A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America New Orleans vs. Durham for Food, Nightlife, Families, and Couples

Should you visit New Orleans or Durham?

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 Durham 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 vibrant, energetic, and fun-filled city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. As this is a very quaint destination, you'll find it has a special atmosphere. Other popular activities here include food, nightlife, and live music.

Durham

Durham is a student-filled, sports oriented, and diverse city. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

New Orleans and Durham: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in New Orleans or Durham?

You'll generally find more things to do in New Orleans than Durham. New Orleans is bigger than Durham, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. New Orleans is better known for its food, nightlife, music, historical sights, big city activities, and quaint atmosphere, while Durham is more popular for its museums and shopping. New Orleans is more touristy than Durham and is popular for its jazz festivals, local cuisine, quaint balconies, and world class Mardi Gras parties. Also, New Orleans is famous for The French Quarter. Durham is well known for its college town vibe as well as being the home of the famous Blue Devil basketball team.

The French Quarter

How is New Orleans different from Durham?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Durham is an excellent place to visit for its museums and history. However, New Orleans does not have museums and landmarks.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Durham. Duke University is one of the most popular destinations in town. There are several museums on campus as well as the famous Duke Chapel. Elsewhere in Durham there's the Durham Museum of Life and Science.

New Orleans does not have museums and landmarks.

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

New Orleans is an amazing city to visit for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Durham is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

New Orleans has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. 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.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Durham. Barbecue is a favorite around town. You'll also find plenty of restaurants that cater to the student population, particularly along Nineth Street near Duke's campus.

Is New Orleans or Durham Better for Nightlife?

New Orleans is an amazing city to visit for its evening party scene. Also, Durham is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife.

New Orleans has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. 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.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Durham. The younger population tends to hang out near campus and along Nineth Street. If you're looking for something less student oriented, head to downtown Durham.

Is New Orleans or Durham Better for Music?

New Orleans is an amazing city to visit for its music scene. However, Durham is not a live music destination.

In New Orleans you'll find nightly musicians performing at a variety of venues. 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.

Durham is not a live music destination.

Is New Orleans or Durham Better for its Old Town?

New Orleans is a well-known place for its historic old town charm. However, Durham does not have a historic old town.

There is a nice variety of sights in the old town of New Orleans. The French Quarter is filled with old architecture and beautiful historic landmarks.

Durham does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in New Orleans or Durham?

Durham 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 Durham. The Streets of Southpoint is the best mall in the area. Other shopping areas include Brightleaf Square and Nineth Street.

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 Durham Better for Families?

Durham is a city with good options for its kid-friendly activities. However, New Orleans is lacking in options for its family-friendly activities.

Durham is a family-friendly city. A highlight for kids is a visit to the Durham Museum of Life and Science. It has both an indoor and an outdoor section and brings science to life for families. There's also an impressive playground and climbing area. Other activities in town include the Notasium and Eno River State Park. If you plan ahead you could also organize a trip to the Duke Lemur Center.

New Orleans doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. 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.

Is New Orleans or Durham Better for Couples?

Both New Orleans and Durham are notable 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.

Durham makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Have a picnic at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens or spend the day hiking at Eno River State Park. In the evening there's a wonderful selection of restaurants around town. Then you can check out a show at the Durham Performing Arts Center or see a Durham Bulls game.

Is New Orleans or Durham Better for Students?

Durham is an excellent place to visit for its student-friendly activities. Also, New Orleans is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for students.

Students come from all over to stay in Durham. Duke University has a stunning campus with a world class garden. There's also nearby Nineth Street, which has shops, restaurants, and bars that are geared toward the student population.

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

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

Visitors will find respectable public transit in both New Orleans and Durham.

Public transit is mostly 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.

Public transit is generally limited in Durham. There are buses around town, but you really need a car to explore the area.

Is New Orleans or Durham a more walkable city?

New Orleans is very good for its ease of walking around. However, Durham is not a good city for its walkability.

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

Durham is generally not a very walkable city. Downtown Durham and a few areas near Duke University are the most walkable areas.

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

Should I spend more time in Durham or New Orleans?

How long in New Orleans or Durham?

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

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

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

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

One day in New Orleans or Durham?

Many travelers enjoy the live music and food when visiting the destination of New Orleans. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the diverse city of Durham. 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 Durham?

New Orleans is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the sports oriented destination of Durham. 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 Durham?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in New Orleans. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

The student-filled city of Durham offers shopping and museums. 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 Durham?

Travelers enjoy the live music and food when visiting the energetic destination of New Orleans. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Durham. Anyone can find something fun to do here. 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 Durham, we can see that New Orleans is more expensive. And not only is Durham much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Durham would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Durham 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 Durham.

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 Durham Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, New Orleans or Durham?

New Orleans has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Durham. When comparing the sizes of New Orleans and Durham, 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 Durham?

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 Durham in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to New Orleans as well as Durham. Many visitors come to New Orleans in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Durham for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, New Orleans is generally around the same temperature as Durham. Daily temperatures in New Orleans average around 82°F (28°C), and Durham fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Durham. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in New Orleans this time of the year. In the summer, New Orleans often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Durham. New Orleans gets 264 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Durham receives 259 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Durham. New Orleans receives a lot of rain in the summer. New Orleans usually gets more rain in July than Durham. New Orleans gets 5.9 inches (149 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Orleans or Durham in the Autumn?

Both Durham and New Orleans are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to New Orleans for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Durham because of the shopping scene.

New Orleans is a little warmer than Durham in the autumn. The daily temperature in New Orleans averages around 69°F (21°C) in October, and Durham fluctuates around 61°F (16°C).

It's quite sunny in Durham. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in New Orleans. New Orleans usually receives more sunshine than Durham during autumn. New Orleans gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while Durham receives 211 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, New Orleans usually receives more rain than Durham. New Orleans gets 3 inches (77 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit New Orleans or Durham in the Winter?

Both Durham and New Orleans during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to New Orleans because of the shopping scene and the cuisine. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Durham this time of year.

It's quite cold in Durham in the winter. In the winter, New Orleans is much warmer than Durham. Typically, the winter temperatures in New Orleans in January average around 51°F (11°C), and Durham averages at about 40°F (5°C).

In the winter, New Orleans often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Durham. New Orleans gets 158 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Durham receives 162 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in New Orleans. New Orleans usually gets more rain in January than Durham. New Orleans gets 5.2 inches (131 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Orleans or Durham in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both New Orleans and Durham. The activities around the city are the main draw to New Orleans this time of year.

In April, New Orleans is generally a little warmer than Durham. Daily temperatures in New Orleans average around 68°F (20°C), and Durham fluctuates around 60°F (16°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Durham this time of the year. In New Orleans, it's very sunny this time of the year. New Orleans usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Durham during spring. New Orleans gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Durham receives 251 hours of full sun in the spring.

New Orleans gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, New Orleans usually receives more rain than Durham. New Orleans gets 4.5 inches (114 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Durham and New Orleans