A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Santa Cruz vs. Saskatoon for Nightlife, Families, Couples, and Attractions

Should you visit Santa Cruz or Saskatoon?

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

Should I visit Santa Cruz or Saskatoon? 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 scenic, laid back, and coastal town. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Santa Cruz travel costs.

Saskatoon

Saskatoon is a cultural, friendly, and authentic city. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping. See Saskatoon travel costs.

Santa Cruz and Saskatoon: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Santa Cruz or Saskatoon?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Santa Cruz than Saskatoon. While Saskatoon is larger than Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Santa Cruz is more touristy than Saskatoon and is known for its dramatic coastline, fun-filled boardwalk, and beautiful beaches. It is also well known for Santa Cruz Wharf. Saskatoon is famous for its agriculture and outdoor spaces.

How is Santa Cruz different from Saskatoon?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Both Santa Cruz and Saskatoon have nice 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.

Saskatoon offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There are some museums and historical sites to check out such as Fort Battleford National Historic Site, Batoche National Historic Site, and the Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre.

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

Both Santa Cruz and Saskatoon offer nice 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.

Saskatoon has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. There's a great food scene around town with diverse restaurants and cuisines to choose from. You can sample dim sum, Mexican, Middle Eastern, Indian, and many more.

Is Santa Cruz or Saskatoon Better for Nightlife?

Santa Cruz is a well-known place for nightlife and partying. Also, Saskatoon is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its evening party scene.

Santa Cruz offers plenty to do in the evening. You'll find a range of nighttime options around town that include live entertainment, bars, clubs, and even a casino.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Saskatoon. There are enough clubs and bars around town to keep things entertaining. Most cater to a younger crowd, but the vibe is fun and full of energy.

Is Santa Cruz or Saskatoon Better for Beaches?

Santa Cruz is a well-known place for the beach. However, Saskatoon is not a beach destination.

Many people visit Santa Cruz for it's beautiful 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.

Saskatoon is not a beach destination.

Is Santa Cruz or Saskatoon Better for Hiking?

Santa Cruz is a good destination for the nearby hiking options. However, Saskatoon is not a hiking destination.

Santa Cruz offers some nice hiking trails. There are several great parks in the area and trails that follow along the rugged coastline or go through the impressive redwood forests.

Saskatoon is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Santa Cruz or Saskatoon?

Both Santa Cruz and Saskatoon are nice 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 Saskatoon. A number of brands have opened stores in the downtown area in recent years, so the shopping scene continues to grow and diversify.

Is Santa Cruz or Saskatoon Better for Families?

Santa Cruz is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Saskatoon is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Santa Cruz is a very kid-friendly town. 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.

Saskatoon is a family-friendly town. It's filled with indoor and outdoor play areas. Make sure you check out the Nutrien Wonderhub as well as the countless playgrounds around town.

Is Santa Cruz or Saskatoon Better for Couples?

Santa Cruz is a well-known place for its romantic activities. Also, Saskatoon is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for couples.

Santa Cruz is a very popular place to visit for couples. 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.

Saskatoon is a good town for couples to visit. There are plenty of evening activities like dining out at a nice restaurant or taking in a show at the Persephone Theatre.

Is Santa Cruz or Saskatoon Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Santa Cruz is a good destination for backpackers. However, Saskatoon is not a good city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of backpackers visit Santa Cruz. There's a laid back vibe that is fun to experience and there's even a hostel in town.

Saskatoon is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Most backpackers skip this town in favor of more popular destinations.

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

Both Santa Cruz and Saskatoon offer reasonable public transit options.

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

Public transit is mostly limited in Saskatoon. There is a bus system around town.

Is Santa Cruz or Saskatoon a more walkable city?

Santa Cruz is an unbeatable place for its high level of walkability. Also, Saskatoon is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its ease of walking around.

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

Saskatoon is a somewhat walkable town. The downtown is walkable and easy to explore on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Saskatoon or Santa Cruz?

How long in Santa Cruz or Saskatoon?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Santa Cruz and Saskatoon. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Saskatoon than in Santa Cruz. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Santa Cruz, and 1-3 days is enough time in Saskatoon.

Families should spend more time in Santa Cruz than Saskatoon. 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 Saskatoon. 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 Saskatoon 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 Saskatoon?

You'll find shopping and museums around the town of Santa Cruz. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Santa Cruz has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

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

A weekend in Santa Cruz or Saskatoon?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the coastal destination of Santa Cruz. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

With nightlife and food around the destination of Saskatoon, 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 Saskatoon?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the laid back town of Santa Cruz. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. It's also a great beach destination, too. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Saskatoon, 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 Saskatoon?

Santa Cruz is a popular choice for travelers. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. 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.

Saskatoon 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 3-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Canada.

When comparing the travel costs between Santa Cruz and Saskatoon, we can see that Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz Expensive? and Is Saskatoon Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Santa Cruz or Saskatoon?

Saskatoon has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Santa Cruz. When comparing the sizes of Santa Cruz and Saskatoon, 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.