Which city is cheaper, Seattle or Columbia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Columbia or Seattle? 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.
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.
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.
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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Columbia and Seattle in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Columbia or Seattle? 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.
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Seattle:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in 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.
Some typical examples of dining costs in Seattle are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Seattle.
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Columbia are as follows:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Seattle are as follows:
Also in Columbia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Seattle:
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.
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.
Both Seattle and Columbia are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Seattle in the summer for the beaches, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Columbia is a little warmer than Seattle. Typically, the summer temperatures in Columbia in July are around 82°F (28°C), and Seattle is about 67°F (19°C).
It's quite sunny in Seattle. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Columbia. Columbia usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Seattle during summer. Columbia gets 293 hours of sunny skies, while Seattle receives 313 hours of full sun in the summer.
It's quite rainy in Columbia. In July, Columbia usually receives more rain than Seattle. Columbia gets 4.6 inches (116 mm) of rain, while Seattle receives 0.9 inches (22 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
Both Seattle and Columbia during the autumn are popular places to visit. Furthermore, most visitors come to Seattle for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In October, Columbia is generally a little warmer than Seattle. Temperatures in Columbia average around 64°F (18°C), and Seattle stays around 54°F (12°C).
It's quite sunny in Columbia. In the autumn, Columbia often gets more sunshine than Seattle. Columbia gets 230 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Seattle receives 143 hours of full sun.
Columbia usually gets less rain in October than Seattle. Columbia gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Seattle receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain this time of the year.
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Columbia and Seattle. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Seattle because of the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
Columbia is a little warmer than Seattle in the winter. The temperature in Columbia is usually 45°F (7°C) in January, and Seattle stays around 42°F (5°C).
Columbia usually receives more sunshine than Seattle during winter. Columbia gets 171 hours of sunny skies, while Seattle receives 67 hours of full sun in the winter.
Seattle receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Columbia usually receives less rain than Seattle. Columbia gets 3.7 inches (93 mm) of rain, while Seattle receives 5.4 inches (136 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
The spring brings many poeple to Columbia as well as Seattle. Additionally, the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty are the main draw to Seattle this time of year.
In the spring, Columbia is much warmer than Seattle. Typically, the spring temperatures in Columbia in April are around 64°F (18°C), and Seattle is about 51°F (11°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Seattle. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Columbia this time of the year. In the spring, Columbia often gets more sunshine than Seattle. Columbia gets 273 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Seattle receives 212 hours of full sun.
Columbia usually gets more rain in April than Seattle. Columbia gets 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain, while Seattle receives 2.5 inches (64 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Columbia | Seattle | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 45°F (7°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 42°F (5°C) | 5.4 inches (136 mm) |
Feb | 48°F (9°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) | 45°F (7°C) | 4 inches (102 mm) |
Mar | 56°F (13°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) | 47°F (9°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
Apr | 64°F (18°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) | 51°F (11°C) | 2.5 inches (64 mm) |
May | 72°F (22°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 1.9 inches (47 mm) |
Jun | 78°F (26°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) | 62°F (17°C) | 1.6 inches (40 mm) |
Jul | 82°F (28°C) | 4.6 inches (116 mm) | 67°F (19°C) | 0.9 inches (22 mm) |
Aug | 81°F (27°C) | 5.8 inches (147 mm) | 67°F (19°C) | 1.2 inches (31 mm) |
Sep | 75°F (24°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) | 62°F (17°C) | 1.9 inches (49 mm) |
Oct | 64°F (18°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) | 54°F (12°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
Nov | 56°F (13°C) | 2.1 inches (54 mm) | 47°F (8°C) | 5.7 inches (144 mm) |
Dec | 48°F (9°C) | 2.6 inches (67 mm) | 42°F (6°C) | 6 inches (152 mm) |
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