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

Should you visit Houston or Santa Cruz?

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 Santa Cruz. 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 sprawling, southern, and one-of-a-kind city. It's an amazing and huge city with tons of activities and things to do. It's also known for food, shopping, and museums.

Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is a scenic, laid back, and coastal town. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Houston and Santa Cruz: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Houston or Santa Cruz?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Houston than Santa Cruz. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Houston is very popular for its museums, music, and big city activities, while Santa Cruz attracts visitors for its beaches and hiking. Santa Cruz is more touristy than Houston and is known for its dramatic coastline, fun-filled boardwalk, and beautiful beaches. Houston is famous for its sprawling size, its local Texas restaurants, and being the home to NASA. It is also well known for The Space Center Houston.

How is Houston different from Santa Cruz?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Houston 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.

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

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 Houston or Santa Cruz? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Foodies will find both Houston and Santa Cruz both to be nice 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.

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

Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in Houston and Santa Cruz.

Houston is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. 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.

Many people head to Santa Cruz for the nightlife scene. You'll find a range of nighttime options around town that include live entertainment, bars, clubs, and even a casino.

Is Houston or Santa Cruz Better for Music?

Houston is a popular place for live music. However, Santa Cruz is not a live music destination.

The music scene in Houston is active and vibrant. Popular music venues include Fitzgerald's, Walter's Downtown, and The Continental Club.

Santa Cruz is not a live music destination.

Is Houston or Santa Cruz Better for Beaches?

Santa Cruz is well known for the beache. However, Houston is not a beach destination.

Many people visit Santa Cruz for it's beautiful 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.

Houston is not a beach destination.

Is Houston or Santa Cruz Better for Hiking?

Santa Cruz is a good destination for its hiking experiences. However, Houston is not a hiking destination.

Santa Cruz offers some nice hiking trails. There are several great parks in the area and trails that follow along the rugged coastline or go through the impressive redwood forests.

Houston is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Houston or Santa Cruz?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Santa Cruz 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.

Santa Cruz has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Downtown Santa Cruz is where you'll find some of the best shopping.

Is Houston or Santa Cruz Better for Families?

Both Houston and Santa Cruz are superb family-friendly destinations.

Houston is a very kid-friendly city. 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 family-friendly things to do in Santa Cruz. 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.

Is Houston or Santa Cruz Better for Couples?

Santa Cruz is well known for its romantic activities. Also, Houston is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

Couples visit Santa Cruz frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. 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.

Houston is a good city for couples to visit. There's a surprising diversity of restaurants around the city. There are also performing arts productions and many outdoor parks and gardens.

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

Santa Cruz is a good destination for backpackers. However, Houston is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

Plenty of backpackers visit Santa Cruz. There's a laid back vibe that is fun to experience and there's even a hostel in town.

Houston is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

Is Houston or Santa Cruz Better for Students?

Houston is a popular place for students. However, Santa Cruz is not popular with students.

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

Santa Cruz is not popular with students.

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

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Houston and Santa Cruz.

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 Santa Cruz. There are buses that travel around town.

Is Houston or Santa Cruz a more walkable city?

Santa Cruz is a world-class destination for its high level of walkability. However, Houston is not particularly known for its ease of walking around.

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

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 Santa Cruz Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Santa Cruz or Houston?

How long in Houston or Santa Cruz?

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

Families should spend more time in Santa Cruz than Houston. 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 Houston. 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 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 Santa Cruz.

One day in Houston or Santa Cruz?

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 Santa Cruz, you'll find nightlife and food. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. This town offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A weekend in Houston or Santa Cruz?

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 Santa Cruz, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Most people come for the beaches. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Santa Cruz has to offer.

Five days in Houston or Santa Cruz?

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.

Santa Cruz is a great place to explore. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. 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 Santa Cruz?

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 Santa Cruz. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Santa Cruz. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. 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 Santa Cruz, we can see that Houston 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 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 Santa Cruz.

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

Which is Bigger, Houston or Santa Cruz?

Houston has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Santa Cruz. When comparing the sizes of Houston 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 Houston 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 Houston or Santa Cruz in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Houston and Santa Cruz. The city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Houston this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Santa Cruz for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Houston is generally a little warmer than Santa Cruz. Daily temperatures in Houston average around 84°F (29°C), and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 67°F (19°C).

Houston gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Houston usually receives more rain than Santa Cruz. Houston gets 4.8 inches (122 mm) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 0.1 inches (1 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Houston or Santa Cruz in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Houston as well as Santa Cruz. Many travelers come to Houston for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene. Also, many visitors come to Santa Cruz in the autumn for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.

Houston is a little warmer than Santa Cruz in the autumn. The daily temperature in Houston averages around 71°F (22°C) in October, and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).

Houston receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Houston usually gets more rain in October than Santa Cruz. Houston gets 4.2 inches (107 mm) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Houston or Santa Cruz in the Winter?

Both Santa Cruz and Houston are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Houston in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Santa Cruz for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

In the winter, Houston is around the same temperature as Santa Cruz. Typically, the winter temperatures in Houston in January average around 52°F (11°C), and Santa Cruz averages at about 51°F (10°C).

In January, Houston usually receives more rain than Santa Cruz. Houston gets 3.6 inches (91 mm) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Houston or Santa Cruz in the Spring?

Both Santa Cruz and Houston during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Houston for the activities around the city during these months. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Santa Cruz because of the beaches.

In April, Houston is generally a little warmer than Santa Cruz. Daily temperatures in Houston average around 70°F (21°C), and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).

Houston usually gets more rain in April than Santa Cruz. Houston 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 Houston