Traitor!

So you've tangled up your first skein of yarn, you are ready to burn those bamboo sticks in the fireplace ... and you're wondering if maybe CROCHET might just be a better fit???
Crochet is probably easier to learn ... it's very flexible. However, it isn't long before you notice that flexibility is also a downside - there are lots of things to do wrong!
Knitting requires a few more tricks: knit/ purl, increase/ decrease but once you figure those out, you're all set. From there, the patterns and needles keep you on track for bigger, more complex projects. After all of that, it does depend upon what you're making.
Take a look through patterns somewhere like Lion Yarns and think about what projects you would like to make. That might be a better guide than "easiest."
I read somewhere that crochet works up 3 times faster but uses 3 times more yarn. Would you prefer one lacy knitted cashmere shawl or an enormous acrylic (if you're looking to spend the same $$ on yarn) blanket?
You can do both. I learned crochet, then knitting. I bounced back and forth between the two (as I grew frustrated with one, I switched to the other) for months before I really began leaning more toward knitting. Either way, have fun!
You might want to check the library for how-to and pattern books. There are a lot of good beginner books but you probably won't need them for long, so the library's a great place to start.