A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Key Largo vs. Austin for Food, Nightlife, Families, and Backpackers

Should you visit Key Largo or Austin?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Key Largo and Austin can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Key Largo

Key Largo is a peaceful, family-friendly, and beautiful island. It's a quaint destination. It's also known for scuba diving and snorkeling and beaches.

Austin

Austin is a entrepreneurial, eccentric, and unconventional city. With a variety of activities, it's a big city. This is beautiful destination to visit. It's also popular because of the nightlife, live music, and food.

Key Largo and Austin: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Key Largo or Austin?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Austin than Key Largo, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Austin is better known for its museums, food, nightlife, music, hiking, shopping, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Key Largo is more popular for its resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and quaint atmosphere. Key Largo is more touristy than Austin and is popular for its snorkeling and scuba diving including that around John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and the artificial reef around the USS Spiegel Grove. Austin is well known for its live music scene, excellent Texas barbecue, authentic Mexican food, and vibrant student population. Also, Austin is famous for The Texas Capital.

How is Key Largo different from Austin?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Key Largo or Austin?

Austin is great for its historical sights. However, Key Largo does not have museums and landmarks.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Austin. Austin has a number of great museums and sights including the Blanton Museum of Art, the Mexic-Arte Museum, and the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. There's also a huge supply of local art galleries. Perhaps the most notable landmark in town is the beautiful Texas Capital Building

Key Largo does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Key Largo or Austin? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Austin is an unbeatable place for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Key Largo is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Many restaurants in Austin have been singled out for their culinary prowess. It is credited with being the original food truck city and you'll find many diverse food truck options around town. There is also amazing Mexican food, world renowned Texas barbecue, and many modern restaurants that reflect the city's culinary influence.

Key Largo offers some easy restaurants to choose from. Like the rest of the Florida Keys, Key Largo is known for its Key Lime pie and seafood. You'll find a great selection of restaurants that serve seafood dishes and options for the land-loving crew. There are even a few international restaurants to choose from.

Is Key Largo or Austin Better for Nightlife?

Austin is an unbeatable place for its evening party scene. However, Key Largo is not a good destination for nightlife.

The nightlife in Austin is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. It's nightlife is centered around its thriving live music scene. Head for Sixth Street for some of the most popular bars and clubs. There are also many music festivals and outdoor concerts, particularly during the summer months. Popular bars and clubs around town include the White Horse, the Rose Room, and Antone's Nightclub.

Most people don't head to Key Largo specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. This area is not known for its nightlife, so you'll need to head further south if partying is your style.

Is Key Largo or Austin Better for Music?

Austin is an unbeatable place for its music scene. However, Key Largo is not a live music destination.

Austin has become a mecca for musicians from around the world. Music is what gives this city its character. There are many live music venues, concerts, and music festivals to experience. Austin has influenced many music genres such as rock, blues, jazz, hip hop, punk, and country.

Key Largo is not a live music destination.

Is Key Largo or Austin Better for Resorts?

Key Largo is a great destination for its resorts. However, Austin is not a resort destination.

Key Largo is a popular resort destination that attracts visitors from everywhere. Popular resorts in the area include Playa Largo Resort & Spa, Autograph Collection, Reefhouse Resort & Marina, and Largo Resort.

Austin is not a resort destination.

Is Key Largo or Austin Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Key Largo is a great destination for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Austin is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Many visitors go to Key Largo to enjoy scuba diving and snorkeling. Near this island you'll find some of the best snorkeling and diving in the Florida Keys at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. There are private tours that head out to the reef for either snorkeling or diving. There are also shipwrecks and other fascinating spots to explore.

Austin is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Key Largo or Austin Better for Beaches?

Key Largo is a nice place to visit for its beaches. However, Austin is not a beach destination.

Key Largo has a beach worth visiting. Many of the beaches around Key Largo are man-made, but they do offer nice sand and beautiful blue water. The water is turquoise, although not as striking as further south.

Austin is not a beach destination.

Is Key Largo or Austin Better for Hiking?

Austin is adequate for hiking. However, Key Largo is not a hiking destination.

Hiking is a fun activity while in Austin. Head just outside of town to explore a few great hiking spots right near town.

Key Largo is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Key Largo or Austin?

Austin is a city with good options for its shopping areas. However, Key Largo is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Austin has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There are a number of local boutiques around town where you can enjoy shopping.

Key Largo is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Key Largo or Austin Better for Families?

Key Largo is a world-class destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Austin is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Key Largo is an amazing family-friendly island to visit. This area has some of the best family-friendly snorkeling at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. There's also several places where your kids can interact with dolphins or experience wildlife. If you want to get out on the water, there's kayaking, sunset cruises, and glass bottom boats, all of which are great for the whole family.

Austin offers lots of family activities. The city is a popular destination for young travelers, but there are also some family-friendly activities like Barton Springs, Zilker Park, and several natural swimming holes. There's a number of nice parks around town that are great for kids of all ages.

Is Key Largo or Austin Better for Couples?

Both Key Largo and Austin are notable destinations for a couple's getaway.

Key Largo is a good island for couples to visit. Most couples head further down the Florida Keys, but for snorkeling and scuba diving, Key Largo is the better option. You'll also find kayaking and sunset cruises that leave from the area.

