Should you visit Columbia or Las Vegas?
Should I visit Columbia or Las Vegas? 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.
Las Vegas
Las Vegas has long been the gambling capital of the United States. Known as "Sin City," it is a hot spot for bachelor and bachelorette parties, but in recent years it has seen a dramatic increase in weddings and business conferences. It is the largest city in the state of Nevada and one of the most visited and well known cities in the country. It is located in the Mojave Desert in South Nevada and has a very arid climate with very hot and dry summers. The average high in July is 104 degrees Fahrenheit, but as many people like to say "its a dry heat." Winters are cooler and pleasant with highs around 60 degrees Fahrenheits. Snow is very rare but the surrounding mountains are often topped with snow during the winter months.
Which city is cheaper, Las Vegas 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 Las Vegas is $246. 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 Las Vegas in more detail.
Accommodation
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $254 for a double occupancy room in Las Vegas.
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Las Vegas is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $38 per person, per day, on local transportation in Las Vegas.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Las Vegas
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Las Vegas are as follows:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Las Vegas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Las Vegas:
-
Private Airport Transfer: McCarran International Airport (LAS) to Las Vegas:
$27
-
Private Airport Transfer: from Las Vegas to McCarran International Airport (LAS):
$27
-
Private Arrival Transfer from Las Vegas Airport (LAS):
$34
-
Private Departure Transfer to Las Vegas Airport (LAS):
$34
-
Las Vegas to Los Angeles - One Way Shared Transfer:
$45
-
Private Arrival Transfer from Las Vegas McCarran Airport to Las Vegas City:
$46
-
Private Departure Transfer from Las Vegas City to Las Vegas McCarran Airport:
$47
-
Departure Private Transfer Las Vegas City to Las Vegas Airport by Business Sedan:
$48
-
Arrival Private Transfer: Las Vegas Airport to Las Vegas City by Business Sedan:
$48
-
Las Vegas Arrival Chauffeur Driven Airport Transfer by Executive Sedan:
$50
-
Las Vegas Departure Chauffeur Driven Airport Transfer by Executive Sedan:
$50
-
Las Vegas Departure Chauffeur Driven Airport Transfer:
$50
Is it cheaper to fly into Columbia or Las Vegas?
Prices for flights to both Las Vegas 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
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.
While meal prices in Las Vegas can vary, the average travelers spends about $64 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Las Vegas should cost around $26 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Las Vegas is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Columbia $4.02
Las Vegas $64
Typical Food prices in Las Vegas
Some typical examples of dining costs in Las Vegas are as follows:
-
Coffee
$5.00
-
Deep Fried Twinkie
$1.07
-
Chocolate Dip Banana
$1.07
-
Gelato
$5.95
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Las Vegas
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Las Vegas.
-
Only On The Strip Food Tour:
$79
-
The "What The Frog?" Senor Frogs Dinner Package:
$80
-
Chinatown Vegan Food Tour:
$87
-
Downtown Vegan Food Tour:
$87
-
Walking Food Tour of Downtown Las Vegas:
$99
-
Evening Walking Food Tour on the Las Vegas Strip:
$103
-
Walking Food Tour of the Las Vegas Strip:
$103
-
Fremont Street Dinner Tour with Photographer:
$129
-
Secret Food Tours Las Vegas:
$136
-
Downtown Las Vegas Food Tour by Segway:
$149
-
Wild West Sunset Horseback Ride with Dinner from Las Vegas:
$150
-
Private Tour: Secret Food Tours Las Vegas:
$156
Entertainment
Entertainment and activities in Las Vegas typically cost an average of $63 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Tours and Activities in Columbia
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Columbia are as follows:
-
Savannah: History & Ghosts Guided Tour with Beverage Stops:
$20
-
Cascade Locks: 1-Hour Columbia River Sightseeing Cruise:
$50
-
Portland: Columbia River Gorge 3-Hour Small Group Tour:
$85
-
Cascade Locks: Columbia Gorge Sunday Brunch Cruise:
$94
-
Portland: Columbia Gorge Flight Tour:
$99
-
Portland: Multnomah Falls Scenic Air Tour:
$199
Typical Entertainment prices in Las Vegas
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Las Vegas are as follows:
Tours and Activities in Las Vegas
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Las Vegas are as follows:
-
SeaQuest Las Vegas - Single Day Passport Ticket:
$13
-
Las Vegas Natural History Museum Admission Ticket:
$14
-
Skip the Line: Springs Preserve in Las Vegas Admission Ticket:
$15
-
Haunts and The Mob Las Vegas Walking Tour:
$18
-
Axe Throwing Experience in Las Vegas:
$20
-
Las Vegas Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$21
-
Skip the Line: Nostalgia Street Rods Museum Ticket and Optional VIP Tour:
$21
-
The High Roller at The LINQ Ticket:
$21
-
Stratosphere Tower Observation Deck Ticket:
$24
-
Boulder City Historic District Self-Guided Tour from Las Vegas:
$25
-
From Boulder City Self-Guided Tour:
$25
-
Madame Tussauds Las Vegas Admission Ticket:
$27
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.
The average person spends about $44 on alcoholic beverages in Las Vegas per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
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 Las Vegas
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Las Vegas:
-
Zombie Burlesque at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino:
$49
-
Fantasy Burlesque Show at Luxor Hotel & Casino:
$61
-
The Weird, Wacky and Wonderful Bar Crawl of Fremont Street:
$89
-
Las Vegas Bar Crawl:
$90
-
Las Vegas Brewery Tour by Party Bus:
$103
-
Bar Crawl On Fremont Street:
$260
-
Small Group Pahrump Wine Tasting with Death Valley Sightseeing and Stargazing:
$295
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Columbia and Las Vegas, we can see that Las Vegas 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 Las Vegas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Las Vegas than you might in Columbia.
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