A Travel Price Comparison for Ohio Columbus vs. Dayton for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Columbus or Dayton?

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

Should I visit Columbus or Dayton? 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 Dayton?

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.

Dayton

Located in southwest Ohio, Dayton is known as the "Gem City." It's the original home of Orville and Wilbur Wright, the brothers who designed the first airplane. You'll also find the Dayton Aviation Heritage Park here, which is one of the only multi-site National Parks in the United States. The cities climate has four different seasons, winter, spring, summer and fall. The winter months are quite cold and you can expect a decent amount of snow in the area. Spring remains cool and there are infrequent showers. This is also the peak time for tornadoes in the area. Summer is hot and humid and can be unpleasant at times, but fall is crisp and refreshing with occasional storms and infrequent tornadoes.

Which city is cheaper, Dayton 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 Dayton is $259. 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 Dayton in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Columbus $58
    Dayton $200
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Columbus $116
    Dayton $400
Compare Hotels in Columbus and Dayton

Looking for a hotel in Columbus or Dayton? 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.

Hotels in Columbus


Hotels in Dayton


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 Dayton Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Columbus $40
    Dayton $20

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

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dayton

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dayton:

  • James M. Cox Dayton Airport (DAY) to Dayton - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $266
  • James M. Cox Dayton Airport (DAY) to Dayton - Departure Private Transfer: $133
  • James M. Cox Dayton Airport (DAY) to Dayton - Arrival Private Transfer: $133

Is it cheaper to fly into Columbus or Dayton?

Prices for flights to both Dayton 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Columbus $39
    Dayton $49

Typical Food prices in Dayton

Some typical examples of dining costs in Dayton are as follows:


  • Noodle Company Lunch (for 2)
    $17
  • Indian Food Dinner (for 2)
    $34

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Columbus $37
    Dayton -

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 Dayton

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Dayton are as follows:

  • Daytona Beach: Daytona 500 NASCAR Race Ticket: $249

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Columbus $16
    Dayton -

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Columbus and Dayton, we can see that Dayton is more expensive. And not only is Columbus much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Columbus would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Columbus 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 Dayton would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dayton than you might in Columbus.


When is the best time to visit Columbus or Dayton?

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 Dayton in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Columbus as well as Dayton.

In July, Columbus is generally around the same temperature as Dayton. Temperatures in Columbus average around 77°F (25°C), and Dayton stays around 78°F (26°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Dayton. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Columbus this time of the year. In the summer, Columbus often gets less sunshine than Dayton. Columbus gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dayton receives 298 hours of full sun.

Columbus receives a lot of rain in the summer. Columbus usually gets more rain in July than Dayton. Columbus gets 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Columbus 77°F (25°C) 
    Dayton 78°F (26°C)

Should I visit Columbus or Dayton in the Autumn?

Both Dayton and Columbus are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.

Columbus is around the same temperature as Dayton in the autumn. The temperature in Columbus is usually 57°F (14°C) in October, and Dayton stays around 57°F (14°C).

Columbus usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Dayton during autumn. Columbus gets 179 hours of sunny skies, while Dayton receives 188 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Columbus usually receives less rain than Dayton. Columbus gets 2.2 inches (55 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 2.5 inches (64 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Columbus 57°F (14°C) 
    Dayton 57°F (14°C)

Should I visit Columbus or Dayton in the Winter?

Both Dayton and Columbus during the winter are popular places to visit.

The weather in Dayton can be very cold. Columbus can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Columbus is around the same temperature as Dayton. Typically, the winter temperatures in Columbus in January are around 30°F (-1°C), and Dayton is about 30°F (-1°C).

In the winter, Columbus often gets less sunshine than Dayton. Columbus gets 105 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dayton receives 129 hours of full sun.

Columbus usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Dayton. Columbus gets 2.2 inches (56 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 2.1 inches (54 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Columbus 30°F (-1°C) 
    Dayton 30°F (-1°C)

Should I visit Columbus or Dayton in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Columbus and Dayton.

In April, Columbus is generally around the same temperature as Dayton. Temperatures in Columbus average around 54°F (12°C), and Dayton stays around 55°F (13°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Dayton this time of the year. Columbus usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Dayton during spring. Columbus gets 200 hours of sunny skies, while Dayton receives 215 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Columbus usually receives less rain than Dayton. Columbus gets 3.2 inches (81 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 3.5 inches (88 mm) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Columbus 54°F (12°C) 
    Dayton 55°F (13°C)

Typical Weather for Dayton and Columbus

Columbus Dayton
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 30°F (-1°C) 2.2 inches (56 mm) 30°F (-1°C) 2.1 inches (54 mm)
Feb 33°F (1°C) 2.2 inches (55 mm) 33°F (1°C) 2.1 inches (53 mm)
Mar 45°F (7°C) 3.2 inches (82 mm) 44°F (7°C) 3.3 inches (85 mm)
Apr 54°F (12°C) 3.2 inches (81 mm) 55°F (13°C) 3.5 inches (88 mm)
May 65°F (18°C) 4.1 inches (105 mm) 65°F (18°C) 4 inches (102 mm)
Jun 73°F (23°C) 4 inches (102 mm) 74°F (23°C) 3.9 inches (100 mm)
Jul 77°F (25°C) 4.4 inches (112 mm) 78°F (26°C) 3.4 inches (86 mm)
Aug 75°F (24°C) 3.7 inches (95 mm) 76°F (25°C) 3.3 inches (83 mm)
Sep 69°F (20°C) 3 inches (76 mm) 69°F (21°C) 2.6 inches (65 mm)
Oct 57°F (14°C) 2.2 inches (55 mm) 57°F (14°C) 2.5 inches (64 mm)
Nov 47°F (8°C) 3.2 inches (82 mm) 47°F (8°C) 3.1 inches (80 mm)
Dec 35°F (2°C) 2.8 inches (72 mm) 35°F (2°C) 3 inches (75 mm)


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Columbus vs. Dayton Travel Comparison

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