Which place is cheaper, Boston or Saint Louis?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Saint Louis and Boston. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Saint Louis is a under rated, unexpected, and fascinating city. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.
Boston is a traditional, classic, and proud city. It's a large city with plenty of activites for visitors as well. It's a gorgeous place to visit. This is a quaint and attractive place to visit, too. It's also known for nightlife, live music, and food.
Travelers will usually find more to do in Boston than Saint Louis, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Boston is more popular for its theatre productions, food, nightlife, music, beaches, historical sights, christmas markets, big city activities, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Saint Louis is known for its shopping. Boston is more touristy than Saint Louis and is known for its enthusiastic sports fans, influential history, beautiful parks, and world-class universities. It is also home to The Freedom Trail. Saint Louis is popular for its blues and live music scene, its authentic personality, and its position as the Gateway to the West.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Boston and Saint Louis. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Both Saint Louis and Boston have terrific landmarks and museums for visitors.
Visitors will find world class museums and historical sights in Saint Louis that are not to be missed. 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.
The museums and tourist attractions in Boston are world-renowned. The city itself feels like a living museum. It is famous for Faneuil Hall, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Isabelle Stewart Gardner Museum, the USS Constitution, as well as the many sites along the Freedom Trail. There are also many museums on the campuses of the world renowned universities in the city.
Boston is well known for theatre. However, Saint Louis is not a theatre destination.
Boston offers many theater and performance venues for visitors. The city has many historic, beautifully restored theaters where you can enjoy a show. Head to the theater district for some of the most famous venues.
Saint Louis is not a theatre destination.
Boston is well known for its restaurant scene. Also, Saint Louis is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.
With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Boston makes for a great culinary experience. There are many local dishes that utilize fresh caught seafood and comfort food flavors. The cuisine also takes advantage of the city's Italian and Irish populations. Famous local foods include New England Clam Chowder, lobster rolls, and baked beans. You'll find hearty sandwiches and filling meals that warm your soul.
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.
Boston is well known for nightlife. Also, Saint Louis is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife and partying.
Boston is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. The city is known for its breweries, craft beer, and vibrant university neighborhoods. It also hosts regular outdoor movies and world class sporting events. The nightlife scene is varied, with some areas catering to the student population and other areas focused on the professional or sport-loving crowds.
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.
Boston is a good destination for live music. However, Saint Louis is not a live music destination.
You don't have to look far to find a unique music venue in Boston. Popular music venues include Lizard Lounge, Blue Hills Bank Pavilion, and The Middle East.
Saint Louis is not a live music destination.
Boston is a city with a few options for its beaches. However, Saint Louis is not a beach destination.
Boston is a good spot to see the beach. There are a few urban beaches in the greater Boston area that you can explore on a nice day.
Saint Louis is not a beach destination.
Boston is an amazing city to visit for its historic old town. However, Saint Louis does not have a historic old town.
Boston offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. Boston is famous for its Freedom Trail, which takes visitors around the city's rich history. The oldest parts of the city are known as Boston Proper and include the neighborhoods of Beacon Hill, Historic Downtown, the North End, and the West End.
Saint Louis does not have a historic old town.
Saint Louis is notable for shopping. Also, Boston is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its shopping opportunities.
Saint Louis is an extremely popular place for shoppers. There are vintage stores, boutiques, and suburban strip malls around town. There are also farmer's markets and art galleries.
Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Boston. Head to Back Bay for some of the best high end shops. There are luxury brands and boutique venues that sell local art or crafts.
Boston is well known for its Christmas activities. However, Saint Louis does not offer Christmas activities.
Visitors come from all around to experience the Christmas activities in Boston. Christmas comes to life in the city with its Christmas Trees, holiday shows, and festivals.
Saint Louis does not offer Christmas activities.
Boston is well known for its Christmas markets. However, Saint Louis does not offer Christmas markets.
The Christmas markets in Boston offer plenty to see during the holidays. There are a number of European style Christmas markets that pop up during the holiday season around town.
Saint Louis does not offer Christmas markets.
Boston is an amazing city to visit for its family-friendly activities. Also, Saint Louis is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.
With a huge array of activities for kids, Boston is very family-friendly. It's filled with history, but there are also many activities for kids who need a break from all of the historical stuff. Popular activities for all ages include the Museum of Science, the New England Aquarium, and exploring the waterfront, gardens, and parks around town.
Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Saint Louis is very family-friendly. 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.
Saint Louis and Boston both good destinations for a couple.
Saint Louis is a nice destination for couples. Fine dining restaurants and eclectic activities make this city an often overlooked couples destination.
Boston makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples who enjoy history will enjoy exploring the city. Take a swan boat ride in the Public Garden and wander the unique route along the Freedom Trail. There are also many sporting and entertainment options around town.
Boston is a good destination for backpackers. However, Saint Louis is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.
Plenty of backpackers visit Boston. Like most larger American cities, the city has a handful of hostels to choose from.
Saint Louis is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a number of affordable motels around town but no real hostels.
Boston is an amazing city to visit for students. However, Saint Louis is not popular with students.
Boston is a very popular place to visit for students. It is a city of students, with a number of world renowned universities located here including Harvard University, Boston College, and MIT. Many neighborhoods are filled with students and there are many student-centered activities around town including festivals and an active nightlife scene.
Saint Louis is not popular with students.
