Which city is cheaper, Saint Louis or New Orleans?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America New Orleans vs. Saint Louis for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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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.
Where Should I go: New Orleans or Saint Louis?
New Orleans
New Orleans is the largest city in the state of Louisiana, and it is a cultural city that is the home of jazz, unique cuisine, and Mardi Gras in the U.S. It was established in 1718 and is one of the oldest cities in the country. The culture of the city has a mix of French, Creole, African American, Caribbean, Irish, Haitian, German and Vietnamese. There's an energy and atmosphere that is unlike any place else.
Saint Louis
Nicknamed the "Gateway to the West" and perhaps best known for its iconic Gateway Arch, St. Louis, Missouri, has grown from a last stop for pioneers journeying west to a thriving metropolis notable for its diverse culture, impressive architecture, and unique neighborhoods. It sits on the Mississippi River and has plenty to offer in dining, shopping, sight-seeing, and entertainment.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNew Orleans $191Saint Louis $147
The average daily cost (per person) in New Orleans is $191, while the average daily cost in Saint Louis is $147. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for New Orleans and Saint Louis in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNew Orleans $100Saint Louis $81
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNew Orleans $200Saint Louis $162
Compare Hotels in New Orleans and Saint Louis
Looking for a hotel in New Orleans or Saint Louis? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: New Orleans Hotel Prices and Saint Louis Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.New Orleans $41Saint Louis $21
Typical Local Transportation prices in New Orleans
Some typical examples of transportation costs in New Orleans are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in New Orleans
Also for New Orleans, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 11 Passenger Executive Van: New Orleans Airport or Hotel Transfer: $197
- 14 Passenger New Orleans Airport or Hotel Transfer: $203
- 20 Passenger New Orleans Airport or Hotel Transfer: $227
- 25 Passenger New Orleans Airport or Hotel Transfer: $237
- 28 Passenger New Orleans Airport or Hotel Transfer: $267
- Airport Transfer in New Orleans: $114
- Cruise Port to New Orleans L.Armstrong Airport(MSY) - Departure Private Transfer: $105
- Departure Private Transfer New Orleans to New Orleans MSY or Port - Business Car: $67
- Departure Private Transfer New Orleans to New Orleans MSY or Port by SUV: $76
- Handicap New Orleans Airport or Hotel Transfer: $139
- LimoBus New Orleans Airport or Hotel Transfer: $400
- Luxury Transfer from New Orleans International Airport to Downtown Hotels: $59
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint Louis
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Saint Louis:
- STL - St. Louis Lambert Int'l Airport Round Trip Car Transfer to/from Your Hotel: $306
- STL - St Louis International Airport Ground Transfer to/from Your Hotel: $126
- Private Departure Transfer to Lambert Saint Louis Airport STL: $20
- Private Arrival Transfer Lambert Saint Louis Airport STL: $20
Is it cheaper to fly into New Orleans or Saint Louis?
Prices for flights to both Saint Louis and New Orleans change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayNew Orleans $36Saint Louis $43
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in New Orleans
For New Orleans, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- New Orleans Cooking Class: $34
- New Orleans Lunch & Lesson: Cajun & Creole Cooking Class: $35
- French Quarter Food Tour: $42
- New Orleans Food Tour: $44
- Steamboat Natchez Evening Jazz Cruise with Dinner Option: $50
- Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Jazz Cruise with Optional Dinner: $52
- Dinner at Tujague's Restaurant in New Orleans: $68
- New Orleans French Quarter Food Tour: $69
- French Quarter Food Tour: $75
- New Orleans' Lower Garden Food Tour: $75
- French Quarter Food Tour: $75
- Lower Garden District Food Tour: $75
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Saint Louis
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Saint Louis.
