Christmas is just around the corner, and it's one of the most exciting times of the year. It can also be one of the most expensive holidays, with Americans expected to spend at least $957 billion from November 1 to December 31 this year.
To identify the most festive and affordable cities for Christmas celebrations, we compared the 100 biggest cities in the U.S. based on 28 key indicators such as traditions, shopping, and costs. So, if you want to make this Christmas a memorable one without breaking the bank, check out our list of the most Christmas-friendly cities in the U.S. below.
Cassandra Happe, WalletHub Analyst
Main Findings
Best Places for Christmas
Overall Rank | City | Total Score | Traditions & Fun Rank | Observance Rank | Generosity Rank | Shopping Rank | Costs Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Atlanta, GA | 62.31 | 8 | 26 | 5 | 5 | 70 |
2 | Pittsburgh, PA | 62.07 | 23 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 28 |
3 | Orlando, FL | 60.67 | 4 | 10 | 68 | 2 | 81 |
4 | Las Vegas, NV | 60.59 | 3 | 44 | 63 | 1 | 38 |
5 | San Francisco, CA | 57.94 | 2 | 68 | 4 | 11 | 93 |
6 | St. Louis, MO | 57.80 | 21 | 5 | 22 | 14 | 47 |
7 | Seattle, WA | 57.77 | 9 | 80 | 1 | 13 | 97 |
8 | Chicago, IL | 56.16 | 5 | 93 | 10 | 17 | 40 |
9 | Miami, FL | 56.10 | 6 | 24 | 75 | 10 | 88 |
10 | Birmingham, AL | 55.97 | 55 | 1 | 32 | 33 | 20 |
11 | Los Angeles, CA | 53.66 | 7 | 95 | 28 | 4 | 75 |
12 | New Orleans, LA | 53.62 | 13 | 7 | 71 | 32 | 66 |
13 | Cincinnati, OH | 53.46 | 24 | 12 | 49 | 18 | 50 |
14 | Denver, CO | 53.24 | 11 | 70 | 24 | 22 | 68 |
15 | New York, NY | 52.93 | 1 | 98 | 3 | 3 | 100 |
16 | Honolulu, HI | 52.70 | 17 | 22 | 81 | 8 | 89 |
17 | Buffalo, NY | 52.37 | 40 | 2 | 57 | 29 | 69 |
18 | Washington, DC | 52.35 | 12 | 51 | 2 | 57 | 96 |
19 | San Diego, CA | 51.26 | 10 | 88 | 47 | 6 | 90 |
20 | Minneapolis, MN | 50.79 | 25 | 19 | 41 | 44 | 62 |
21 | Portland, OR | 50.59 | 15 | 71 | 18 | 12 | 92 |
22 | Virginia Beach, VA | 49.93 | 32 | 58 | 9 | 45 | 15 |
23 | St. Paul, MN | 49.52 | 45 | 8 | 43 | 30 | 60 |
24 | Tulsa, OK | 49.41 | 69 | 20 | 59 | 31 | 2 |
25 | Colorado Springs, CO | 49.37 | 56 | 45 | 29 | 34 | 3 |
26 | San Antonio, TX | 49.35 | 18 | 72 | 80 | 20 | 32 |
27 | Cleveland, OH | 49.21 | 33 | 11 | 50 | 56 | 42 |
28 | Wichita, KS | 49.14 | 79 | 6 | 94 | 58 | 1 |
29 | Tampa, FL | 49.14 | 26 | 13 | 40 | 26 | 95 |
30 | Phoenix, AZ | 49.03 | 14 | 87 | 39 | 7 | 91 |
31 | Austin, TX | 48.69 | 19 | 69 | 56 | 16 | 73 |
32 | Nashville, TN | 48.34 | 28 | 49 | 33 | 35 | 61 |
33 | Louisville, KY | 48.19 | 47 | 48 | 35 | 24 | 22 |
34 | Dallas, TX | 48.08 | 16 | 73 | 42 | 23 | 84 |
35 | Raleigh, NC | 47.98 | 42 | 31 | 21 | 36 | 78 |
