A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Columbia vs. Providence for Food, Attractions, Nightlife, and Families

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.

Columbia

Columbia is a welcoming, suburban, and friendly city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and shopping.

Providence

Providence is a fascinating, active, and friendly city. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping.

Columbia and Providence: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Columbia or Providence?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Providence than Columbia, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Providence is more touristy than Columbia and is popular for its outdoor parks, historic atmosphere, and college town vibe. It is also home to WaterFire. Columbia is popular for its southern hospitality and friendly people.

How is Columbia different from Providence?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Providence and Columbia. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Columbia or Providence?

Plenty of people visit the good sights and museums in both Columbia and Providence.

Columbia offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. As the state capital, there are some decent museums around town like the Columbia Museum of Art, the South Carolina Military Museum, the South Carolina State Museum, and the U.S. Army Basic Combat Training Museum.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Providence. There are several historical museums around town as well as art museums, zoos, a planetarium and natural history museum, and even a children's museum.

Is the Food Better in Columbia or Providence? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Providence is a well-known place for its local cuisine and restaurants. However, Columbia is not a good city for its restaurants.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Providence. The food scene around town has grown and diversified in recent years. You'll find a mix of international and local options and for such a small city, it really has a lot to offer.

Columbia may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. Barbecue and other southern favorites are among the more local dishes, but the city is also filled with fast food joints and other major chain restaurants.

Is Columbia or Providence Better for Nightlife?

Both Columbia and Providence are good when it comes to partying.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Columbia. You'll find live music venues as well as low key bars and more trendy cocktail lounges.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Providence. Comedy clubs, bars, and clubs keep the energy high during the evening hours. It's not hard to find something to do, particularly on weekend nights.

Is the Shopping Better in Columbia or Providence?

Both Columbia and Providence are good shopping destinations.

Columbia offers some nice shopping areas. You'll find independent and locally owned shops along Devine Street and in the Five Points area. Also interesting are the Vista, which is a warehouse district, and Trenholm Plaza.

Providence has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Malls, shopping centers, and boutiques all offer a range of shopping experiences around town.

Is Columbia or Providence Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Columbia or Providence.

Columbia is a family-friendly place to visit. Around town you'll find parks, playgrounds, and kid-friendly restaurants. There's a zoo in the area as well as a nice state park - Sesquicentennial State Park. There's also EdVenture Children's Museum, which is filled with hands-on exhibits.

Providence is a family-friendly city. There are opportunities for kids to interact with animals at the Roger Williams Park Zoo, as well as plenty of places for kids to run around like Rocky Point Park or Goddard Memorial State Park. There's also the Providence Children's Museum, go carting, and entertainment centers.

Is Columbia or Providence Better for Couples?

Providence is a popular place for its romantic activities. However, Columbia is not a good city for couples.

Providence makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. You can see a show at the Providence Performing Arts Center or visit some of the city's historic buildings and museums. There are also parks and coastal walks as well as many great restaurants.

Columbia is not always the best place to visit for a couple. You'll find parks to explore and some nice restaurants that make for a good date night.

Is Columbia or Providence Better for Students?

Providence is a well-known place for students. Also, Columbia is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its student-friendly activities.

Providence is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. There's a college town vibe to this small city because it's home to Brown University, which is a member of the Ivy League.

Plenty of students visit Columbia. The University of South Carolina, and other nearby colleges all bring in a decent student population.

Is Columbia or Providence Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Providence is a popular place for its public transit. However, Columbia is not a good city for times when you don't have a car.

Providence has a few public transit options. There are RIPTA buses that travel around town.

Public transit is mostly limited in Columbia. The COMET is the bus system through town, but you really must have your own car to enjoy the city.

Is Columbia or Providence a more walkable city?

Providence is a well-known place for its high level of walkability. However, Columbia is not a good city for its ease of walking around.

Providence is a very walkable city. It's a walkable city and it's relatively easy to explore on foot.

Columbia is not a very walkable city. It's filled with suburban-style development and is generally very car dependent.

For even more information, also check out Is Columbia Worth Visiting? and Is Providence Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Providence or Columbia?

How long in Columbia or Providence?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Columbia and Providence. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Providence than in Columbia. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Columbia, and 2-3 days is enough time in Providence.

Families should spend more time in Providence than Columbia. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Providence, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Providence than Columbia. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Providence that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Providence than Columbia if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Providence.

One day in Columbia or Providence?

With museums and nightlife around the welcoming city of Columbia, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Columbia, one day is sufficent for most.

The city of Providence offers food and shopping. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Columbia or Providence?

With nightlife and shopping around the destination of Columbia, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Providence is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Providence, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Columbia or Providence?

Columbia, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Providence is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Columbia or Providence?

Columbia is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Providence is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America.

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.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Columbia Expensive? and Is Providence Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Columbia or Providence?

Providence has a larger population, and is about 53% larger than the population of Columbia. When comparing the sizes of Columbia and 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 along with the activities and attractions 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. Most visitors come to Columbia for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Additionally, the summer months attract visitors to Providence because of the family-friendly experiences.

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.

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. The autumn months attract visitors to Columbia because of the shopping scene. Also, the shopping scene are the main draw to Providence this time of year.

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.

Should I visit Columbia or Providence in the Winter?

Both Providence and Columbia during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Columbia this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Providence for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

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.

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.

Typical Weather for Providence and Columbia