A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Saint Louis vs. Cincinnati for Attractions, Families, Nightlife, and Couples

Should you visit Saint Louis or Cincinnati?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Saint Louis and Cincinnati. 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

Saint Louis is a unexpected, fascinating, and under rated city. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Cincinnati

Cincinnati is a hard-working, blue collar, and authentic city. It's also known for nightlife, shopping, and museums.

Saint Louis and Cincinnati: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Saint Louis or Cincinnati?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Saint Louis. Although Saint Louis and Cincinnati are about the same size, Saint Louis has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Saint Louis is more touristy than Cincinnati and is known for its blues and live music scene, its authentic personality, and its position as the Gateway to the West. It is also well known for the Gateway Arch. Cincinnati is famous for its breweries and down-to-earth personality.

How is Saint Louis different from Cincinnati?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Cincinnati and Saint Louis. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Saint Louis or Cincinnati?

Saint Louis is a world-class destination for its museums and landmarks. Also, Cincinnati is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

The museums, monuments, and landmarks in Saint Louis are among the most recognizable in the world. 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.

Many visitors head to Cincinnati specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. You'll find both traditional and quirky museums around town. For outside-the-box, check out the American Sign Museum or the Behringer-Crawford Museum. Art museums include the Cincinnati Art Museum, the Contemporary Arts Center, and the Taft Museum of Art. Other popular museums include the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, and the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal.

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

Saint Louis is a popular place for its restaurant scene. However, Cincinnati is not a culinary destination.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Saint Louis. 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.

Cincinnati is not a culinary destination.

Is Saint Louis or Cincinnati Better for Nightlife?

Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in Saint Louis and Cincinnati.

Saint Louis has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. 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.

If you're looking for night time activities Cincinnati has a few options to choose from. The nightlife scene is diverse and includes music venues, breweries, and nightclubs. In addition to the city's downtown, you'll find trendy places to hang out in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. Breweries are popular in the city, in part because of its German roots.

Is the Shopping Better in Saint Louis or Cincinnati?

Saint Louis is well known for its shopping opportunities. Also, Cincinnati is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

Saint Louis is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. There are vintage stores, boutiques, and suburban strip malls around town. There are also farmer's markets and art galleries.

Cincinnati has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There are large shopping malls and retail outlets. You'll also find local boutiques in the Montgomery or Mariemont areas.

Is Saint Louis or Cincinnati Better for Families?

Saint Louis is well known for its family-friendly activities. Also, Cincinnati is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Saint Louis is a very kid-friendly city. 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.

Cincinnati offers lots of family activities. There's a surprising number of kid-friendly activities around town like the Cincinnati Zoo, the Cincinnati Museum Center, Newport Aquarium, and Smale Riverfront Park.

Is Saint Louis or Cincinnati Better for Couples?

Saint Louis is a popular place for its romantic activities. However, Cincinnati is not particularly known for couples.

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.

Cincinnati is not always the best place to visit for a couple. If you do find yourself in town for a few days, there are several good restaurants and a number of music venues that can keep the visit fun and entertaining.

Is Saint Louis or Cincinnati Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Cincinnati is a good destination for backpackers. However, Saint Louis is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of backpackers visit Cincinnati. There are actually a couple of hostels in town for backpackers or students.

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.

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

Saint Louis is well known for its public transit. Also, Cincinnati is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

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.

While Cincinnati offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are two bus systems around town - the METRO and TANK bus systems. There's also a streetcar that travels through the downtown.

Is Saint Louis or Cincinnati a more walkable city?

Cincinnati is well known for its walkability. Also, Saint Louis is still popular, but not quite as popular for its high level of walkability.

Cincinnati is very walkable. There are several surprisingly walkable areas, particularly downtown and the nearby neighborhoods.

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 Cincinnati Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Cincinnati or Saint Louis?

How long in Saint Louis or Cincinnati?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Saint Louis or Cincinnati to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Saint Louis than Cincinnati because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Saint Louis, and 1-2 days is enough time in Cincinnati.

