Should you visit Columbia or Tucson?
Should I visit Columbia or Tucson? 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.
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. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Columbia and Tucson in more detail.
Accommodation
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $142 in Tucson For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
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.
While meal prices in Tucson can vary, the average travelers spends about $29 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Tucson should cost around $12 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Tucson is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
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Food
Meals for one day
Columbia $4.02
Tucson $29
Local Transportation
To get around in Tucson, the average visitor spends $22 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tucson
Also for Tucson, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Tucson International Airport One Way Transfer:
$53
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Tucson Intl Airport (TUS) to Tucson Downtown area - Arrival Private Transfer:
$65
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Tucson Downtown area to Tucson Intl Airport (TUS) - Departure Private Transfer:
$65
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Private Tucson Transfer: Hotel to Airport:
$96
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Private Tucson Transfer: Airport to Hotel:
$96
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Tucson Intl Airport (TUS) to Tucson Downtown area - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$129
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Private transfer: Tucson Airport (TUS) to Tucson:
$622
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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.
Entertainment
In Tucson, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $13 per person, per day.
Tours and Activities in Tucson
For Tucson, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Tucson Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$21
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Oasis Tour of Tucson:
$50
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Historic Bike Tour in Tucson:
$60
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Mural Bike Tour:
$60
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Taco Bike Tour:
$85
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.
Typically, people visiting Tucson spend on average $13 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
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.
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