A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Columbia vs. Fairfield for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Columbia or Fairfield?

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

Should I visit Columbia or Fairfield? 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.

Where Should I go: Columbia or Fairfield?

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.

Fairfield

The city of Fairfield is in Solano County, California, in the Sacramento Valley area. It's a medium sized city that is home to the Travis Air Force Base. It's also halfway between San Francisco and Sacramento along Interstate 80. There are a handful of interesting activities in the area. Consider visiting either the Grizzly Island Wildlife Area or the Hill Slough Wildlife Area both of which have hiking, fishing, birdwatching, and boating opportunities. You can also take a tour of the Jelly Belly Factory which is in town, or tour the Anheuser-Busch Brewery which includes two complimentary beers and a limitless supply of pretzels. On Thursdays you can take a guided tour of the Travis Air Force Base. If you're interested in visited a working ranch, Rush Ranch is open to the public and can be a fun experience with an opportunity to visit with the animals.

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 Fairfield, we can see that Fairfield 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 Fairfield would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Fairfield 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 Fairfield Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Columbia or Fairfield?

Columbia has a larger population, and is about 10% larger than the population of Fairfield. When comparing the sizes of Columbia and Fairfield, 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.

When is the best time to visit Columbia or Fairfield?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Columbia or Fairfield in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Columbia as well as Fairfield. Many visitors come to Columbia in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Columbia is generally a little warmer than Fairfield. Daily temperatures in Columbia average around 82°F (28°C), and Fairfield fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Fairfield. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Columbia this time of the year. In the summer, Columbia often gets less sunshine than Fairfield. Columbia gets 293 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Fairfield receives 439 hours of full sun.

Columbia receives a lot of rain in the summer. Columbia usually gets more rain in July than Fairfield. Columbia gets 4.6 inches (116 mm) of rain, while Fairfield receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Columbia or Fairfield in the Autumn?

Both Fairfield and Columbia are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Columbia for the shopping scene during these months.

Columbia is around the same temperature as Fairfield in the autumn. The daily temperature in Columbia averages around 64°F (18°C) in October, and Fairfield fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).

It's quite sunny in Fairfield. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Columbia. Columbia usually receives less sunshine than Fairfield during autumn. Columbia gets 230 hours of sunny skies, while Fairfield receives 300 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Columbia usually receives more rain than Fairfield. Columbia gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Fairfield receives 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Columbia or Fairfield in the Winter?

Both Fairfield and Columbia during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Columbia because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In the winter, Columbia is around the same temperature as Fairfield. Typically, the winter temperatures in Columbia in January average around 45°F (7°C), and Fairfield averages at about 46°F (8°C).

In the winter, Columbia often gets more sunshine than Fairfield. Columbia gets 171 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Fairfield receives 149 hours of full sun.

Columbia usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Fairfield. Columbia gets 3.7 inches (93 mm) of rain, while Fairfield receives 3.8 inches (97 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Columbia or Fairfield in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Columbia and Fairfield.

In April, Columbia is generally a little warmer than Fairfield. Daily temperatures in Columbia average around 64°F (18°C), and Fairfield fluctuates around 56°F (13°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Fairfield this time of the year. In Columbia, it's very sunny this time of the year. Columbia usually receives less sunshine than Fairfield during spring. Columbia gets 273 hours of sunny skies, while Fairfield receives 328 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Columbia usually receives more rain than Fairfield. Columbia gets 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain, while Fairfield receives 1.3 inches (32 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Fairfield and Columbia