Should you visit Columbus or Las Vegas?
Should I visit Columbus or Las Vegas? 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.
Las Vegas
Las Vegas has long been the gambling capital of the United States. Known as "Sin City," it is a hot spot for bachelor and bachelorette parties, but in recent years it has seen a dramatic increase in weddings and business conferences. It is the largest city in the state of Nevada and one of the most visited and well known cities in the country. It is located in the Mojave Desert in South Nevada and has a very arid climate with very hot and dry summers. The average high in July is 104 degrees Fahrenheit, but as many people like to say "its a dry heat." Winters are cooler and pleasant with highs around 60 degrees Fahrenheits. Snow is very rare but the surrounding mountains are often topped with snow during the winter months.
Which city is cheaper, Las Vegas 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 Las Vegas is $246. 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 Las Vegas 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 $254 for a double occupancy room in Las Vegas.
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.
While meal prices in Las Vegas can vary, the average travelers spends about $64 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Las Vegas should cost around $26 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Las Vegas is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
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Food
Meals for one day
Columbus $39
Las Vegas $64
Typical Food prices in Las Vegas
Some typical examples of dining costs in Las Vegas are as follows:
-
Coffee
$5.00
-
Deep Fried Twinkie
$1.07
-
Chocolate Dip Banana
$1.07
-
Gelato
$5.95
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Las Vegas
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Las Vegas.
-
Only On The Strip Food Tour:
$79
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The "What The Frog?" Senor Frogs Dinner Package:
$80
-
Chinatown Vegan Food Tour:
$87
-
Downtown Vegan Food Tour:
$87
-
Walking Food Tour of Downtown Las Vegas:
$99
-
Evening Walking Food Tour on the Las Vegas Strip:
$103
-
Walking Food Tour of the Las Vegas Strip:
$103
-
Fremont Street Dinner Tour with Photographer:
$129
-
Secret Food Tours Las Vegas:
$131
-
Downtown Las Vegas Food Tour by Segway:
$149
-
Wild West Sunset Horseback Ride with Dinner from Las Vegas:
$150
-
Private Tour: Secret Food Tours Las Vegas:
$156
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 cost of a taxi ride in Las Vegas is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $38 per person, per day, on local transportation in Las Vegas.
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
Typical Local Transportation prices in Las Vegas
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Las Vegas are as follows:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Las Vegas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Las Vegas:
-
Transfer from McCarran International Airport to Las Vegas:
$75
-
Round-Trip Private Transfer Las Vegas Airport to Las Vegas City by Stretch Limo:
$150
-
Round-Trip Private Transfer Las Vegas Airport to Las Vegas City by SUV:
$110
-
Round-Trip Private Transfer Las Vegas Airport to Las Vegas City by Business Car:
$86
-
Round Trip McCarran Airport (LAS) Transfer to Las Vegas City Center:
$113
-
Private Transfer: McCarran International Airport (LAS) to Las Vegas:
$52
-
Private Transfer: Las Vegas - McCarran International Airport (LAS):
$52
-
Private Transfer from Las Vegas City to Las Vegas (LAS) Airport:
$95
-
Private Transfer from Las Vegas (LAS) Airport to Las Vegas City:
$95
-
Private Transfer Service in Las Vegas:
$95
-
Private Round-Trip Transfer between Las Vegas Center and Las Vegas Airport:
$84
-
Private One Way Transfer from McCarran Airport to Las Vegas Strip Hotels by SUV:
$115
Is it cheaper to fly into Columbus or Las Vegas?
Prices for flights to both Las Vegas 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.
Entertainment and activities in Las Vegas typically cost an average of $63 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
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
Typical Entertainment prices in Las Vegas
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Las Vegas are as follows:
Tours and Activities in Las Vegas
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Las Vegas are as follows:
-
1 Hour Private Limo Photo Tour:
$343
-
1-Day Grand Canyon West Rim Sunset Tour:
$135
-
1-Day Hoover Dam - Lake Mead - Oatman Ghost Town Tour:
$291
-
1-Day Tour to Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend from Las Vegas:
$176
-
1.5-Hour BLACKOUT: Dining in the Dark Experience in Las Vegas:
$81
-
11 Day Best of the West National Parks Tour Las Vegas to San Francisco:
$2,151
-
15-Day Southwest Grand Circle Tour:
$6,000
-
2 Day Zion and Bryce in depth National Tour Camp or Lodge options:
$330
-
2 Hour Photo Tour by Luxury Rolls Royce:
$986
-
2 Hour Private Limo Photo Tour:
$549
-
2-Day Grand Canyon Tour from Las Vegas:
$330
-
2-Day Private Tour: Grand Canyon, Zion Canyon and Bryce Canyon from Las Vegas:
$1,198
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Columbus spend on average $16 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
The average person spends about $44 on alcoholic beverages in Las Vegas per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in Las Vegas
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Las Vegas:
-
Zombie Burlesque Comedy Musical Show Ticket:
$49
-
Zombie Burlesque at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino:
$49
-
The Weird, Wacky and Wonderful Bar Crawl of Fremont Street:
$89
-
Las Vegas Bar Crawl:
$90
-
Las Vegas Brewery Tour by Party Bus:
$103
-
Bar Crawl On Fremont Street:
$260
-
Small Group Pahrump Wine Tasting with Death Valley Sightseeing and Stargazing:
$295
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Columbus and Las Vegas, we can see that Las Vegas 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 Las Vegas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Las Vegas than you might in Columbus.
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