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

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Should you visit Columbia or Galveston?

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

Should I visit Columbia or Galveston? 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

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.

Galveston

Located on Galveston Island off the Texas Gulf Coast, Galveston is a popular destination for Texans and a departure point for cruise ships. It also makes a great beach destination for anyone looking to enjoy a week or weekend.

Galveston is a popular destination during the summer months, but the warm climate makes it comfortable year round. Even during the winter months you can enjoy mild temperatures, although on occasion it can have a cold spell.

Which city is cheaper, Galveston 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 Galveston is $147. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Columbia and Galveston in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Columbia -
    Galveston $64
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Columbia $0.00
    Galveston $128

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Columbia -
    Galveston $28

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Galveston

Also for Galveston, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Galveston Port to Houston Airport Transfer: $432

Is it cheaper to fly into Columbia or Galveston?

Prices for flights to both Galveston 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.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Columbia $4.02
    Galveston $42

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Columbia -
    Galveston $12

Tours and Activities in Columbia

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Columbia are as follows:

  • Cascade Locks: 1-Hour Columbia River Sightseeing Cruise: $50
  • Cascade Locks: Columbia Gorge Sunday Brunch Cruise: $94
  • Portland: Columbia Gorge Flight Tour: $99
  • Portland: Columbia River Gorge 3-Hour Small Group Tour: $85
  • Portland: Multnomah Falls Scenic Air Tour: $199
  • Savannah: History & Ghosts Guided Tour with Beverage Stops: $20

Tours and Activities in Galveston

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Galveston.

  • Galveston Ghosts Walking Tour: $8.00
  • Spooky Strand Ghost Tour: $8.00
  • Al's Galveston Ghost Tour: $9.99
  • Galveston Ghost Tour: $10
  • Ghost On the Strand Ghost Tour: $10
  • Historic Galveston Ghost Tour: $10
  • Storm on the Strand Ghost Tour: $13
  • Galveston Island Ghost Tour: $13
  • Dolphin Sightseeing Tour in Galveston with a Guide: $15
  • Great! Galveston Ghost Tour: $16
  • Historic Galveston Red Light District Tour: $19
  • Galveston's Haunted Cemetery Walking Tour: $20

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Columbia $70
    Galveston $30

Sample the Local Flavors in Columbia

Also in Columbia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Savannah: Pub Crawl and Ghost Tour: $30

Sample the Local Flavors in Galveston

Also in Galveston, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Haunted Pub Crawl Walking Tour: $30

About these numbers

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

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Columbia vs. Galveston Travel Comparison

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