36 | Houston, TX | 47.89 | 22 | 90 | 78 | 21 | 7 |
37 | Durham, NC | 47.84 | 65 | 17 | 34 | 74 | 31 |
38 | Greensboro, NC | 47.82 | 50 | 9 | 89 | 74 | 21 |
38 | Scottsdale, AZ | 47.82 | 51 | 74 | 11 | 15 | 51 |
40 | Omaha, NE | 47.38 | 43 | 33 | 54 | 38 | 44 |
41 | Sacramento, CA | 47.37 | 35 | 46 | 46 | 19 | 65 |
42 | Anaheim, CA | 47.32 | 29 | 40 | 72 | 41 | 23 |
43 | Reno, NV | 47.17 | 49 | 64 | 26 | 39 | 13 |
44 | Indianapolis, IN | 47.05 | 41 | 79 | 15 | 43 | 25 |
45 | Oklahoma City, OK | 46.82 | 64 | 38 | 60 | 37 | 10 |
46 | Chesapeake, VA | 46.64 | 48 | 41 | 17 | 91 | 34 |
47 | Charlotte, NC | 46.28 | 37 | 50 | 36 | 28 | 63 |
48 | Tucson, AZ | 46.21 | 34 | 47 | 73 | 25 | 45 |
49 | Memphis, TN | 46.20 | 58 | 29 | 44 | 67 | 36 |
50 | Fort Worth, TX | 46.07 | 60 | 54 | 30 | 63 | 14 |
51 | Santa Ana, CA | 46.04 | 31 | 55 | 64 | 78 | 8 |
52 | Baltimore, MD | 45.99 | 36 | 53 | 37 | 54 | 39 |
53 | Oakland, CA | 45.83 | 63 | 36 | 14 | 55 | 83 |
54 | Irvine, CA | 45.74 | 30 | 60 | 19 | 52 | 71 |
55 | El Paso, TX | 45.49 | 74 | 15 | 84 | 47 | 26 |
56 | Philadelphia, PA | 44.87 | 20 | 83 | 52 | 40 | 87 |
57 | San Jose, CA | 44.68 | 39 | 67 | 13 | 42 | 86 |
58 | Newark, NJ | 44.55 | 82 | 4 | 62 | 100 | 77 |
59 | Fort Wayne, IN | 44.49 | 84 | 27 | 82 | 76 | 11 |
60 | Norfolk, VA | 44.42 | 46 | 18 | 53 | 82 | 82 |
61 | Albuquerque, NM | 44.35 | 62 | 23 | 97 | 27 | 43 |
62 | Milwaukee, WI | 44.20 | 44 | 35 | 58 | 70 | 74 |
63 | Plano, TX | 44.12 | 67 | 75 | 16 | 53 | 29 |
64 | Baton Rouge, LA | 43.86 | 72 | 32 | 85 | 49 | 33 |
65 | Kansas City, MO | 43.73 | 54 | 39 | 77 | 72 | 37 |
66 | Columbus, OH | 43.68 | 38 | 86 | 51 | 46 | 30 |
67 | Long Beach, CA | 43.54 | 59 | 30 | 76 | 50 | 67 |
68 | Madison, WI | 43.45 | 61 | 82 | 6 | 68 | 56 |
69 | Boston, MA | 43.03 | 27 | 85 | 8 | 61 | 98 |
70 | Bakersfield, CA | 42.84 | 68 | 16 | 99 | 73 | 35 |
71 | Lubbock, TX | 42.77 | 76 | 42 | 79 | 65 | 27 |
72 | Lincoln, NE | 42.61 | 73 | 76 | 23 | 87 | 18 |
73 | Fresno, CA | 42.57 | 88 | 43 | 88 | 69 | 5 |
74 | Jacksonville, FL | 42.54 | 57 | 59 | 48 | 48 | 54 |
75 | Corpus Christi, TX | 42.34 | 95 | 28 | 98 | 85 | 6 |
76 | Boise, ID | 42.12 | 70 | 37 | 61 | 51 | 79 |
77 | Jersey City, NJ | 41.67 | 85 | 56 | 20 | 89 | 57 |
78 | Toledo, OH | 41.52 | 94 | 14 | 86 | 92 | 49 |
79 | Riverside, CA | 40.77 | 89 | 25 | 91 | 64 | 48 |
80 | St. Petersburg, FL | 40.74 | 53 | 34 | 69 | 77 | 94 |
81 | Winston-Salem, NC | 40.60 | 92 | 21 | 90 | 90 | 53 |
82 | Anchorage, AK | 39.91 | 66 | 77 | 55 | 60 | 64 |
83 | Gilbert, AZ | 39.50 | 78 | 94 | 27 | 88 | 12 |
84 | Mesa, AZ | 39.48 | 86 | 62 | 45 | 66 | 55 |
85 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | 39.43 | 71 | 63 | 67 | 59 | 72 |
86 | Irving, TX | 38.97 | 93 | 81 | 25 | 99 | 24 |
