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Chicago or New Orleans? An honest comparison
The short answer
Pick Chicago for skyscrapers, big museums, the lakefront and an easy, well-connected city; pick New Orleans for live music, Creole and Cajun food and a historic French Quarter that feels unlike anywhere else in the US. New Orleans is cheaper on mid-range numbers (about €242 vs €275 per person per day). Chicago is the better family trip; New Orleans the better long weekend with friends.
Chicago: suits first-timers, families and friends who want architecture, world-class museums and a walkable downtown.
New Orleans: suits couples and friends who want jazz, distinctive food and late nights in a historic setting.
Side by side
| Chicago | New Orleans | |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-range day* | €277 US$312 local | €244 US$275 local |
| Budget day* | €139 | €111 |
| Value for money | ●●●●●High taxes and hotel prices downtown. | ●●●●●Lower daily costs, cheap po'boys and free music. |
| Crowds (5 = calm) | ●●●●●Busy in summer at Navy Pier and Millennium Park. | ●●●●●Bourbon Street is packed; crowds surge at Mardi Gras. |
| Food | ●●●●●Italian beef, deep-dish pizza and strong immigrant neighbourhoods. | ●●●●●Gumbo, po'boys, beignets: a cuisine found nowhere else. |
| Nightlife | ●●●●●Blues and jazz clubs, bars across many neighbourhoods. | ●●●●●Live music nightly on Frenchmen Street; open-container streets. |
| Family-friendly | ●●●●●Museums, aquarium, free zoo and lakefront beaches. | ●●●●●Streetcars and swamp tours are fun; nightlife dominates the Quarter. |
| Getting around | ●●●●●L trains and buses; downtown easy on foot. | ●●●●●French Quarter walkable; streetcars slow, taxis needed at night. |
| Best months | year-round, see below | Oct, Nov |
| Warmest / coolest | Jun 27°C / Jan 1°C | Aug 32°C / Jan 17°C |
| Known for | Willis Tower, Millennium Park, Navy Pier, The Art Institute of Chicago | French Quarter, Jackson Square, St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, Garden District |
* Per person per day with two sharing a room: bed, food, sights and local transport, from our Chicago and New Orleans day-cost tables (approximate 2026 prices; other currencies converted at recent rates). Ratings are our editorial judgement.
Which one should you pick?
Pick Chicago if…
- you want architecture and big museums.
- You're travelling with children.
- You're going in summer.
- you want reliable public transport.
Pick New Orleans if…
- Live music is a priority.
- you want food you can't get anywhere else.
- You're travelling in October, November or early spring.
- you want a long weekend with friends.
Weather month by month
| Month | Chicago high / rainy days | New Orleans high / rainy days |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 1°C · 10 | 17°C · 10 |
| Feb | 1°C · 9 | 19°C · 12 |
| Mar | 9°C · 11 | 23°C · 14 |
| Apr | 15°C · 14 | 25°C · 15 |
| May | 20°C · 10 | 29°C · 16 |
| Jun | 27°C · 10 | 31°C · 20 |
| Jul | 27°C · 12 | 31°C · 25 |
| Aug | 27°C · 12 | 32°C · 19 |
| Sep | 24°C · 10 | 30°C · 15 |
| Oct | 17°C · 15 | 26°C · 8 |
| Nov | 10°C · 5 | 20°C · 9 |
| Dec | 5°C · 11 | 19°C · 10 |
Average daily high and number of rainy days. Copernicus ERA5, 2021–2023.
What you will eat
Chicago
Italian beef · Chicago-style hot dog · Deep-dish pizza · Tavern-style pizza · Maxwell Street Polish · Jibarito
Where: Chinatown (Wentworth Avenue and Chinatown Square), Pilsen and Little Village, Argyle Street and Andersonville, Devon Avenue
New Orleans
Gumbo · Po'boy · Beignets and café au lait · Jambalaya · Red beans and rice · Muffuletta
Where: French Market, French Quarter, Tremé and the Seventh Ward, Magazine Street and the Garden District
Doing both in one trip
8 days: 4 in Chicago + 4 in New Orleans
Chicago first for the structured sightseeing, then New Orleans for food and music to finish the trip.
Getting between them: Direct flight about 2 h 15, or Amtrak's overnight City of New Orleans train, about 19 hours. Check current timetables. Distance about 1,340 km as the crow flies. Check current timetables.
- Day 1–4: Chicago — architecture river cruise, Art Institute, Millennium Park, Willis Tower, Pilsen and Chinatown.
- Day 5: Fly or arrive by train; evening on Frenchmen Street.
- Day 6: French Quarter, Jackson Square and beignets.
- Day 7–8: Garden District by streetcar, Tremé, a swamp tour.
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Common questions
Is Chicago or New Orleans cheaper?
New Orleans is cheaper on mid-range numbers: about €242 per person per day against roughly €275 in Chicago. Food and music are where New Orleans saves you money: po'boys and red beans are cheap, and many bars have free live music. Hotel prices soar during Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest, so book early or avoid those dates.
When is the best time to visit New Orleans?
October and November are the most comfortable months, with warm days and less humidity. Late winter and spring are also good, though Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest bring crowds and high prices. Summer is hot and humid, with August around 32°C, and hurricane season runs from June to November.
How do I travel from Chicago to New Orleans?
Flying is fastest, with direct flights of about 2 h 15. Amtrak's City of New Orleans runs overnight, taking roughly 19 hours through the Mississippi Delta, which is a scenic option if you have time and book a sleeper. Driving is roughly 1,500 km. Check current timetables.
Which is better for live music?
New Orleans. Frenchmen Street has live jazz, brass and blues every night, often with no cover charge, and street musicians play throughout the French Quarter. Chicago is excellent for blues and jazz too, with long-established clubs, but music is not woven into daily life in the same way.