A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America New Orleans vs. Atlantic City for Food, Nightlife, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit New Orleans or Atlantic City?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between New Orleans and Atlantic City 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.

New Orleans

New Orleans is a fun-filled, festive, and vibrant city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. This is a quaint and attractive place to visit, too. It's also known for nightlife, live music, and food.

Atlantic City

Atlantic City is a flashy, party-oriented, and colorful city. Other reasons to visit include food, beaches, and shopping.

New Orleans and Atlantic City: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in New Orleans or Atlantic City?

Tourists will generally find more to do in New Orleans. Although New Orleans and Atlantic City are both popular with visitors, New Orleans has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. New Orleans is more popular for its food, music, historical sights, big city activities, and quaint atmosphere, while Atlantic City is known for its museums, resorts, beaches, and shopping. New Orleans is popular for its jazz festivals, local cuisine, quaint balconies, and world class Mardi Gras parties. It is also home to The French Quarter. Atlantic City is popular for its casinos, gambling culture, nightlife scene, and wild personality

The French Quarter

How is New Orleans different from Atlantic City?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in New Orleans or Atlantic City?

Atlantic City is a decent place to visit for its museums and history. However, New Orleans does not have museums and landmarks.

While most people don't head to Atlantic City specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. While most people don't spend their time in museums, there is the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, the African American Heritage Museum, and the Noyes Museum Galleries.

New Orleans does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in New Orleans or Atlantic City? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

New Orleans is a world-class destination for its restaurant scene. Also, Atlantic City is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Eat your way through New Orleans, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. It has rapidly grown into one of the United State's most well known foodie destinations. It's the birthplace of bananas foster and popular for it's gumbo, crawfish etouffee, jambalaya, and red beans and rice. While there are a number of celebrity chefs from New Orleans, you'll also find many local restaurants that aren't as well known but are equally worth visiting.

Atlantic City has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. There are budget buffets around town as well as seafood restaurants and even some fine dining. Salt water taffy is a local specialty that you should pick up while you're in the area.

Is New Orleans or Atlantic City Better for Nightlife?

Both New Orleans and Atlantic City have fantastic vibes after the sun sets.

People head to New Orleans just to party. The nightlife scene is at its best during Mardi Gras. But year-round you'll find Bachelor and Bachelorette parties, spring breakers, and anyone who wants to enjoy a crazy time heads to New Orleans. New Orleans is a destination that attracts partiers any time of the year, and the French Quarter is the place to be if you're looking for a party.

The nightlife in Atlantic City is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. This is a city that is all about its nightlife scene. Many visitors come here just to party, and you'll find clubs with DJs or bands playing from sunset to sunrise. There are glitzy lounges and dive bars with everything in between. As a gambling town, there are casinos and all-night activities that keep the energy going round the clock.

Is New Orleans or Atlantic City Better for Music?

New Orleans is a world-class destination for live music. However, Atlantic City is not a live music destination.

New Orleans is a world class music destination. The city is known for its music festivals that feature jazz, blues, and many other types of live music. The Jazz Festival is a great time to visit.

Atlantic City is not a live music destination.

Is New Orleans or Atlantic City Better for Resorts?

Atlantic City is an excellent place to visit for its luxury resorts. However, New Orleans is not a resort destination.

In Atlantic City, you'll find some of the region's top resorts. The beach and boardwalk are lined with casinos and resorts. There are many recognizable names such as Harrah's, Bally's, Caesars, Hard Rock, and the Tropicana.

New Orleans is not a resort destination.

Is New Orleans or Atlantic City Better for Beaches?

Atlantic City is a city with good options for its beaches. However, New Orleans is not a beach destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Atlantic City. There's a Boardwalk that runs along the beach and is lined with piers and hotels. The Downtown Beach is the most accessible, and where most tourists hang out. If you're willing to travel a little further, there are some nice beaches nearby such as Margate Beach and Brigantine Beach.

