Which place is cheaper, Minneapolis or Columbia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Columbia vs. Minneapolis for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Columbia or Minneapolis?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Columbia or Minneapolis? 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 Minneapolis?
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.
Minneapolis
Known as one of the Twin Cities with its neighbor, Saint Paul, the Minneapolis area is the second largest economic center in the Midwest, behind Chicago. Originally a city of lumber and flour milling, the city has grown to prosper in commerce, rail and trucking, health care, industry, education, publishing, milling, and food processing amongst others. In addition to housing the headquarters for five Fortune 500 Companies, Minneapolis is a city of thriving culture. From visual arts, music, and theater to sporting events and award-winning restaurants, the entertainment is never lacking.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayColumbia $0.00Minneapolis $206
The average daily cost (per person) in Columbia is $0.00, while the average daily cost in Minneapolis is $206. 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 Minneapolis in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personColumbia -Minneapolis $110
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomColumbia $0.00Minneapolis $220
Compare Hotels in Columbia and Minneapolis
Looking for a hotel in Columbia or Minneapolis? 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.
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 Minneapolis Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Columbia -Minneapolis $43
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Minneapolis
Also for Minneapolis, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Minneapolis Airport (MSP) to Minneapolis - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $54
- Private Departure Transfer to Minneapolis Airport MSP: $88
Is it cheaper to fly into Columbia or Minneapolis?
Prices for flights to both Minneapolis 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
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Food Meals for one dayColumbia $5.03Minneapolis $40
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Minneapolis
For Minneapolis, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Minneapolis Food Tour - Walking: $115
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Columbia -Minneapolis $27
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
Tours and Activities in Minneapolis
For Minneapolis, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- In the Footsteps of Prince: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Downtown Minneapolis: $7.99
- Minneapolis River Walk: Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Minneapolis River Walk: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Minnehaha Falls: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Minneapolis: $7.99
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Saint Paul by Operation City Quest: $10
- Minnesota Twins Baseball Game Ticket at Target Field: $12
- Historic Cave Tour: $15
- Lost Souls Tour: $20
- Mall of America: Crayola Experience Flexible Date Ticket: $29
- Ghost Walking Tour in Minneapolis: $29
- Twin City Ghosts Tour By US Ghost Adventures: $30
- Twin Cities Highlights Tour: $40
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayColumbia $88Minneapolis $24
Sample the Local Flavors in Minneapolis
Also in Minneapolis, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Brews Cruise Hop-On Hop-Off Brewery Loop Full-Day Tour: $25
- History and 4-Bar Crawl Guided Walking Tour: $69
- All-Inclusive Minneapolis Craft Brewery Tour: $90
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Columbia and Minneapolis, we can see that Minneapolis 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 Minneapolis would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Minneapolis than you might in Columbia.
Which is Bigger, Columbia or Minneapolis?
Minneapolis is bigger, and its population is about 3.2 times larger than the population of Columbia. When comparing the population of Columbia vs. Minneapolis, 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 and the activities that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Columbia or Minneapolis?
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.
Should I visit Columbia or Minneapolis in the Summer?
Both Minneapolis and Columbia during the summer are popular places to visit.
Columbia is a little warmer than Minneapolis in the summer. The daily temperature in Columbia averages around 82°F (28°C) in July, and Minneapolis fluctuates around 76°F (25°C).
In Minneapolis, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Columbia. In the summer, Columbia often gets less sunshine than Minneapolis. Columbia gets 293 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Minneapolis receives 357 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Columbia. Columbia usually gets more rain in July than Minneapolis. Columbia gets 4.6 inches (116 mm) of rain, while Minneapolis receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyColumbia 82°F (28°C)Minneapolis 76°F (25°C)
Should I visit Columbia or Minneapolis in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Columbia and Minneapolis.
In the autumn, Columbia is much warmer than Minneapolis. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Columbia in October average around 64°F (18°C), and Minneapolis averages at about 52°F (11°C).
In Columbia, it's very sunny this time of the year. Columbia usually receives more sunshine than Minneapolis during autumn. Columbia gets 230 hours of sunny skies, while Minneapolis receives 178 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Columbia usually receives more rain than Minneapolis. Columbia gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Minneapolis receives 1.8 inches (45 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberColumbia 64°F (18°C)Minneapolis 52°F (11°C)
Should I visit Columbia or Minneapolis in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Columbia as well as Minneapolis.
The weather in Minneapolis can be very cold. In January, Columbia is generally much warmer than Minneapolis. Daily temperatures in Columbia average around 45°F (7°C), and Minneapolis fluctuates around 15°F (-10°C).
In the winter, Columbia often gets more sunshine than Minneapolis. Columbia gets 171 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Minneapolis receives 157 hours of full sun.
Columbia usually gets more rain in January than Minneapolis. Columbia gets 3.7 inches (93 mm) of rain, while Minneapolis receives 0.9 inches (22 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryColumbia 45°F (7°C)Minneapolis 15°F (-10°C)
Should I visit Columbia or Minneapolis in the Spring?
Both Minneapolis and Columbia are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
Columbia is much warmer than Minneapolis in the spring. The daily temperature in Columbia averages around 64°F (18°C) in April, and Minneapolis fluctuates around 49°F (10°C).
It's quite sunny in Minneapolis. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Columbia. Columbia usually receives more sunshine than Minneapolis during spring. Columbia gets 273 hours of sunny skies, while Minneapolis receives 244 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Columbia usually receives more rain than Minneapolis. Columbia gets 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain, while Minneapolis receives 2.1 inches (53 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilColumbia 64°F (18°C)Minneapolis 49°F (10°C)
Typical Weather for Minneapolis and Columbia
| Columbia | Minneapolis | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 45°F (7°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 15°F (-10°C) | 0.9 inches (22 mm) |
| Feb | 48°F (9°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) | 21°F (-6°C) | 0.7 inches (19 mm) |
| Mar | 56°F (13°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) | 34°F (1°C) | 1.7 inches (43 mm) |
| Apr | 64°F (18°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) | 49°F (10°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
| May | 72°F (22°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) | 62°F (16°C) | 2.9 inches (74 mm) |
| Jun | 78°F (26°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) | 71°F (22°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Jul | 82°F (28°C) | 4.6 inches (116 mm) | 76°F (25°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) |
| Aug | 81°F (27°C) | 5.8 inches (147 mm) | 73°F (23°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Sep | 75°F (24°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 2.2 inches (57 mm) |
| Oct | 64°F (18°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) | 52°F (11°C) | 1.8 inches (45 mm) |
| Nov | 56°F (13°C) | 2.1 inches (54 mm) | 36°F (2°C) | 1.3 inches (33 mm) |
| Dec | 48°F (9°C) | 2.6 inches (67 mm) | 21°F (-6°C) | 0.9 inches (22 mm) |
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Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
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