A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Santa Cruz vs. El Paso for Nightlife, Families, Couples, and Attractions

Should you visit Santa Cruz or El Paso?

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

Should I visit Santa Cruz or El Paso? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is a coastal, scenic, and laid back town. Other reasons to visit include hiking, shopping, and museums.

El Paso

El Paso is a laid-back, low-key, and undiscovered city. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Santa Cruz and El Paso: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Santa Cruz or El Paso?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Santa Cruz than El Paso. While El Paso is larger than Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz has more sights and attractions for tourists. Santa Cruz is more touristy than El Paso and is popular for its dramatic coastline, fun-filled boardwalk, and beautiful beaches. It is also home to Santa Cruz Wharf. El Paso is popular for its Spanish missions and its outstanding Mexican food.

How is Santa Cruz different from El Paso?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between El Paso and Santa Cruz. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Santa Cruz or El Paso?

Both Santa Cruz and El Paso have good landmarks and museums for visitors.

Santa Cruz is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Local museums in town include the Surfing Museum, Seymour Marine Discovery Center, and Santa Cruz Mission.

El Paso offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Visitors can learn about local art, culture, and history at the El Paso Museum of Art, the El Paso Museum of History, the 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss Museum, and the Eduardo Pedregón Memorial Veterans Museum.

Is the Food Better in Santa Cruz or El Paso? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Both Santa Cruz and El Paso offer good local cuisine and restaurants.

Santa Cruz offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. Sampling local seafood is a top priority for many visitors. Most restaurants have a casual vibe and serve up high quality dishes in a relaxed setting. You'll find cafes, Mexican food, and Italian eateries among other options.

El Paso has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. Mexican food and barbecue are popular around town but you'll also find burgers, pizza, and other American favorites.

Is Santa Cruz or El Paso Better for Nightlife?

Santa Cruz is a very popular place for nightlife. Also, El Paso is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife and partying.

Santa Cruz has a large number of nightlife venues. You'll find a range of nighttime options around town that include live entertainment, bars, clubs, and even a casino.

El Paso has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There are a number of bars, nightclubs, and lounges around town where you can enjoy a fun night out.

Is Santa Cruz or El Paso Better for Beaches?

Santa Cruz is a very popular place for its beaches. However, El Paso is not a beach destination.

Santa Cruz is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. The beaches are beautiful and fun. Head to Main Beach for the most activity. This is where you'll find the town's boardwalk, which has a historic carousel and several classic amusement rides. For a more peaceful and scenic spot, check out Natural Bridges State Beach or Seacliff State Beach.

El Paso is not a beach destination.

Is Santa Cruz or El Paso Better for Hiking?

Santa Cruz is very good for its hiking trails. However, El Paso is not a hiking destination.

Many people include a hike when visiting Santa Cruz. There are several great parks in the area and trails that follow along the rugged coastline or go through the impressive redwood forests.

El Paso is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Santa Cruz or El Paso?

Both Santa Cruz and El Paso are good shopping destinations.

Santa Cruz is a great destination for shopping. Downtown Santa Cruz is where you'll find some of the best shopping.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting El Paso. There are a number of malls and outlet centers around town. One of the most well known is Bassett Place, but other options include Cielo Vista Mall and the Fountains at Farah.

Is Santa Cruz or El Paso Better for Families?

Santa Cruz is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, El Paso is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Santa Cruz is a very family-friendly destination. It's filled with beaches, parks, playgrounds, and museums that kids and adults will enjoy. Highlights for many families include visiting the boardwalk, playing around at Seacliff State Beach, entertaining the kids at Seymour Center at Long Marine Lab, and taking in the beauty at Natural Bridges State Beach.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in El Paso. There are adventure parks, playgrounds, outdoor centers and nature activities that families can enjoy.

Is Santa Cruz or El Paso Better for Couples?

Santa Cruz is a very popular place for romance. However, El Paso is lacking in good options for its romantic activities.

Santa Cruz makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Dining in downtown Santa Cruz, hiking through Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, and relaxing on the beach at Natural Bridges State Beach all make for a romantic getaway.

Most people don't think of El Paso as a couple's destination. Couples can enjoy dinner and a show or taking a romantic drive up to the overlook.

Is Santa Cruz or El Paso Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Santa Cruz is very good for backpackers and budget travelers. However, El Paso is lacking in good options for backpackers.

Santa Cruz is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There's a laid back vibe that is fun to experience and there's even a hostel in town.

El Paso is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There's little in the area that appeals to backpackers.

Is Santa Cruz or El Paso Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Santa Cruz and El Paso offer decent public transit options.

Public transit is generally limited in Santa Cruz. There are buses that travel around town.

Public transit is mostly limited in El Paso. While there are some bus routes in town, you shouldn't rely on them and must have a private vehicle to efficiently visit the city.

Is Santa Cruz or El Paso a more walkable city?

Santa Cruz is an unbeatable place for its walkability. However, El Paso is lacking in good options for its high level of walkability.

It's very easy to get around on foot in Santa Cruz. It's considered to be one of the most walkable cities in California.

El Paso is generally not very walkable. You really need a car to get around town.

For even more information, also check out Is Santa Cruz Worth Visiting? and Is El Paso Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in El Paso or Santa Cruz?

How long in Santa Cruz or El Paso?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Santa Cruz or El Paso to fill your time. In our opinion, Santa Cruz has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Santa Cruz than El Paso. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

Couples should spend more time in Santa Cruz than El Paso. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Santa Cruz that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Santa Cruz than El Paso 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 Santa Cruz.

One day in Santa Cruz or El Paso?

In Santa Cruz, you'll find nightlife and food. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. This town offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

With museums and nightlife around the laid-back city of El Paso, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in El Paso, one day is sufficent for most.

A weekend in Santa Cruz or El Paso?

In Santa Cruz, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Most people come for the beaches. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Santa Cruz has to offer.

With nightlife and food around the destination of El Paso, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Five days in Santa Cruz or El Paso?

Santa Cruz is a great place to explore. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. 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.

El Paso, 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.

A week in Santa Cruz or El Paso?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Santa Cruz. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Santa Cruz. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

El Paso is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. 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.

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.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santa Cruz and El Paso, we can see that El Paso is more expensive. And not only is Santa Cruz much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Santa Cruz would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Cruz 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 El Paso would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in El Paso than you might in Santa Cruz.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santa Cruz Expensive? and Is El Paso Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Santa Cruz or El Paso?

El Paso has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Santa Cruz. When comparing the sizes of Santa Cruz and El Paso, 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.