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

Should you visit Durham or Cleveland?

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 Durham and Cleveland can help you decide which place is right for you.

Durham

Durham is a student-filled, sports oriented, and diverse city. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Cleveland

Cleveland is a authentic, under-rated, and diverse city. Other popular activities here include nightlife, live music, and shopping.

Durham and Cleveland: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Durham or Cleveland?

You'll generally find more things to do in Cleveland than Durham. Cleveland is bigger than Durham, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Cleveland is better known for its music, while Durham is more popular for its food. Durham is well known for its college town vibe as well as being the home of the famous Blue Devil basketball team. Cleveland is well known for being the home to "rock 'n roll" as well as its friendly and hard working people. Also, Cleveland is famous for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

How is Durham different from Cleveland?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Durham or Cleveland?

For an educational experience, head to a museum or a notable sight in either Durham or Cleveland.

Many visitors head to Durham specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. Duke University is one of the most popular destinations in town. There are several museums on campus as well as the famous Duke Chapel. Elsewhere in Durham there's the Durham Museum of Life and Science.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Cleveland can be an interesting and educational experience. There are diverse museums around town such as the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art (moCa), and the Great Lakes Science Center. Music lovers will appreciate a visit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Is the Food Better in Durham or Cleveland? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Durham is a nice place to visit for its restaurants. However, Cleveland is lacking in good options for its restaurant scene.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Durham. Barbecue is a favorite around town. You'll also find plenty of restaurants that cater to the student population, particularly along Nineth Street near Duke's campus.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Cleveland. Casual dining with comfort food is the way most residents prefer to eat. There are local foods that have made a name for themselves such as gourmet hot dogs and deli sandwiches. The food is also influenced by the city's German, Irish, Polish, and Italian roots. Pierogis, bratwurst, and chicken paprikash are all common.

Is Durham or Cleveland Better for Nightlife?

Both Durham and Cleveland are notable when it comes to partying.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Durham. The younger population tends to hang out near campus and along Nineth Street. If you're looking for something less student oriented, head to downtown Durham.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Cleveland. Breweries have become a popular nighttime activity. There are also comedy clubs, music venues, and several theaters.

Is Durham or Cleveland Better for Music?

Cleveland is a well-known place for its music scene. However, Durham is not a live music destination.

The music scene in Cleveland is very popular with diverse venues. Home to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, it has long been a destination for music enthusiasts. There are many independent music venues and it's the perfect place to catch a show.

Durham is not a live music destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Durham or Cleveland?

Both Durham and Cleveland are notable shopping destinations.

Many visitors go to Durham to go shopping. The Streets of Southpoint is the best mall in the area. Other shopping areas include Brightleaf Square and Nineth Street.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Cleveland. Large shopping malls offer plenty of selection. There's also West Side Market, which is the oldest public market in the city. Other interesting shopping areas include Little Italy and the Cleveland Flea.

Is Durham or Cleveland Better for Families?

You'll find notable kid-friendly activities in either Durham or Cleveland.

Durham is a family-friendly place to visit. A highlight for kids is a visit to the Durham Museum of Life and Science. It has both an indoor and an outdoor section and brings science to life for families. There's also an impressive playground and climbing area. Other activities in town include the Notasium and Eno River State Park. If you plan ahead you could also organize a trip to the Duke Lemur Center.

Cleveland is a family-friendly city. Kid-friendly activities in the area include the Children’s Museum of Cleveland, the Great Lakes Science Center, and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. There's also the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo as well as the smaller Akron Zoo.

Is Durham or Cleveland Better for Couples?

Durham is a nice place to visit for romance. However, Cleveland is lacking in good options for its romantic activities.

Durham is a nice destination for couples. Have a picnic at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens or spend the day hiking at Eno River State Park. In the evening there's a wonderful selection of restaurants around town. Then you can check out a show at the Durham Performing Arts Center or see a Durham Bulls game.

Most people don't think of Cleveland as a couple's destination. There are several romantic date night activities like boat rides on Lake Erie or dining at a nice restaurant.

