Which city is cheaper, Columbia or Durham?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Durham and Columbia can help you decide which place is right for you.
Durham is a city in central North Carolina with about 230,000 residents. Together with Raleigh and Chapel Hill, it forms the Research Triangle area. Durham is often referred to as the "City of Medicine" and is home to the famous Duke University.
Durham's history is rooted in tobacco. The Duke family established American Tobacco, which controlled 90% of all cigarette production in the US during the second half of the 19th century. The family donated money to Trinity College, which changed its name to Duke University in 1924.
Today much of Durham's economy is centered around the university and Research Triangle Park. The area has many technology and pharmaceutical jobs and the economy continues to grow.
Both the largest and capital city of South Carolina, Columbia is literally the center of everything. Geographically it is located in the middle of the state, and it is the home to the University of South Carolina, the Army's Fort Jackson, as well as a variety of museums that celebrate the city's art, history, and culture.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Durham is $130, while the average daily cost in Columbia is $0.00. 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 Durham and Columbia in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Durham or Columbia? 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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Durham:
Prices for flights to both Columbia and Durham 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.
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Durham are as follows:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Columbia are as follows:
Also in Columbia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Durham and Columbia, we can see that Durham is more expensive. And not only is Columbia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Columbia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Columbia 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 Durham would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Durham than you might in Columbia.
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.
Both Columbia and Durham are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities.
In July, Durham is generally around the same temperature as Columbia. Temperatures in Durham average around 79°F (26°C), and Columbia stays around 82°F (28°C).
It's quite sunny in Columbia. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Durham. Durham usually receives less sunshine than Columbia during summer. Durham gets 259 hours of sunny skies, while Columbia receives 293 hours of full sun in the summer.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Columbia. It's quite rainy in Durham. In July, Durham usually receives more rain than Columbia. Durham gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Columbia receives 4.6 inches (116 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
Both Columbia and Durham during the autumn are popular places to visit.
Durham is around the same temperature as Columbia in the autumn. The temperature in Durham is usually 61°F (16°C) in October, and Columbia stays around 64°F (18°C).
In Columbia, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Durham. In the autumn, Durham often gets less sunshine than Columbia. Durham gets 211 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Columbia receives 230 hours of full sun.
Durham usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Columbia. Durham gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Columbia receives 3 inches (75 mm) of rain this time of the year.
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Durham and Columbia.
It's quite cold in Durham in the winter. In the winter, Durham is much colder than Columbia. Typically, the winter temperatures in Durham in January are around 40°F (5°C), and Columbia is about 45°F (7°C).
Durham usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Columbia during winter. Durham gets 162 hours of sunny skies, while Columbia receives 171 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Durham usually receives less rain than Columbia. Durham gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Columbia receives 3.7 inches (93 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
The spring brings many poeple to Durham as well as Columbia.
In April, Durham is generally cooler than Columbia. Temperatures in Durham average around 60°F (16°C), and Columbia stays around 64°F (18°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Columbia. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Durham this time of the year. In the spring, Durham often gets less sunshine than Columbia. Durham gets 251 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Columbia receives 273 hours of full sun.
Durham usually gets more rain in April than Columbia. Durham gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Columbia receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Durham | Columbia | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 40°F (5°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 45°F (7°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) |
Feb | 43°F (6°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) | 48°F (9°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) |
Mar | 52°F (11°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) | 56°F (13°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) |
Apr | 60°F (16°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) |
May | 68°F (20°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) |
Jun | 76°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 78°F (26°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) |
Jul | 79°F (26°C) | 5.1 inches (129 mm) | 82°F (28°C) | 4.6 inches (116 mm) |
Aug | 78°F (26°C) | 4.9 inches (125 mm) | 81°F (27°C) | 5.8 inches (147 mm) |
Sep | 73°F (23°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) | 75°F (24°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) |
Oct | 61°F (16°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) |
Nov | 53°F (11°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) | 56°F (13°C) | 2.1 inches (54 mm) |
Dec | 44°F (7°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) | 48°F (9°C) | 2.6 inches (67 mm) |
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