I bought the "Big Box" edition (includes "Traders & Builders", "Inns & Cathedrals", "Towers", and "Princess & the Dragon" expansions) before ever having played Carcassonne. I already owned and played Settlers of Catan so knew what to expect in terms of learning curve of these games. The first playthrough was a bit rough but we caught on fast.

Carcassone is easy to compare to Settlers, since they are made by the same company with the same quality and modular board mechanics. Superficially the goals seem simple for both games but underneath are a myriad of ways to play and to win.

Carcassonne is a faster game to play through than Settlers and can be played with just two people. It also has many more expansions to it that really keep the game fresh and interesting. I highly recommend purchasing the Big Box version as it is a money-saver and has the added benefit of a plastic tray that keeps all the tiles organized.

My friends still tend to like Settlers better because there's almost always something to do, even when it isn't your turn (trade, pick up resources) whereas you can only play on your turn in Carcassonne.