Is Durham or Cleveland Better for Students?

Durham is a very popular place for its student-friendly activities. However, Cleveland is not popular with students.

Durham is a great city to visit as a student. Duke University has a stunning campus with a world class garden. There's also nearby Nineth Street, which has shops, restaurants, and bars that are geared toward the student population.

Cleveland is not popular with students.

Is Durham or Cleveland Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Durham and Cleveland offer respectable public transit options.

Public transit is generally limited in Durham. There are buses around town, but you really need a car to explore the area.

Public transit is mostly limited in Cleveland. There are bus, trolley, and train lines through the city, but a car is the most efficient way to get around.

Is Durham or Cleveland a more walkable city?

Durham and Cleveland both are respectable when exploring on foot.

Durham is generally not very walkable. Downtown Durham and a few areas near Duke University are the most walkable areas.

Cleveland is generally not a very walkable city. While some neighborhoods are more walkable than others (Downtown, Ohio City and Buckeye - Shaker), most visitors need a car to easily access everything they wish to do.

For even more information, also check out Is Durham Worth Visiting? and Is Cleveland Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Cleveland or Durham?

How long in Durham or Cleveland?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Durham and Cleveland. In our opinion, Durham has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Durham than Cleveland. However, 1-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Durham than Cleveland 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 Durham.

One day in Durham or Cleveland?

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Durham. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Durham has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Cleveland. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Durham or Cleveland?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the student-filled destination of Durham. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Cleveland 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 Durham or Cleveland?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the diverse city of Durham. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Cleveland. 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 Durham or Cleveland?

Durham is a popular choice for travelers. One week 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the under-rated destination of Cleveland. 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 2-Week Tours from San Francisco, The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America, and The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Durham or Cleveland?

Cleveland has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Durham. When comparing the sizes of Durham and Cleveland, 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 Durham or Cleveland?

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 Durham or Cleveland in the Summer?

Both Cleveland and Durham during the summer are popular places to visit. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Durham this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Cleveland for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Durham is around the same temperature as Cleveland. Typically, the summer temperatures in Durham in July average around 79°F (26°C), and Cleveland averages at about 75°F (24°C).

In Cleveland, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Durham. In the summer, Durham often gets less sunshine than Cleveland. Durham gets 259 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cleveland receives 307 hours of full sun.

Cleveland gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Durham. Durham usually gets more rain in July than Cleveland. Durham gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Cleveland receives 4 inches (101 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Durham or Cleveland in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Durham and Cleveland. Many travelers come to Durham for the shopping scene. Also, many visitors come to Cleveland in the autumn for the shopping scene and the music scene.

In October, Durham is generally a little warmer than Cleveland. Daily temperatures in Durham average around 61°F (16°C), and Cleveland fluctuates around 56°F (13°C).

In Durham, it's very sunny this time of the year. Durham usually receives more sunshine than Cleveland during autumn. Durham gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while Cleveland receives 165 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Durham usually receives more rain than Cleveland. Durham gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Cleveland receives 1.9 inches (49 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Durham or Cleveland in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Durham as well as Cleveland. Many visitors come to Durham in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Cleveland for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Cleveland can be very cold during winter. Durham can get quite cold in the winter. Durham is much warmer than Cleveland in the winter. The daily temperature in Durham averages around 40°F (5°C) in January, and Cleveland fluctuates around 28°F (-2°C).

In the winter, Durham often gets more sunshine than Cleveland. Durham gets 162 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cleveland receives 95 hours of full sun.

Durham usually gets more rain in January than Cleveland. Durham gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Cleveland receives 1.5 inches (39 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Durham or Cleveland in the Spring?

Both Cleveland and Durham are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.

In the spring, Durham is much warmer than Cleveland. Typically, the spring temperatures in Durham in April average around 60°F (16°C), and Cleveland averages at about 51°F (10°C).

It's quite sunny in Cleveland. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Durham. Durham usually receives more sunshine than Cleveland during spring. Durham gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Cleveland receives 213 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Durham usually receives more rain than Cleveland. Durham gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Cleveland receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Cleveland and Durham