Which place is cheaper, Hershey or Columbus?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Columbus vs. Hershey for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Columbus or Hershey?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Columbus or Hershey? 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 Hershey?
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.
Hershey
Often called "Chocolatetown, USA" and "The Sweetest Place on Earth," Hershey, Pennsylvania is most known for being home to the famous Hershey's chocolates. The Hershey Company was founded in 1894 by Milton S. Hershey, and has grown to sell products in over sixty countries worldwide. Before the town was named Hershey, it was called Derry Church and was the hometown of the chocolatier. While there are now manufacturing plants in many locations, Hershey, PA, remains the location that draws the crowds. It is the place where the Hershey Company originated and is home to attractions like Hershey Park, Hershey Gardens, and Hershey's Chocolate World.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayColumbus $158Hershey $212
The average daily cost (per person) in Columbus is $158, while the average daily cost in Hershey is $212. 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 Hershey in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personColumbus $72Hershey $114
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomColumbus $144Hershey $228
Compare Hotels in Columbus and Hershey
Looking for a hotel in Columbus or Hershey? 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 Hershey Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Columbus $50Hershey $49
Is it cheaper to fly into Columbus or Hershey?
Prices for flights to both Hershey 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 $49Hershey $61
Typical Food prices in Hershey
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Hershey:
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Frozen Hot Chocolate$4.19
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Plain and Fancy Farm$46
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Homemade Apple Butter$7.98
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Columbus $46Hershey $53
Tours and Activities in Columbus
For Columbus, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Columbus Scavenger Hunt Adventure : $21
- LEGOLAND Discovery Center Columbus Ticket: $29
- 1-Day Columbus Attractions Pass Ticket : $32
- 1-Hour Themed Escape Room Adventure & Narrative: $39
- The Escape Game Epic 60-Minute Adventures: $40
- Amazing Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $44
- 3-Day Columbus Attractions Admission Ticket: $45
- Private Downtown Columbus Tour Up to 3 Passengers: $399
Typical Entertainment prices in Hershey
Here are a few typical costs in Hershey for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Hershey Chocolate World (for 3)$75
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayColumbus $20Hershey $27
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Columbus and Hershey, we can see that Hershey 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 Hershey would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hershey than you might in Columbus.
Which is Bigger, Columbus or Hershey?
Columbus is bigger, and its population is about 55.9 times larger than the population of Hershey. When comparing the population of Columbus vs. Hershey, 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 and the activities that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Columbus or Hershey?
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 Hershey in the Summer?
Both Hershey and Columbus during the summer are popular places to visit.
Columbus is around the same temperature as Hershey in the summer. The daily temperature in Columbus averages around 77°F (25°C) in July, and Hershey fluctuates around 77°F (25°C).
In Hershey, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Columbus. In the summer, Columbus often gets less sunshine than Hershey. Columbus gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hershey receives 310 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Columbus. Columbus usually gets more rain in July than Hershey. Columbus gets 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain, while Hershey receives 3.6 inches (91 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyColumbus 77°F (25°C)Hershey 77°F (25°C)
Should I visit Columbus or Hershey in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Columbus and Hershey.
In the autumn, Columbus is around the same temperature as Hershey. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Columbus in October average around 57°F (14°C), and Hershey averages at about 56°F (13°C).
Columbus usually receives less sunshine than Hershey during autumn. Columbus gets 179 hours of sunny skies, while Hershey receives 194 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Columbus usually receives less rain than Hershey. Columbus gets 2.2 inches (55 mm) of rain, while Hershey receives 2.9 inches (75 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberColumbus 57°F (14°C)Hershey 56°F (13°C)
Should I visit Columbus or Hershey in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Columbus as well as Hershey.
Hershey can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Columbus. In January, Columbus is generally around the same temperature as Hershey. Daily temperatures in Columbus average around 30°F (-1°C), and Hershey fluctuates around 30°F (-1°C).
In the winter, Columbus often gets less sunshine than Hershey. Columbus gets 105 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hershey receives 153 hours of full sun.
Columbus usually gets less rain in January than Hershey. Columbus gets 2.2 inches (56 mm) of rain, while Hershey receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryColumbus 30°F (-1°C)Hershey 30°F (-1°C)
Should I visit Columbus or Hershey in the Spring?
Both Hershey and Columbus are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
Columbus is around the same temperature as Hershey in the spring. The daily temperature in Columbus averages around 54°F (12°C) in April, and Hershey fluctuates around 53°F (12°C).
It's quite sunny in Hershey. Columbus usually receives less sunshine than Hershey during spring. Columbus gets 200 hours of sunny skies, while Hershey receives 237 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Columbus usually receives around the same amount of rain as Hershey. Columbus gets 3.2 inches (81 mm) of rain, while Hershey receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilColumbus 54°F (12°C)Hershey 53°F (12°C)
Typical Weather for Hershey and Columbus
| Columbus | Hershey | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 30°F (-1°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) | 30°F (-1°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) |
| Feb | 33°F (1°C) | 2.2 inches (55 mm) | 33°F (0°C) | 2.9 inches (75 mm) |
| Mar | 45°F (7°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 42°F (6°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
| Apr | 54°F (12°C) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) | 53°F (12°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| May | 65°F (18°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 4.3 inches (108 mm) |
| Jun | 73°F (23°C) | 4 inches (102 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) |
| Jul | 77°F (25°C) | 4.4 inches (112 mm) | 77°F (25°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) |
| Aug | 75°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) | 75°F (24°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) |
| Sep | 69°F (20°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) | 68°F (20°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) |
| Oct | 57°F (14°C) | 2.2 inches (55 mm) | 56°F (13°C) | 2.9 inches (75 mm) |
| Nov | 47°F (8°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 46°F (8°C) | 3.5 inches (90 mm) |
| Dec | 35°F (2°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) | 35°F (2°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
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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.
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