Austin is a nice destination for couples. Young couples will enjoy the city for its lively nightlife, fun music scene, and youthful vibe. There are also many outdoor areas where you can hike or explore. The restaurant scene is among the best as well.

Is Key Largo or Austin Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Austin is great for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Key Largo is not a good destination for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Austin. Although the city is relatively small, it does see a disproportionate number of backpackers. There are a couple of hostels in town as well.

Key Largo is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. This area is a bit more affordable than the more southern keys so it appeals to budget travelers and backpackers.

Is Key Largo or Austin Better for Students?

Austin is great for its student-friendly activities. However, Key Largo is not popular with students.

Students come from all over to stay in Austin. The city has a huge university, the University of Texas at Austin, and it is a young city with tons for international students. There is a great nightlife scene and plenty for students to see and do.

Key Largo is not popular with students.

Is Key Largo or Austin Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Austin is adequate for times when you don't have a car. However, Key Largo is not a good destination for its public transit.

Public transit is mostly limited in Austin. There are city buses and a very limited lightrail system, but you really need a car to explore the city.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Key Largo. There's no real public transit around the island and you must have a car to get around.

Is Key Largo or Austin a more walkable city?

Austin is adequate for its ease of walking around. However, Key Largo is not a good destination for its walkability.

Austin is generally not a very walkable city. The city, like most southern cities, isn't very walkable and it's important to have a car to get around. There are some downtown areas that are pedestrian-friendly.

Key Largo is not a walkable island. It is a sprawling area that spreads out along a main highway that is not pedestrian friendly.

For even more information, also check out Is Key Largo Worth Visiting? and Is Austin Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Austin or Key Largo?

How long in Key Largo or Austin?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Key Largo and Austin. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Key Largo than in Austin. Usually, 5-7 days is a good amount of time for Key Largo, and 2-3 days is enough time in Austin.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Austin than Key Largo 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 Austin.

One day in Key Largo or Austin?

Many travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the destination of Key Largo. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

You'll find nightlife and live music around the city of Austin. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Key Largo or Austin?

Key Largo is a great place to explore. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

You'll find live music and food around the eccentric destination of Austin. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Key Largo or Austin?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Key Largo. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the entrepreneurial city of Austin. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Key Largo or Austin?

Many travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the family-friendly destination of Key Largo. This island offers a variety of activities to choose from. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Austin is a popular choice for travelers. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to United States of America, The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America, and The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Key Largo and Austin, we can see that Key Largo is more expensive. And not only is Austin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Austin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Austin 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 Key Largo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Key Largo than you might in Austin.

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

Which is Bigger, Key Largo or Austin?

Austin has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Key Largo. When comparing the sizes of Key Largo and Austin, 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 Key Largo or Austin?

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 Key Largo or Austin in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Key Largo as well as Austin. Most visitors come to Key Largo for the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Austin because of the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Key Largo is around the same temperature as Austin. Typically, the summer temperatures in Key Largo in July average around 82°F (28°C), and Austin averages at about 87°F (30°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Austin. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Key Largo this time of the year. In the summer, Key Largo often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Austin. Key Largo gets 316 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Austin receives 318 hours of full sun.

Key Largo receives a lot of rain in the summer. Key Largo usually gets more rain in July than Austin. Key Largo gets 5.9 inches (149 mm) of rain, while Austin receives 1.9 inches (48 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Key Largo or Austin in the Autumn?

Both Austin and Key Largo are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Austin this time of year.

In October, Key Largo is generally a little warmer than Austin. Daily temperatures in Key Largo average around 78°F (26°C), and Austin fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).

It's quite sunny in Austin. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Key Largo. Key Largo usually receives more sunshine than Austin during autumn. Key Largo gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Austin receives 214 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Key Largo. In October, Key Largo usually receives more rain than Austin. Key Largo gets 5.6 inches (143 mm) of rain, while Austin receives 3 inches (77 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Key Largo or Austin in the Winter?

Both Austin and Key Largo during the winter are popular places to visit. The cuisine are the main draw to Key Largo this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Austin for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Key Largo is much warmer than Austin in the winter. The daily temperature in Key Largo averages around 67°F (19°C) in January, and Austin fluctuates around 51°F (11°C).

It's quite sunny in Key Largo. In the winter, Key Largo often gets more sunshine than Austin. Key Largo gets 243 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Austin receives 163 hours of full sun.

Key Largo usually gets more rain in January than Austin. Key Largo gets 2.2 inches (55 mm) of rain, while Austin receives 1.9 inches (48 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Key Largo or Austin in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Key Largo and Austin. Many travelers come to Key Largo for the beaches. Furthermore, many visitors come to Austin in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Key Largo is around the same temperature as Austin. Typically, the spring temperatures in Key Largo in April average around 74°F (24°C), and Austin averages at about 71°F (22°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Austin this time of the year. In Key Largo, it's very sunny this time of the year. Key Largo usually receives more sunshine than Austin during spring. Key Largo gets 300 hours of sunny skies, while Austin receives 209 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Key Largo usually receives less rain than Austin. Key Largo gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Austin receives 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Austin and Key Largo