit is a well-known place for its evening party scene. Also, Santa Barbara is not as famous, but is still a good coastal town to visit for nightlife.

Detroit offers plenty to do in the evening. 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.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Santa Barbara. For the best nightlife in the city, head downtown to State Street. This is where you'll find the most active bars and biggest crowds. There's a large student population in town, so you'll find much of the nightlife scene is focused on the younger population.

Is Detroit or Santa Barbara Better for Music?

Detroit is renowned for its music scene. However, Santa Barbara is not a live music destination.

In Detroit you'll find nightly musicians performing at a variety of venues. 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.

Santa Barbara is not a live music destination.

Is Detroit or Santa Barbara Better for Resorts?

Santa Barbara is a very popular place for its luxury resorts. However, Detroit is not a resort destination.

Santa Barbara is a popular resort destination that attracts visitors from everywhere. Many people enjoy the luxurious vacation rentals around Santa Barbara, but there are also a number of high end resorts including the Rosewood Miramar Beach Resort, The Ritz-Carlton, and Hotel Californian.

Detroit is not a resort destination.

Is Detroit or Santa Barbara Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Santa Barbara is a decent place to visit for its diving and snorkeling. However, Detroit is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

It's possible to go snorkeling in Santa Barbara. Snorkeling areas not far from town include Refugio State Beach and Tajiguas. You'll see a few fish, beautiful rocks, and anemones that are unique and impressive.

Detroit is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Detroit or Santa Barbara Better for Beaches?

Santa Barbara is an unbeatable place for the beache. However, Detroit is not a beach destination.

The beaches in Santa Barbara are among the best in the world. The city is famous for its pristine, sandy beaches. Whether you want to enjoy world class surfing or enjoy a gentle ocean setting, Santa Barbara has many options.

Detroit is not a beach destination.

Is Detroit or Santa Barbara Better for its Old Town?

Santa Barbara is a nice place to visit for its old town. However, Detroit does not have a historic old town.

Plenty of visitors enjoy exploring the old town in Santa Barbara. The city's downtown "Old Town" is a high end, pedestrian-friendly area with plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment options.

Detroit does not have a historic old town.

Is Detroit or Santa Barbara Better for Hiking?

Santa Barbara is an unbeatable place for its hiking trails. However, Detroit is not a hiking destination.

Known for its hiking, Santa Barbara draws a crowd to experience the nature and the trails. Just outside of town are countless hiking opportunities that offer spectacular ocean views. Popular hikes include Inspiration Point, San Ysidro Trail, and Cold Spring East Fork.

Detroit is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Detroit or Santa Barbara?

Santa Barbara is an unbeatable place for its shopping opportunities. Also, Detroit is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping areas.

Known for shopping, Santa Barbara draws large crowds to its stores. The city is famous as a high end shopping destination. Head to State Street for a palm tree lined street with local boutiques.

Many visitors go to Detroit to go shopping. There are several shopping streets like Woodward Avenue. There are also outlet malls, shopping centers, and Eastern Market.

Is Detroit or Santa Barbara Better for Families?

Santa Barbara is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Detroit is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Santa Barbara is very family-friendly. The city has some nice family-friendly activities including a zoo, some cool museums, and even whale watching. There are also many beautiful beaches where everyone can run around and play, as well as parks and other outdoor settings. For animal-lovers, there are wildlife centers and sea life opportunities.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Detroit. 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.

Is Detroit or Santa Barbara Better for Couples?

Santa Barbara is an unbeatable place for its romantic activities. However, Detroit is lacking in good options for couples.

Santa Barbara has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. The town is a stunningly beautiful destination with beautiful beaches, excellent shopping, and nice resorts that make for a great honeymoon or romantic trip.

Detroit is not always the best place to visit for a couple. 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.

Is Detroit or Santa Barbara Better for Students?

Santa Barbara is a very popular place for its student-friendly activities. However, Detroit is not popular with students.

Santa Barbara is a great coastal town to visit as a student. With a major university right in town, there's plenty of student life that international students or locals can enjoy.

Detroit is not popular with students.

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

Santa Barbara is a nice place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Detroit is lacking in good options for its public transit.

Santa Barbara has some public transit options. Transit options include buses, trolleys and water taxis.

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

Is Detroit or Santa Barbara a more walkable city?

Santa Barbara is a very popular place for its high level of walkability. Also, Detroit is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its ease of walking around.

Santa Barbara is a very walkable coastal town. The downtown area is very pedestrian-friendly and best explored on foot.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Santa Barbara or Detroit?

How long in Detroit or Santa Barbara?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Detroit and Santa Barbara. In our opinion, Santa Barbara has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Santa Barbara than Detroit. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Detroit, and 2-3 days is enough time in Santa Barbara.

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

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

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

One day in Detroit or Santa Barbara?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the overlooked destination of Detroit. Don't miss the live music, as that's what most people do. Your budget might influence how long you stay. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then one day is just the right amount of time to spend here.

In Santa Barbara, you'll find nightlife and food. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. This coastal town offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in Detroit or Santa Barbara?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Detroit. Don't miss the live music, as that's what most people do. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.

In Santa Barbara, 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 Santa Barbara has to offer.

Five days in Detroit or Santa Barbara?

Travelers enjoy the live music and food when visiting the hardworking destination of Detroit. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. 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.

Santa Barbara is a great place to explore. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. 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 Santa Barbara?

You'll find food and shopping around the city of Detroit. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Santa Barbara. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Santa Barbara. It's also a relaxing resort destination. 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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America, The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Detroit or Santa Barbara?

Detroit has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Santa Barbara. When comparing the sizes of Detroit and Santa Barbara, 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 Detroit or Santa Barbara?

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.

Should I visit Detroit or Santa Barbara in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Detroit as well as Santa Barbara. Many visitors come to Detroit in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, most visitors come to Santa Barbara for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Detroit is a little warmer than Santa Barbara. Typically, the summer temperatures in Detroit in July average around 74°F (24°C), and Santa Barbara averages at about 65°F (19°C).

Detroit usually gets more rain in July than Santa Barbara. Detroit gets 3.4 inches (85 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Detroit or Santa Barbara in the Autumn?

Both Santa Barbara and Detroit are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Detroit for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Santa Barbara because of the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Detroit is generally cooler than Santa Barbara. Daily temperatures in Detroit average around 54°F (12°C), and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).

In October, Detroit usually receives more rain than Santa Barbara. Detroit gets 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 0.5 inches (13 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Detroit or Santa Barbara in the Winter?

Both Santa Barbara and Detroit during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Detroit because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Santa Barbara this time of year.

The weather in Detroit can be very cold. Detroit is much colder than Santa Barbara in the winter. The daily temperature in Detroit averages around 25°F (-4°C) in January, and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).

Detroit usually gets less rain in January than Santa Barbara. Detroit gets 2 inches (50 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Detroit or Santa Barbara in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Detroit and Santa Barbara. The activities around the city are the main draw to Detroit this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Santa Barbara for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Detroit is cooler than Santa Barbara. Typically, the spring temperatures in Detroit in April average around 49°F (9°C), and Santa Barbara averages at about 57°F (14°C).

In April, Detroit usually receives more rain than Santa Barbara. Detroit gets 3.2 inches (80 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Santa Barbara and Detroit