Boston is an amazing city to visit for its public transit. Also, Saint Louis is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.
Public transit in Boston is top-notch. There's the T, which is the subway, as well as a trolley, bus, and water transportation system.
The public transit in Saint Louis can get you around easily. There's a light rail system as well as buses that travel around town.
Boston is an amazing city to visit for its walkability. Also, Saint Louis is still popular, but not quite as popular for its high level of walkability.
Getting around Boston on foot is easy. The many parks and compact neighborhoods are best explored on foot.
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 Saint Louis Worth Visiting? and Is Boston Worth Visiting?.
In either Saint Louis or Boston, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Boston than Saint Louis because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Saint Louis, and 3-5 days is enough time in Boston.
Families should spend more time in Boston than Saint Louis. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Boston, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Boston than Saint Louis. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Boston that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Boston 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 Boston.
Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Saint Louis. One day is often enough time to do most activities.
Boston is a loyal city where you can fill many days. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Most people visit for the museums. 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.
Saint Louis is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the museums, as that's what most people do. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.
Boston is a historic big city where you can fill many days. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. This 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.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Saint Louis. Don't miss the museums, as that's what most people do. 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.
Boston is a historic city where you can fill many days. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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.
Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the fascinating destination of Saint Louis. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.
Many people enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting Boston. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. 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 2-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint Louis is $184, while the average daily cost in Boston is $255. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Saint Louis and Boston in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Saint Louis or Boston? 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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Saint Louis:
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Boston are as follows:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Boston:
Prices for flights to both Boston and Saint Louis 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Saint Louis.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Boston.
Here are a few typical costs in Saint Louis for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Here are a few actual costs in Saint Louis for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Boston are as follows:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Boston are as follows:
For more ideas for your next trip, check out Free Things to Do in Boston, Must-See Monuments and Memorials In Boston, and The Best Things To Do in Boston with Kids.
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Saint Louis:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Boston:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint Louis and Boston, we can see that Boston 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 Boston would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Boston 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 Saint Louis Expensive? and Is Boston Expensive?.
Boston has a larger population, and is about 84% larger than the population of Saint Louis. When comparing the sizes of Saint Louis and Boston, 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.
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.
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Louis and Boston. The summer months attract visitors to Saint Louis because of the family-friendly experiences. Also, the beaches, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Boston this time of year.
Saint Louis is a little warmer than Boston in the summer. The daily temperature in Saint Louis averages around 81°F (27°C) in July, and Boston fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Boston this time of the year. In Saint Louis, it's very sunny this time of the year. Saint Louis usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Boston during summer. Saint Louis gets 309 hours of sunny skies, while Boston receives 304 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Saint Louis usually receives more rain than Boston. Saint Louis gets 3.8 inches (96 mm) of rain, while Boston receives 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
The autumn brings many poeple to Saint Louis as well as Boston. The shopping scene are the main draw to Saint Louis this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Boston for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Saint Louis is a little warmer than Boston. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Saint Louis in October average around 60°F (16°C), and Boston averages at about 54°F (12°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint Louis this time of the year. In the autumn, Saint Louis often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Boston. Saint Louis gets 203 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Boston receives 194 hours of full sun.
Saint Louis usually gets less rain in October than Boston. Saint Louis gets 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain, while Boston receives 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Both Boston and Saint Louis are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Saint Louis for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Boston in the winter for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
Boston can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Saint Louis. In January, Saint Louis is generally much warmer than Boston. Daily temperatures in Saint Louis average around 31°F (-1°C), and Boston fluctuates around 29°F (-2°C).
Saint Louis usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Boston during winter. Saint Louis gets 160 hours of sunny skies, while Boston receives 153 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Saint Louis usually receives less rain than Boston. Saint Louis gets 2 inches (52 mm) of rain, while Boston receives 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
Both Boston and Saint Louis during the spring are popular places to visit. Furthermore, most visitors come to Boston for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty during these months.
Saint Louis is much warmer than Boston in the spring. The daily temperature in Saint Louis averages around 58°F (15°C) in April, and Boston fluctuates around 48°F (9°C).
In Boston, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Saint Louis. In the spring, Saint Louis often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Boston. Saint Louis gets 229 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Boston receives 225 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Saint Louis. Saint Louis usually gets more rain in April than Boston. Saint Louis gets 4.4 inches (111 mm) of rain, while Boston receives 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Saint Louis | Boston | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 31°F (-1°C) | 2 inches (52 mm) | 29°F (-2°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) |
Feb | 35°F (2°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) | 30°F (-1°C) | 3.7 inches (94 mm) |
Mar | 47°F (8°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) | 38°F (4°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) |
Apr | 58°F (15°C) | 4.4 inches (111 mm) | 48°F (9°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) |
May | 68°F (20°C) | 4.1 inches (103 mm) | 58°F (15°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
Jun | 77°F (25°C) | 3.8 inches (97 mm) | 68°F (20°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) |
Jul | 81°F (27°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) | 73°F (23°C) | 2.9 inches (74 mm) |
Aug | 79°F (26°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
Sep | 72°F (22°C) | 3.1 inches (80 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) |
Oct | 60°F (16°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) | 54°F (12°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) |
Nov | 48°F (9°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 45°F (7°C) | 4.3 inches (108 mm) |
Dec | 35°F (2°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) | 33°F (1°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |