Should you visit Columbia or Seattle?
Should I visit Columbia or Seattle? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into 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.
Seattle
Situated on the Puget Sound in the state of Washington, Seattle is the largest city in the United States Pacific Northwest. It's a beautiful city surrounded by the water and mountains and filled with evergreen trees. It's also the home of some famous American institutions including Starbucks Coffee, Amazon, and Microsoft. The population of almost 700,000 continues to grow. As of 2014, the city was considered the fastest growing major city in the United States. The entire metropolitan area has about 3.6 million residents, making it the 15th largest metro area in the US. The natural beauty, growing economy, and educational base give Seattle a youthful vibe that keep the city young and energetic.
Which city is cheaper, Seattle 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 Seattle is $156. 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. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Columbia and Seattle in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Seattle is about $188 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
Food
The price of a meal in Columbia can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $4.02 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $1.61 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
The price of a meal in Seattle can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $38 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $15 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
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Food
Meals for one day
Columbia $4.02
Seattle $38
Typical Food prices in Seattle
Some typical examples of dining costs in Seattle are as follows:
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Expresso & cookie at Pier 70
$7.00
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Cashews at Pike Place Market
$6.00
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6 Mini Donuts at Pike Place Market
$3.25
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Chinese Lunch in International District (for 2)
$21
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Breakfast at Lowel's in Pike Place Market (for 2)
$32
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Breakfast at French Cafe (for 2)
$37
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Seattle
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Seattle.
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Chef Guided Food Tour of Pike Place Market- 1 Hour:
$34
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Pike Place Market: Walking Food Tour:
$48
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Pike Place Market Chef-Guided Food Tour:
$56
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Chef Guided Food Tour of Pike Place Market- 2 Hours:
$58
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Pacific Northwest-Style Dinner and Pairing in Seattle:
$61
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Exclusive: Early-Access Food Tour of Pike Place Market:
$73
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Street Theater and Dinner in Seattle's Fremont District:
$86
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Seattle Dinner Cruise:
$115
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $18 per day to get around in Seattle.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Seattle
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Seattle:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Seattle
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Seattle:
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Private Airport Transfer: Seattle to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA):
$40
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Private Departure Transfer from Seattle City to SEA Seattle Airport:
$46
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Seattle Departure Chauffeur Driven Airport Transfer:
$50
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Seattle Departure Chauffeur Driven Airport Transfer by Executive Sedan:
$50
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Seattle Arrival Chauffeur Driven Airport Transfer:
$50
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Transfer in Private Vehicle from Seattle Tacoma Airport to Seattle Downtown:
$60
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Transfer in Private Vehicle from Seattle Downtown to Tacoma Airport:
$60
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Seattle Tacoma International Airport to Kent City - One Way:
$62
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Private Departure Transfer to Seattle Tacoma Airport SEA:
$64
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Seattle Departure Chauffeur Driven Airport Transfer by Executive SUV:
$65
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Seattle Tacoma Airport (SEA) to Cruise Port - Arrival Private Transfer:
$71
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Cruise Port to Seattle Tacoma Airport (SEA) - Departure Private Transfer:
$71
Is it cheaper to fly into Columbia or Seattle?
Prices for flights to both Seattle 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.
Entertainment
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $12 per person, per day in Seattle. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Tours and Activities in Seattle
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Seattle are as follows:
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Private Auto-guided Tour of Seattle:
$4.96
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Historic Ballard audio tour: A slice of Seattle's quirky history:
$5.00
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Skip the Line: Sky View Observatory Admission Tickets:
$10
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Smith Tower Straight Up Observatory Access Ticket:
$12
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Seattle Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$14
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Seattle Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$15
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Sky View Observatory General Admission Ticket:
$20
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Seattle Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$21
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Haunted Walking Ghost Tour:
$21
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Seattle Walking Ghost Tour:
$23
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The Museum of Flight Admission Ticket:
$25
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City Harbor Cruise:
$26
Alcohol
The average person spends about $70 on alcoholic beverages in Columbia per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
The average person spends about $13 on alcoholic beverages in Seattle per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in Seattle
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Seattle:
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Seattle Bar Hunt: Sleepless in Seattle Bar Crawl:
$12
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Haunted Seattle Ghost and Pub Walking Tour:
$27
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Georgetown Brewery Tour:
$72
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Bon Vivant Woodinville Wine Tasting Tour:
$98
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Half-Day Coffee, Chocolate, and Wine Tour:
$99
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Seattle Coffee, Chocolate and Wine Tour:
$112
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Seattle Wine Tour (Hourly):
$135
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7-Hour Wenatchee White Water Rafting and Wine Tour:
$145
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From Snoqualmie Falls & Woodinville Wine Tasting:
$209
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Seattle All-Inclusive: Hike Mt. Rainier and Wine Tasting:
$263
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Columbia and Seattle, we can see that Seattle 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 Seattle would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Seattle than you might in Columbia.
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