Families should spend more time in Saint Louis than Cincinnati. 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 Saint Louis than Cincinnati. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Saint Louis that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati.

One day in Saint Louis or Cincinnati?

With museums and nightlife around the fascinating city of Saint Louis, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. One of the main draws to the area is the museums. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Saint Louis, one day is sufficent for most.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and shopping when visiting the authentic city of Cincinnati. 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 Saint Louis or Cincinnati?

With nightlife and food around the destination of Saint Louis, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. One of the main draws to the area is the museums. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Visitors enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the blue collar destination of Cincinnati. 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 Saint Louis or Cincinnati?

Saint Louis, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

The hard-working city of Cincinnati offers museums and nightlife. 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 Saint Louis or Cincinnati?

Saint Louis is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One of the main draws to the area is the museums. 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 nightlife and shopping when visiting Cincinnati. 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 Walking Tours in United States of America, The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, and The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America.

When comparing the travel costs between Saint Louis and Cincinnati, we can see that Saint Louis is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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 Cincinnati Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Saint Louis or Cincinnati?

Saint Louis has a larger population, and is about 5% larger than the population of Cincinnati. When comparing the sizes of Saint Louis and Cincinnati, 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 Saint Louis or Cincinnati?

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 Saint Louis or Cincinnati in the Summer?

Both Cincinnati and Saint Louis are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Saint Louis this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Cincinnati for the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Saint Louis is around the same temperature as Cincinnati. Typically, the summer temperatures in Saint Louis in July average around 81°F (27°C), and Cincinnati averages at about 79°F (26°C).

It's quite sunny in Cincinnati. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint Louis. Saint Louis usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Cincinnati during summer. Saint Louis gets 309 hours of sunny skies, while Cincinnati receives 298 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Saint Louis usually receives around the same amount of rain as Cincinnati. Saint Louis gets 3.8 inches (96 mm) of rain, while Cincinnati receives 3.5 inches (90 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Saint Louis or Cincinnati in the Autumn?

Both Cincinnati and Saint Louis during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Saint Louis for the shopping scene. Also, many visitors come to Cincinnati in the autumn for the shopping scene.

In October, Saint Louis is generally around the same temperature as Cincinnati. Daily temperatures in Saint Louis average around 60°F (16°C), and Cincinnati fluctuates around 58°F (15°C).

It's quite sunny in Saint Louis. In the autumn, Saint Louis often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Cincinnati. Saint Louis gets 203 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cincinnati receives 188 hours of full sun.

Saint Louis usually gets more rain in October than Cincinnati. Saint Louis gets 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain, while Cincinnati receives 2.2 inches (56 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Louis or Cincinnati in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Louis and Cincinnati. Many visitors come to Saint Louis in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Cincinnati for the museums and the shopping scene during these months.

Cincinnati can be very cold during winter. Saint Louis can get quite cold in the winter. Saint Louis is cooler than Cincinnati in the winter. The daily temperature in Saint Louis averages around 31°F (-1°C) in January, and Cincinnati fluctuates around 31°F (-0°C).

Saint Louis usually receives more sunshine than Cincinnati during winter. Saint Louis gets 160 hours of sunny skies, while Cincinnati receives 129 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Saint Louis usually receives less rain than Cincinnati. Saint Louis gets 2 inches (52 mm) of rain, while Cincinnati receives 2.2 inches (57 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Saint Louis or Cincinnati in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Saint Louis as well as Cincinnati.

In the spring, Saint Louis is around the same temperature as Cincinnati. Typically, the spring temperatures in Saint Louis in April average around 58°F (15°C), and Cincinnati averages at about 56°F (14°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cincinnati. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint Louis this time of the year. In the spring, Saint Louis often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Cincinnati. Saint Louis gets 229 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cincinnati receives 215 hours of full sun.

Saint Louis receives a lot of rain in the spring. Saint Louis usually gets more rain in April than Cincinnati. Saint Louis gets 4.4 inches (111 mm) of rain, while Cincinnati receives 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Cincinnati and Saint Louis