Which city is cheaper, Columbia or Columbus?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Columbus vs. Columbia for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Columbus or Columbia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Columbus or Columbia? 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 Columbia?
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.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayColumbus $126Columbia $0.00
The average daily cost (per person) in Columbus is $126, while the average daily cost in Columbia 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Columbus and Columbia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personColumbus $58Columbia -
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomColumbus $116Columbia $0.00
Compare Hotels in Columbus and Columbia
Looking for a hotel in Columbus or Columbia? 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 Columbia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Columbus $40Columbia -
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 - Arrival Private Transfer: $87
- Columbus to Columbus John Glen Airport (CMH) - Departure Private Transfer: $87
- Columbus John Glen Airport (CMH) to Columbus - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $174
Is it cheaper to fly into Columbus or Columbia?
Prices for flights to both Columbia 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 $39Columbia $4.02
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Columbus $37Columbia -
Tours and Activities in Columbus
For Columbus, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Columbus: $11
- Columbus Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $21
- LEGOLAND Discovery Center Columbus Ticket: $21
- Central Park Bike Tour: $53
- New York City: 3-Hour City Highlights Guided Bike Tour: $60
Tours and Activities in Columbia
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Columbia are as follows:
- Cascade Locks: 1-Hour Columbia River Sightseeing Cruise: $50
- Cascade Locks: Columbia Gorge Sunday Brunch Cruise: $94
- Portland: Columbia Gorge Flight Tour: $99
- Portland: Columbia River Gorge 3-Hour Small Group Tour: $85
- Portland: Multnomah Falls Scenic Air Tour: $199
- Savannah: History & Ghosts Guided Tour with Beverage Stops: $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayColumbus $16Columbia $70
Sample the Local Flavors in Columbia
Also in Columbia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Savannah: Pub Crawl and Ghost Tour: $30
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Columbus and Columbia, we can see that Columbus 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 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 Columbia.
When is the best time to visit Columbus or Columbia?
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 Columbia in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Columbus as well as Columbia.
In the summer, Columbus is cooler than Columbia. Typically, the summer temperatures in Columbus in July are around 77°F (25°C), and Columbia is about 82°F (28°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Columbia. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Columbus this time of the year. In the summer, Columbus often gets less sunshine than Columbia. Columbus gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Columbia receives 293 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Columbia. Columbus receives a lot of rain in the summer. Columbus usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Columbia. Columbus gets 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain, while Columbia receives 4.6 inches (116 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyColumbus 77°F (25°C)Columbia 82°F (28°C)
Should I visit Columbus or Columbia in the Autumn?
Both Columbia and Columbus are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
In October, Columbus is generally cooler than Columbia. Temperatures in Columbus average around 57°F (14°C), and Columbia stays around 64°F (18°C).
It's quite sunny in Columbia. Columbus usually receives less sunshine than Columbia during autumn. Columbus gets 179 hours of sunny skies, while Columbia receives 230 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Columbus usually receives less rain than Columbia. Columbus gets 2.2 inches (55 mm) of rain, while Columbia receives 3 inches (75 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberColumbus 57°F (14°C)Columbia 64°F (18°C)
Should I visit Columbus or Columbia in the Winter?
Both Columbia and Columbus during the winter are popular places to visit.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Columbus. Columbus is much colder than Columbia in the winter. The temperature in Columbus is usually 30°F (-1°C) in January, and Columbia stays around 45°F (7°C).
In the winter, Columbus often gets less sunshine than Columbia. Columbus gets 105 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Columbia receives 171 hours of full sun.
Columbus usually gets less rain in January than Columbia. Columbus gets 2.2 inches (56 mm) of rain, while Columbia receives 3.7 inches (93 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryColumbus 30°F (-1°C)Columbia 45°F (7°C)
Should I visit Columbus or Columbia in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Columbus and Columbia.
In the spring, Columbus is cooler than Columbia. Typically, the spring temperatures in Columbus in April are around 54°F (12°C), and Columbia is about 64°F (18°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Columbia this time of the year. Columbus usually receives less sunshine than Columbia during spring. Columbus gets 200 hours of sunny skies, while Columbia receives 273 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Columbus usually receives more rain than Columbia. Columbus gets 3.2 inches (81 mm) of rain, while Columbia receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilColumbus 54°F (12°C)Columbia 64°F (18°C)
Typical Weather for Columbia and Columbus
| Columbus | Columbia | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 30°F (-1°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) | 45°F (7°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) |
| Feb | 33°F (1°C) | 2.2 inches (55 mm) | 48°F (9°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) |
| Mar | 45°F (7°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 56°F (13°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) |
| Apr | 54°F (12°C) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) |
| May | 65°F (18°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) |
| Jun | 73°F (23°C) | 4 inches (102 mm) | 78°F (26°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) |
| Jul | 77°F (25°C) | 4.4 inches (112 mm) | 82°F (28°C) | 4.6 inches (116 mm) |
| Aug | 75°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) | 81°F (27°C) | 5.8 inches (147 mm) |
| Sep | 69°F (20°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) | 75°F (24°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) |
| Oct | 57°F (14°C) | 2.2 inches (55 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) |
| Nov | 47°F (8°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 56°F (13°C) | 2.1 inches (54 mm) |
| Dec | 35°F (2°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) | 48°F (9°C) | 2.6 inches (67 mm) |
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