Should you visit Columbia or Albuquerque?
Should I visit Columbia or Albuquerque? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Columbia
Both the largest and capital city of South Carolina, Columbia is literally the center of everything. Geographically it is located in the middle of the state, and it is the home to the University of South Carolina, the Army's Fort Jackson, as well as a variety of museums that celebrate the city's art, history, and culture.
Albuquerque
Albuquerque is a large city in the middle of the desert, right in the heart of New Mexico. It's the largest city in the state and has a lot to offer visitors. The city has a quaint downtown with a handful of good shops and restaurants. The surrounding area is quite beautiful and every fall the city hosts a famous and spectacular hot air balloon festival.
Which city is cheaper, Albuquerque or Columbia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Columbia is $0.00, while the average daily cost in Albuquerque is $108. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Columbia and Albuquerque in more detail.
Accommodation
For a normal double-occupancy room in Albuquerque, $110 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Albuquerque, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $55, such as in a hostel.
Food
The price of a meal in Columbia can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $4.02 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $1.61 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
Albuquerque food costs typically run travelers around $33 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
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Food
Meals for one day
Columbia $4.02
Albuquerque $33
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Albuquerque
For Albuquerque, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show - Albuquerque:
$71
Local Transportation
To get around in Albuquerque, the average visitor spends $29 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Albuquerque
Also for Albuquerque, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Albuquerque International Airport One Way Transfer:
$48
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Private Departure Transfer To Albuquerque Airport ABQ:
$49
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Private Arrival Transfer from Albuquerque Airport (ABQ):
$81
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Albuquerque Airport (ABQ) to Albuquerque - Arrival Private Transfer:
$88
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Albuquerque to Albuquerque Airport (ABQ) - Departure Private Transfer:
$88
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Albuquerque Airport (ABQ) to Albuquerque - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$177
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Private Transfer: Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) to Albuquerque:
$622
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Private Transfer: Albuquerque to Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ):
$622
Is it cheaper to fly into Columbia or Albuquerque?
Prices for flights to both Albuquerque and Columbia change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Entertainment
In Albuquerque, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $20 per person, per day.
Tours and Activities in Albuquerque
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Albuquerque.
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Breaking Bad RV Virtural Tour:
$13
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Albuquerque Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$21
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The Ghost Tour of Old Town on New Mexico's oldest Ghost Walk - Since 2001:
$35
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12pm - Public High Noon History, Legends & Lore Tour - Guided Old Town Stroll:
$35
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VIP PRIVATE History, Legends & Lore Tour - Guided Old Town Stroll = 10a-2p-4p-6p:
$43
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ABQ NM Film locations Tour, tour your favorite movies/shows filmed in ABQ:
$45
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Guided Bicycle Nature Tour of Albuquerque - Daily:
$69
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Mezcla de Culturas A Walking Tour of ABQ Sawmill District & Historic Old Town:
$75
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Small-Group E-Bike Tour in Albuquerque:
$79
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Breaking Bad RV Tour, visiting locations from Breaking Bad and Better call Saul:
$80
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New Mexico Flavors Tour Of Old Town Albuquerque:
$124
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Private Tour: Albuquerque Half Day:
$175
Alcohol
The average person spends about $70 on alcoholic beverages in Columbia per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Albuquerque, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $16.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Columbia and Albuquerque, we can see that Albuquerque is more expensive. And not only is Columbia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Columbia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Columbia and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Albuquerque would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Albuquerque than you might in Columbia.
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