Should you visit Columbus or Alexandria?
Should I visit Columbus or Alexandria? 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.
Columbus
The capital city of Ohio, Columbus sits at the meeting point of America's Rust Belt, Bible Belt, Appalachia, and the Plains. It is also home of Ohio State University, which is a major financial and economic force in the city. You'll likely need a car to navigate the city, although there is a bus system, COTA, which can take you to some of Columbus' highlights.
Alexandria
Just minutes from the nation's capital of Washington DC, Alexandria offers a world of rich history and beautifully preserved buildings from the 18th-19th centuries. A city of many interests, attractions range from the old haunts of George Washington and historic architecture to museums, local crafts, and quaint boutiques. With its cobblestoned streets, Old Town of Alexandria is sure to charm as well.
Which city is cheaper, Alexandria or Columbus?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Columbus is $126, while the average daily cost in Alexandria is $0.00. 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 Columbus and Alexandria in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $116 in Columbus For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
For a normal double-occupancy room in Alexandria, $60 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Alexandria, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $30, such as in a hostel.
Food
The average traveler spends about $39 per day in Columbus for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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Food
Meals for one day
Columbus $39
Alexandria
-
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Alexandria
For Alexandria, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Private Full-Day Food Tour of Alexandria with Hotel Pick Up:
$32
-
Alexandria Food Tour:
$36
-
Amazing Alexandria Food Tour:
$55
-
Alexandria Food Tour:
$60
-
Old Town Boutique Food Tour:
$89
-
Sound&light show,Giza pyramids-Dinner on the Nile:
$94
Local Transportation
To get around in Columbus, the average visitor spends $40 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 Columbus
Also for Columbus, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Columbus John Glen Airport (CMH) to Columbus - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$174
-
Columbus John Glen Airport (CMH) to Columbus - Arrival Private Transfer:
$87
-
Columbus to Columbus John Glen Airport (CMH) - Departure Private Transfer:
$87
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alexandria
Also for Alexandria, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Private transfer from HBE airport to Alexandria Hotel:
$20
-
Private Transfer from Borg El Arab Airport to Alexandria Hotels:
$20
-
Private Transfer from Alexandria to Cairo in Egypt:
$128
-
Private Transfer from Alexandria to Cairo Airport:
$96
-
Private Transfer From Alexandria City To Cairo Airport:
$96
-
Private Airport Transfer: from Alexandria to Borg El Arab Airport (HBE):
$20
-
One Way Transfer from Alexandria Hotels to Cairo International Airport-Standard:
$183
-
One Way Transfer from Alexandria Hotels to Cairo International Airport-25 Seater:
$381
-
One Way Transfer from Alexandria Hotels to Cairo International Airport-15 Seater:
$258
-
One Way Transfer from Alexandria Hotels to Cairo International Airport –Premium:
$226
-
One Way Transfer from Alexandria Hotels to Borg El Arab Airport – Premium:
$66
-
One Way Transfer from Alexandria Hotels to Borg El Arab Airport – 15 Seater:
$87
Is it cheaper to fly into Columbus or Alexandria?
Prices for flights to both Alexandria and Columbus 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 Columbus, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $37 per person, per day.
Tours and Activities in Columbus
For Columbus, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Central Park Bike Tour:
$53
-
Columbus Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$21
-
LEGOLAND Discovery Center Columbus Ticket:
$21
-
Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Columbus:
$11
Tours and Activities in Alexandria
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Alexandria.
-
10 Day Motorcycle Adventure Tour Across Egypt:
$3,000
-
10- hours trip to Alexandria from Cairo day tour:
$110
-
2 Day Cairo Tour From Alexandria Port:
$308
-
2 Day Tour in Cairo:
$300
-
3-Day Private Guided Tour of Cairo and Giza and Alexandria:
$373
-
3-Days Egypt Tours:
$375
-
3-Days Tour Cairo Giza Alexandria:
$375
-
3-Days Tour around Cairo Giza Alexandria:
$375
-
3-Days Tour around Cairo and Alexandria:
$375
-
3-Days Tour to Egypt:
$375
-
Alexandria Day Tour:
$38
-
Alexandria Day Tour:
$174
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Columbus spend on average $16 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Alexandria
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Alexandria:
-
Alexandria Bar Hunt: Ye Olde Pub Crawl through Old Town:
$12
-
Haunted Old Town Alexandria Ghost and Pub Walking Tour:
$26
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Columbus and Alexandria, we can see that Columbus is more expensive. And not only is Alexandria much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Alexandria would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Alexandria 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 Columbus would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Columbus than you might in Alexandria.
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