Which place is cheaper, Sacramento or Houston?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Houston and Sacramento. 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 is a southern, one-of-a-kind, and diverse city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and live music.
Sacramento is a relaxed, undiscovered, and laid back city. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.
You'll generally find more things to do in Houston than Sacramento. Houston is bigger than Sacramento, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Houston is well known for its sprawling size, its local Texas restaurants, and being the home to NASA. Also, Houston is famous for The Space Center Houston. Sacramento is well known for its history and state capital.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Sacramento and Houston. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Plenty of people visit the great sights and museums in both Houston and Sacramento.
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.
Sacramento offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. As the state capital, you'll find a number of historical and informational museums around town. You should check out the State Capital, as well as the California State Railroad Museum, the Crocker Museum of Art, Sutter's Fort State Historic Park, and the California Automobile Museum.
Foodies will find both Houston and Sacramento both to be notable destinations.
Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in 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.
Sacramento is becoming an appealing option for foodies. Casual restaurants with laid back atmospheres are what's most common around town. You'll also find a variety of international cuisines that include Korean and Vietnamese.
Houston is a very popular place for nightlife and partying. Also, Sacramento is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its evening party scene.
Houston has a large number of nightlife venues. 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.
Sacramento has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There highest concentration of activities are found in Downtown Sacramento. You'll find bars, clubs and live music in the area. You can also head to midtown, which has performing arts and comedy shows.
Houston is a nice place to visit for its live music scene. However, Sacramento is not a live music destination.
The music scene helps keep Houston active and fun. Popular music venues include Fitzgerald's, Walter's Downtown, and The Continental Club.
Sacramento is not a live music destination.
Shopping is a popular activity in both Sacramento 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.
Sacramento has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. You'll find down-to-earth vendors who have reasonable prices and a great selection. Some of the most interesting shopping is found at the Old Sacramento Waterfront or along Folsom Boulevard.
Houston is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Sacramento is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.
Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Houston is very family-friendly. 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.
You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Sacramento. With the large number of families that live in the area, you'll a variety of kid-friendly activities. Options include smaller amusement parks like Funderland Amusement Park, museums like the Sacramento Children's Museum, and indoor trampoline parks. There's also Fairytale Town, which is an imagination filled playground.
Houston is a nice place to visit for its romantic activities. However, Sacramento is lacking in good options for couples.
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.
Sacramento is not always the best place to visit for a couple. Picnics, nice restaurants, and shows make for enjoyable date activities while you're in town.
Houston is a nice place to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Sacramento is not popular with students.
Plenty of students visit Houston. It's a large city with a number of universities and a large student population.
Sacramento is not popular with students.
You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Houston and Sacramento.
Public transit is generally 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.
Public transit is mostly limited in Sacramento. There's both light rail and buses around town.
Houston and Sacramento both are respectable when exploring on foot.
Houston is generally not very walkable. The most walkable neighborhood is the historic Houston Heights, but most parts of the city aren't very walkable.
Sacramento is generally not a very walkable city. You'll really want a car to get around town, but Midtown is one of the more walkable areas.
For even more information, also check out Is Houston Worth Visiting? and Is Sacramento Worth Visiting?.
You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Houston or Sacramento to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Houston than Sacramento because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Houston, and 1-2 days is enough time in Sacramento.
Families should spend more time in Houston than Sacramento. 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 Sacramento. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Houston that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Sacramento 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 Sacramento.
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 Sacramento, 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.
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 Sacramento, 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 Sacramento has to offer.
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.
Sacramento 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.
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 Sacramento. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Sacramento. 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.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Houston is $262, while the average daily cost in Sacramento is $281. 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 Houston and Sacramento in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Houston or Sacramento? 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.
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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Houston:
Also for Sacramento, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Sacramento and Houston 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Houston.
For Sacramento, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Here are a few actual costs in Houston for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
For Sacramento, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Also in Houston, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
Also in Sacramento, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When comparing the travel costs between Houston and Sacramento, we can see that Sacramento 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 Houston Expensive? and Is Sacramento Expensive?.
Houston has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Sacramento. When comparing the sizes of Houston and Sacramento, 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.
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.
The summer brings many poeple to Houston as well as Sacramento. Many visitors come to Houston in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, most visitors come to Sacramento for the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Houston is a little warmer than Sacramento in the summer. The daily temperature in Houston averages around 84°F (29°C) in July, and Sacramento fluctuates around 76°F (24°C).
Houston receives a lot of rain in the summer. Houston usually gets more rain in July than Sacramento. Houston gets 4.8 inches (122 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Both Sacramento and Houston are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Houston for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Sacramento because of the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Houston is a little warmer than Sacramento. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Houston in October average around 71°F (22°C), and Sacramento averages at about 64°F (18°C).
It's quite rainy in Houston. In October, Houston usually receives more rain than Sacramento. Houston gets 4.2 inches (107 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
Both Sacramento and Houston during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Houston because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Sacramento this time of year.
In January, Houston is generally much warmer than Sacramento. Daily temperatures in Houston average around 52°F (11°C), and Sacramento fluctuates around 45°F (7°C).
Houston usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Sacramento. Houston gets 3.6 inches (91 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 3.8 inches (97 mm) of rain this time of the year.
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Houston and Sacramento. The activities around the city are the main draw to Houston this time of year.
Houston is a little warmer than Sacramento in the spring. The daily temperature in Houston averages around 70°F (21°C) in April, and Sacramento fluctuates around 58°F (15°C).
In April, Houston usually receives more rain than Sacramento. Houston gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 1.3 inches (32 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
Houston | Sacramento | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 52°F (11°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) | 45°F (7°C) | 3.8 inches (97 mm) |
Feb | 55°F (13°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) | 51°F (10°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) |
Mar | 63°F (17°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
Apr | 70°F (21°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) | 58°F (15°C) | 1.3 inches (32 mm) |
May | 76°F (25°C) | 5.2 inches (132 mm) | 65°F (18°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) |
Jun | 81°F (27°C) | 6.4 inches (163 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
Jul | 84°F (29°C) | 4.8 inches (122 mm) | 76°F (24°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) |
Aug | 83°F (29°C) | 4.4 inches (113 mm) | 75°F (24°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
Sep | 80°F (27°C) | 5.6 inches (143 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 0.5 inches (12 mm) |
Oct | 71°F (22°C) | 4.2 inches (107 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 1.1 inches (27 mm) |
Nov | 63°F (17°C) | 4.1 inches (104 mm) | 53°F (12°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
Dec | 55°F (13°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) | 45°F (7°C) | 2.6 inches (65 mm) |