A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Columbia vs. El Paso for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Columbia or El Paso?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Columbia or El Paso? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Columbia

Columbia is a suburban, friendly, and welcoming city. Other reasons to visit include nightlife, shopping, and museums.

El Paso

El Paso is a low-key, undiscovered, and laid-back city. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping.

Columbia and El Paso: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Columbia or El Paso?

Tourists will generally find more to do in El Paso than Columbia. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. El Paso is more touristy than Columbia and is popular for its Spanish missions and its outstanding Mexican food. It is also well known for the El Paso Zoo. Columbia is famous for its southern hospitality and friendly people.

How is Columbia different from El Paso?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between El Paso and Columbia. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Columbia or El Paso?

Plenty of people visit the nice sights and museums in both Columbia and El Paso.

Columbia offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. As the state capital, there are some decent museums around town like the Columbia Museum of Art, the South Carolina Military Museum, the South Carolina State Museum, and the U.S. Army Basic Combat Training Museum.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around El Paso. Visitors can learn about local art, culture, and history at the El Paso Museum of Art, the El Paso Museum of History, the 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss Museum, and the Eduardo Pedregón Memorial Veterans Museum.

Is the Food Better in Columbia or El Paso? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

El Paso is a popular place for its local cuisine and restaurants. However, Columbia is not a good city for its restaurants.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in El Paso. Mexican food and barbecue are popular around town but you'll also find burgers, pizza, and other American favorites.

Columbia may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. Barbecue and other southern favorites are among the more local dishes, but the city is also filled with fast food joints and other major chain restaurants.

Is Columbia or El Paso Better for Nightlife?

Both Columbia and El Paso are nice when it comes to partying.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Columbia. You'll find live music venues as well as low key bars and more trendy cocktail lounges.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in El Paso. There are a number of bars, nightclubs, and lounges around town where you can enjoy a fun night out.

Is the Shopping Better in Columbia or El Paso?

Both Columbia and El Paso are nice shopping destinations.

Columbia offers some nice shopping areas. You'll find independent and locally owned shops along Devine Street and in the Five Points area. Also interesting are the Vista, which is a warehouse district, and Trenholm Plaza.

El Paso has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There are a number of malls and outlet centers around town. One of the most well known is Bassett Place, but other options include Cielo Vista Mall and the Fountains at Farah.

Is Columbia or El Paso Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Columbia or El Paso.

Columbia is a family-friendly place to visit. Around town you'll find parks, playgrounds, and kid-friendly restaurants. There's a zoo in the area as well as a nice state park - Sesquicentennial State Park. There's also EdVenture Children's Museum, which is filled with hands-on exhibits.

El Paso is a family-friendly city. There are adventure parks, playgrounds, outdoor centers and nature activities that families can enjoy.

Is Columbia or El Paso Better for Couples?

Most people don't think of either Columbia or El Paso as a couple's destination.

Most people don't think of Columbia as a couple's destination. You'll find parks to explore and some nice restaurants that make for a good date night.

El Paso is not always the best place to visit for a couple. Couples can enjoy dinner and a show or taking a romantic drive up to the overlook.

Is Columbia or El Paso Better for Students?

Columbia is very good for its student-friendly activities. However, El Paso is not popular with students.

Plenty of students visit Columbia. The University of South Carolina, and other nearby colleges all bring in a decent student population.

El Paso is not popular with students.

Is Columbia or El Paso Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Columbia and El Paso offer reasonable public transit options.

Public transit is generally limited in Columbia. The COMET is the bus system through town, but you really must have your own car to enjoy the city.

Public transit is mostly limited in El Paso. While there are some bus routes in town, you shouldn't rely on them and must have a private vehicle to efficiently visit the city.

Is Columbia or El Paso a more walkable city?

El Paso is a moderate city for its high level of walkability. However, Columbia is not a good city for its ease of walking around.

El Paso is generally not very walkable. You really need a car to get around town.

Columbia is not a very walkable city. It's filled with suburban-style development and is generally very car dependent.

For even more information, also check out Is Columbia Worth Visiting? and Is El Paso Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in El Paso or Columbia?

How long in Columbia or El Paso?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Columbia or El Paso to fill your time. In our opinion, El Paso has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in El Paso than Columbia. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Families should spend more time in El Paso than Columbia. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in El Paso, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in El Paso than Columbia. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in El Paso that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in El Paso than Columbia if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in El Paso.

One day in Columbia or El Paso?

In Columbia, you'll find museums and nightlife. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

The city of El Paso offers food and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Columbia or El Paso?

In Columbia, you'll find nightlife and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Columbia has to offer.

El Paso is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in El Paso, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Columbia or El Paso?

Columbia is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

El Paso is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Columbia or El Paso?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Columbia. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Columbia. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

El Paso is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Columbia and El Paso, we can see that El Paso 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 El Paso would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in El Paso than you might in Columbia.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Columbia Expensive? and Is El Paso Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Columbia or El Paso?

El Paso has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Columbia. When comparing the sizes of Columbia and El Paso, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.