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

Should you visit New Orleans or Sacramento?

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 Sacramento 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 energetic, fun-filled, and festive city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. This destination also has one of those special and quaint feelings. Visitors also love the live music, food, and nightlife.

Sacramento

Sacramento is a laid back, relaxed, and undiscovered city. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

New Orleans and Sacramento: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in New Orleans or Sacramento?

Tourists will generally find more to do in New Orleans. Although New Orleans and Sacramento are about the same size, New Orleans has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. New Orleans is very popular for its food, nightlife, music, historical sights, big city activities, and quaint atmosphere, while Sacramento attracts visitors for its museums and shopping. New Orleans is more touristy than Sacramento and is known for its jazz festivals, local cuisine, quaint balconies, and world class Mardi Gras parties. It is also well known for The French Quarter. Sacramento is famous for its history and state capital.

The French Quarter

How is New Orleans different from Sacramento?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Sacramento 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 Sacramento. 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.

New Orleans does not have museums and landmarks.

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

New Orleans is very popular for its restaurants. Also, Sacramento is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Known for it's food and restaurant scene, New Orleans is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. 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 many up and coming restaurants in the Sacramento area. 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.

Is New Orleans or Sacramento Better for Nightlife?

New Orleans is very popular for nightlife and partying. Also, Sacramento is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its evening party scene.

New Orleans is a party destination, and you'll find plenty of activity all night long. 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.

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.

Is New Orleans or Sacramento Better for Music?

New Orleans is very popular for its live music scene. However, Sacramento is not a live music destination.

With so many music venues, you're guaranteed a show any night of the week in New Orleans. 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.

Sacramento is not a live music destination.

Is New Orleans or Sacramento Better for its Old Town?

New Orleans is a very popular place for its old town. However, Sacramento does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to New Orleans to see the historical old town. The French Quarter is filled with old architecture and beautiful historic landmarks.

Sacramento does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in New Orleans or Sacramento?

Sacramento 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 Sacramento. 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.

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 Sacramento Better for Families?

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

Sacramento is a family-friendly city. 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.

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 Sacramento Better for Couples?

New Orleans is a nice place to visit for its romantic activities. However, Sacramento is lacking in good options for couples.

New Orleans makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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.

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.

Is New Orleans or Sacramento Better for Students?

New Orleans is a nice place to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Sacramento is not popular with students.

Plenty of students visit New Orleans. Students head to New Orleans to enjoy spring break and Mardi Gras.

Sacramento is not popular with students.

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

Visitors will find reasonable public transit in both New Orleans and Sacramento.

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 Sacramento. There's both light rail and buses around town.

Is New Orleans or Sacramento a more walkable city?

New Orleans is a nice place to visit for its high level of walkability. However, Sacramento is lacking in good options for its ease of walking around.

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

Sacramento is generally not very walkable. 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 New Orleans Worth Visiting? and Is Sacramento Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Sacramento or New Orleans?

How long in New Orleans or Sacramento?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in New Orleans or Sacramento to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in New Orleans 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 New Orleans, and 1-2 days is enough time in Sacramento.

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

Couples should spend more time in New Orleans than Sacramento. 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 Sacramento 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 Sacramento?

With food and nightlife around the fun-filled city of New Orleans, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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 relaxed city of Sacramento. 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 Sacramento?

With nightlife and live music around the destination of New Orleans, there's plenty to do. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the laid back destination of Sacramento. 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 Sacramento?

New Orleans, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Visiting the old town is also a must. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

The laid back city of Sacramento 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 Sacramento?

New Orleans 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.

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Sacramento. 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 Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America, The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America, and The Best Historical Tours in United States of America.

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

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 Sacramento Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, New Orleans or Sacramento?

New Orleans has a larger population, and is about 4% larger than the population of Sacramento. When comparing the sizes of New Orleans 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.

When is the best time to visit New Orleans or Sacramento?

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 New Orleans or Sacramento in the Summer?

Both Sacramento and New Orleans are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to New Orleans for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Sacramento because of the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, New Orleans is a little warmer than Sacramento. Typically, the summer temperatures in New Orleans in July average around 82°F (28°C), and Sacramento averages at about 76°F (24°C).

It's quite sunny in Sacramento. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in New Orleans. New Orleans usually receives less sunshine than Sacramento during summer. New Orleans gets 264 hours of sunny skies, while Sacramento receives 439 hours of full sun in the summer.

It's quite rainy in New Orleans. In July, New Orleans usually receives more rain than Sacramento. New Orleans gets 5.9 inches (149 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit New Orleans or Sacramento in the Autumn?

Both Sacramento and New Orleans during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to New Orleans because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene. Furthermore, the shopping scene are the main draw to Sacramento this time of year.

In October, New Orleans is generally a little warmer than Sacramento. Daily temperatures in New Orleans average around 69°F (21°C), and Sacramento fluctuates around 64°F (18°C).

In Sacramento, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in New Orleans. In the autumn, New Orleans often gets less sunshine than Sacramento. New Orleans gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sacramento receives 300 hours of full sun.

New Orleans usually gets more rain in October than Sacramento. New Orleans gets 3 inches (77 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Orleans or Sacramento in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both New Orleans and Sacramento. The shopping scene and the cuisine are the main draw to New Orleans this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Sacramento for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

New Orleans is a little warmer than Sacramento in the winter. The daily temperature in New Orleans averages around 51°F (11°C) in January, and Sacramento fluctuates around 45°F (7°C).

New Orleans usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Sacramento during winter. New Orleans gets 158 hours of sunny skies, while Sacramento receives 149 hours of full sun in the winter.

New Orleans gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, New Orleans usually receives more rain than Sacramento. New Orleans gets 5.2 inches (131 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 3.8 inches (97 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit New Orleans or Sacramento in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to New Orleans as well as Sacramento. Many travelers come to New Orleans for the activities around the city.

In the spring, New Orleans is a little warmer than Sacramento. Typically, the spring temperatures in New Orleans in April average around 68°F (20°C), and Sacramento averages at about 58°F (15°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sacramento. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in New Orleans this time of the year. In the spring, New Orleans often gets less sunshine than Sacramento. New Orleans gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sacramento receives 328 hours of full sun.

New Orleans receives a lot of rain in the spring. New Orleans usually gets more rain in April than Sacramento. New Orleans gets 4.5 inches (114 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 1.3 inches (32 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Sacramento and New Orleans