87 | Garland, TX | 38.91 | 97 | 78 | 38 | 97 | 19 |
88 | Chandler, AZ | 38.73 | 80 | 92 | 31 | 71 | 41 |
89 | Fremont, CA | 38.65 | 96 | 91 | 12 | 83 | 58 |
90 | Glendale, AZ | 38.54 | 81 | 84 | 83 | 62 | 16 |
91 | Aurora, CO | 37.95 | 91 | 89 | 66 | 81 | 9 |
92 | Arlington, TX | 37.87 | 87 | 66 | 65 | 84 | 59 |
93 | Detroit, MI | 37.59 | 52 | 52 | 93 | 95 | 80 |
94 | Stockton, CA | 37.46 | 83 | 57 | 96 | 79 | 46 |
95 | Henderson, NV | 35.98 | 90 | 97 | 74 | 80 | 4 |
96 | Laredo, TX | 34.44 | 99 | 61 | 100 | 86 | 17 |
97 | Chula Vista, CA | 33.37 | 77 | 96 | 70 | 93 | 76 |
98 | San Bernardino, CA | 32.11 | 100 | 65 | 95 | 96 | 85 |
99 | North Las Vegas, NV | 28.19 | 98 | 99 | 92 | 98 | 52 |
100 | Hialeah, FL | 26.66 | 75 | 100 | 87 | 94 | 99 |
Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that city, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.
In-Depth Look at the Top Cities for 2023
Atlanta, GA
The Big Peach is the best city for Christmas celebrations this year because of its superb shopping and activity opportunities. For example, Atlanta has plenty of options to help you prepare for Christmas celebrations, including a high number of bakeries and places to buy holiday decorations.
With the milder winter weather, it is easy to enjoy the city's largest outdoor ice rink, located at Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta, which offers a festive holiday experience with twinkling holiday lights and gorgeous skyscrapers. Furthermore, the giving spirit can be felt by residents and visitors alike, with many opportunities throughout the city for donating time and money this holiday season.
Pittsburgh, PA
Pittsburgh residents can rejoice in knowing that their city is the second-best place for celebrating Christmas, featuring ample opportunities to get into the holiday spirit. There are several special events that take place here during the holiday season, including the “Holiday Magic! Winter Flower Show and Light Garden,” as well as performances of “A Musical Christmas Carol,” which give a unique spin on some traditional holiday experiences.
The Steel City also offers several holiday markets and craft fairs, such as the Peoples Gas Holiday Market in Market Square and the Handmade Arcade, where unique and handcrafted gifts and decorations can be bought at reasonable prices. Pittsburgh offers many options for gift purchases at its numerous candy and card shops, too.
Orlando, FL
The City Beautiful, or O-Town as some like to call Orlando, ranks as the third-best city for Christmas celebrations. It offers a wide range of attractions, restaurants, and churches for those who like to spend time out of the house during the holidays.
