Which place is cheaper, Chattanooga or Columbus?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Columbus vs. Chattanooga for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Columbus or Chattanooga?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Columbus or Chattanooga? 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.
Where Should I go: Columbus or Chattanooga?
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. While not always famous for it's sights and attractions, visitors will be pleasantly surprised by what they find here.
Chattanooga
Located on the Tennessee River near the border of the U.S. state of Georgia, Chattanooga is Tennessee's fourth largest city and a major transportation hub. The city has received national recognition for the renaissance of its once dilapidated downtown and redevelopment of its riverfront, including the restoration of the historic Walnut Street Bridge.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayColumbus $158Chattanooga $182
The average daily cost (per person) in Columbus is $158, while the average daily cost in Chattanooga is $182. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Columbus and Chattanooga in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personColumbus $72Chattanooga $92
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomColumbus $144Chattanooga $184
Compare Hotels in Columbus and Chattanooga
Looking for a hotel in Columbus or Chattanooga? 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Columbus Hotel Prices and Chattanooga Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Columbus $50Chattanooga $35
Typical Local Transportation prices in Chattanooga
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Chattanooga:
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Chattanooga Zoo (for 2)$16
Is it cheaper to fly into Columbus or Chattanooga?
Prices for flights to both Chattanooga 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayColumbus $49Chattanooga $59
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chattanooga
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chattanooga.
- ChattaBrunch Food Tour: $94
- Historic Southside Food Tour in Chattanooga: $99
- Downtown Chattanooga Food Tour: $119
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Columbus $46Chattanooga $52
Tours and Activities in Columbus
For Columbus, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Columbus Scavenger Hunt Adventure : $21
- Columbus Blue Jackets Ice Hockey Game Ticket at Nationwide Arena: $22
- LEGOLAND Discovery Center Columbus Ticket: $29
- 1-Day Columbus Attractions Pass Ticket : $32
- The Escape Game Epic 60-Minute Adventures: $41
- 1-Hour Themed Escape Room Adventure & Narrative: $41
- Amazing Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $44
- 3-Day Columbus Attractions Admission Ticket: $45
- Trolley Pub Holiday Lights Tour in Columbus: $45
- Private Downtown Columbus Tour Up to 3 Passengers: $399
Tours and Activities in Chattanooga
Here are a few actual costs in Chattanooga for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2 Virtual Reality Simulator Bundle for Outdoor Experiences: $27
- 2-Hour Paddleboard Adventure to Nickajack Bat Cave: $75
- ChattaBOOga Ghost Walk Tour in Chattanooga: $25
- Chattanooga "C-Block Prison Break" Escape Room Admission Ticket: $36
- Chattanooga "Locker Room Lockdown: Mascot Rescue" Escape Room Admission Ticket: $34
- Chattanooga "Secret Agent" Escape Room Admission Ticket: $34
- Chattanooga "Vaccine: Search For The Zombie Cure" Escape Room Admission Ticket: $36
- Chattanooga's North Shore & Coolidge Park Guided Segway Tour: $75
- A Spooky and Family-Friendly Walking Tour: $25
- Adults-Only Haunted City Walking Tour: $35
- City Trolley Tour with Coker Automotive Museum visit: $44
- City Trolley Tour with Coker Museum visit: $44
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayColumbus $20Chattanooga $24
When comparing the travel costs between Columbus and Chattanooga, we can see that Chattanooga is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
Which is Bigger, Columbus or Chattanooga?
Columbus is bigger, and its population is about 4.7 times larger than the population of Chattanooga. When comparing the population of Columbus vs. Chattanooga, 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 and the activities that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Columbus or Chattanooga?
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 Columbus or Chattanooga in the Summer?
Both Chattanooga and Columbus during the summer are popular places to visit.
In July, Columbus is generally around the same temperature as Chattanooga. Daily temperatures in Columbus average around 77°F (25°C), and Chattanooga fluctuates around 81°F (27°C).
In Chattanooga, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Columbus. In the summer, Columbus often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Chattanooga. Columbus gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chattanooga receives 265 hours of full sun.
Chattanooga gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Columbus. Columbus usually gets less rain in July than Chattanooga. Columbus gets 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain, while Chattanooga receives 5.2 inches (131 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyColumbus 77°F (25°C)Chattanooga 81°F (27°C)
Should I visit Columbus or Chattanooga in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Columbus and Chattanooga.
Columbus is cooler than Chattanooga in the autumn. The daily temperature in Columbus averages around 57°F (14°C) in October, and Chattanooga fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Chattanooga this time of the year. Columbus usually receives less sunshine than Chattanooga during autumn. Columbus gets 179 hours of sunny skies, while Chattanooga receives 211 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Columbus usually receives less rain than Chattanooga. Columbus gets 2.2 inches (55 mm) of rain, while Chattanooga receives 3 inches (75 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberColumbus 57°F (14°C)Chattanooga 63°F (17°C)
Should I visit Columbus or Chattanooga in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Columbus as well as Chattanooga.
Chattanooga can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Columbus. In the winter, Columbus is much colder than Chattanooga. Typically, the winter temperatures in Columbus in January average around 30°F (-1°C), and Chattanooga averages at about 40°F (5°C).
In the winter, Columbus often gets less sunshine than Chattanooga. Columbus gets 105 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chattanooga receives 145 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Chattanooga. Columbus usually gets less rain in January than Chattanooga. Columbus gets 2.2 inches (56 mm) of rain, while Chattanooga receives 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryColumbus 30°F (-1°C)Chattanooga 40°F (5°C)
Should I visit Columbus or Chattanooga in the Spring?
Both Chattanooga and Columbus are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In April, Columbus is generally cooler than Chattanooga. Daily temperatures in Columbus average around 54°F (12°C), and Chattanooga fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).
It's quite sunny in Chattanooga. Columbus usually receives less sunshine than Chattanooga during spring. Columbus gets 200 hours of sunny skies, while Chattanooga receives 243 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Chattanooga. In April, Columbus usually receives less rain than Chattanooga. Columbus gets 3.2 inches (81 mm) of rain, while Chattanooga receives 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilColumbus 54°F (12°C)Chattanooga 62°F (17°C)
Typical Weather for Chattanooga and Columbus
| Columbus | Chattanooga | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 30°F (-1°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) | 40°F (5°C) | 5.4 inches (137 mm) |
| Feb | 33°F (1°C) | 2.2 inches (55 mm) | 44°F (7°C) | 5.2 inches (132 mm) |
| Mar | 45°F (7°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 53°F (12°C) | 5.6 inches (143 mm) |
| Apr | 54°F (12°C) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) | 62°F (17°C) | 4.4 inches (112 mm) |
| May | 65°F (18°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) | 70°F (21°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) |
| Jun | 73°F (23°C) | 4 inches (102 mm) | 78°F (25°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) |
| Jul | 77°F (25°C) | 4.4 inches (112 mm) | 81°F (27°C) | 5.2 inches (131 mm) |
| Aug | 75°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) | 80°F (27°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Sep | 69°F (20°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) | 74°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (94 mm) |
| Oct | 57°F (14°C) | 2.2 inches (55 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) |
| Nov | 47°F (8°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 53°F (12°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) |
| Dec | 35°F (2°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) | 44°F (7°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) |
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Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
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