Which place is cheaper, Edmonton or Columbus?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Columbus or Edmonton?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Columbus or Edmonton? 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 Edmonton?
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.
Edmonton
The capital of Alberta, Canada, Edmonton has a population of just over one million people in its metropolitan area. It is also North America's northernmost city of this large size. It's a beautiful place to visit because of the North Saskatchewan River Valley which has over one hundred kilometers of hiking trails, wildlife spotting, and overlooks. The valley has a string of parks which are wonderful to visit. In addition to the beautiful outdoor setting and activities, Edmonton also offers the largest shopping mall in North America, West Edmonton Mall. It's also a city with a lot of culture including a lively theater scene, many different festivals, and no shortage of sporting events that you could attend.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City, The Best Contiki Tours to Canada, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayColumbus $158Edmonton $179
The average daily cost (per person) in Columbus is $158, while the average daily cost in Edmonton is $179. 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 Edmonton in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personColumbus $72Edmonton $101
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomColumbus $144Edmonton $202
Compare Hotels in Columbus and Edmonton
Looking for a hotel in Columbus or Edmonton? 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 Edmonton Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Columbus $50Edmonton $79
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: $65
- Columbus to Columbus John Glen Airport (CMH) - Departure Private Transfer: $66
- Columbus John Glen Airport (CMH) to Columbus - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $131
- Columbus Ohio (CMH) Airport Arrival or Departure Private Transfer: $180
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Edmonton
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Edmonton:
- Private Departure Transfer from Hotels to Edmonton Airport: $43
- Edmonton to Edmonton Airport (YEG) - Departure Private Transfer: $43
Is it cheaper to fly into Columbus or Edmonton?
Prices for flights to both Edmonton 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 $49Edmonton $16
Typical Food Prices in Edmonton
Some typical examples of dining costs in Edmonton are as follows:
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Snacks$7.26
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Columbus $46Edmonton $91
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 by Crazy Dash: $10
- Experience the season with a scavenger hunt in Columbus with Holly Jolly Hunt: $20
- Columbus Scavenger Hunt Adventure : $21
- LEGOLAND Discovery Center Columbus Ticket: $28
- 1-Hour Themed Escape Room Adventure & Narrative: $41
- Amazing Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $44
- Trolley Pub Holiday Lights Tour in Columbus: $45
Tours and Activities in Edmonton
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Edmonton are as follows:
- Discover the Early History of Strathcona with Historic Walking Tour: $4.46
- Edmonton River Valley 60-Minute Segway Adventure: $45
- Edmonton River Valley 90-Minute Segway Adventure: $63
- Edmonton Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- 1-Hour Segway Adventure in Louise McKinney Park: $44
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Romantic Tour Around Edmonton For Couples: $224
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Edmonton by Crazy Dash: $10
- The Best of Edmonton Walking Tour: $224
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayColumbus $20Edmonton -
Sample the Local Flavors in Edmonton
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Edmonton:
- Edmonton Brewery Tour: $105
When comparing the travel costs between Columbus and Edmonton, we can see that Edmonton 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.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Columbus Expensive? and Is Edmonton Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Columbus or Edmonton?
Columbus has a larger population, and is about 3% larger than the population of Edmonton. When comparing the sizes of Columbus and Edmonton, 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 along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
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.