A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America New Orleans vs. San Diego for Food, Nightlife, Music, and Families

Should you visit New Orleans or San Diego?

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 San Diego 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 festive, vibrant, and energetic 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.

San Diego

San Diego is a idyllic, fun-filled, and hip coastal city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's a gorgeous place to visit. This is a quaint and attractive place to visit, too. Other reasons to visit include hiking, shopping, and museums.

New Orleans and San Diego: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in New Orleans or San Diego?

Visitors will generally find more to do in New Orleans than San Diego. While San Diego is larger than New Orleans, New Orleans has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. New Orleans is very popular for its food, nightlife, music, and historical sights, while San Diego attracts visitors for its museums & sights, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, shopping, and impressive beauty. New Orleans is famous for its jazz festivals, local cuisine, quaint balconies, and world class Mardi Gras parties. It is also well known for The French Quarter. San Diego is famous for its relaxed coastal atmosphere, its many kid-friendly sights, and its beautiful beaches with critter-filled tidal pools.

The French Quarter

How is New Orleans different from San Diego?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

San Diego 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 San Diego. While the city is famous for it's beaches, zoos, and aquariums, don't overlook the museums and other landmarks. Popular options include the Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum, the Old Town State Historic Park, and Point Loma and Cabrillo Monument.

New Orleans does not have museums and landmarks.

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

New Orleans is renowned for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, San Diego is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

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.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the San Diego area. The city has great seafood and a diversity of cuisines. There are many casual dining options that serve informal foods like burgers or salads, but there are also award-winning fine dining restaurants with elegant atmospheres. Popular local dishes include fish tacos and California burritos.

Is New Orleans or San Diego Better for Nightlife?

New Orleans is renowned for nightlife and partying. Also, San Diego is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for its evening party scene.

New Orleans is a destination that you simply have to visit at least once for nightlife. 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.

San Diego has plenty to do after the sun goes down. The heart of the city's nightlife scene is in the Gaslamp District, which is filled with bars, clubs, and music venues. There's a young student population that keeps the nightlife scene casual and fun.

Is New Orleans or San Diego Better for Music?

New Orleans is renowned for its live music scene. Also, San Diego is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for its music scene.

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.

If you love music, you'll find something to enjoy in San Diego. Popular venues include the House of Blues, The Belly Up, and The Shout House.

Is New Orleans or San Diego Better for Resorts?

San Diego is a coastal city with good options for its luxury resorts. However, New Orleans is not a resort destination.

San Diego has a handful of resorts to choose from. Most people prefer to stay in hotels or VRBOs, but several popular resorts include Fairmont Grand Del Mar, Paradise Point, and the famous Hotel del Coronado.

New Orleans is not a resort destination.

Is New Orleans or San Diego Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

San Diego is a coastal city with good options for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, New Orleans is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

It's fun to get in the water and check out the local marine life in San Diego. Popular snorkeling and diving spots include La Jolla Cove, Mission Bay, and Turtle Town. The water's a bit chili, but it's still worth going for a dive or popping on a mask and snorkeling around for a bit.

New Orleans is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is New Orleans or San Diego Better for Beaches?

San Diego is a world-class destination for its beaches. However, New Orleans is not a beach destination.

San Diego is considered to be a world-class beach destination. The city has great beaches with tidal pools and interesting sea life at low tide. Adults and kids alike will enjoy hitting the beach when the tides are out and looking for local critters in the tidal pools. Popular beaches in the area include La Jolla Cove Beach, Coronado Beach, and Pacific Beach.

New Orleans is not a beach destination.

Is New Orleans or San Diego Better for its Old Town?

New Orleans is great for its old town. However, San Diego 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.

San Diego does not have a historic old town.

Is New Orleans or San Diego Better for Hiking?

San Diego is an excellent place to visit for its hiking trails. However, New Orleans is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting San Diego. The city is filled with parks and has tons of natural beauty. There is plenty of urban hiking in town, or you can visit more natural areas just out of town. Head to Torrey Pines State Park or Los Penasquitos Canyon Trail for some nice hikes.

New Orleans is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in New Orleans or San Diego?

San Diego is a coastal city with good options for shopping. However, New Orleans is lacking in options for its shopping opportunities.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in San Diego. Head to Fashion Valley or Westfield UTC for some fun shopping. There are suburban shopping malls in the area as well as souvenir shops in the more touristy areas.

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 San Diego Better for Families?

San Diego is a world-class destination for its kid-friendly activities. However, New Orleans is lacking in options for its family-friendly activities.

San Diego is an extremely popular coastal city to visit for families. The city is filled with kid-friendly activities that everyone can enjoy. There's the world-class zoo, several amusement parks, the beaches, aquariums, and more. The year-round warm weather makes it easy to spend plenty of time outdoors in parks, playgrounds, and beaches where kids can stretch their legs and run around.

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 San Diego Better for Couples?

San Diego is a world-class destination for romance. Also, New Orleans is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its romantic activities.