New Orleans is not a beach destination.

Is New Orleans or Atlantic City Better for its Old Town?

New Orleans is well known for its historic old town. However, Atlantic City does not have a historic old town.

There are many historical things to see in the old town of New Orleans. The French Quarter is filled with old architecture and beautiful historic landmarks.

Atlantic City does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in New Orleans or Atlantic City?

Atlantic City is a city with good options for shopping. However, New Orleans is lacking in options for its shopping opportunities.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Atlantic City. You'll find many souvenir shops along the boardwalk. There's also a Tangier Outlet Mall in the area. Some of the hotels such as the Tropicana have their own shopping areas as well.

If you're looking to go shopping, New Orleans has some nice offerings. New Orleans shopping is mostly centered around shopping malls and chain stores.

Is New Orleans or Atlantic City Better for Families?

Neither New Orleans nor Atlantic City are considered to be the most family-friendly destination.

New Orleans is not always a place people visit with their families. While there are some family-friendly activities in New Orleans like a zoo and several great parks, the city is more known for its parties and nightlife scene. Particularly during certain seasons, most people choose to visit New Orleans without kids.

Atlantic City doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. Most families avoid this area for more family-friendly beaches, but if you find yourself in the area, you can check out Ripley's Believe It or Not or go on a dolphin cruise. Also popular is Steel Pier, which has rides for all ages.

Is New Orleans or Atlantic City Better for Couples?

Both New Orleans and Atlantic City are good destinations for a couple's getaway.

New Orleans is a nice destination for couples. Couples who enjoy a lively evening, fun festivals, and exploring absolutely amazing restaurants will enjoy a visit to New Orleans. It has a festive and unique atmosphere any time of the year. There are also nice hotels and beautiful parks.

Atlantic City makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It's not exactly known for its romance, but there are casinos, hotels, and a beaches that are fun to visit. You'll also find several spas and sunset cruises in the area.

Is New Orleans or Atlantic City Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Atlantic City is a city with good options for backpackers and budget travelers. However, New Orleans is lacking in options for backpackers.

Atlantic City is a good city to visit for backpackers. There is a hostel in the area. You'll also find a younger crowd and plenty of partying.

New Orleans is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a handful of hostels in New Orleans that are good options for backpackers who want to meet other travelers.

Is New Orleans or Atlantic City Better for Students?

New Orleans is a good destination for students. However, Atlantic City is not popular with students.

New Orleans is popular with students. Students head to New Orleans to enjoy spring break and Mardi Gras.

Atlantic City is not popular with students.

Is New Orleans or Atlantic City Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Atlantic City is a city with good options for times when you don't have a car. However, New Orleans is lacking in options for its public transit.

Atlantic City has some public transit options. The Jitney are shuttle buses that runs from one end of the city to the other. They pass by most of the hotels and casinos along Pacific Avenue.

Public transit is generally limited in New Orleans. The city has streetcar lines and bus lines that you can use, but you'll want to have a car if you want to venture outside of these main areas.

Is New Orleans or Atlantic City a more walkable city?

Atlantic City is an excellent place to visit for its walkability. Also, New Orleans is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its high level of walkability.

Atlantic City is very walkable. Many of the hotels are walkable and located near the boardwalk.

New Orleans is a somewhat walkable place. If you stick to the French Quarter and downtown areas, most things are walkable in New Orleans.

For even more information, also check out Is New Orleans Worth Visiting? and Is Atlantic City Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Atlantic City or New Orleans?

How long in New Orleans or Atlantic City?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both New Orleans and Atlantic City. In our opinion, Atlantic City has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Atlantic City than New Orleans. In general, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for New Orleans, and 1-3 days is enough time in Atlantic City.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Atlantic City than New Orleans 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 Atlantic City.

One day in New Orleans or Atlantic City?

