Which city is cheaper, Pocono Mountains or Columbus?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Columbus vs. Pocono Mountains for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Columbus or Pocono Mountains?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Columbus or Pocono Mountains? 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 Pocono Mountains?
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.
Pocono Mountains
The Poconos are a region of mountains, small towns, and natural areas in Eastern Pennsylvania. Located just a few hours from both New York City and Philadelphia, this region of 4 counties (Wayne, Pike, Monroe, & Carbon) consists of plenty of mountain scenery, gorgeous lakes, historic small towns, ski resorts, state parks, water parks, and more.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayColumbus $126Pocono Mountains $139
The average daily cost (per person) in Columbus is $126, while the average daily cost in Pocono Mountains is $139. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Columbus and Pocono Mountains in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personColumbus $58Pocono Mountains $71
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomColumbus $116Pocono Mountains $142
Compare Hotels in Columbus and Pocono Mountains
Looking for a hotel in Columbus or Pocono Mountains? 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 Pocono Mountains Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Columbus $40Pocono Mountains $39
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Columbus or Pocono Mountains?
Prices for flights to both Pocono Mountains 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 $39Pocono Mountains $42
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Columbus $37Pocono Mountains $24
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
- New York City: 3-Hour City Highlights Guided Bike Tour: $60
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayColumbus $16Pocono Mountains $11
When comparing the travel costs between Columbus and Pocono Mountains, we can see that Pocono Mountains 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.
When is the best time to visit Columbus or Pocono Mountains?
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 Pocono Mountains in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Columbus as well as Pocono Mountains.
In the summer, Columbus is around the same temperature as Pocono Mountains. Typically, the summer temperatures in Columbus in July are around 77°F (25°C), and Pocono Mountains is about 75°F (24°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Pocono Mountains. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Columbus this time of the year. In the summer, Columbus often gets less sunshine than Pocono Mountains. Columbus gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pocono Mountains receives 288 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Pocono Mountains. Columbus receives a lot of rain in the summer. Columbus usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Pocono Mountains. Columbus gets 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain, while Pocono Mountains receives 4.4 inches (111 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyColumbus 77°F (25°C)Pocono Mountains 75°F (24°C)
Should I visit Columbus or Pocono Mountains in the Autumn?
Both Pocono Mountains and Columbus are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
In October, Columbus is generally a little warmer than Pocono Mountains. Temperatures in Columbus average around 57°F (14°C), and Pocono Mountains stays around 55°F (13°C).
Columbus usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Pocono Mountains during autumn. Columbus gets 179 hours of sunny skies, while Pocono Mountains receives 168 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Columbus usually receives less rain than Pocono Mountains. Columbus gets 2.2 inches (55 mm) of rain, while Pocono Mountains receives 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberColumbus 57°F (14°C)Pocono Mountains 55°F (13°C)
Should I visit Columbus or Pocono Mountains in the Winter?
Both Pocono Mountains and Columbus during the winter are popular places to visit.
It's quite cold in Pocono Mountains in the winter. The weather in Columbus can be very cold. Columbus is much warmer than Pocono Mountains in the winter. The temperature in Columbus is usually 30°F (-1°C) in January, and Pocono Mountains stays around 28°F (-2°C).
In the winter, Columbus often gets less sunshine than Pocono Mountains. Columbus gets 105 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pocono Mountains receives 127 hours of full sun.
Columbus usually gets less rain in January than Pocono Mountains. Columbus gets 2.2 inches (56 mm) of rain, while Pocono Mountains receives 3 inches (77 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryColumbus 30°F (-1°C)Pocono Mountains 28°F (-2°C)
Should I visit Columbus or Pocono Mountains in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Columbus and Pocono Mountains.
In the spring, Columbus is a little warmer than Pocono Mountains. Typically, the spring temperatures in Columbus in April are around 54°F (12°C), and Pocono Mountains is about 51°F (11°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Pocono Mountains this time of the year. Columbus usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Pocono Mountains during spring. Columbus gets 200 hours of sunny skies, while Pocono Mountains receives 213 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Columbus usually receives less rain than Pocono Mountains. Columbus gets 3.2 inches (81 mm) of rain, while Pocono Mountains receives 3.8 inches (96 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilColumbus 54°F (12°C)Pocono Mountains 51°F (11°C)
Typical Weather for Pocono Mountains and Columbus
| Columbus | Pocono Mountains | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 30°F (-1°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) | 28°F (-2°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) |
| Feb | 33°F (1°C) | 2.2 inches (55 mm) | 31°F (-1°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Mar | 45°F (7°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 41°F (5°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) |
| Apr | 54°F (12°C) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) | 51°F (11°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
| May | 65°F (18°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) | 62°F (17°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
| Jun | 73°F (23°C) | 4 inches (102 mm) | 71°F (22°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) |
| Jul | 77°F (25°C) | 4.4 inches (112 mm) | 75°F (24°C) | 4.4 inches (111 mm) |
| Aug | 75°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) | 73°F (23°C) | 4.2 inches (106 mm) |
| Sep | 69°F (20°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) | 66°F (19°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) |
| Oct | 57°F (14°C) | 2.2 inches (55 mm) | 55°F (13°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| Nov | 47°F (8°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 45°F (7°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) |
| Dec | 35°F (2°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) | 33°F (1°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) |
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