Which city is cheaper, Memphis or Columbia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Columbia or Memphis? 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.
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.
Located on the banks of the Mississippi River in southwest Tennessee, Memphis is a city famous for the blues, soul, and Rock 'n' Roll music that originated there. There are a number of museums and historic landmarks like Elvis Presley's Graceland dedicated to that history, while areas of the city like Beale Street keep the musical culture alive today with a vibrant scene of bars, restaurants, and live music.
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 Memphis is $134. 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 Memphis in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Columbia or Memphis? 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.
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Also for Memphis, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Memphis 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.
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Memphis:
For Memphis, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Columbia are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Memphis.
Also in Columbia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Memphis:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Columbia and Memphis, we can see that Memphis 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 Memphis would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Memphis than you might in Columbia.
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.
The summer brings many poeple to Columbia as well as Memphis. Additionally, many visitors come to Memphis in the summer for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Columbia is around the same temperature as Memphis. Typically, the summer temperatures in Columbia in July are around 82°F (28°C), and Memphis is about 83°F (29°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Memphis. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Columbia this time of the year. In the summer, Columbia often gets less sunshine than Memphis. Columbia gets 293 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Memphis receives 328 hours of full sun.
Columbia receives a lot of rain in the summer. Columbia usually gets more rain in July than Memphis. Columbia gets 4.6 inches (116 mm) of rain, while Memphis receives 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Both Memphis and Columbia are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Memphis for the shopping scene and the music scene during these months.
In October, Columbia is generally around the same temperature as Memphis. Temperatures in Columbia average around 64°F (18°C), and Memphis stays around 64°F (18°C).
It's quite sunny in Memphis. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Columbia. Columbia usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Memphis during autumn. Columbia gets 230 hours of sunny skies, while Memphis receives 240 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Columbia usually receives more rain than Memphis. Columbia gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Memphis receives 1.6 inches (41 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
Both Memphis and Columbia during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Memphis because of the shopping scene and the cuisine.
The weather in Memphis can be very cold. Columbia is much warmer than Memphis in the winter. The temperature in Columbia is usually 45°F (7°C) in January, and Memphis stays around 40°F (5°C).
In the winter, Columbia often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Memphis. Columbia gets 171 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Memphis receives 163 hours of full sun.
Columbia usually gets more rain in January than Memphis. Columbia gets 3.7 inches (93 mm) of rain, while Memphis receives 2.4 inches (62 mm) of rain this time of the year.
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Columbia and Memphis.
In the spring, Columbia is around the same temperature as Memphis. Typically, the spring temperatures in Columbia in April are around 64°F (18°C), and Memphis is about 64°F (18°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Memphis this time of the year. In Columbia, it's very sunny this time of the year. Columbia usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Memphis during spring. Columbia gets 273 hours of sunny skies, while Memphis receives 254 hours of full sun in the spring.
Memphis receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Columbia usually receives less rain than Memphis. Columbia gets 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain, while Memphis receives 4.3 inches (109 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
Columbia | Memphis | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 45°F (7°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 40°F (5°C) | 2.4 inches (62 mm) |
Feb | 48°F (9°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) | 45°F (7°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
Mar | 56°F (13°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) | 54°F (12°C) | 4.2 inches (106 mm) |
Apr | 64°F (18°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 4.3 inches (109 mm) |
May | 72°F (22°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) |
Jun | 78°F (26°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) | 80°F (27°C) | 2.3 inches (58 mm) |
Jul | 82°F (28°C) | 4.6 inches (116 mm) | 83°F (29°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) |
Aug | 81°F (27°C) | 5.8 inches (147 mm) | 82°F (28°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) |
Sep | 75°F (24°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) | 76°F (24°C) | 2.6 inches (66 mm) |
Oct | 64°F (18°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 1.6 inches (41 mm) |
Nov | 56°F (13°C) | 2.1 inches (54 mm) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.6 inches (65 mm) |
Dec | 48°F (9°C) | 2.6 inches (67 mm) | 44°F (7°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) |
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