Which place is cheaper, Eugene or Columbus?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Columbus or Eugene?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Columbus or Eugene? 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 Eugene?
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.
Eugene
At the southern end of the Willamette Valley, Eugene is most recognized as the home of the University of Oregon. It's a smaller city with a liberal population that is generally concerned about environmental issues. A popular experience in Eugene is to go to the Saturday Market, which has been around since 1970 and is the oldest open air market in the United States.
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 2-Week Tours from Anchorage, and The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayColumbus $158Eugene $160
The average daily cost (per person) in Columbus is $158, while the average daily cost in Eugene is $160. 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 Eugene in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personColumbus $72Eugene $97
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomColumbus $144Eugene $194
Compare Hotels in Columbus and Eugene
Looking for a hotel in Columbus or Eugene? 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 Eugene Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Columbus $50Eugene $37
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 John Glen Airport (CMH) to Columbus - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $130
- Columbus Ohio (CMH) Airport Arrival or Departure Private Transfer: $180
- Columbus to Columbus John Glen Airport (CMH) - Departure Private Transfer: $65
Is it cheaper to fly into Columbus or Eugene?
Prices for flights to both Eugene 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 $49Eugene $41
Typical Food Prices in Eugene
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Eugene:
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Sam Bonds Food and Music (for 2)$16
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Morning Glory Cafe Breakfast (for 2)$12
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Columbus $46Eugene -
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
- The Escape Game Epic 60-Minute Adventures: $41
- 1-Hour Themed Escape Room Adventure & Narrative: $41
- Amazing Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $44
- Trolley Pub Holiday Lights Tour in Columbus: $45
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayColumbus $20Eugene -
When comparing the travel costs between Columbus and Eugene, we can see that Eugene 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 Eugene Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Columbus or Eugene?
Columbus has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Eugene. When comparing the sizes of Columbus and Eugene, 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.
When is the best time to visit Columbus or Eugene?
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 Eugene in the Summer?
Both Eugene and Columbus during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Columbus for the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Columbus is a little warmer than Eugene. Typically, the summer temperatures in Columbus in July average around 77°F (25°C), and Eugene averages at about 68°F (20°C).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Columbus. Columbus usually gets more rain in July than Eugene. Columbus gets 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain, while Eugene receives 0.3 inches (8 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyColumbus 77°F (25°C)Eugene 68°F (20°C)
Should I visit Columbus or Eugene in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Columbus and Eugene. The autumn months attract visitors to Columbus because of the shopping scene.
In October, Columbus is generally a little warmer than Eugene. Daily temperatures in Columbus average around 57°F (14°C), and Eugene fluctuates around 55°F (13°C).
Eugene receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Columbus usually receives less rain than Eugene. Columbus gets 2.2 inches (55 mm) of rain, while Eugene receives 4.3 inches (109 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberColumbus 57°F (14°C)Eugene 55°F (13°C)
Should I visit Columbus or Eugene in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Columbus as well as Eugene. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Columbus this time of year.
It's quite cold in Columbus in the winter. Columbus is much colder than Eugene in the winter. The daily temperature in Columbus averages around 30°F (-1°C) in January, and Eugene fluctuates around 41°F (5°C).
It's quite rainy in Eugene. Columbus usually gets less rain in January than Eugene. Columbus gets 2.2 inches (56 mm) of rain, while Eugene receives 7.1 inches (181 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryColumbus 30°F (-1°C)Eugene 41°F (5°C)
Should I visit Columbus or Eugene in the Spring?
Both Eugene and Columbus are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In the spring, Columbus is a little warmer than Eugene. Typically, the spring temperatures in Columbus in April average around 54°F (12°C), and Eugene averages at about 51°F (11°C).
In April, Columbus usually receives more rain than Eugene. Columbus gets 3.2 inches (81 mm) of rain, while Eugene receives 2.2 inches (57 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilColumbus 54°F (12°C)Eugene 51°F (11°C)
Typical Weather for Eugene and Columbus
| Columbus | Eugene | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 30°F (-1°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) | 41°F (5°C) | 7.1 inches (181 mm) |
| Feb | 33°F (1°C) | 2.2 inches (55 mm) | 45°F (7°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) |
| Mar | 45°F (7°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 48°F (9°C) | 4.6 inches (118 mm) |
| Apr | 54°F (12°C) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) | 51°F (11°C) | 2.2 inches (57 mm) |
| May | 65°F (18°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) | 56°F (13°C) | 2 inches (50 mm) |
| Jun | 73°F (23°C) | 4 inches (102 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 1.3 inches (34 mm) |
| Jul | 77°F (25°C) | 4.4 inches (112 mm) | 68°F (20°C) | 0.3 inches (8 mm) |
| Aug | 75°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) | 68°F (20°C) | 0.4 inches (11 mm) |
| Sep | 69°F (20°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 1.1 inches (28 mm) |
| Oct | 57°F (14°C) | 2.2 inches (55 mm) | 55°F (13°C) | 4.3 inches (109 mm) |
| Nov | 47°F (8°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 47°F (8°C) | 5.9 inches (149 mm) |
| Dec | 35°F (2°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) | 42°F (5°C) | 6.3 inches (161 mm) |
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.