A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Columbia vs. Virginia Beach for Families, Nightlife, Couples, and Food

Should you visit Columbia or Virginia Beach?

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

Should I visit Columbia or Virginia Beach? 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 friendly, welcoming, and suburban city. Visitors also love the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach is a bustling, fun-filled, and relaxing coastal city. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the nightlife and beaches.

Columbia and Virginia Beach: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Columbia or Virginia Beach?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Columbia than Virginia Beach. While Virginia Beach is larger than Columbia, Columbia has more sights and attractions for tourists. Columbia is better known for its museums and shopping, while Virginia Beach is more popular for its resorts, beaches, and impressive beauty. Virginia Beach is more touristy than Columbia and is popular for its fun boardwalk, many seafood restaurants, and classic beach town vibe. Columbia is well known for its southern hospitality and friendly people. Also, Columbia is famous for Riverbanks Zoo and Garden.

How is Columbia different from Virginia Beach?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach?

Columbia is a nice place to visit for its historical sights. However, Virginia Beach does not have museums and landmarks.

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.

Virginia Beach does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Columbia or Virginia Beach? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at respectable restaurants in both Columbia and Virginia Beach.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Columbia. 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.

Virginia Beach may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. Seafood is plentiful around town and there are all-you-can-eat buffets as well as high end, waterfront seafood restaurants. Make sure you try the She Crab Soup, soft shell crabs, and oysters.

Is Columbia or Virginia Beach Better for Nightlife?

Both Columbia and Virginia Beach are notable when it comes to partying.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Columbia. You'll find live music venues as well as low key bars and more trendy cocktail lounges.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Virginia Beach. While it's a family-friendly beach, there's still a great nightlife scene with many bars and clubs in the area. Popular places to hang out at night include Omega Bar, Peabody's Nightclub, and Sky Bar.

Is Columbia or Virginia Beach Better for Resorts?

Virginia Beach is a popular place for its resorts. However, Columbia is not a resort destination.

With a selection of resorts, Virginia Beach makes a nice vacation spot. Some of the best resorts in the area include the Historic Cavalier Hotel and Beach Club, the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront, and The Founders Inn and Spa.

Columbia is not a resort destination.

Is Columbia or Virginia Beach Better for Beaches?

Virginia Beach is a popular place for the beache. However, Columbia is not a beach destination.

Virginia Beach is a good option for a beach vacation. The beaches are long and sandy, but they can get crowded during the summer months. The waves are just the right size for playing in the surf and the water temperature is usually warm enough to swim well into the fall months.

Columbia is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Columbia or Virginia Beach?

Columbia is a nice place to visit for its shopping opportunities. However, Virginia Beach is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Columbia. 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.

Virginia Beach is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Columbia or Virginia Beach Better for Families?

Virginia Beach 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.

Virginia Beach is a very kid-friendly coastal city. This is a popular family-friendly beach with a nice boardwalk, a fun waterpark, aquarium, and nice beaches. It attracts families in the area for its long beaches and fun atmosphere. Most restaurants have kid's menus and there are ice cream shops and minigolf around.

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 Virginia Beach Better for Couples?

Virginia Beach is a popular place for its romantic activities. However, Columbia is not a good city for couples.

Virginia Beach makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples will enjoy a nice escape to the beaches and boardwalk. There are many great seafood restaurants, some with waterfront settings. There's also a variety of activities ranging from many golf to dance clubs.

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 Virginia Beach Better for Students?

Columbia and Virginia Beach are both notable destinations for students and younger travelers.

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.

Plenty of students visit Virginia Beach. It's not as popular as more southern beach towns, but you'll still find students heading here for the spring break holidays.

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

Columbia is adequate for times when you don't have a car. However, Virginia Beach is not a good destination for its public transit.

Public transit is mostly 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 limited or non-existant in Virginia Beach. There is very limited public transit in the area so you'll need to have a car to get around.

Is Columbia or Virginia Beach a more walkable city?