- The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show - St. Louis: $72
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.New Orleans $44Saint Louis $37
Typical Entertainment prices in New Orleans
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for New Orleans's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Zoo & Aquarium Tickets (2)$75
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Riverboat Cruise$70
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French Quarter City Tour$100
Tours and Activities in New Orleans
For New Orleans, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- New Orleans City Park Private Tour and Exploration Game: $3.72
- Your new addiction! The best women’s shoe shopping experience in NOLA!: $5.00
- Struttin' Down Royal Street Walking Audio Tour by VoiceMap: $5.34
- New Orleans Esplanade Ridge: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.34
- Metairie Cemetery Stories Walking Audio Tour by VoiceMap: $5.34
- A Walk in the Park: City Park New Orleans Audio Tour: $5.34
- Walking the Tremé: A Self-guided Audio Tour of New Orleans: $5.34
- Bywater Stroll: Explore the Evolving Neighbourhood on an Audio Walking Tour: $5.40
- Beyond the French Quarter: New Orleans Off the Beaten Path Audio Tour: $5.40
- New Orleans Virtual Self-Paced Guided City Tour: $5.99
- One Hour Saint Louis Cemetery Number One Walking Tour: $10
- Skip the Line: Historic House Tour Ticket: $10
Typical Entertainment prices in Saint Louis
Here are a few typical costs in Saint Louis for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Gateway Arch parking$6.00
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNew Orleans $48Saint Louis $15
Sample the Local Flavors in New Orleans
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in New Orleans:
- New Orleans Bar Hunt: New Orleans Ballin' Bar Crawl: $12
- Big Easy Ghost and Vampire Pub Crawl: $20
- Haunted Pub Crawl in New Orleans: $22
- New Orleans Haunted Pub Crawl: $25
- Haunted New Orleans Ghost and Pub Walking Tour: $27
- NOLA Distillery Tour: $28
- Pub Crawl & Historical Chronicles Walking Tour: $30
- Haunted Pub Tour: $35
- Frenchmen Street Live Music Pub Crawl: $48
- Frenchmen Street VIP Live Music Pub Crawl: $49
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.
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 music scene and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to New Orleans this time of year.
New Orleans is around the same temperature as Saint Louis in the summer. The temperature in New Orleans is usually 82°F (28°C) in July, and Saint Louis stays 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.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyNew Orleans 82°F (28°C)Saint Louis 81°F (27°C)
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 shopping scene and the music scene.
In the autumn, New Orleans is a little warmer than Saint Louis. Typically, the autumn temperatures in New Orleans in October are around 69°F (21°C), and Saint Louis is 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.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberNew Orleans 69°F (21°C)Saint Louis 60°F (16°C)
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.
Saint Louis can be very cold during winter. In January, New Orleans is generally much warmer than Saint Louis. Temperatures in New Orleans average around 51°F (11°C), and Saint Louis stays 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.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryNew Orleans 51°F (11°C)Saint Louis 31°F (-1°C)
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.
New Orleans is a little warmer than Saint Louis in the spring. The temperature in New Orleans is usually 68°F (20°C) in April, and Saint Louis stays 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.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilNew Orleans 68°F (20°C)Saint Louis 58°F (15°C)
Typical Weather for Saint Louis and New Orleans
| New Orleans | Saint Louis | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 51°F (11°C) | 5.2 inches (131 mm) | 31°F (-1°C) | 2 inches (52 mm) |
| Feb | 54°F (12°C) | 5.8 inches (147 mm) | 35°F (2°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
| Mar | 62°F (16°C) | 5 inches (126 mm) | 47°F (8°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) |
| Apr | 68°F (20°C) | 4.5 inches (114 mm) | 58°F (15°C) | 4.4 inches (111 mm) |
| May | 75°F (24°C) | 4.3 inches (110 mm) | 68°F (20°C) | 4.1 inches (103 mm) |
| Jun | 80°F (27°C) | 5.9 inches (151 mm) | 77°F (25°C) | 3.8 inches (97 mm) |
| Jul | 82°F (28°C) | 5.9 inches (149 mm) | 81°F (27°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
| Aug | 82°F (28°C) | 6.2 inches (157 mm) | 79°F (26°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) |
| Sep | 78°F (26°C) | 5.5 inches (140 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 3.1 inches (80 mm) |
| Oct | 69°F (21°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) | 60°F (16°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
| Nov | 61°F (16°C) | 4.8 inches (122 mm) | 48°F (9°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
| Dec | 55°F (13°C) | 5.7 inches (146 mm) | 35°F (2°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) |
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