As a city that boasts theme parks such as Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, and SeaWorld Orlando, families can have an unforgettable experience by visiting these decorated parks and taking advantage of the special holiday activities offered at many resorts and hotels in the area. In case a trip to a theme park is outside of your budget, the Orlando area offers a variety of alternatives such as festive lights, parades, and ice sculptures, which will help you get into the holiday spirit without breaking the bank.
- Most
- T-1. Miami, FL
- T-1. Portland, OR
- T-1. Tucson, AZ
- T-1. New York, NY
- 5. Gilbert, AZ
- Fewest
- 79. Colorado Springs, CO
- 80. Milwaukee, WI
- 81. Louisville, KY
- 82. El Paso, TX
- 83. Indianapolis, IN
- Most
- T-1. Orlando, FL
- T-1. Las Vegas, NV
- T-1. Honolulu, HI
- T-1. San Francisco, CA
- 5. Portland, OR
- Fewest
- 96. Hialeah, FL
- 97. Gilbert, AZ
- 98. Irving, TX
- 99. Garland, TX
- 100. North Las Vegas, NV
- Most
- T-1. New York, NY
- T-1. Las Vegas, NV
- T-1. Orlando, FL
- 4. St. Louis, MO
- 5. Phoenix, AZ
- Fewest
- 96. Winston-Salem, NC
- 97. North Las Vegas, NV
- 98. Irving, TX
- 99. Detroit, MI
- 100. Newark, NJ
- Highest
- T-1. Boston, MA
- T-1. San Francisco, CA
- T-1. Seattle, WA
- T-1. Washington, DC
- T-1. New York, NY
- T-1. Oakland, CA
- Lowest
- 96. Memphis, TN
- 97. North Las Vegas, NV
- 98. Corpus Christi, TX
- 99. Hialeah, FL
- 100. San Bernardino, CA
Tips for Saving on Your Christmas Celebrations
- Create a Budget and Set Limits: It can be helpful to create a budget and establish spending limits for Christmas. This way, you can avoid overspending and maintain control over your finances. If you're dealing with a large family or group of friends, consider placing restrictions on the number or cost of gifts exchanged. A good option could be to organize a Secret Santa gift exchange, where each person buys a gift for only one other person, which can help cut down on expenses.
- Be on the Lookout for Sales and Discounts: Keep an eye out for sales, promotions, and discounts as you shop for gifts. Quite a few retailers and online stores also offer coupons and cashback programs that can help you save money. You can even begin shopping for gifts for next year when the post-Christmas sales begin and continue shopping throughout the year for gifts to help spread out the costs.
- Think About DIY and Second-Hand Gifts: If you're looking for ways to save money on gifts, you might want to consider DIY and second-hand options. DIY gifts, such as homemade crafts, baked goods, or artwork, can be both thoughtful and budget-friendly. Additionally, you can also check out thrift stores, consignment shops, and online marketplaces like eBay and Facebook Marketplace for unique and affordable gift ideas.
- Be Flexible to Save on Travel: Many airlines offer lower rates for less popular travel days. Taking an earlier flight or staying at your destination for a few extra days could make a substantial difference in your overall travel costs. It is also wise to book your flight and hotel together through the same travel website, which will save you more compared to booking them separately. Don’t forget to check to see if your credit card offers any additional perks or discounts on your flight or hotel.
- Make a Meal Plan: It's important to plan your holiday meals wisely to avoid overspending. This can be achieved by creating menus in advance, preparing shopping lists, and taking advantage of sales and discounts on food items. You can also opt for potluck-style gatherings where guests bring dishes to share, which helps to distribute the cost. With careful planning, you can enjoy delicious holiday feasts that won't break the bank.
- Take Advantage of Your Credit Cards: Using the right credit cards can score you significant savings during the holidays. You may want to select a card that provides a large initial rewards bonus if you can pay off your holiday shopping expenses by the card's due date. If it will take you a few months to pay off your purchases, you can avoid paying interest by choosing a card that offers a 0% introductory APR. Keep in mind that retailer financing offers may not be the best choice, as they often come with a risky feature known as deferred interest.
