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

Should you visit Durham or Houston?

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 Houston can help you decide which place is right for you.

Durham

Durham is a sports oriented, diverse, and student-filled city. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Houston

Houston is a sprawling, southern, and one-of-a-kind city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Durham and Houston: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Durham or Houston?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Houston than Durham, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Durham is popular for its college town vibe as well as being the home of the famous Blue Devil basketball team. Houston is popular for its sprawling size, its local Texas restaurants, and being the home to NASA. It is also home to The Space Center Houston.

How is Durham different from Houston?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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 Houston can be an interesting and educational experience. Head to Houston's Museum District to explore 19 different museums in a walkable area. A highlight of a trip to the city is a visit to the Space Center, but other popular museums include the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Houston Children's Museum.

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

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Durham and Houston can be difficult as they are each good 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 Houston. The city is famous for its Texas barbecue, Mexican food, and a wide diversity of other different ethnic foods. It's a surprisingly diverse city and this is reflected in the restaurant selection around town.

Is Durham or Houston Better for Nightlife?

Houston is a well-known place for its evening party scene. Also, Durham is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife.

Houston offers plenty to do in the evening. The nightlife is at its best on weekends when bars, dance clubs, and concert halls come to life. There are a diversity of venues around town including dance clubs, Honky Tonks, and cocktail bars. Some of the most active nightlife areas are Downtown, Midtown, Montrose, Washington Avenue, and Rice Village.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe 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.

Is Durham or Houston Better for Music?

Houston is very good for its music scene. However, Durham is not a live music destination.

Music lovers will find a few good venues in Houston. Popular music venues include Fitzgerald's, Walter's Downtown, and The Continental Club.

Durham is not a live music destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Durham or Houston?

Both Durham and Houston are good 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 Houston. There are a number of upscale malls and shopping centers that have brand names, chain stores, and the occasional local shop where you can pick up items.

Is Durham or Houston Better for Families?

Houston is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Durham is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Houston is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. It is a large city with plenty of things that kids can enjoy including museums, theaters, a zoo, and even the Space Center. The Children's Museum of Houston is perfect for a rainy day. For science loving kids there's the Health Museum and the Museum of Natural Science. Houston also has a Six Flags nearby which the whole family can enjoy.

Durham is a family-friendly city. 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.

Is Durham or Houston Better for Couples?

Both Durham and Houston are good destinations to visit as a couple.

Durham is a good city for couples to visit. 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.

Houston is a nice destination for couples. There's a surprising diversity of restaurants around the city. There are also performing arts productions and many outdoor parks and gardens.

Is Durham or Houston Better for Students?

Durham is well known for students. Also, Houston is still popular, but not quite as popular for its student-friendly activities.

Many students visit Durham. 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.

It's common for students to visit Houston. It's a large city with a number of universities and a large student population.

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

Both Durham and Houston offer decent 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 Houston. The system includes buses and a limited light rail. Houston is known as a car-centric city and you really need a car to fully experience it.

Is Durham or Houston a more walkable city?

Durham and Houston both are decent when exploring on foot.

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

Houston is generally not a very walkable city. The most walkable neighborhood is the historic Houston Heights, but most parts of the city aren't very walkable.

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

Should I spend more time in Houston or Durham?

How long in Durham or Houston?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Durham than Houston 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 Houston?

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.

Houston is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Durham or Houston?

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.

Houston 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 Houston?

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 Houston. 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 Houston?

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 nightlife and live music when visiting the diverse big city of Houston. 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 Houston, we can see that Houston is more expensive. And not only is Durham much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Durham would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Durham 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 Houston would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Houston than you might in Durham.

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

Which is Bigger, Durham or Houston?

Houston has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Durham. When comparing the sizes of Durham and Houston, 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 Houston?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Durham or Houston in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Durham and Houston. Many visitors come to Durham in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Houston for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Durham is generally around the same temperature as Houston. Daily temperatures in Durham average around 79°F (26°C), and Houston fluctuates around 84°F (29°C).

Houston receives a lot of rain in the summer. Durham gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Durham usually receives around the same amount of rain as Houston. Durham gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Houston receives 4.8 inches (122 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Durham or Houston in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Durham as well as Houston. Most visitors come to Durham for the shopping scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Houston because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.

Durham is cooler than Houston in the autumn. The daily temperature in Durham averages around 61°F (16°C) in October, and Houston fluctuates around 71°F (22°C).

It's quite rainy in Houston. Durham usually gets less rain in October than Houston. Durham gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Houston receives 4.2 inches (107 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Durham or Houston in the Winter?

Both Houston and Durham are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The winter months attract visitors to Durham because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Houston this time of year.

The weather in Durham can be very cold. In the winter, Durham is much colder than Houston. Typically, the winter temperatures in Durham in January average around 40°F (5°C), and Houston averages at about 52°F (11°C).

In January, Durham usually receives less rain than Houston. Durham gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Houston receives 3.6 inches (91 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Durham or Houston in the Spring?

Both Houston and Durham during the spring are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many travelers come to Houston for the activities around the city.

In April, Durham is generally cooler than Houston. Daily temperatures in Durham average around 60°F (16°C), and Houston fluctuates around 70°F (21°C).

Durham usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Houston. Durham gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Houston receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Houston and Durham