A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Durham vs. Santa Cruz for Attractions, Nightlife, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Durham or Santa Cruz?

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 Santa Cruz can help you decide which place is right for you.

Durham

Durham is a student-filled, sports oriented, and diverse city. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is a laid back, coastal, and scenic town. Other popular activities here include beaches, hiking, and shopping.

Durham and Santa Cruz: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Durham or Santa Cruz?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Santa Cruz than Durham. While Durham is larger than Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Santa Cruz is better known for its nightlife, beaches, and hiking, while Durham is more popular for its museums. Santa Cruz is more touristy than Durham and is known for its dramatic coastline, fun-filled boardwalk, and beautiful beaches. Also, Santa Cruz is famous for Santa Cruz Wharf. Durham is well known for its college town vibe as well as being the home of the famous Blue Devil basketball team.

How is Durham different from Santa Cruz?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Durham is notable for its sights and museums. Also, Santa Cruz is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its museums and history.

Durham offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. 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.

Santa Cruz offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Local museums in town include the Surfing Museum, Seymour Marine Discovery Center, and Santa Cruz Mission.

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

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Durham and Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz. Sampling local seafood is a top priority for many visitors. Most restaurants have a casual vibe and serve up high quality dishes in a relaxed setting. You'll find cafes, Mexican food, and Italian eateries among other options.

Is Durham or Santa Cruz Better for Nightlife?

Santa Cruz 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.

Santa Cruz offers plenty to do in the evening. You'll find a range of nighttime options around town that include live entertainment, bars, clubs, and even a casino.

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 Santa Cruz Better for Beaches?

Santa Cruz is a well-known place for the beach. However, Durham is not a beach destination.

Santa Cruz is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. The beaches are beautiful and fun. Head to Main Beach for the most activity. This is where you'll find the town's boardwalk, which has a historic carousel and several classic amusement rides. For a more peaceful and scenic spot, check out Natural Bridges State Beach or Seacliff State Beach.

Durham is not a beach destination.

Is Durham or Santa Cruz Better for Hiking?

Santa Cruz is very good for the nearby hiking options. However, Durham is not a hiking destination.

Many people include a hike when visiting Santa Cruz. There are several great parks in the area and trails that follow along the rugged coastline or go through the impressive redwood forests.

Durham is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Durham or Santa Cruz?

Both Durham and Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz. Downtown Santa Cruz is where you'll find some of the best shopping.

Is Durham or Santa Cruz Better for Families?

Santa Cruz 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.

Santa Cruz is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. It's filled with beaches, parks, playgrounds, and museums that kids and adults will enjoy. Highlights for many families include visiting the boardwalk, playing around at Seacliff State Beach, entertaining the kids at Seymour Center at Long Marine Lab, and taking in the beauty at Natural Bridges State Beach.

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 Santa Cruz Better for Couples?

Santa Cruz is a well-known place for couples. Also, Durham is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for romance.

Santa Cruz is a very popular place to visit for couples. Dining in downtown Santa Cruz, hiking through Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, and relaxing on the beach at Natural Bridges State Beach all make for a romantic getaway.

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.

Is Durham or Santa Cruz Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Santa Cruz is very good for backpackers. However, Durham is not a good city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Santa Cruz is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There's a laid back vibe that is fun to experience and there's even a hostel in town.

Durham is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. The student population means there are a number of parties and bars around town, but most backpackers overlook this city.

Is Durham or Santa Cruz Better for Students?

Durham is notable for students. However, Santa Cruz is not popular with students.

Durham is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. 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.

Santa Cruz is not popular with students.

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

Both Durham and Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz. There are buses that travel around town.

Is Durham or Santa Cruz a more walkable city?

Santa Cruz is an amazing town to visit for its ease of walking around. However, Durham is not a good city for its walkability.

It is easy to get around Santa Cruz on foot. It's considered to be one of the most walkable cities in California.

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 Santa Cruz Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Santa Cruz or Durham?

How long in Durham or Santa Cruz?

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

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

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

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

One day in Durham or Santa Cruz?

With museums and nightlife around the diverse city of Durham, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Durham, one day is sufficent for most.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Santa Cruz. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Durham or Santa Cruz?

With nightlife and food around the destination of Durham, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz?

Durham, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Santa Cruz. Most people come for the beaches. 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 Santa Cruz?

Durham is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the scenic destination of Santa Cruz. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. 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 Santa Cruz, we can see that Durham is more expensive. And not only is Santa Cruz much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Santa Cruz would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz.

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

Which is Bigger, Durham or Santa Cruz?

Durham has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Santa Cruz. When comparing the sizes of Durham and Santa Cruz, 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 Santa Cruz?

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 Santa Cruz in the Summer?

Both Santa Cruz and Durham are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Durham for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Santa Cruz because of the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Durham is a little warmer than Santa Cruz. Typically, the summer temperatures in Durham in July average around 79°F (26°C), and Santa Cruz averages at about 67°F (19°C).

It's quite rainy in Durham. In July, Durham usually receives more rain than Santa Cruz. Durham gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 0.1 inches (1 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Durham or Santa Cruz in the Autumn?

Both Santa Cruz and Durham during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Durham because of the shopping scene. Furthermore, the hiking trails and the shopping scene are the main draw to Santa Cruz this time of year.

In October, Durham is generally around the same temperature as Santa Cruz. Daily temperatures in Durham average around 61°F (16°C), and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).

Durham usually gets more rain in October than Santa Cruz. Durham gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Durham or Santa Cruz in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Durham and Santa Cruz. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Durham this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Santa Cruz for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

It's quite cold in Durham in the winter. Durham is much colder than Santa Cruz in the winter. The daily temperature in Durham averages around 40°F (5°C) in January, and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 51°F (10°C).

In January, Durham usually receives more rain than Santa Cruz. Durham gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Durham or Santa Cruz in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Durham as well as Santa Cruz. Additionally, many visitors come to Santa Cruz in the spring for the beaches.

In the spring, Durham is around the same temperature as Santa Cruz. Typically, the spring temperatures in Durham in April average around 60°F (16°C), and Santa Cruz averages at about 58°F (14°C).

Durham usually gets more rain in April than Santa Cruz. Durham gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 1 inches (26 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Santa Cruz and Durham