A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Columbia vs. Santa Cruz for Nightlife, Families, Couples, and Attractions

Should you visit Columbia or Santa Cruz?

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

Should I visit Columbia or Santa Cruz? 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 suburban, friendly, and welcoming city. It's also known for nightlife, shopping, and museums.

Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is a scenic, laid back, and coastal town. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Columbia and Santa Cruz: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Columbia or Santa Cruz?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Santa Cruz than Columbia. While Columbia is larger than Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Santa Cruz is more touristy than Columbia and is known for its dramatic coastline, fun-filled boardwalk, and beautiful beaches. It is also well known for Santa Cruz Wharf. Columbia is famous for its southern hospitality and friendly people.

How is Columbia different from Santa Cruz?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz?

Plenty of people visit the nice sights and museums in both Columbia and Santa Cruz.

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 Santa Cruz. Local museums in town include the Surfing Museum, Seymour Marine Discovery Center, and Santa Cruz Mission.

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

Santa Cruz is a popular place for its local cuisine and restaurants. However, Columbia is not a good city for its restaurants.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Santa Cruz. Sampling local seafood is a top priority for many visitors. Most restaurants have a casual vibe and serve up high quality dishes in a relaxed setting. You'll find cafes, Mexican food, and Italian eateries among other options.

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 Santa Cruz Better for Nightlife?

Santa Cruz is a well-known place for nightlife and partying. Also, Columbia is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its evening party scene.

Santa Cruz offers plenty to do in the evening. You'll find a range of nighttime options around town that include live entertainment, bars, clubs, and even a casino.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Columbia. You'll find live music venues as well as low key bars and more trendy cocktail lounges.

Is Columbia or Santa Cruz Better for Beaches?

Santa Cruz is a well-known place for the beache. However, Columbia is not a beach destination.

Santa Cruz is considered a top beach destination. The beaches are beautiful and fun. Head to Main Beach for the most activity. This is where you'll find the town's boardwalk, which has a historic carousel and several classic amusement rides. For a more peaceful and scenic spot, check out Natural Bridges State Beach or Seacliff State Beach.

Columbia is not a beach destination.

Is Columbia or Santa Cruz Better for Hiking?

Santa Cruz is a popular place for the nearby hiking options. However, Columbia is not a hiking destination.

Santa Cruz is a good destination for hiking. There are several great parks in the area and trails that follow along the rugged coastline or go through the impressive redwood forests.

Columbia is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Columbia or Santa Cruz?

Both Columbia and Santa Cruz are nice 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.

Santa Cruz has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Downtown Santa Cruz is where you'll find some of the best shopping.

Is Columbia or Santa Cruz Better for Families?

Santa Cruz is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Columbia is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Santa Cruz is a very kid-friendly town. It's filled with beaches, parks, playgrounds, and museums that kids and adults will enjoy. Highlights for many families include visiting the boardwalk, playing around at Seacliff State Beach, entertaining the kids at Seymour Center at Long Marine Lab, and taking in the beauty at Natural Bridges State Beach.

Columbia is a family-friendly city. 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.

Is Columbia or Santa Cruz Better for Couples?

Santa Cruz is a well-known place for its romantic activities. However, Columbia is not a good city for couples.

Santa Cruz is a very popular place to visit for couples. Dining in downtown Santa Cruz, hiking through Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, and relaxing on the beach at Natural Bridges State Beach all make for a romantic getaway.

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 Santa Cruz Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Santa Cruz is a popular place for backpackers. However, Columbia is not a good city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Santa Cruz. There's a laid back vibe that is fun to experience and there's even a hostel in town.

Columbia is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. While it's not an expensive place to visit, there is little in the area to attract backpackers.

Is Columbia or Santa Cruz Better for Students?

Columbia is a popular place for students. However, Santa Cruz is not popular with students.

Columbia is a good city to visit for students. The University of South Carolina, and other nearby colleges all bring in a decent student population.

Santa Cruz is not popular with students.

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

Both Columbia and Santa Cruz offer reasonable public transit options.

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

Public transit is mostly limited in Santa Cruz. There are buses that travel around town.

Is Columbia or Santa Cruz a more walkable city?

Santa Cruz is renowned for its high level of walkability. However, Columbia is not a good city for its ease of walking around.

It is easy to get around Santa Cruz on foot. It's considered to be one of the most walkable cities in California.

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 Santa Cruz Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Santa Cruz or Columbia?

How long in Columbia or Santa Cruz?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Columbia or Santa Cruz to fill your time. In our opinion, Santa Cruz has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Santa Cruz than Columbia. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz.

One day in Columbia or Santa Cruz?

With museums and nightlife around the friendly 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 town of Santa Cruz offers food and shopping. Most people come for the beaches. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Columbia or Santa Cruz?

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.

Santa Cruz is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this town makes for a great vacation. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Santa Cruz, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Columbia or Santa Cruz?

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.

Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz?

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.

Santa Cruz is a great place to explore. It's also a great beach destination, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This town 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 Santa Cruz, we can see that Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Columbia or Santa Cruz?

Columbia has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Santa Cruz. When comparing the sizes of Columbia and Santa Cruz, 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 Santa Cruz?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Columbia or Santa Cruz in the Summer?

Both Santa Cruz and Columbia are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Columbia because of the family-friendly experiences. Also, the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Santa Cruz this time of year.

In July, Columbia is generally a little warmer than Santa Cruz. Daily temperatures in Columbia average around 82°F (28°C), and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 67°F (19°C).

It's quite rainy in Columbia. In July, Columbia usually receives more rain than Santa Cruz. Columbia gets 4.6 inches (116 mm) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 0.1 inches (1 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Columbia or Santa Cruz in the Autumn?

Both Santa Cruz and Columbia during the autumn are popular places to visit. The shopping scene are the main draw to Columbia this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Santa Cruz for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.

Columbia is around the same temperature as Santa Cruz in the autumn. The daily temperature in Columbia averages around 64°F (18°C) in October, and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).

Columbia usually gets more rain in October than Santa Cruz. Columbia gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Columbia or Santa Cruz in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Columbia and Santa Cruz. Many travelers come to Columbia for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Santa Cruz in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In the winter, Columbia is cooler than Santa Cruz. Typically, the winter temperatures in Columbia in January average around 45°F (7°C), and Santa Cruz averages at about 51°F (10°C).

In January, Columbia usually receives more rain than Santa Cruz. Columbia gets 3.7 inches (93 mm) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Columbia or Santa Cruz in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Columbia as well as Santa Cruz. Additionally, most visitors come to Santa Cruz for the beaches during these months.

In April, Columbia is generally a little warmer than Santa Cruz. Daily temperatures in Columbia average around 64°F (18°C), and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).

Columbia usually gets more rain in April than Santa Cruz. Columbia gets 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 1 inches (26 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Santa Cruz and Columbia