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

Should you visit Columbia or Juneau?

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

Should I visit Columbia or Juneau? 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 Juneau?

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.

Juneau

Juneau, Alaska is the capital city of the state, and it is also one of the most beautiful cities. Juneau is surrounded by two large mountains and a channel, so it is the only state capital not accessible by train or car. It is lined with small streets, including what is locally known as "stair streets" which can only be accessed by foot and include walking up 100-300 stairs, depending on which level you're going to. Luckily, most of the sights and stores are on the lower level, though. The only real structures located on the stair streets are residential buildings. Juneau is the most visited city in Alaska, but its population is just over 33,000. Its economy is based mostly on government, tourism, fishing, and mining.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America, The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in United States of America, and The Best Cultural Tours in United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Juneau 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 Juneau is $160. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Columbia and Juneau in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Columbia -
    Juneau $88
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Columbia $0.00
    Juneau $176
Compare Hotels in Columbia and Juneau

Looking for a hotel in Columbia or Juneau? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Columbia


Hotels in Juneau


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Columbia Hotel Prices and Juneau Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Columbia -
    Juneau $38

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Juneau

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Juneau:

  • Private Arrival Transfer from Juneau Airport (JNU): $48
  • Private Departure Transfer to Juneau Airport (JNU): $48

Is it cheaper to fly into Columbia or Juneau?

Prices for flights to both Juneau 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 $5.03
    Juneau $49

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Columbia -
    Juneau $17

Tours and Activities in Columbia

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

  • Soda City: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in Columbia: $12

Typical Entertainment Prices in Juneau

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Juneau are as follows:


  • 1 Day Bike Rental
    $25
  • Admission to Alaska State Museum
    $5.00
  • Glacier Gardens
    $22

Tours and Activities in Juneau

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

  • Juneau, The Last Frontier Self Guided (Smart Phone App/GPS) Audio Walking Tour: $6.75
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
  • Juneau Underground Gold Mine and Panning Experience: $79
  • Historic Gold Mining and Panning Adventure: $99
  • Whale Watching Adventure in Juneau: $123
  • From Whale Watching Cruise with Snacks: $132
  • Historic Gold Panning Adventure & Salmon Bake: $139
  • eBikes Alaska - Rainforest Adventure: $160
  • Whale Watching and Wildlife Cruise with Local Guide: $177
  • 3.5 Hour Crowd-Skipping Whale Tour in Juneau Alaska: $189
  • Juneau Whale Watching Adventure: $189
  • Five-Star Juneau Pedicab Private Tour: $200

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Columbia $88
    Juneau $16


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


Which is Bigger, Columbia or Juneau?

Columbia has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Juneau. When comparing the sizes of Columbia and Juneau, 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 Juneau?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Columbia or Juneau in the Summer?

Both Juneau and Columbia are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Columbia because of the family-friendly experiences.

Columbia is much warmer than Juneau in the summer. The daily temperature in Columbia averages around 82°F (28°C) in July, and Juneau fluctuates around 56°F (13°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Columbia. Columbia usually receives more sunshine than Juneau during summer. Columbia gets 293 hours of sunny skies, while Juneau receives 179 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Juneau. It's quite rainy in Columbia. In July, Columbia usually receives more rain than Juneau. Columbia gets 4.6 inches (116 mm) of rain, while Juneau receives 4.2 inches (106 mm) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Columbia 82°F (28°C) 
    Juneau 56°F (13°C)

Should I visit Columbia or Juneau in the Autumn?

Both Juneau and Columbia during the autumn are popular places to visit. The shopping scene are the main draw to Columbia this time of year.

In the autumn, Columbia is much warmer than Juneau. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Columbia in October average around 64°F (18°C), and Juneau averages at about 42°F (6°C).

It's quite sunny in Columbia. In the autumn, Columbia often gets more sunshine than Juneau. Columbia gets 230 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Juneau receives 69 hours of full sun.

Juneau gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Columbia usually gets less rain in October than Juneau. Columbia gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Juneau receives 7.8 inches (199 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Columbia 64°F (18°C) 
    Juneau 42°F (6°C)

Should I visit Columbia or Juneau in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Columbia and Juneau. Many travelers come to Columbia for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Juneau can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Columbia is generally much warmer than Juneau. Daily temperatures in Columbia average around 45°F (7°C), and Juneau fluctuates around 24°F (-4°C).

Columbia usually receives more sunshine than Juneau during winter. Columbia gets 171 hours of sunny skies, while Juneau receives 87 hours of full sun in the winter.

Juneau receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Columbia usually receives less rain than Juneau. Columbia gets 3.7 inches (93 mm) of rain, while Juneau receives 4.6 inches (116 mm) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Columbia 45°F (7°C) 
    Juneau 24°F (-4°C)

Should I visit Columbia or Juneau in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Columbia as well as Juneau.

Juneau can be very cold during spring. Columbia is much warmer than Juneau in the spring. The daily temperature in Columbia averages around 64°F (18°C) in April, and Juneau fluctuates around 40°F (4°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Columbia this time of the year. In the spring, Columbia often gets more sunshine than Juneau. Columbia gets 273 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Juneau receives 185 hours of full sun.

Columbia usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Juneau. Columbia gets 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain, while Juneau receives 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Columbia 64°F (18°C) 
    Juneau 40°F (4°C)

Typical Weather for Juneau and Columbia

Columbia Juneau
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 45°F (7°C) 3.7 inches (93 mm) 24°F (-4°C) 4.6 inches (116 mm)
Feb 48°F (9°C) 3.5 inches (88 mm) 28°F (-2°C) 3.7 inches (94 mm)
Mar 56°F (13°C) 3.7 inches (95 mm) 33°F (0°C) 3.3 inches (83 mm)
Apr 64°F (18°C) 2.8 inches (72 mm) 40°F (4°C) 2.7 inches (68 mm)
May 72°F (22°C) 3 inches (77 mm) 47°F (8°C) 3.3 inches (85 mm)
Jun 78°F (26°C) 3.5 inches (89 mm) 53°F (12°C) 3.1 inches (80 mm)
Jul 82°F (28°C) 4.6 inches (116 mm) 56°F (13°C) 4.2 inches (106 mm)
Aug 81°F (27°C) 5.8 inches (147 mm) 55°F (13°C) 5.3 inches (135 mm)
Sep 75°F (24°C) 3.3 inches (84 mm) 49°F (10°C) 7 inches (179 mm)
Oct 64°F (18°C) 3 inches (75 mm) 42°F (6°C) 7.8 inches (199 mm)
Nov 56°F (13°C) 2.1 inches (54 mm) 32°F (-0°C) 4.9 inches (123 mm)
Dec 48°F (9°C) 2.6 inches (67 mm) 27°F (-3°C) 4.4 inches (113 mm)