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

Should you visit Houston or Providence?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Houston and Providence. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Houston

Houston is a diverse, sprawling, and southern city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. It's also popular because of the live music, food, and shopping.

Providence

Providence is a fascinating, active, and friendly city. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Houston and Providence: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Houston or Providence?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Houston than Providence, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Houston is more popular for its museums, nightlife, music, and big city activities, while Providence is known for its food. 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. Providence is popular for its outdoor parks, historic atmosphere, and college town vibe.

How is Houston different from Providence?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Providence and Houston. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Houston or Providence?

Houston is a great city for its historical sights. Also, Providence is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its sights and museums.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Houston. 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.

Providence is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are several historical museums around town as well as art museums, zoos, a planetarium and natural history museum, and even a children's museum.

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

Providence is well known for its restaurant scene. Also, Houston is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Providence. The food scene around town has grown and diversified in recent years. You'll find a mix of international and local options and for such a small city, it really has a lot to offer.

Houston is becoming an appealing option for foodies. 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 Houston or Providence Better for Nightlife?

Houston is a great city for its evening party scene. Also, Providence is not as popular, but is still a nice city for nightlife.

The nightlife in Houston has something for everybody. 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.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Providence. Comedy clubs, bars, and clubs keep the energy high during the evening hours. It's not hard to find something to do, particularly on weekend nights.

Is Houston or Providence Better for Music?

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

You don't have to look far to find a unique music venue in Houston. Popular music venues include Fitzgerald's, Walter's Downtown, and The Continental Club.

Providence is not a live music destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Houston or Providence?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Providence and Houston.

Houston offers some nice shopping areas. 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.

Providence has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Malls, shopping centers, and boutiques all offer a range of shopping experiences around town.

Is Houston or Providence Better for Families?

Houston is a great city for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Providence is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Houston. 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.

Providence is a family-friendly place to visit. There are opportunities for kids to interact with animals at the Roger Williams Park Zoo, as well as plenty of places for kids to run around like Rocky Point Park or Goddard Memorial State Park. There's also the Providence Children's Museum, go carting, and entertainment centers.

Is Houston or Providence Better for Couples?

Houston and Providence both good destinations for a couple.

Houston makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There's a surprising diversity of restaurants around the city. There are also performing arts productions and many outdoor parks and gardens.

Providence is a good city for couples to visit. You can see a show at the Providence Performing Arts Center or visit some of the city's historic buildings and museums. There are also parks and coastal walks as well as many great restaurants.

Is Houston or Providence Better for Students?

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

Many students visit Providence. There's a college town vibe to this small city because it's home to Brown University, which is a member of the Ivy League.

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

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

Providence is a good destination for its public transit. However, Houston is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

You'll find some public transit in Providence, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are RIPTA buses that travel around town.

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 Houston or Providence a more walkable city?

Providence is well known for its high level of walkability. However, Houston is not particularly known for its ease of walking around.

Providence is a very walkable city. It's a walkable city and it's relatively easy to explore on foot.

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 Houston Worth Visiting? and Is Providence Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Providence or Houston?

How long in Houston or Providence?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Houston and Providence. In our opinion, Providence has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Providence than Houston. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Families should spend more time in Houston than Providence. 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.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Providence 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 Providence.

One day in Houston or Providence?

When visiting Houston, people usually allow for lots of time. Anyone can find something fun to do here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

In Providence, you'll find nightlife and food. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in Houston or Providence?

When visiting Houston, people usually allow for lots of time. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

In Providence, 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 Providence has to offer.

Five days in Houston or Providence?

Houston, 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.

Providence 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.

A week in Houston or Providence?

Houston 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.

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

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Houston and Providence, we can see that Houston is more expensive. And not only is Providence much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Providence would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Providence 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 Providence.

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

Which is Bigger, Houston or Providence?

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

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 Houston or Providence in the Summer?

Both Providence and Houston during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Houston because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Providence this time of year.

In the summer, Houston is a little warmer than Providence. Typically, the summer temperatures in Houston in July average around 84°F (29°C), and Providence averages at about 73°F (23°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Houston. Houston usually gets more rain in July than Providence. Houston gets 4.8 inches (122 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Houston or Providence in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Houston and Providence. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene are the main draw to Houston this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Providence for the shopping scene.

In October, Houston is generally much warmer than Providence. Daily temperatures in Houston average around 71°F (22°C), and Providence fluctuates around 53°F (12°C).

Houston gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Houston usually receives more rain than Providence. Houston gets 4.2 inches (107 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Houston or Providence in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Houston as well as Providence. Many travelers come to Houston for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Additionally, many visitors come to Providence in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Providence can get quite cold in the winter. Houston is much warmer than Providence in the winter. The daily temperature in Houston averages around 52°F (11°C) in January, and Providence fluctuates around 28°F (-2°C).

Houston usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Providence. Houston gets 3.6 inches (91 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Houston or Providence in the Spring?

Both Providence and Houston are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Houston in the spring for the activities around the city.

In the spring, Houston is much warmer than Providence. Typically, the spring temperatures in Houston in April average around 70°F (21°C), and Providence averages at about 48°F (9°C).

In April, Houston usually receives less rain than Providence. Houston gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 3.7 inches (94 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Providence and Houston