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

Should you visit Durham or Milwaukee?

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

Durham

Durham is a sports oriented, diverse, and student-filled city. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums.

Milwaukee

Milwaukee is a undiscovered, friendly, and welcoming city. Other popular activities here include museums, nightlife, and shopping.

Durham and Milwaukee: Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Popular museums and historical sights
  • Active nightlife
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for couples and romance
Things to Consider
  • Less popular with backpackers
Pros
  • Popular museums and historical sights
  • Active nightlife
  • Family-friendly
Things to Consider
  • Less popular with couples
  • Less popular with backpackers


Is there more to do in Durham or Milwaukee?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Durham than Milwaukee. While Milwaukee is larger than Durham, Durham has more sights and attractions for tourists. Durham is popular for its college town vibe as well as being the home of the famous Blue Devil basketball team. It is also home to the Duke University Chapel. Milwaukee is popular for its many breweries and its baseball culture.

How is Durham different from Milwaukee?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Durham
Milwaukee

Durham is an excellent place to visit for its museums and history. Also, Milwaukee is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Durham. 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.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Milwaukee. There are several unique museums like the Harley-Davidson Museum, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, and the Milwaukee Public Museum. There's also the Milwaukee Art Museum and the Grohmann Museum as well as outdoor sculpture parks and other cultural and historic museums.


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

Durham
Milwaukee

Durham is a city with good options for its restaurants. However, Milwaukee is lacking in options for its restaurant scene.

Durham has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. 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.

Milwaukee may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. The Midwest is known for its artery clogging comfort foods, and Milwaukee is no exception. Cheese curds, fried fish, fruit dumplings, and frozen custard are all popular.

Is Durham or Milwaukee Better for Nightlife?

Durham
Milwaukee

Both Durham and Milwaukee are good 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 Milwaukee. You'll find a decent number of breweries around town. There are also wine bars, nightclubs, and live music venues that are worth checking out.

Is the Shopping Better in Durham or Milwaukee?

Durham
Milwaukee

Both Durham and Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee. You'll find the standard shopping centers and shopping malls around town, but if you want some more local vendors, check out the areas around the Historic Third Ward and The Village in Wauwatosa.


Is Durham or Milwaukee Better for Families?

Durham
Milwaukee

You'll find good kid-friendly activities in either Durham or Milwaukee.

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.

Milwaukee is a family-friendly city. Kids will enjoy a visit to Discovery World, which is a science center with hands-on exhibits. There's also the Milwaukee County Zoo and the Milwaukee Public Museum. Younger kids will also enjoy a stop at Betty Brinn Children's Museum.

Is Durham or Milwaukee Better for Couples?

Durham
Milwaukee

Durham is a city with good options for its romantic activities. However, Milwaukee is lacking in options for couples.

Durham makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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.

Milwaukee is not always the best place to visit for a couple. Take a walk or visit a local restaurant. There are also museums and performances that make for a nice outing.

Is Durham or Milwaukee Better for Students?

Durham
Milwaukee

Durham is an excellent place to visit for its student-friendly activities. Also, Milwaukee is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for students.

Students come from all over to stay in 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.

Milwaukee is popular with students. It's home to a number of colleges and universities, so there is a bit of a college town vibe.


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

Durham
Milwaukee

Both Durham and Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee. There are buses that travel around town.

Is Durham or Milwaukee a more walkable city?

Durham
Milwaukee

Milwaukee is very good for its ease of walking around. However, Durham is not a good city for its walkability.

Milwaukee is a somewhat walkable city. Parts of the city are relatively compact and walkable. The most walkable neighborhoods are East Side, Riverwest, Brewers Hill, Downtown, Avenues West/Marquette, Third Ward, Walker's Point, and Bay View.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Milwaukee or Durham?

How long in Durham or Milwaukee?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Durham or Milwaukee to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Durham than Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee.

Families should spend more time in Durham than Milwaukee. 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 Milwaukee. 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 Milwaukee 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.


  • How many days in Durham or Milwaukee? Ideal Length of Stay
    Durham 1-3 
    Milwaukee 1-2

One day in Durham or Milwaukee?

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 shopping and museums when visiting the destination of Milwaukee. One day is often enough time to do most activities.


A weekend in Durham or Milwaukee?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the sports oriented 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.

Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the student-filled 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 Milwaukee. 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 Milwaukee?

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 undiscovered destination of Milwaukee. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.


Which place is cheaper, Milwaukee or Durham?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Durham is $162, while the average daily cost in Milwaukee is $176. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Durham and Milwaukee in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Durham $92
    Milwaukee $99
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Durham $184
    Milwaukee $198
Compare Hotels in Durham and Milwaukee

Looking for a hotel in Durham or Milwaukee? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Durham


Hotels in Milwaukee


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Durham Hotel Prices and Milwaukee Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Durham $33
    Milwaukee $38

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Milwaukee

Also for Milwaukee, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Milwaukee - General Mitchell Airport One Way Transfer : $64

Is it cheaper to fly into Durham or Milwaukee?

