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

Should you visit Saint Louis or Raleigh?

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 Raleigh. 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 fascinating, under rated, and unexpected city. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Raleigh

Raleigh is a southern, student-friendly, and suburban-style city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for nightlife, food, and museums.

Saint Louis and Raleigh: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Saint Louis or Raleigh?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Raleigh than Saint Louis, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Raleigh is better known for its big city activities, while Saint Louis is more popular for its museums and shopping. Saint Louis is more touristy than Raleigh and is known for its blues and live music scene, its authentic personality, and its position as the Gateway to the West. Raleigh is well known for its many museums and being the home to North Carolina State University. Also, Raleigh is famous for North Carolina State University.

How is Saint Louis different from Raleigh?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Saint Louis is very popular for its museums and landmarks. Also, Raleigh is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

You'll find many recognizable landmarks that put Saint Louis on the map. 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.

Raleigh is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. As the state capital, there are a number of free museums in the area. There are also some kid-friendly options and other activities that are affiliated with the colleges and universities. Popular options include the NC Museum of Natural Sciences (free), the NC Museum of History (free), the NC Museum of Art (free), and Marbles Kids Museum.

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

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Saint Louis and Raleigh can be difficult as they are each notable in their own way.

Saint Louis offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. 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.

Raleigh has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. In addition to the standard chain restaurants, you'll find a number of local eateries with great southern dishes. Try some southern classics like barbecue, pimento cheese, and fried chicken and waffles. There are also good international options including Nepalese, Laotian, and Ethiopian flavors.

Is Saint Louis or Raleigh Better for Nightlife?

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

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 Raleigh has a few options to choose from. Head to downtown Raleigh or the areas around NC State University for some of the best nightlife. Trivia nights and happy hours are popular and you'll find breweries popping up in many places.

Is the Shopping Better in Saint Louis or Raleigh?

Saint Louis is well known for its shopping areas. However, Raleigh is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Saint Louis. There are vintage stores, boutiques, and suburban strip malls around town. There are also farmer's markets and art galleries.

Raleigh is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Saint Louis or Raleigh Better for Families?

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

Saint Louis is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. 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.

Raleigh offers lots of family activities. For such a small city, Raleigh has a number of unique kid-friendly activities like the popular Pullen Park and Marbles Kids' Museum. Pullen Park has small rides and a playground that are perfect for young kids. There's also the NC Museum of Natural History which is free and fun to explore with kids.

Is Saint Louis or Raleigh Better for Couples?

Saint Louis is a popular place for couples. However, Raleigh is not particularly known for romance.

Saint Louis is a good city for couples to visit. Fine dining restaurants and eclectic activities make this city an often overlooked couples destination.

Raleigh is not the best destination for a couple to visit. While it's often overlooked by couples who want a weekend away, there are a number of museums and some nice restaurants to explore.

Is Saint Louis or Raleigh Better for Students?

Raleigh is well known for students. However, Saint Louis is not popular with students.

Many students visit Raleigh. The city has a diverse student population with many nearby universities and colleges.

Saint Louis is not popular with students.

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

Saint Louis is well known for its public transit. However, Raleigh is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

Saint Louis offers a very effecient public transportation network. There's a light rail system as well as buses that travel around town.

Public transit is quite limited in Raleigh. The city's public transportation options are limited to a few bus lines that are mostly used by students.

Is Saint Louis or Raleigh a more walkable city?

Saint Louis is a popular place for its ease of walking around. However, Raleigh is not particularly known for its walkability.

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

Raleigh is generally not a very walkable city. The city is somewhat walkable in the downtown area, but everywhere else you'll need a car.

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

Should I spend more time in Raleigh or Saint Louis?

How long in Saint Louis or Raleigh?

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

Families should spend more time in Saint Louis than Raleigh. 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 Raleigh. 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 Saint Louis than Raleigh 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 Saint Louis.

One day in Saint Louis or Raleigh?

In Saint Louis, you'll find nightlife and food. One reason most visitors come is for the museums. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the student-friendly city of Raleigh. 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 Saint Louis or Raleigh?

In Saint Louis, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. One reason most visitors come is for the museums. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Saint Louis has to offer.

Visitors enjoy the food and museums when visiting the suburban-style destination of Raleigh. 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 Raleigh?

Saint Louis is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

The southern city of Raleigh 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 Raleigh?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Saint Louis. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Saint Louis. One reason most visitors come is for the museums. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Many people enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting Raleigh. 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 Raleigh, we can see that Raleigh 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 Raleigh Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Saint Louis or Raleigh?

Saint Louis has a larger population, and is about 16% larger than the population of Raleigh. When comparing the sizes of Saint Louis and Raleigh, 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 Raleigh?

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 Raleigh in the Summer?

Both Raleigh 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 Raleigh for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Saint Louis is generally around the same temperature as Raleigh. Daily temperatures in Saint Louis average around 81°F (27°C), and Raleigh fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).

It's quite sunny in Raleigh. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint Louis. Saint Louis usually receives more sunshine than Raleigh during summer. Saint Louis gets 309 hours of sunny skies, while Raleigh receives 259 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Raleigh. In July, Saint Louis usually receives less rain than Raleigh. Saint Louis gets 3.8 inches (96 mm) of rain, while Raleigh receives 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Saint Louis or Raleigh in the Autumn?

Both Raleigh 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 Raleigh in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions.

Saint Louis is around the same temperature as Raleigh in the autumn. The daily temperature in Saint Louis averages around 60°F (16°C) in October, and Raleigh fluctuates around 61°F (16°C).

In Raleigh, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Saint Louis. In the autumn, Saint Louis often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Raleigh. Saint Louis gets 203 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Raleigh receives 211 hours of full sun.

Saint Louis usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Raleigh. Saint Louis gets 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain, while Raleigh receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Louis or Raleigh in the Winter?

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

Raleigh can be very cold during winter. Saint Louis can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Saint Louis is much colder than Raleigh. Typically, the winter temperatures in Saint Louis in January average around 31°F (-1°C), and Raleigh averages at about 40°F (5°C).

Saint Louis usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Raleigh during winter. Saint Louis gets 160 hours of sunny skies, while Raleigh receives 162 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Saint Louis usually receives less rain than Raleigh. Saint Louis gets 2 inches (52 mm) of rain, while Raleigh receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Saint Louis or Raleigh in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Saint Louis as well as Raleigh. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Raleigh because of the activities around the city.

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

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Raleigh. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint Louis this time of the year. In the spring, Saint Louis often gets less sunshine than Raleigh. Saint Louis gets 229 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Raleigh receives 251 hours of full sun.

Saint Louis receives a lot of rain in the spring. Saint Louis usually gets more rain in April than Raleigh. Saint Louis gets 4.4 inches (111 mm) of rain, while Raleigh receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Raleigh and Saint Louis