Should you visit Columbus or Houston?
Should I visit Columbus or Houston? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
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.
Houston
The largest city in Texas and the fourth largest in the United States, Houston is a sprawling urban center that has grown from its wealth in the oil industry. Visitors today are drawn to its cultural diversity which has additionally made Houston a foodie destination. Other attractions to Houston include its proximity to NASA's Space Center Houston on the Gulf coast, and its Downtown which features a vibrant museum and arts scene, shopping, and dining.
Which city is cheaper, Houston 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 Houston is $210. 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. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Columbus and Houston in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $116 in Columbus For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $226 for a double occupancy room in Houston.
Food
The average traveler spends about $39 per day in Columbus for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
The average traveler spends about $28 per day in Houston for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Columbus $39
Houston $28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Houston
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Houston.
-
Astroville Food Tour of Downtown Houston with Tunnel Access:
$65
-
Culinary Food Tour of Downtown Houston with Tunnel Access:
$67
-
Downtown Houston Food Tour:
$74
-
The Heights Food Tour:
$74
Local Transportation
To get around in Columbus, the average visitor spends $40 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
The average price of local transportation around Houston is $58 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
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 John Glen Airport (CMH) to Columbus - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$174
-
Columbus to Columbus John Glen Airport (CMH) - Departure Private Transfer:
$87
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Houston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Houston:
-
Transfer in private vehicle from Houston George Bush Airport to Houston Downtown:
$47
-
Transfer in private vehicle from Houston Downtown to George Bush Airport:
$47
-
Transfer in private minivan from Houston George Bush Airport to Houston Downtown:
$47
-
Transfer in private minivan from Houston City Center to George Bush Airport:
$47
-
Transfer from William P. Hobby Airport to Houston:
$75
-
Transfer from George Bush Intercontinental Airport to Houston:
$100
-
Sprinter Van IAH Transfer to Galveston:
$462
-
Sprinter Van Airport Transfer in Houston:
$320
-
Sedan Airport Transfer in Houston:
$100
-
Sedan Airport Transfer IAH to Galveston:
$256
-
SUV Airport Transfer to Galveston:
$299
-
SUV Airport Transfer in Houston:
$147
Is it cheaper to fly into Columbus or Houston?
Prices for flights to both Houston 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.
Entertainment
In Columbus, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $37 per person, per day.
Houston's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $11 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
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
Tours and Activities in Houston
Here are a few actual costs in Houston for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
1-Day Houston City Tour ( Houston departure ) (HU1):
$60
-
1-Day Mexico Gulf+NASA Tour (Houston departure) (X1):
$60
-
2-Day Austin+San Antonio Tour (Huston departure)(HS2):
$198
-
2-Days New Orleans Tour (Houston departure)(HN2):
$238
-
3D Printer Factory Tour plus 2 ft Tall Rocket!:
$31
-
7-Day Texas Tour ( Houston departure ) ( APH7 ):
$788
-
Astroville Light Rail Train Tour of Houston with Tunnel Access:
$40
-
Astroville Rockets Basketball Game Day Tour with Tunnel Access:
$36
-
Astroville Underground Tunnel Tour of Downtown Houston:
$26
-
Astroville Weekend Downtown Houston Tour With Tunnel Access:
$35
-
Audi R8 Supercar Experience at Grandsport Speedway:
$435
-
Best City Tour 2 hours:
$51
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Columbus spend on average $16 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Houston may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $11 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Houston
Also in Houston, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Skip the Line: Distillery Tour Ticket:
$21
-
Haunted Houston Ghost and Pub Walking Tour:
$27
-
Brewery Pass with Beer Tastings:
$29
-
Brewery Tour:
$53
-
Astroville Downtown Bar Crawl & Tunnel Access (2 Cocktails Beverages Included):
$58
-
Bar Crawl with Tunnel Access and 2 Cocktails:
$67
-
2-Hour Downtown Brewery Tour by Electric Cart:
$70
-
SUV St. Arnold Brewery Tour:
$487
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Columbus and Houston, we can see that Houston 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 Houston would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Houston than you might in Columbus.
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