Comparison · Austin vs Houston · United States
Austin vs Houston
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
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Quick answer
Choose Austin for Live music and Texas barbecue; choose Houston for NASA and Space Center Houston and Museum District. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 235 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 235 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Austin
- March–April and October–November
- Best time for Houston
- March–April and October–November
Side by side
| Austin | Houston | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Known for | Live music, Texas barbecue and Breakfast tacos | NASA and Space Center Houston, Museum District and Viet-Cajun crawfish |
| Best time to visit | March–April and October–November | March–April and October–November |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $200–$330 | $190–$330 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | July, 36°C (97°F) | August, 35°C (95°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 17°C (63°F) | January, 17°C (63°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 7 | 8 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 5 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | AUS | IAH, HOU |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Austin for…
Live music and Texas barbecue. Austin, the capital of Texas, sits on the Colorado River where the flat prairie meets the limestone hills of the Hill Country. It calls itself the Live Music Capital of the World, with music most nights on Sixth Street, Red River and South Congress, and it…
Choose Houston for…
NASA and Space Center Houston and Museum District. Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States and one of its most diverse, which shows above all in its food: Viet-Cajun crawfish, Tex-Mex, Gulf seafood, Texas barbecue and the long strip-mall restaurant rows of Chinatown and the Mahatma Gandhi…
Top sights compared
| # | Austin | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas State Capitol | Space Center Houston |
| 2 | Barton Springs Pool | Museum of Fine Arts, Houston |
| 3 | Congress Avenue Bridge bats | Houston Museum of Natural Science |
| 4 | Lady Bird Lake and the Butler Trail | Menil Collection |
| 5 | Zilker Park | Rothko Chapel |
Food compared
| Austin | Houston |
|---|---|
| Central Texas brisket | Viet-Cajun crawfish |
| Breakfast tacos | Fajitas |
| Queso | Smoked brisket |
| Tex-Mex enchiladas | Kolaches |
Which is cheaper?
Austin and Houston cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $200–$330 in Austin and $190–$330 in Houston (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Houston on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Austin and Houston are about 235 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 4 days in Austin and 3 in Houston.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Austin or Houston cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $200–$330 in Austin and $190–$330 in Houston (estimates).
+Is Austin or Houston better for a first trip?
Pick Austin for Live music and Texas barbecue, or Houston for NASA and Space Center Houston and Museum District.
+How far is Austin from Houston?
About 235 km in a straight line.