- Recycle Gift Wrap: Instead of purchasing new gift bags, ribbons, and wrapping paper every year, it's a great idea to start collecting and reusing your gently-used wrapping supplies for next year. You can also use your creativity and opt for eco-friendly gift-wrapping options like cloth, newspaper, or a decorative box that can be repurposed.
Ask the Experts
With the pressure to make the holidays special, many people will overspend on their Christmas festivities. To help consumers avoid ending the year with an empty wallet and stay safe during their travels, we asked a panel of experts to share their thoughts on the following key questions:
- What tips do you have for celebrating Christmas on a budget?
- What are some of the big money-wasters on Christmas?
- In evaluating the best cities for Christmas celebrations, what are the top five indicators?
- What money-saving tips do you have for people planning to travel for the Christmas holiday?
Ask the Experts
Methodology
In order to determine the best places to celebrate Christmas, WalletHub compared the 100 most populated cities across five key dimensions: 1) Traditions & Fun, 2) Observance, 3) Generosity, 4) Shopping and 5) Costs.
We evaluated those dimensions using 28 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for celebrating Christmas.
Finally, we determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample. In determining our sample, we considered only the city proper in each case, excluding cities in the surrounding metro area. For metrics marked with an asterisk (*), we used the square root of the population to calculate the population size in order to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across cities.
Traditions & Fun - Total Points: 20
- Ranking on Top 25 Destinations for Christmas: Double Weight (~3.64 Points)
Note: This metric is based on advance hotel reservations made on priceline.com and measures the ranking of the city among the top 25 Christmas destinations. - Google Search Interest for ‘Christmas Celebration’: Full Weight (~1.82 Points)
Note: This metric measures the real intent of the population to find information about the following search terms: “Christmas party”, “Christmas light show”, “Christmas market”, “Christmas concert”, “Christmas festival” and “Christmas dinner”. “Real intent” is measured using the average monthly search volumes for those specific terms. - Christmas Tree Farms per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.82 Points)
Note: “Christmas tree farms” refers to Christmas tree gardens, lots and selling points. - Bakeries per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.82 Points)
- Restaurants per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.82 Points)
- Diversity of Restaurants: Full Weight (~1.82 Points)
- Number of Attractions: Full Weight (~1.82 Points)
- Ice Skating Rinks per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.82 Points)
- Nightlife Options per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.82 Points)
- Music Venues per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.82 Points)
Note: Many cities host Christmas concerts during the holiday season.
Observance - Total Points: 30
- Share of Christian Population: Full Weight (~15.00 Points)
- Churches per Capita*: Full Weight (~15.00 Points)
Generosity - Total Points: 20
- Food Banks per Capita*: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
- Share of Income Donated to Charity: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
- Share of Population Collecting/Distributing Food & Clothes for the Needy: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
- Online Giving per Capita: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
- Christmas Spirit: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Most Caring Cities” ranking.
Shopping - Total Points: 10
- Gift Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
- Shopping Centers & Outlets per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
- Toy Stores & Hobby Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
- Candy Stores & Chocolatiers per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
- Cards & Stationery Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
- Holiday Decorations Shops & Holiday Decorating Services per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Costs - Total Points: 20
- Cost of Three-Star Hotel Room: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
- Restaurant Meal Costs: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
- Number of Affordable, High-Quality Restaurants: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
Note: “High-Quality Restaurants” include those with ratings of 4.5 stars or higher. - Average Beverage Price: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
Note: “Beverage” refers to beer and wine. - Average Price for Two Tickets to the Theater: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
Note: Some cities offer a wide range of Christmas-themed performances which one can enjoy with friends or family.
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Corporation for National and Community Service, Chronicle of Philanthropy, Council for Community and Economic Research, The U.S. Religion Census, Priceline, Yelp, TripAdvisor, Kayak, Numbeo, Google Ads, Expatistan, Internal Revenue Service and WalletHub research.
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