Comparison · Houston vs New Orleans · United States
Houston 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: Katie Haugland Brown, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
Choose Houston for NASA and Space Center Houston and Museum District; choose New Orleans for Jazz and Mardi Gras. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 511 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 511 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Houston
- March–April and October–November
- Best time for New Orleans
- February–April and October–November
Side by side
| Houston | New Orleans | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Known for | NASA and Space Center Houston, Museum District and Viet-Cajun crawfish | Jazz, Mardi Gras and French Quarter |
| Best time to visit | March–April and October–November | February–April and October–November |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $190–$330 | $220–$350 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | August, 35°C (95°F) | July, 33°C (91°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 17°C (63°F) | January, 17°C (63°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 8 | 8 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | IAH, HOU | MSY |
Which one is right for you?
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…
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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
| # | Houston | New Orleans |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Space Center Houston | Jackson Square |
| 2 | Museum of Fine Arts, Houston | St. Louis Cathedral |
| 3 | Houston Museum of Natural Science | The Cabildo |
| 4 | Menil Collection | Café du Monde and the French Market |
| 5 | Rothko Chapel | Bourbon Street |
Food compared
| Houston | New Orleans |
|---|---|
| Viet-Cajun crawfish | Beignets |
| Fajitas | Gumbo |
| Smoked brisket | Jambalaya |
| Kolaches | Po'boy |
Which is cheaper?
Houston and New Orleans cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $190–$330 in Houston and $220–$350 in New Orleans (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Houston on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Houston and New Orleans are about 511 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 3 days in Houston and 4 in New Orleans.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Houston or New Orleans cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $190–$330 in Houston and $220–$350 in New Orleans (estimates).
+Is Houston or New Orleans better for a first trip?
Pick Houston for NASA and Space Center Houston and Museum District, or New Orleans for Jazz and Mardi Gras.
+How far is Houston from New Orleans?
About 511 km in a straight line.