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

Should you visit Durham or Santa Monica?

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 Monica 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 nightlife, food, and shopping.

Santa Monica

Santa Monica is a active, lively, and funfilled town. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Durham and Santa Monica: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Durham or Santa Monica?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Santa Monica than Durham. While Durham is larger than Santa Monica, Santa Monica has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Santa Monica is more popular for its food, nightlife, beaches, and shopping, while Durham is known for its museums. Santa Monica is more touristy than Durham and is known for its active lifestyle and fun-filled activities. It is also home to the Santa Monica Pier. Durham is popular for its college town vibe as well as being the home of the famous Blue Devil basketball team.

How is Durham different from Santa Monica?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Durham is notable for its sights and museums. Also, Santa Monica 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.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Santa Monica. There's a thriving arts scene and a number of museums around town. Check out the Museum of Flying, the California Heritage Museum, or the Santa Monica History Museum.

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

Santa Monica is a well-known place for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Durham is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

Dining out in Santa Monica is an experience not to be missed. You'll find a diversity of restaurants in the area, many of which make use of the town's many farmer's markets. The restaurant scene has a beachy vibe with a lot of outdoor dining opportunities. There are also a range of cuisines to choose from such as Mexican, Italian, casual, and upscale.

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.

Is Durham or Santa Monica Better for Nightlife?

Santa Monica 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 Monica offers plenty to do in the evening. There's a relaxed and laid back vibe to the nightlife scene. Many venues offer outdoor seating and live music in a casual setting. You can hang out on a patio and enjoy the California climate while you sip cold drinks and the beach town atmosphere.

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 Monica Better for Beaches?

Santa Monica is an amazing town to visit for the beach. However, Durham is not a beach destination.

With world-famous beaches, Santa Monica is a very popular vacation destination. Santa Monica Beach is large and lined with bike trails. It's also filled with activity and you'll find many water sports, beach volleyball, and surfing in the area. There's also the famous Santa Monica Pier, which has an amusement park aquarium, Ferris wheal, dining, and shopping.

Durham is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Durham or Santa Monica?

Santa Monica is a well-known place for its shopping areas. Also, Durham is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for shopping.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Santa Monica. It's easy to pass the time shopping in Santa Monica. There are independent vendors, fashion boutiques, and art galleries. Head to Montana Avenue or Main Street for some of the best shopping.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Durham. The Streets of Southpoint is the best mall in the area. Other shopping areas include Brightleaf Square and Nineth Street.

Is Durham or Santa Monica Better for Families?

Santa Monica is an amazing town to visit 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 Monica is one of the most popular family destinations. Many families spend their days hanging out on the beaches, soaking up the sun, and even trying to surf. There's a boardwalk as well as bike paths that are perfect for people watching. You should also check out the Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier, which is a thrilling amusement park.

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 Monica Better for Couples?

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

Santa Monica is a very popular place to visit for couples. Fun days on the beach, peaceful walks at sunset, and a wild nightlife scene make this the perfect couples destination for couples who enjoy activity and excitement.

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 Monica Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Santa Monica is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There's no shortage of activities in the area, whether you're into surfing, partying, or sunbathing. There's also at least one hostel that's great for budget travelers and backpackers.

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 Monica Better for Students?

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

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

Durham is a moderate city for its public transit. However, Santa Monica does not have public transit.

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

Santa Monica does not have public transit. The Metro E Line connects the city to downtown Los Angeles. There's also the Big Blue Bus as well the Santa Monica Circuit, which are small electric carts that offer free rides between Wilshire Boulevard and Marine Street, and from the ocean to Fifth Street.

Is Durham or Santa Monica a more walkable city?

Santa Monica is a well-known place for its ease of walking around. However, Durham is not a good city for its walkability.

Santa Monica is a very walkable destination. The city is very walkable, particularly in the more touristy areas.

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 Monica Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Santa Monica or Durham?

How long in Durham or Santa Monica?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Santa Monica 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 Monica.

One day in Durham or Santa Monica?

In Durham, many people enjoy the food and shopping that this sports oriented city offers. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. In one day, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Santa Monica. 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 Monica?

Durham is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. So, a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Santa Monica is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the beaches, as that's what most people do. 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 Monica?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the diverse destination of Durham. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Santa Monica. Don't miss the beaches, as that's what most people do. 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 Monica?

Durham is a popular place to visit. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the energetic destination of Santa Monica. 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 Monica, we can see that Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Durham or Santa Monica?

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

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 Monica in the Summer?

Both Santa Monica 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 Monica because of the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Durham is generally a little warmer than Santa Monica. Daily temperatures in Durham average around 79°F (26°C), and Santa Monica fluctuates around 70°F (21°C).

It's quite rainy in Durham. In July, Durham usually receives more rain than Santa Monica. Durham gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Santa Monica receives 0 inches (0 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Durham or Santa Monica in the Autumn?

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

Durham is cooler than Santa Monica in the autumn. The daily temperature in Durham averages around 61°F (16°C) in October, and Santa Monica fluctuates around 67°F (20°C).

Durham usually gets more rain in October than Santa Monica. Durham gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Santa Monica receives 0.2 inches (6 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Durham or Santa Monica in the Winter?

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

It's quite cold in Durham in the winter. In the winter, Durham is much colder than Santa Monica. Typically, the winter temperatures in Durham in January average around 40°F (5°C), and Santa Monica averages at about 57°F (14°C).

In January, Durham usually receives more rain than Santa Monica. Durham gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Santa Monica receives 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Durham or Santa Monica in the Spring?

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

In April, Durham is generally around the same temperature as Santa Monica. Daily temperatures in Durham average around 60°F (16°C), and Santa Monica fluctuates around 61°F (16°C).

Durham usually gets more rain in April than Santa Monica. Durham gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Santa Monica receives 0.2 inches (4 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Santa Monica and Durham