Comparison · Austin vs New Orleans · United States
Austin vs New Orleans
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 New Orleans for Jazz and Mardi Gras. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 739 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 739 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Austin
- March–April and October–November
- Best time for New Orleans
- February–April and October–November
Side by side
| Austin | New Orleans | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Known for | Live music, Texas barbecue and Breakfast tacos | Jazz, Mardi Gras and French Quarter |
| Best time to visit | March–April and October–November | February–April and October–November |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $200–$330 | $220–$350 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | July, 36°C (97°F) | July, 33°C (91°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 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | AUS | MSY |
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…
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Choose New Orleans for…
Jazz and Mardi Gras. New Orleans sits in a bend of the Mississippi, and its oldest districts, the French Quarter and the Faubourg Marigny, hug the river within walking distance of each other. Most visitors stay in the Quarter or the neighbouring Warehouse District, walk…
Top sights compared
| # | Austin | New Orleans |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas State Capitol | Jackson Square |
| 2 | Barton Springs Pool | St. Louis Cathedral |
| 3 | Congress Avenue Bridge bats | The Cabildo |
| 4 | Lady Bird Lake and the Butler Trail | Café du Monde and the French Market |
| 5 | Zilker Park | Bourbon Street |
Food compared
| Austin | New Orleans |
|---|---|
| Central Texas brisket | Beignets |
| Breakfast tacos | Gumbo |
| Queso | Jambalaya |
| Tex-Mex enchiladas | Po'boy |
Which is cheaper?
Austin and New Orleans cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $200–$330 in Austin and $220–$350 in New Orleans (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Austin on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 739 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 9 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Austin or New Orleans cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $200–$330 in Austin and $220–$350 in New Orleans (estimates).
+Is Austin or New Orleans better for a first trip?
Pick Austin for Live music and Texas barbecue, or New Orleans for Jazz and Mardi Gras.
+How far is Austin from New Orleans?
About 739 km in a straight line.