Comparison · Charleston vs New Orleans · United States
Charleston 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: Chris Pruitt, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Choose Charleston for Rainbow Row, Fort Sumter and beaches; choose New Orleans for Jazz and Mardi Gras. New Orleans is generally less expensive, and the two are about 1,012 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 1,012 km
- Less expensive
- New Orleans
- Best time for Charleston
- March–May and October–November
- Best time for New Orleans
- February–April and October–November
Side by side
| Charleston | New Orleans | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Known for | Rainbow Row, Fort Sumter and Lowcountry cuisine | Jazz, Mardi Gras and French Quarter |
| Best time to visit | March–May and October–November | February–April and October–November |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $250–$400 | $220–$350 |
| Cost level | Expensive | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | July, 33°C (91°F) | July, 33°C (91°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 15°C (59°F) | January, 17°C (63°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 7 | 8 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 6 |
| Beaches | Folly Beach | — |
| Airports | CHS | MSY |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Charleston for…
Rainbow Row, Fort Sumter and beaches. Charleston sits on a narrow peninsula between the Ashley and Cooper rivers, and its historic core — from the Battery north to Marion Square — is small enough to walk in a day. Its streets of single houses with side piazzas, church steeples and gas lamps are…
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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
| # | Charleston | New Orleans |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Battery and White Point Garden | Jackson Square |
| 2 | Rainbow Row | St. Louis Cathedral |
| 3 | Fort Sumter National Monument | The Cabildo |
| 4 | Charleston City Market | Café du Monde and the French Market |
| 5 | Joe Riley Waterfront Park | Bourbon Street |
Food compared
| Charleston | New Orleans |
|---|---|
| Shrimp and grits | Beignets |
| She-crab soup | Gumbo |
| Lowcountry boil | Jambalaya |
| Oyster roast | Po'boy |
Which is cheaper?
New Orleans is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $220–$350 per person there, against $250–$400 in Charleston (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). New Orleans on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 1,012 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 9 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Charleston or New Orleans cheaper?
New Orleans is usually less expensive: about $220–$350 a day mid-range against $250–$400 (estimates).
+Is Charleston or New Orleans better for a first trip?
Pick Charleston for Rainbow Row, Fort Sumter and beaches, or New Orleans for Jazz and Mardi Gras.
+How far is Charleston from New Orleans?
About 1,012 km in a straight line.