Prices for flights to both Milwaukee and Durham change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Durham $44
    Milwaukee $52

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Milwaukee

For Milwaukee, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Family Fun Food Tour: $80
  • Local Food Tour: $98
  • Milwaukee Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $99
  • Original Milwaukee Guided Brewery Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $139

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Durham $26
    Milwaukee $26

Tours and Activities in Durham

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Durham are as follows:

  • Downtown Durham Historic Walking Tour: $16
  • Durham African American History Tour: $16
  • Durham NC: Art Walking Tour: $20
  • True Crime Tour: $13

Tours and Activities in Milwaukee

For Milwaukee, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Skip the Line: Museum Admission Ticket - Grohmann Museum: $5.00
  • The Grand Milwaukee Walk: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
  • The Grand Walk: A Self-Guided Audio Tour through Milwaukee: $6.99
  • Skip the Line: North Point Lighthouse Admission Ticket: $8.21
  • Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Milwaukee by Operation City Quest: $10
  • Geneva Lake Shore Path: Uncover 21 miles of stories on a self-guided audio tour: $10
  • Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Game Ticket at American Family Field: $11
  • Shakers Original Historical Ghost Tour: $20
  • Skip The Line: Harley-Davidson Museum Admission Ticket with Audio Guided Option: $22
  • Macabre Milwaukee Walking Tour: $26
  • Brew City Ghosts: Macabre Milwaukee By US Ghost Adventures: $30
  • Milwaukee Bucks Basketball Game Ticket at Fiserv Forum: $31

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Durham $34
    Milwaukee $33

Sample the Local Flavors in Milwaukee

Also in Milwaukee, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Sip of Milwaukee Guided Brewery Tour with Snack: $99


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


Which is Bigger, Durham or Milwaukee?

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

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 Milwaukee in the Summer?

Both Milwaukee and Durham during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Durham for the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, many visitors come to Milwaukee in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Durham is generally a little warmer than Milwaukee. Daily temperatures in Durham average around 79°F (26°C), and Milwaukee fluctuates around 74°F (23°C).

In Milwaukee, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Durham. In the summer, Durham often gets less sunshine than Milwaukee. Durham gets 259 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Milwaukee receives 321 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Durham. Durham usually gets more rain in July than Milwaukee. Durham gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Milwaukee receives 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Durham 79°F (26°C) 
    Milwaukee 74°F (23°C)

Should I visit Durham or Milwaukee in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Durham and Milwaukee. Many visitors come to Durham in the autumn for the shopping scene. Furthermore, most visitors come to Milwaukee for the shopping scene during these months.

Durham is a little warmer than Milwaukee in the autumn. The daily temperature in Durham averages around 61°F (16°C) in October, and Milwaukee fluctuates around 53°F (12°C).

In Durham, it's very sunny this time of the year. Durham usually receives more sunshine than Milwaukee during autumn. Durham gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while Milwaukee receives 174 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Durham usually receives more rain than Milwaukee. Durham gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Milwaukee receives 2 inches (50 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Durham 61°F (16°C) 
    Milwaukee 53°F (12°C)

Should I visit Durham or Milwaukee in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Durham as well as Milwaukee. Most visitors come to Durham for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Additionally, the winter months attract visitors to Milwaukee because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Milwaukee can be very cold. Durham can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Durham is much warmer than Milwaukee. Typically, the winter temperatures in Durham in January average around 40°F (5°C), and Milwaukee averages at about 21°F (-6°C).

In the winter, Durham often gets more sunshine than Milwaukee. Durham gets 162 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Milwaukee receives 138 hours of full sun.

Durham usually gets more rain in January than Milwaukee. Durham gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Milwaukee receives 1.6 inches (41 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Durham 40°F (5°C) 
    Milwaukee 21°F (-6°C)

Should I visit Durham or Milwaukee in the Spring?

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

In April, Durham is generally much warmer than Milwaukee. Daily temperatures in Durham average around 60°F (16°C), and Milwaukee fluctuates around 47°F (8°C).

It's quite sunny in Milwaukee. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Durham. Durham usually receives more sunshine than Milwaukee during spring. Durham gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Milwaukee receives 211 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Durham usually receives more rain than Milwaukee. Durham gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Milwaukee receives 2.8 inches (70 mm) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Durham 60°F (16°C) 
    Milwaukee 47°F (8°C)

Typical Weather for Milwaukee and Durham

Durham Milwaukee
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 40°F (5°C) 3.2 inches (82 mm) 21°F (-6°C) 1.6 inches (41 mm)
Feb 43°F (6°C) 3.3 inches (84 mm) 26°F (-4°C) 1.1 inches (29 mm)
Mar 52°F (11°C) 3.4 inches (87 mm) 36°F (2°C) 2.2 inches (57 mm)
Apr 60°F (16°C) 3.1 inches (78 mm) 47°F (8°C) 2.8 inches (70 mm)
May 68°F (20°C) 3.3 inches (84 mm) 58°F (14°C) 2.9 inches (73 mm)
Jun 76°F (24°C) 3.7 inches (93 mm) 68°F (20°C) 3.6 inches (91 mm)
Jul 79°F (26°C) 5.1 inches (129 mm) 74°F (23°C) 3.4 inches (87 mm)
Aug 78°F (26°C) 4.9 inches (125 mm) 72°F (22°C) 2.7 inches (68 mm)
Sep 73°F (23°C) 3.8 inches (96 mm) 65°F (18°C) 3 inches (77 mm)
Oct 61°F (16°C) 2.8 inches (71 mm) 53°F (12°C) 2 inches (50 mm)
Nov 53°F (11°C) 2.8 inches (72 mm) 41°F (5°C) 2 inches (51 mm)
Dec 44°F (7°C) 3.1 inches (78 mm) 27°F (-3°C) 1.7 inches (44 mm)