Many travelers enjoy the food and nightlife when visiting the energetic destination of New Orleans. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Your budget might influence how long you stay. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the party-oriented city of Atlantic City. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. Most people visit for the nightlife. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A weekend in New Orleans or Atlantic City?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in New Orleans. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the flashy destination of Atlantic City. It's also a relaxing resort destination. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Five days in New Orleans or Atlantic City?

Travelers enjoy the live music and food when visiting the energetic destination of New Orleans. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Five days 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.

The party-oriented city of Atlantic City offers shopping and nightlife. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A week in New Orleans or Atlantic City?

You'll find food and nightlife around the city of New Orleans. Visiting the old town is also a must. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Many people enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting Atlantic City. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. Most people visit for the nightlife. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

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 New Orleans and Atlantic City, we can see that New Orleans is more expensive. And not only is Atlantic City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Atlantic City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Atlantic City 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 New Orleans would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in New Orleans than you might in Atlantic City.

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

Which is Bigger, New Orleans or Atlantic City?

New Orleans has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Atlantic City. When comparing the sizes of New Orleans and Atlantic City, 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 New Orleans or Atlantic City?

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 New Orleans or Atlantic City in the Summer?

Both Atlantic City and New Orleans during the summer are popular places to visit. The city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to New Orleans this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Atlantic City for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

New Orleans is a little warmer than Atlantic City in the summer. The daily temperature in New Orleans averages around 82°F (28°C) in July, and Atlantic City fluctuates around 75°F (24°C).

In Atlantic City, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in New Orleans. In the summer, New Orleans often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Atlantic City. New Orleans gets 264 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Atlantic City receives 273 hours of full sun.

Atlantic City gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in New Orleans. New Orleans usually gets more rain in July than Atlantic City. New Orleans gets 5.9 inches (149 mm) of rain, while Atlantic City receives 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Orleans or Atlantic City in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both New Orleans and Atlantic City. Many travelers come to New Orleans for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene. Furthermore, many visitors come to Atlantic City in the autumn for the shopping scene.

In the autumn, New Orleans is much warmer than Atlantic City. Typically, the autumn temperatures in New Orleans in October average around 69°F (21°C), and Atlantic City averages at about 56°F (13°C).

In New Orleans, it's very sunny this time of the year. New Orleans usually receives more sunshine than Atlantic City during autumn. New Orleans gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while Atlantic City receives 197 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, New Orleans usually receives more rain than Atlantic City. New Orleans gets 3 inches (77 mm) of rain, while Atlantic City receives 2.6 inches (67 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit New Orleans or Atlantic City in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to New Orleans as well as Atlantic City. Many visitors come to New Orleans in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine. Additionally, most visitors come to Atlantic City for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Atlantic City can be very cold during winter. In January, New Orleans is generally much warmer than Atlantic City. Daily temperatures in New Orleans average around 51°F (11°C), and Atlantic City fluctuates around 31°F (-0°C).

In the winter, New Orleans often gets more sunshine than Atlantic City. New Orleans gets 158 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Atlantic City receives 146 hours of full sun.

New Orleans receives a lot of rain in the winter. New Orleans usually gets more rain in January than Atlantic City. New Orleans gets 5.2 inches (131 mm) of rain, while Atlantic City receives 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Orleans or Atlantic City in the Spring?

Both Atlantic City and New Orleans are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to New Orleans for the activities around the city during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Atlantic City because of the beaches.

New Orleans is much warmer than Atlantic City in the spring. The daily temperature in New Orleans averages around 68°F (20°C) in April, and Atlantic City fluctuates around 51°F (10°C).

It's quite sunny in Atlantic City. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in New Orleans. New Orleans usually receives more sunshine than Atlantic City during spring. New Orleans gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Atlantic City receives 217 hours of full sun in the spring.

It's quite rainy in New Orleans. In April, New Orleans usually receives more rain than Atlantic City. New Orleans gets 4.5 inches (114 mm) of rain, while Atlantic City receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Atlantic City and New Orleans