Should you visit Columbus or Colorado Springs?
Should I visit Columbus or Colorado Springs? 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.
Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs is the second largest city in the state of Colorado. It is located in the northeastern tip of the south central region of the state and is in a beautiful area surrounded by mountains and alpine trees. It is also referred to as "America's Olympic City" because it is the location of the United States Olympic Training Center.
Which city is cheaper, Colorado Springs 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 Colorado Springs is $124. 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 Colorado Springs 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.
Colorado Springs's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $130. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $65.
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.
Food in Colorado Springs costs travelers about $36 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
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Food
Meals for one day
Columbus $39
Colorado Springs $36
Typical Food prices in Colorado Springs
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Colorado Springs:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Colorado Springs
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Colorado Springs.
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The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show - Colorado Springs:
$77
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.
The cost of a taxi ride in Colorado Springs is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $31 per person, per day, on local transportation in Colorado Springs.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Columbus
Also for Columbus, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Columbus John Glen Airport (CMH) to Columbus - Arrival Private Transfer:
$87
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Columbus John Glen Airport (CMH) to Columbus - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$174
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Columbus to Columbus John Glen Airport (CMH) - Departure Private Transfer:
$87
Is it cheaper to fly into Columbus or Colorado Springs?
Prices for flights to both Colorado Springs 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.
Entertainment and activities in Colorado Springs typically cost an average of $27 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
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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Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Columbus:
$11
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Columbus Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$21
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LEGOLAND Discovery Center Columbus Ticket:
$21
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Central Park Bike Tour:
$53
Tours and Activities in Colorado Springs
Here are a few actual costs in Colorado Springs for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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2 Hour Segway Tour in Cheyenne Cañon and Broadmoor Area:
$99
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Broadmoor History Segway Tour:
$69
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Combo Course Zipline Tour:
$232
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Fins Course Scenic Zipline Tour:
$164
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Foothills & Garden of the Gods: Jeep Tour:
$88
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Garden of the Gods Segway Tour through Juniper Loop:
$118
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Jeep Tour - Foothills & Garden of the Gods:
$107
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Lovell Gulch Hike with Experienced Guide:
$99
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Old West High Country 4X4 Jeep Tour:
$180
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Scenic Bike Tour Of Colorado Springs:
$99
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Segway Tour of Cheyenne Cañon Art, History and Nature:
$69
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Segway Tour: Garden of the Gods: Juniper Loop:
$92
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Columbus spend on average $16 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Colorado Springs may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $19 per day on alcoholic beverages.
When comparing the travel costs between Columbus and Colorado Springs, we can see that Columbus 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.
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