Which city is cheaper, Santa Fe or Columbus?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Columbus vs. Santa Fe for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Columbus or Santa Fe?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Columbus or Santa Fe? 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 Santa Fe?
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.
Santa Fe
Santa Fe is the state capital of New Mexico as well as the oldest state capital in the United States, founded in 1607. It has become a popular travel destination due to the surrounding scenic beauty, its long history, cultural diversity especially with its proximity to American Indian pueblos and culture, and a rich concentration of arts, music, and food.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayColumbus $126Santa Fe $127
The average daily cost (per person) in Columbus is $126, while the average daily cost in Santa Fe is $127. 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 Santa Fe in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personColumbus $58Santa Fe $64
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomColumbus $116Santa Fe $128
Compare Hotels in Columbus and Santa Fe
Looking for a hotel in Columbus or Santa Fe? 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 Santa Fe Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Columbus $40Santa Fe $49
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 - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $174
- Columbus John Glen Airport (CMH) to Columbus - Arrival Private Transfer: $87
- Columbus to Columbus John Glen Airport (CMH) - Departure Private Transfer: $87
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Fe
Also for Santa Fe, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Departure Transfer to Santa Fe Airport SAF: $125
- Private Arrival Transfer from Santa Fe Airport (SAF): $62
Is it cheaper to fly into Columbus or Santa Fe?
Prices for flights to both Santa Fe 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 $39Santa Fe $35
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Fe
For Santa Fe, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Dinner at the Coffee Farm: $55
- Santa Fe Railyard Arts District Food Tour: $102
- New Mexican Flavors Food Tour of the Santa Fe Plaza: $138
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Columbus $37Santa Fe $13
Tours and Activities in Columbus
For Columbus, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Central Park Bike Tour: $53
- Columbus Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $21
- LEGOLAND Discovery Center Columbus Ticket: $21
- New York City: 3-Hour City Highlights Guided Bike Tour: $60
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Columbus: $11
Tours and Activities in Santa Fe
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santa Fe.
- Bantayan Island Day Tour From Cebu: $173
- Beer and Art Tour: $40
- Guided Tour: 'Love Stories of Santa Fe": $498
- Land Tour | Bantayan Island - Sightseeing - Guided Tour: $46
- Lonely Planet Experiences: Private Walking Tour of Santa Fe: $170
- Santa Fe Architectural Walking Tour: $115
- Santa Fe Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $21
- Canyon Road Curated Art Walking Tour: $52
- Search for The Story-Documentary Film School Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $52
- Small-Group Canyon Road Art Tour: $37
- Small-Group E-Bike Adventure Tour through Hidden Santa Fe: $155
- The Best of Santa Fe Walking Tour: $498
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayColumbus $16Santa Fe $7.74
Sample the Local Flavors in Santa Fe
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Santa Fe:
- Join-In Wine Tours: $152
- White Water Rafting and Wine Tour: $217
When comparing the travel costs between Columbus and Santa Fe, we can see that Santa Fe 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.
Related Articles for Columbus
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