A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Columbus vs. Moncton for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Columbus or Moncton?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Columbus or Moncton? 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 Moncton?

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.

Moncton

Moncton is the largest city in the Canadian province of New Brunswick. Located in the Petitcodiac River Valley with access to the Bay of Fundy, and, by extension, the Atlantic Ocean, Moncton is also at the geographic center of Canada's Maritime Provinces. Today, the city's most famous attraction is Magnetic Hill, though there are also plenty of parks, museums, galleries, theatres, and other venues for entertainment.

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 Camping Tours in Canada, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Canada.


Which place is cheaper, Moncton or Columbus?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Columbus is $158, while the average daily cost in Moncton is $107. 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 Moncton in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Columbus $72
    Moncton $29
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Columbus $144
    Moncton $58
Compare Hotels in Columbus and Moncton

Looking for a hotel in Columbus or Moncton? 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.

Hotels in Columbus


Hotels in Moncton


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 Moncton Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Columbus $50
    Moncton -

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Columbus

Also for Columbus, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Columbus Ohio (CMH) Airport Arrival or Departure Private Transfer: $180
  • Columbus John Glen Airport (CMH) to Columbus - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $131
  • Columbus John Glen Airport (CMH) to Columbus - Arrival Private Transfer: $65
  • Columbus to Columbus John Glen Airport (CMH) - Departure Private Transfer: $65

Is it cheaper to fly into Columbus or Moncton?

Prices for flights to both Moncton 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Columbus $49
    Moncton $56

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Columbus $46
    Moncton $79

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
  • 1-Hour Themed Escape Room Adventure & Narrative: $41
  • Amazing Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $44
  • Experience the season with a scavenger hunt in Columbus with Holly Jolly Hunt: $20
  • LEGOLAND Discovery Center Columbus Ticket: $28
  • Trolley Pub Holiday Lights Tour in Columbus: $45
  • Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Columbus by Crazy Dash: $10

Tours and Activities in Moncton

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Moncton.

  • Moncton Self-guided walking tour and scavenger hunt: $38
  • Moncton, NB: Murder Mystery Detective Experience: $11

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Columbus $20
    Moncton $4.54


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Columbus and Moncton, we can see that Columbus is more expensive. And not only is Moncton much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Moncton would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Moncton 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 Columbus would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Columbus than you might in Moncton.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Columbus Expensive? and Is Moncton Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Columbus or Moncton?

Columbus has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Moncton. When comparing the sizes of Columbus and Moncton, 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 Moncton?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Columbus or Moncton in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Columbus and Moncton. Most visitors come to Columbus for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Columbus is generally a little warmer than Moncton. Daily temperatures in Columbus average around 77°F (25°C), and Moncton fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

Moncton receives a lot of rain in the summer. Columbus gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Columbus usually receives more rain than Moncton. Columbus gets 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain, while Moncton receives 103 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Columbus 77°F (25°C) 
    Moncton 19°C (66°F)

Should I visit Columbus or Moncton in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Columbus as well as Moncton. The autumn months attract visitors to Columbus because of the shopping scene.

Columbus is much warmer than Moncton in the autumn. The daily temperature in Columbus averages around 57°F (14°C) in October, and Moncton fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

It's quite rainy in Moncton. Columbus usually gets less rain in October than Moncton. Columbus gets 2.2 inches (55 mm) of rain, while Moncton receives 106 mm (4.2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Columbus 57°F (14°C) 
    Moncton 8°C (46°F)

Should I visit Columbus or Moncton in the Winter?

Both Moncton and Columbus are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Columbus this time of year.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Moncton. It's quite cold in Columbus in the winter. In the winter, Columbus is much warmer than Moncton. Typically, the winter temperatures in Columbus in January average around 30°F (-1°C), and Moncton averages at about -8°C (17°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Moncton. In January, Columbus usually receives less rain than Moncton. Columbus gets 2.2 inches (56 mm) of rain, while Moncton receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Columbus 30°F (-1°C) 
    Moncton -8°C (17°F)

Should I visit Columbus or Moncton in the Spring?

Both Moncton and Columbus during the spring are popular places to visit.

Moncton can get quite cold in the spring. In April, Columbus is generally much warmer than Moncton. Daily temperatures in Columbus average around 54°F (12°C), and Moncton fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).

Moncton gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Columbus usually gets less rain in April than Moncton. Columbus gets 3.2 inches (81 mm) of rain, while Moncton receives 101 mm (4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Columbus 54°F (12°C) 
    Moncton 3°C (38°F)

Typical Weather for Moncton and Columbus

Columbus Moncton
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 30°F (-1°C) 2.2 inches (56 mm) -8°C (17°F) 120 mm (4.7 in)
Feb 33°F (1°C) 2.2 inches (55 mm) -8°C (18°F) 97 mm (3.8 in)
Mar 45°F (7°C) 3.2 inches (82 mm) -3°C (27°F) 117 mm (4.6 in)
Apr 54°F (12°C) 3.2 inches (81 mm) 3°C (38°F) 101 mm (4 in)
May 65°F (18°C) 4.1 inches (105 mm) 10°C (50°F) 91 mm (3.6 in)
Jun 73°F (23°C) 4 inches (102 mm) 16°C (60°F) 93 mm (3.7 in)
Jul 77°F (25°C) 4.4 inches (112 mm) 19°C (66°F) 103 mm (4 in)
Aug 75°F (24°C) 3.7 inches (95 mm) 18°C (65°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Sep 69°F (20°C) 3 inches (76 mm) 13°C (56°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Oct 57°F (14°C) 2.2 inches (55 mm) 8°C (46°F) 106 mm (4.2 in)
Nov 47°F (8°C) 3.2 inches (82 mm) 2°C (36°F) 114 mm (4.5 in)
Dec 35°F (2°C) 2.8 inches (72 mm) -5°C (23°F) 126 mm (5 in)