San Diego is a great coastal city for couples, as it has plenty to offer. For adventurous couples, there are many outdoor activities that you can enjoy together. The beaches offer a great playground for adults who enjoy the water and warm weather. There are also restaurants and a great nightlife in San Diego.

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.

Is New Orleans or San Diego Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

San Diego is a coastal city with good options for backpackers and budget travelers. However, New Orleans is lacking in options for backpackers.

San Diego is a good coastal city to visit for backpackers. Backpackers will enjoy the young vibe of the city. There are a few great hostels near the beach or in town.

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 San Diego Better for Students?

San Diego is a world-class destination for its student-friendly activities. Also, New Orleans is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for students.

San Diego is a very popular coastal city for students. With its young population and many universities, international students will feel right at home in San Diego. There are also many great outdoor activities for the adventurous.

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

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

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

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 San Diego. The city has a trolley (light rail system) as well as a bus system. Most people depend on cars to get around, and you'll likely enjoy your trip a bit more if you have your own vehicle.

Is New Orleans or San Diego a more walkable city?

New Orleans and San Diego are nice 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.

San Diego is a somewhat walkable place. The downtown area is walkable, but if you want to travel further, you'll need to find a different form of transportation.

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

Should I spend more time in San Diego or New Orleans?

How long in New Orleans or San Diego?

In either New Orleans or San Diego, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in San Diego than New Orleans because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for New Orleans, and 3-5 days is enough time in San Diego.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in San Diego 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 San Diego.

One day in New Orleans or San Diego?

You'll find live music and food around the city of New Orleans. Visiting the old town is also a must. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the fun-filled coastal city of San Diego. It's also a great beach destination, too. Most people visit for the beaches. 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.

A weekend in New Orleans or San Diego?

You'll find food and nightlife around the fun-filled destination of New Orleans. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Visitors enjoy the live music and food when visiting the hip destination of San Diego. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. This coastal city offers something for everyone. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.

Five days in New Orleans or San Diego?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the festive city of New Orleans. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Visitors enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the energetic coastal city of San Diego. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. Many people spend five days here.If you enjoy all that's offered here, then five days is just the right amount of time to spend here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A week in New Orleans or San Diego?

New Orleans is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. One week 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Many people enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting San Diego. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people come for the beaches. Most people visit for the beaches. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America, The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between New Orleans and San Diego, we can see that New Orleans is more expensive. And not only is San Diego much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to San Diego would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Diego 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 San Diego.

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 San Diego Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, New Orleans or San Diego?

San Diego has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of New Orleans. When comparing the sizes of New Orleans and San Diego, 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 San Diego?

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 San Diego in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both New Orleans and San Diego. 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 San Diego for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, New Orleans is a little warmer than San Diego. Typically, the summer temperatures in New Orleans in July average around 82°F (28°C), and San Diego averages at about 71°F (22°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Diego this time of the year. In New Orleans, it's very sunny this time of the year. New Orleans usually receives less sunshine than San Diego during summer. New Orleans gets 264 hours of sunny skies, while San Diego receives 306 hours of full sun in the summer.

New Orleans gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, New Orleans usually receives more rain than San Diego. New Orleans gets 5.9 inches (149 mm) of rain, while San Diego receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit New Orleans or San Diego in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to New Orleans as well as San Diego. Many travelers come to New Orleans for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene. Additionally, many visitors come to San Diego in the autumn for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, New Orleans is generally around the same temperature as San Diego. Daily temperatures in New Orleans average around 69°F (21°C), and San Diego fluctuates around 68°F (20°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Diego. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in New Orleans this time of the year. In the autumn, New Orleans often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Diego. New Orleans gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Diego receives 244 hours of full sun.

New Orleans usually gets more rain in October than San Diego. New Orleans gets 3 inches (77 mm) of rain, while San Diego receives 0.4 inches (9 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Orleans or San Diego in the Winter?

Both San Diego and New Orleans are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to New Orleans in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to San Diego for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

New Orleans is cooler than San Diego in the winter. The daily temperature in New Orleans averages around 51°F (11°C) in January, and San Diego fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).

It's quite sunny in San Diego. New Orleans usually receives less sunshine than San Diego during winter. New Orleans gets 158 hours of sunny skies, while San Diego receives 239 hours of full sun in the winter.

It's quite rainy in New Orleans. In January, New Orleans usually receives more rain than San Diego. New Orleans gets 5.2 inches (131 mm) of rain, while San Diego receives 1.8 inches (46 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit New Orleans or San Diego in the Spring?

Both San Diego and New Orleans during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to New Orleans for the activities around the city during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to San Diego because of the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.

In the spring, New Orleans is a little warmer than San Diego. Typically, the spring temperatures in New Orleans in April average around 68°F (20°C), and San Diego averages at about 62°F (17°C).

In San Diego, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in New Orleans. In the spring, New Orleans often gets less sunshine than San Diego. New Orleans gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Diego receives 277 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in New Orleans. New Orleans usually gets more rain in April than San Diego. New Orleans gets 4.5 inches (114 mm) of rain, while San Diego receives 0.8 inches (20 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for San Diego and New Orleans