Which place is cheaper, Providence or Columbia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Columbia vs. Providence for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Columbia or Providence?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Columbia or Providence? 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 Providence?
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.
Providence
Providence is the state capital and the largest city in Rhode Island. It's a fascinating city to visit with diverse neighborhoods, beautiful parks, and a rich history. Like much of New England, the winters are cold and snowy with milder summers. It's a great year round destination that has a beautiful setting whether it's covered in snow or in full bloom.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayColumbia $0.00Providence $210
The average daily cost (per person) in Columbia is $0.00, while the average daily cost in Providence is $210. 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 Providence in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personColumbia -Providence $114
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomColumbia $0.00Providence $228
Compare Hotels in Columbia and Providence
Looking for a hotel in Columbia or Providence? 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 Providence Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Columbia -Providence $46
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Providence
Also for Providence, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Departure Transfer to Providence TF Green Airport PVD: $36
- Private Arrival Transfer from Providence TF Green Airport PVD: $36
- Providence to Rhode Island Airport PVD Departure Transfer : $46
- T. F. Green State Airport (PVD) to Providence – Arrival Private Transfer : $46
- Private Transfer from Providence Airport (PVD) to Newport Port : $49
- Private Transfer from Providence City Hotels to Newport Port: $61
- T. F. Green State Airport (PVD) to Providence - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $92
- Providence to Boston’s Logan International Airport - Departure Private Transfer: $171
- New York’s JFK International Airport to Providence – Departure Private Transfer: $273
Is it cheaper to fly into Columbia or Providence?
Prices for flights to both Providence 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 $5.03Providence $48
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Providence
For Providence, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Downcity Providence Food Tour: $89
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Columbia -Providence $26
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 Providence
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Providence.
- Providence Scavenger Hunt: Providence Adventure: $12
- Downtown Providence Self-Driving Audio Tour: $13
- Self-Driving Audio Tour: $13
- Ghosts, Phantoms and Poltergeists Walking Tour: $26
- Haunted History Walking Tour of Providence: $30
- Providence Ghosts Phantoms and Poltergeists Tour: $30
- Parasols and Pocket Watches: A History Tour: $30
- Providence Mob Walking Tour: $33
- Narrated Boat Tours: $40
- Haunted Boat Tours: $45
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayColumbia $88Providence $13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Columbia and Providence, we can see that Providence 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 Providence would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Providence than you might in Columbia.
Which is Bigger, Columbia or Providence?
Providence is bigger, and its population is about 53% larger than the population of Columbia. When comparing the population of Columbia vs. Providence, 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 Providence?
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 Providence in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Columbia as well as Providence.
In the summer, Columbia is a little warmer than Providence. Typically, the summer temperatures in Columbia in July average around 82°F (28°C), and Providence averages at about 73°F (23°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Providence. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Columbia this time of the year. In the summer, Columbia often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Providence. Columbia gets 293 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Providence receives 293 hours of full sun.
Columbia receives a lot of rain in the summer. Columbia usually gets more rain in July than Providence. Columbia gets 4.6 inches (116 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyColumbia 82°F (28°C)Providence 73°F (23°C)
Should I visit Columbia or Providence in the Autumn?
Both Providence and Columbia are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
In October, Columbia is generally much warmer than Providence. Daily temperatures in Columbia average around 64°F (18°C), and Providence fluctuates around 53°F (12°C).
It's quite sunny in Providence. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Columbia. Columbia usually receives more sunshine than Providence during autumn. Columbia gets 230 hours of sunny skies, while Providence receives 211 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Columbia usually receives less rain than Providence. Columbia gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberColumbia 64°F (18°C)Providence 53°F (12°C)
Should I visit Columbia or Providence in the Winter?
Both Providence and Columbia during the winter are popular places to visit.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Providence. Columbia is much warmer than Providence in the winter. The daily temperature in Columbia averages around 45°F (7°C) in January, and Providence fluctuates around 28°F (-2°C).
In the winter, Columbia often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Providence. Columbia gets 171 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Providence receives 170 hours of full sun.
Columbia usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Providence. Columbia gets 3.7 inches (93 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryColumbia 45°F (7°C)Providence 28°F (-2°C)
Should I visit Columbia or Providence in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Columbia and Providence.
In the spring, Columbia is much warmer than Providence. Typically, the spring temperatures in Columbia in April average around 64°F (18°C), and Providence averages at about 48°F (9°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Providence this time of the year. In Columbia, it's very sunny this time of the year. Columbia usually receives more sunshine than Providence during spring. Columbia gets 273 hours of sunny skies, while Providence receives 225 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Columbia usually receives less rain than Providence. Columbia gets 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 3.7 inches (94 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilColumbia 64°F (18°C)Providence 48°F (9°C)
Typical Weather for Providence and Columbia
| Columbia | Providence | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 45°F (7°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 28°F (-2°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) |
| Feb | 48°F (9°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) | 30°F (-1°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) |
| Mar | 56°F (13°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) | 38°F (3°C) | 4 inches (101 mm) |
| Apr | 64°F (18°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) | 48°F (9°C) | 3.7 inches (94 mm) |
| May | 72°F (22°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) | 58°F (15°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) |
| Jun | 78°F (26°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) | 67°F (20°C) | 2.6 inches (67 mm) |
| Jul | 82°F (28°C) | 4.6 inches (116 mm) | 73°F (23°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) |
| Aug | 81°F (27°C) | 5.8 inches (147 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
| Sep | 75°F (24°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
| Oct | 64°F (18°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) | 53°F (12°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
| Nov | 56°F (13°C) | 2.1 inches (54 mm) | 44°F (7°C) | 4.5 inches (115 mm) |
| Dec | 48°F (9°C) | 2.6 inches (67 mm) | 33°F (0°C) | 4.1 inches (105 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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