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

Should you visit Durham or El Paso?

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 El Paso 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.

El Paso

El Paso is a undiscovered, laid-back, and low-key city. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping.

Durham and El Paso: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Durham or El Paso?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Durham than El Paso. While El Paso is larger than Durham, Durham has more sights and attractions for tourists. Durham is well known for its college town vibe as well as being the home of the famous Blue Devil basketball team. Also, Durham is famous for the Duke University Chapel. El Paso is well known for its Spanish missions and its outstanding Mexican food.

How is Durham different from El Paso?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between El Paso 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 El Paso?

Durham is a very popular place for its museums and history. Also, El Paso is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

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.

El Paso offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Visitors can learn about local art, culture, and history at the El Paso Museum of Art, the El Paso Museum of History, the 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss Museum, and the Eduardo Pedregón Memorial Veterans Museum.

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

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Durham and El Paso can be difficult as they are each notable in their own way.

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

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around El Paso. Mexican food and barbecue are popular around town but you'll also find burgers, pizza, and other American favorites.

Is Durham or El Paso Better for Nightlife?

Both Durham and El Paso 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 El Paso. There are a number of bars, nightclubs, and lounges around town where you can enjoy a fun night out.

Is the Shopping Better in Durham or El Paso?

Both Durham and El Paso 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 El Paso. There are a number of malls and outlet centers around town. One of the most well known is Bassett Place, but other options include Cielo Vista Mall and the Fountains at Farah.

Is Durham or El Paso Better for Families?

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

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.

El Paso is a family-friendly city. There are adventure parks, playgrounds, outdoor centers and nature activities that families can enjoy.

Is Durham or El Paso Better for Couples?

Durham is very good for romance. However, El Paso 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 El Paso as a couple's destination. Couples can enjoy dinner and a show or taking a romantic drive up to the overlook.

Is Durham or El Paso Better for Students?

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

Durham is very popular with students. 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.

El Paso is not popular with students.

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

Both Durham and El Paso 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 El Paso. While there are some bus routes in town, you shouldn't rely on them and must have a private vehicle to efficiently visit the city.

Is Durham or El Paso a more walkable city?

Durham and El Paso 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.

El Paso is generally not a very walkable city. You really need a car to get around town.

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

Should I spend more time in El Paso or Durham?

How long in Durham or El Paso?

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

Families should spend more time in Durham than El Paso. 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 El Paso. 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 El Paso 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 El Paso?

In Durham, you'll find nightlife and food. 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.

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

A weekend in Durham or El Paso?

In Durham, you'll find food 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 Durham has to offer.

El Paso 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 El Paso?

Durham 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in El Paso. 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 El Paso?

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

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the laid-back destination of El Paso. 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 New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage, The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles.

When comparing the travel costs between Durham and El Paso, we can see that Durham 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 Durham Expensive? and Is El Paso Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Durham or El Paso?

El Paso has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Durham. When comparing the sizes of Durham and El Paso, 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.