Virginia Beach is a moderate coastal city for its high level of walkability. However, Columbia is not a good city for its ease of walking around.

Virginia Beach is generally not very walkable. Most people prefer to have a car but do note that parking can be a nightmare, particularly during the summer season.

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 Virginia Beach Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Virginia Beach or Columbia?

How long in Columbia or Virginia Beach?

Both Columbia and Virginia Beach have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Virginia Beach than in Columbia. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Columbia, and 5-7 days is enough time in Virginia Beach.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Columbia than Virginia Beach 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 Columbia.

One day in Columbia or Virginia Beach?

In Columbia, you'll find nightlife and shopping. So, one day is just the right amount of time to spend here.

The coastal city of Virginia Beach offers nightlife. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Columbia or Virginia Beach?

Columbia is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.

Virginia Beach is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Columbia or Virginia Beach?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Columbia. It offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Virginia Beach is a popular choice for travelers. Five days here is typical. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Virginia Beach, five days is sufficent for most. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Columbia or Virginia Beach?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and shopping when visiting the city of Columbia. Your budget might influence how long you stay. One week 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.

Virginia Beach is a great place to explore. It is common to spend one week here. One week is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Virginia Beach has to offer. This coastal city 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 Virginia Beach, we can see that Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Columbia or Virginia Beach?

Virginia Beach has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Columbia. When comparing the sizes of Columbia and Virginia Beach, 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 Virginia Beach?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Columbia or Virginia Beach in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Columbia as well as Virginia Beach. Many travelers come to Columbia for the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Virginia Beach in the summer for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

Columbia is around the same temperature as Virginia Beach in the summer. The daily temperature in Columbia averages around 82°F (28°C) in July, and Virginia Beach fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Virginia Beach. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Columbia this time of the year. In the summer, Columbia often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Virginia Beach. Columbia gets 293 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Virginia Beach receives 279 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Virginia Beach. Columbia receives a lot of rain in the summer. Columbia usually gets less rain in July than Virginia Beach. Columbia gets 4.6 inches (116 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 5.7 inches (145 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Columbia or Virginia Beach in the Autumn?

Both Virginia Beach and Columbia are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Columbia in the autumn for the shopping scene. Also, most visitors come to Virginia Beach for the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In the autumn, Columbia is around the same temperature as Virginia Beach. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Columbia in October average around 64°F (18°C), and Virginia Beach averages at about 62°F (16°C).

It's quite sunny in Virginia Beach. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Columbia. Columbia usually receives more sunshine than Virginia Beach during autumn. Columbia gets 230 hours of sunny skies, while Virginia Beach receives 211 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Columbia usually receives around the same amount of rain as Virginia Beach. Columbia gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Columbia or Virginia Beach in the Winter?

Both Virginia Beach and Columbia during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Columbia for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Virginia Beach because of the cuisine.

The weather in Virginia Beach can be very cold. In January, Columbia is generally much warmer than Virginia Beach. Daily temperatures in Columbia average around 45°F (7°C), and Virginia Beach fluctuates around 39°F (4°C).

In the winter, Columbia often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Virginia Beach. Columbia gets 171 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Virginia Beach receives 168 hours of full sun.

Columbia usually gets more rain in January than Virginia Beach. Columbia gets 3.7 inches (93 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 3.3 inches (85 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Columbia or Virginia Beach in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Columbia and Virginia Beach. Furthermore, the beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Virginia Beach this time of year.

Columbia is a little warmer than Virginia Beach in the spring. The daily temperature in Columbia averages around 64°F (18°C) in April, and Virginia Beach fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Virginia Beach this time of the year. In Columbia, it's very sunny this time of the year. Columbia usually receives more sunshine than Virginia Beach during spring. Columbia gets 273 hours of sunny skies, while Virginia Beach receives 253 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Columbia usually receives around the same amount of rain as Virginia Beach. Columbia gets 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Virginia Beach and Columbia