A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Columbus vs. Providence for Food, Families, Attractions, and Nightlife

Should you visit Columbus or Providence?

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

Should I visit Columbus or Providence? 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.

Columbus

Columbus is a down-to-earth, authentic, and friendly city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and shopping.

Providence

Providence is a friendly, fascinating, and active city. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Columbus and Providence: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Columbus or Providence?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Providence than Columbus. While Columbus is larger than Providence, Providence has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Columbus is well known for its youthful energy and its growing arts scene. Providence is well known for its outdoor parks, historic atmosphere, and college town vibe. Also, Providence is famous for WaterFire.

How is Columbus different from Providence?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Providence and Columbus. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Columbus or Providence?

Spend time exploring the notable sights and museums in either Columbus or Providence.

Columbus is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Popular museums around town include the Center of Science and Technology, the Franklin Park Conservatory, the Columbus Museum of Art, and the Ohio History Center.

Providence offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There are several historical museums around town as well as art museums, zoos, a planetarium and natural history museum, and even a children's museum.

Is the Food Better in Columbus or Providence? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Providence is a very popular place for its restaurants. However, Columbus is lacking in good options for its restaurant scene.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Providence. The food scene around town has grown and diversified in recent years. You'll find a mix of international and local options and for such a small city, it really has a lot to offer.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Columbus. Hearty and heavy comfort food is the mainstay in this town. There's pizza, casseroles, sausage, and milkshakes around town.

Is Columbus or Providence Better for Nightlife?

The notable nightlife scene is relatively similar in Columbus and Providence.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Columbus. The live music scene is growing. There are also a growing number of breweries around town.

Providence has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. Comedy clubs, bars, and clubs keep the energy high during the evening hours. It's not hard to find something to do, particularly on weekend nights.

Is the Shopping Better in Columbus or Providence?

Shoppers can find a variety of notable stores in both Columbus and Providence.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Columbus. In addition to the standard shopping malls and retail outlets, there are some interesting shops in the Short North Arts District, German Village, and Easton Town Center.

Providence offers some nice shopping areas. Malls, shopping centers, and boutiques all offer a range of shopping experiences around town.

Is Columbus or Providence Better for Families?

Columbus is a great city for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Providence is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Columbus. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is a highlight for many families. Right by it is the Zoombezi Bay Waterpark. For hands-on science-based activities check out the Center of Science and Industry. Kids will also love the Legoland Discovery Center or the Anthony-Thomas Candy Factory. There are also many outdoor parks, greenways, and playgrounds to visit.

Providence is a family-friendly place to visit. There are opportunities for kids to interact with animals at the Roger Williams Park Zoo, as well as plenty of places for kids to run around like Rocky Point Park or Goddard Memorial State Park. There's also the Providence Children's Museum, go carting, and entertainment centers.

Is Columbus or Providence Better for Couples?

Providence is a popular place for romance. However, Columbus is lacking in good options for its romantic activities.

Providence is a nice destination for couples. You can see a show at the Providence Performing Arts Center or visit some of the city's historic buildings and museums. There are also parks and coastal walks as well as many great restaurants.

Most people don't think of Columbus as a couple's destination. You'll find restaurants and music venues that make for a nice date night. There are also wine tours and other entertainment options.

Is Columbus or Providence Better for Students?

Providence is a very popular place for its student-friendly activities. However, Columbus is not popular with students.

Providence is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. There's a college town vibe to this small city because it's home to Brown University, which is a member of the Ivy League.

Columbus is not popular with students.

Is Columbus or Providence Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Providence is a popular place for times when you don't have a car. However, Columbus is lacking in good options for its public transit.

Providence has some public transit options. There are RIPTA buses that travel around town.

Public transit is generally limited in Columbus. While there's a bus system, you'll really want to have a vehicle to get around town efficiently.

Is Columbus or Providence a more walkable city?

Providence is a very popular place for its walkability. Also, Columbus is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its high level of walkability.

Providence is very walkable. It's a walkable city and it's relatively easy to explore on foot.

Columbus is a somewhat walkable place. The older neighborhoods are the most walkable, but if you want to get around town, you'll need to have a car.

For even more information, also check out Is Columbus Worth Visiting? and Is Providence Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Providence or Columbus?

How long in Columbus or Providence?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Columbus and Providence. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Providence than in Columbus. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Columbus, and 2-3 days is enough time in Providence.

Families should spend more time in Columbus than Providence. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Columbus, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Providence than Columbus. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Providence that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Providence than Columbus if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Providence.

One day in Columbus or Providence?

With museums and nightlife around the welcoming city of Columbus, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Columbus, one day is sufficent for most.

The city of Providence offers food and shopping. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Columbus or Providence?

With nightlife and shopping around the destination of Columbus, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Providence is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Providence, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Columbus or Providence?

Columbus, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Providence is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Columbus or Providence?

Columbus is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Providence is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

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 2-Week Tours from Anchorage, and The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Columbus and Providence, we can see that Providence 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 Providence would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Providence than you might in Columbus.

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

Which is Bigger, Columbus or Providence?

Columbus has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Providence. When comparing the sizes of Columbus and Providence, 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 Providence?

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 Providence in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Columbus and Providence. Most visitors come to Columbus for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Providence because of the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Columbus is generally around the same temperature as Providence. Daily temperatures in Columbus average around 77°F (25°C), and Providence fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Providence this time of the year. In Columbus, it's very sunny this time of the year. Columbus usually receives less sunshine than Providence during summer. Columbus gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Providence receives 293 hours of full sun in the summer.

Columbus gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Columbus usually receives more rain than Providence. Columbus gets 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Columbus or Providence in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Columbus as well as Providence. The autumn months attract visitors to Columbus because of the shopping scene. Additionally, the shopping scene are the main draw to Providence this time of year.

Columbus is a little warmer than Providence in the autumn. The daily temperature in Columbus averages around 57°F (14°C) in October, and Providence fluctuates around 53°F (12°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Providence. In the autumn, Columbus often gets less sunshine than Providence. Columbus gets 179 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Providence receives 211 hours of full sun.

Columbus usually gets less rain in October than Providence. Columbus gets 2.2 inches (55 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Columbus or Providence in the Winter?

Both Providence 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. Also, many travelers come to Providence for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Providence. It's quite cold in Columbus in the winter. In the winter, Columbus is much warmer than Providence. Typically, the winter temperatures in Columbus in January average around 30°F (-1°C), and Providence averages at about 28°F (-2°C).

Columbus usually receives less sunshine than Providence during winter. Columbus gets 105 hours of sunny skies, while Providence receives 170 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Columbus usually receives less rain than Providence. Columbus gets 2.2 inches (56 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Columbus or Providence in the Spring?

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

In April, Columbus is generally a little warmer than Providence. Daily temperatures in Columbus average around 54°F (12°C), and Providence fluctuates around 48°F (9°C).

In Providence, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Columbus often gets less sunshine than Providence. Columbus gets 200 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Providence receives 225 hours of full sun.

Columbus usually gets less rain in April than Providence. Columbus gets 3.2 inches (81 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 3.7 inches (94 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Providence and Columbus