Which place is cheaper, Richmond or Columbus?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Columbus vs. Richmond for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Columbus or Richmond?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Columbus or Richmond? 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 Richmond?
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.
Richmond
One of the oldest American cities, Richmond was established in 1607 by English settlers led by Captain Christopher Newport and Captain John Smith. During the Civil War it existed as the capital of the Confederacy, and today it remains the capital of the U.S. state of Virginia. There are many historic sights to see and museums to explore, as well as plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayColumbus $158Richmond $161
The average daily cost (per person) in Columbus is $158, while the average daily cost in Richmond is $161. 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 Richmond in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personColumbus $72Richmond $101
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomColumbus $144Richmond $202
Compare Hotels in Columbus and Richmond
Looking for a hotel in Columbus or Richmond? 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 Richmond Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Columbus $50Richmond $72
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: $66
- Columbus to Columbus John Glen Airport (CMH) - Departure Private Transfer: $66
- Columbus John Glen Airport (CMH) to Columbus - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $132
- Columbus Ohio (CMH) Airport Arrival or Departure Private Transfer: $180
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Richmond
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Richmond:
- Richmond City to Richmond Airport (RIC) - Departure Private Transfer: $39
- Richmond Airport (RIC) to Richmond city - Arrival Private Transfer: $36
- Richmond Airport (RIC) to Richmond City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $72
Is it cheaper to fly into Columbus or Richmond?
Prices for flights to both Richmond 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 $49Richmond $21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Richmond
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Richmond.
- The Carytown Food Tour in Richmond: $80
- Church Hill Food Tour in Richmond, VA: $80
- Church Hill Food Tour: $80
- Trendy Carytown Food Tour: $80
- Arts District Food Tour in Richmond: $85
- Arts District Walking Food Tour: $85
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Columbus $46Richmond $13
Tours and Activities in Columbus
For Columbus, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Columbus by 3Quest Challenge: $10
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Columbus by Crazy Dash: $10
- Experience the season with a scavenger hunt in Columbus with Holly Jolly Hunt: $20
- Columbus Scavenger Hunt Adventure : $21
- Columbus Blue Jackets Ice Hockey Game Ticket at Nationwide Arena: $26
- LEGOLAND Discovery Center Columbus Ticket: $29
- The Escape Game Epic 60-Minute Adventures: $41
- 1-Hour Themed Escape Room Adventure & Narrative: $41
- Amazing Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $44
- Trolley Pub Holiday Lights Tour in Columbus: $45
- Private Downtown Columbus Tour Up to 3 Passengers: $399
Tours and Activities in Richmond
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Richmond are as follows:
- Amazing Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Richmond: $44
- Church Hill Chillers Ghost Tour: $25
- Church Hill Segway Tour in Richmond: $80
- Discover Downtown Richmond Bike Tour: $125
- Downtown Richmond Booze & Bites Tour: $90
- Electric Bike Tour to Upper Shirley Vineyards: $155
- Guided Walking Tour of Richmond: $38
- Haunted Capitol Hill Ghost Tour: $25
- Highlights of Hollywood Cemetery Walking Tour: $30
- Historic Trolley Tour: $38
- Hollywood Cemetery Electric Car Tour in Richmond: $50
- Hollywood Cemetery Segway Tour in Richmond: $76
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayColumbus $20Richmond -
Sample the Local Flavors in Richmond
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Richmond:
- Richmond Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl : $34
- Richmond Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- Richmond Craft Brewery Crawl By Junket: $74
- Drink Richmond Craft Brewery Crawl: $74
- Brewery Tour of Richmond, VA: $90
When comparing the travel costs between Columbus and Richmond, we can see that Richmond 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.
Which is Bigger, Columbus or Richmond?
Columbus is bigger, and its population is about 3.9 times larger than the population of Richmond. When comparing the population of Columbus vs. Richmond, 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 and the activities that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Columbus or Richmond?
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 Richmond in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Columbus as well as Richmond.
In July, Columbus is generally around the same temperature as Richmond. Daily temperatures in Columbus average around 77°F (25°C), and Richmond fluctuates around 78°F (26°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Richmond. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Columbus this time of the year. In the summer, Columbus often gets less sunshine than Richmond. Columbus gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Richmond receives 305 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Richmond. Columbus receives a lot of rain in the summer. Columbus usually gets less rain in July than Richmond. Columbus gets 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain, while Richmond receives 5 inches (128 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyColumbus 77°F (25°C)Richmond 78°F (26°C)
Should I visit Columbus or Richmond in the Autumn?
Both Richmond and Columbus are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
Columbus is around the same temperature as Richmond in the autumn. The daily temperature in Columbus averages around 57°F (14°C) in October, and Richmond fluctuates around 59°F (15°C).
It's quite sunny in Richmond. Columbus usually receives less sunshine than Richmond during autumn. Columbus gets 179 hours of sunny skies, while Richmond receives 221 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Columbus usually receives less rain than Richmond. Columbus gets 2.2 inches (55 mm) of rain, while Richmond receives 3.5 inches (90 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberColumbus 57°F (14°C)Richmond 59°F (15°C)
Should I visit Columbus or Richmond in the Winter?
Both Richmond and Columbus during the winter are popular places to visit.
Richmond can be very cold during winter. Columbus can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Columbus is much colder than Richmond. Typically, the winter temperatures in Columbus in January average around 30°F (-1°C), and Richmond averages at about 36°F (2°C).
In the winter, Columbus often gets less sunshine than Richmond. Columbus gets 105 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Richmond receives 169 hours of full sun.
Columbus usually gets less rain in January than Richmond. Columbus gets 2.2 inches (56 mm) of rain, while Richmond receives 3.2 inches (83 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryColumbus 30°F (-1°C)Richmond 36°F (2°C)
Should I visit Columbus or Richmond in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Columbus and Richmond.
In April, Columbus is generally cooler than Richmond. Daily temperatures in Columbus average around 54°F (12°C), and Richmond fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Richmond this time of the year. Columbus usually receives less sunshine than Richmond during spring. Columbus gets 200 hours of sunny skies, while Richmond receives 265 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Columbus usually receives more rain than Richmond. Columbus gets 3.2 inches (81 mm) of rain, while Richmond receives 3 inches (75 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilColumbus 54°F (12°C)Richmond 58°F (14°C)
Typical Weather for Richmond and Columbus
| Columbus | Richmond | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 30°F (-1°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) | 36°F (2°C) | 3.2 inches (83 mm) |
| Feb | 33°F (1°C) | 2.2 inches (55 mm) | 39°F (4°C) | 3.2 inches (80 mm) |
| Mar | 45°F (7°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 49°F (9°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) |
| Apr | 54°F (12°C) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) | 58°F (14°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) |
| May | 65°F (18°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) | 67°F (19°C) | 3.8 inches (98 mm) |
| Jun | 73°F (23°C) | 4 inches (102 mm) | 74°F (24°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) |
| Jul | 77°F (25°C) | 4.4 inches (112 mm) | 78°F (26°C) | 5 inches (128 mm) |
| Aug | 75°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) | 77°F (25°C) | 4.4 inches (113 mm) |
| Sep | 69°F (20°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) | 71°F (21°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Oct | 57°F (14°C) | 2.2 inches (55 mm) | 59°F (15°C) | 3.5 inches (90 mm) |
| Nov | 47°F (8°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 50°F (10°C) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) |
| Dec | 35°F (2°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) | 41°F (5°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
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Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
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