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

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Should you visit Columbia or Memphis?

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

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.

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.

Memphis

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.

Which city is cheaper, Memphis 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 Memphis is $129. 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.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Columbia -
    Memphis $67
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Columbia $0.00
    Memphis $134

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Columbia -
    Memphis $27

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Memphis

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

  • Private Arrival Transfer from Memphis Airport MEM: $72
  • Private Departure Transfer to Memphis Airport MEM: $72
  • Private Transfers: Memphis Airport: $109
  • Memphis Airport (MEM) to Memphis City - Arrival Private Transfer: $112
  • Memphis City to Memphis Airport (MEM) - Departure Private Transfer: $112
  • Memphis Airport (MEM) to Memphis City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $224
  • Private transfer: Memphis to Memphis Airport (MEM): $622
  • Private transfer: Memphis Airport (MEM) to Memphis: $622

Is it cheaper to fly into Columbia or Memphis?

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.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Columbia $4.02
    Memphis $39

Typical Food prices in Memphis

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Memphis:


  • Baskin Robins (for 2)
    $6.00

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Memphis

For Memphis, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Taste of Downtown Memphis Food Tour: $64

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Columbia -
    Memphis $36

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 Memphis

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

  • Memphis Music Hall of Fame Admission Ticket: $8.00
  • Memphis Music Hall of Fame Admission Ticket: $8.00
  • Memphis Cotton Museum Admission Ticket: $10
  • Entry Ticket to the Edge Motor Museum: $10
  • Rock 'n' Soul Museum with Audio Tour: $11
  • Beale Street Guided Walking Tour: $12
  • Skip the Line: Woodruff-Fontaine House Museum Admission Ticket: $15
  • 1-Hour Beale Street Guided Walking Tour: $16
  • Haunted Memphis Walking Ghost Tour: $16
  • Memphis Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $21
  • Historic Memphis Guided Walking Tour: $21
  • Memphis Mojo Bus Tour: $25

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Columbia $70
    Memphis $21

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 Memphis

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Memphis:

  • 2-Hour Private Pedal Tavern Pub Crawl in Downtown Memphis: $800

About these numbers

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.

Budget Your Trip

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Columbia vs. Memphis Travel Comparison

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