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

Should you visit New Orleans or Saint Louis?

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 Saint Louis 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.

Saint Louis

Saint Louis is a under rated, unexpected, and fascinating city. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

New Orleans and Saint Louis: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in New Orleans or Saint Louis?

Travelers will usually find more to do in New Orleans than Saint Louis, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. New Orleans is more popular for its food, nightlife, music, historical sights, big city activities, and quaint atmosphere, while Saint Louis is known for its museums and shopping. New Orleans is more touristy than Saint Louis and is popular for its jazz festivals, local cuisine, quaint balconies, and world class Mardi Gras parties. It is also home to The French Quarter. Saint Louis is popular for its blues and live music scene, its authentic personality, and its position as the Gateway to the West.

The French Quarter

How is New Orleans different from Saint Louis?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Saint Louis is a world-class destination for its museums and history. However, New Orleans does not have museums and landmarks.

Travelers visit Saint Louis from around the world to see its many world-famous attractions. There are a surprising number of museums around town. For art museums you should visit the Contemporary Art Museum, the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, the Saint Louis Art Museum, and the International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum. For history, the Griot Museum of Black History, the Jefferson Barracks Telephone Museum, and the Lewis & Clark Museum and Boathouse are all interesting. There are also science, educational, and children's museums. And of course, there's the iconic Gateway Arch.

New Orleans does not have museums and landmarks.

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

New Orleans is an amazing city to visit for its restaurant scene. Also, Saint Louis 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.

Saint Louis has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. There are some local dishes that originated here. Toasted ravioli had its start in St. Louis. There's also a St. Louis style pizza. Diners, cafes, and sandwiches are all part of the food scene and be prepared for cheese, meaty, and satisfying.

Is New Orleans or Saint Louis Better for Nightlife?

New Orleans is an amazing city to visit for nightlife. Also, Saint Louis is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife and partying.

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.

If you're looking for night time activities Saint Louis has a few options to choose from. Visitors often hang out in the downtown area, particularly around Washington Avenue, for the nightlife scene. Live music is popular, especially the blues, and there are many local venues worth checking out.

Is New Orleans or Saint Louis Better for Music?

New Orleans is an amazing city to visit for live music. However, Saint Louis 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.

Saint Louis is not a live music destination.

Is New Orleans or Saint Louis Better for its Old Town?

New Orleans is well known for its historic old town. However, Saint Louis 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.

Saint Louis does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in New Orleans or Saint Louis?

Saint Louis is an excellent place to visit for shopping. However, New Orleans is lacking in options for its shopping opportunities.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Saint Louis. There are vintage stores, boutiques, and suburban strip malls around town. There are also farmer's markets and art galleries.

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 Saint Louis Better for Families?

Saint Louis is an excellent place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. However, New Orleans is lacking in options for its family-friendly activities.

Saint Louis is a very family-friendly destination. There's a surprising number of activities for kids around town. There's the St. Louis Zoo and the City Museum with many hands-on exhibits for kids. There's also the Crown Ridge Tiger Sanctuary and several farms with animals and nature. Forest Park is an impressive urban park as well.

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 Saint Louis Better for Couples?

Both New Orleans and Saint Louis 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.

Saint Louis makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Fine dining restaurants and eclectic activities make this city an often overlooked couples destination.

Is New Orleans or Saint Louis Better for Students?

New Orleans is a good destination for students. However, Saint Louis is not popular with students.

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

Saint Louis is not popular with students.

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

Saint Louis is an excellent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, New Orleans is lacking in options for its public transit.

Public transit in Saint Louis is fairly effecient and thorough. There's a light rail system as well as buses that travel around town.

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 Saint Louis a more walkable city?

New Orleans and Saint Louis are good when it comes to walkability.

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

Saint Louis is a somewhat walkable place. Parts of the city are walkable, like the downtown area and the sections around the Gateway Arch.

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

Should I spend more time in Saint Louis or New Orleans?

How long in New Orleans or Saint Louis?

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

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

Couples should spend more time in New Orleans than Saint Louis. 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 Saint Louis 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 Saint Louis?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the fun-filled city of New Orleans. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the unexpected city of Saint Louis. Most people visit for the museums. 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 Saint Louis?

Visitors enjoy the live music and food when visiting the fun-filled destination of New Orleans. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. 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.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the fascinating destination of Saint Louis. 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 Saint Louis?

The festive city of New Orleans offers food and nightlife. 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. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

The fascinating city of Saint Louis 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 Saint Louis?

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

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 Saint Louis Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, New Orleans or Saint Louis?

New Orleans has a larger population, and is about 51% larger than the population of Saint Louis. When comparing the sizes of New Orleans and Saint Louis, 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 Saint Louis?

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 Saint Louis in the Summer?

Both Saint Louis 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 Saint Louis for the family-friendly experiences.

New Orleans is around the same temperature as Saint Louis in the summer. The daily temperature in New Orleans averages around 82°F (28°C) in July, and Saint Louis fluctuates around 81°F (27°C).

In Saint Louis, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in New Orleans. In the summer, New Orleans often gets less sunshine than Saint Louis. New Orleans gets 264 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint Louis receives 309 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in New Orleans. New Orleans usually gets more rain in July than Saint Louis. New Orleans gets 5.9 inches (149 mm) of rain, while Saint Louis receives 3.8 inches (96 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Orleans or Saint Louis in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both New Orleans and Saint Louis. 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 Saint Louis in the autumn for the shopping scene.

In the autumn, New Orleans is a little warmer than Saint Louis. Typically, the autumn temperatures in New Orleans in October average around 69°F (21°C), and Saint Louis averages at about 60°F (16°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint Louis this time of the year. In New Orleans, it's very sunny this time of the year. New Orleans usually receives more sunshine than Saint Louis during autumn. New Orleans gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while Saint Louis receives 203 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, New Orleans usually receives more rain than Saint Louis. New Orleans gets 3 inches (77 mm) of rain, while Saint Louis receives 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit New Orleans or Saint Louis in the Winter?

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

Saint Louis can be very cold during winter. In January, New Orleans is generally much warmer than Saint Louis. Daily temperatures in New Orleans average around 51°F (11°C), and Saint Louis fluctuates around 31°F (-1°C).

In the winter, New Orleans often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Saint Louis. New Orleans gets 158 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint Louis receives 160 hours of full sun.

New Orleans receives a lot of rain in the winter. New Orleans usually gets more rain in January than Saint Louis. New Orleans gets 5.2 inches (131 mm) of rain, while Saint Louis receives 2 inches (52 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Orleans or Saint Louis in the Spring?

Both Saint Louis 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.

New Orleans is a little warmer than Saint Louis in the spring. The daily temperature in New Orleans averages around 68°F (20°C) in April, and Saint Louis fluctuates around 58°F (15°C).

It's quite sunny in Saint Louis. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in New Orleans. New Orleans usually receives more sunshine than Saint Louis during spring. New Orleans gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Saint Louis receives 229 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Saint Louis. It's quite rainy in New Orleans. In April, New Orleans usually receives around the same amount of rain as Saint Louis. New Orleans gets 4.5 inches (114 mm) of rain, while Saint Louis receives 4.4 inches (111 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Saint Louis and New Orleans