A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Columbia vs. Tucson for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Columbia or Tucson?

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

Should I visit Columbia or Tucson? 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

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.

Tucson

Tucson, Arizona is the second largest city in the state and sits at an elevation of 2,400 feet. It's temperature is slightly milder than Phoenix and it is a pleasant place to visit. Most people arrive in the city by car, but Amtrak does travel through Tucson, as does Greyhound. The area is also served by the Tucson International Airport. Once in the city, you'll likely want to have access to a car, as the city is not very pedestrian friendly and public transportation is very much lacking. Many popular and beautiful sights are also outside of town in the surrounding desert, so having access to a vehicle is paramount if you hope to visit any of the places.

Which city is cheaper, Tucson 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 Tucson is $122. 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 Tucson in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Columbia -
    Tucson $71
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Columbia $0.00
    Tucson $142

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Columbia -
    Tucson $22

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tucson

Also for Tucson, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Tucson International Airport One Way Transfer: $53
  • Tucson Intl Airport (TUS) to Tucson Downtown area - Arrival Private Transfer: $65
  • Tucson Downtown area to Tucson Intl Airport (TUS) - Departure Private Transfer: $65
  • Private Tucson Transfer: Hotel to Airport: $96
  • Private Tucson Transfer: Airport to Hotel: $96
  • Tucson Intl Airport (TUS) to Tucson Downtown area - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $129
  • Private transfer: Tucson Airport (TUS) to Tucson: $622
  • Private transfer: Tucson to Tucson Airport (TUS): $622

Is it cheaper to fly into Columbia or Tucson?

Prices for flights to both Tucson 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Columbia $4.02
    Tucson $29

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Columbia -
    Tucson $13

Tours and Activities in Columbia

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Columbia are as follows:

  • Cascade Locks: 1-Hour Columbia River Sightseeing Cruise: $50
  • Cascade Locks: Columbia Gorge Sunday Brunch Cruise: $94
  • Portland: Columbia Gorge Flight Tour: $99
  • Portland: Columbia River Gorge 3-Hour Small Group Tour: $85
  • Portland: Multnomah Falls Scenic Air Tour: $199
  • Savannah: History & Ghosts Guided Tour with Beverage Stops: $20

Tours and Activities in Tucson

For Tucson, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Tucson Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $21
  • Oasis Tour of Tucson: $50
  • Historic Bike Tour in Tucson: $60
  • Mural Bike Tour: $60
  • Taco Bike Tour: $85

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Columbia $70
    Tucson $13

Sample the Local Flavors in Columbia

Also in Columbia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Savannah: Pub Crawl and Ghost Tour: $30

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Columbia and Tucson, we can see that Tucson 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 Tucson would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tucson than you might in Columbia.

Budget Your Trip

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Columbia vs. Tucson Travel Comparison

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