Which city is cheaper, Columbus or Durham?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Durham vs. Columbus for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Durham or Columbus?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
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 Columbus can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Durham or Columbus?
Durham
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.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDurham $130Columbus $126
The average daily cost (per person) in Durham is $130, while the average daily cost in Columbus is $126. 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 Columbus in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDurham $73Columbus $58
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDurham $146Columbus $116
Compare Hotels in Durham and Columbus
Looking for a hotel in Durham or Columbus? 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: Durham Hotel Prices and Columbus Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Durham $26Columbus $40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Durham
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Durham:
- Private Transfer from Durham to Manchester Airport (MAN): $407
- Durham to Raleigh-Durham Airport (RDU) - Departure Private Transfer: $139
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 Durham or Columbus?
Prices for flights to both Columbus 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayDurham $35Columbus $39
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Durham $21Columbus $37
Tours and Activities in Durham
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Durham are as follows:
- Trolley Pub Public Tour of Durham: $41
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 dayDurham $27Columbus $16
When comparing the travel costs between Durham and Columbus, we can see that Durham 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 Durham or Columbus?
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 Durham or Columbus in the Summer?
Both Columbus and Durham during the summer are popular places to visit.
In the summer, Durham is around the same temperature as Columbus. Typically, the summer temperatures in Durham in July are around 79°F (26°C), and Columbus is about 77°F (25°C).
In Columbus, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Durham. In the summer, Durham often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Columbus. Durham gets 259 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Columbus receives 254 hours of full sun.
Columbus gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Durham. Durham usually gets more rain in July than Columbus. Durham gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Columbus receives 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyDurham 79°F (26°C)Columbus 77°F (25°C)
Should I visit Durham or Columbus in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Durham and Columbus.
In October, Durham is generally a little warmer than Columbus. Temperatures in Durham average around 61°F (16°C), and Columbus stays around 57°F (14°C).
In Durham, it's very sunny this time of the year. Durham usually receives more sunshine than Columbus during autumn. Durham gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while Columbus receives 179 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Durham usually receives more rain than Columbus. Durham gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Columbus receives 2.2 inches (55 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberDurham 61°F (16°C)Columbus 57°F (14°C)
Should I visit Durham or Columbus in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Durham as well as Columbus.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Columbus. It's quite cold in Durham in the winter. Durham is much warmer than Columbus in the winter. The temperature in Durham is usually 40°F (5°C) in January, and Columbus stays around 30°F (-1°C).
In the winter, Durham often gets more sunshine than Columbus. Durham gets 162 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Columbus receives 105 hours of full sun.
Durham usually gets more rain in January than Columbus. Durham gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Columbus receives 2.2 inches (56 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryDurham 40°F (5°C)Columbus 30°F (-1°C)
Should I visit Durham or Columbus in the Spring?
Both Columbus and Durham are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In the spring, Durham is a little warmer than Columbus. Typically, the spring temperatures in Durham in April are around 60°F (16°C), and Columbus is about 54°F (12°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Durham. Durham usually receives more sunshine than Columbus during spring. Durham gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Columbus receives 200 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Durham usually receives around the same amount of rain as Columbus. Durham gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Columbus receives 3.2 inches (81 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilDurham 60°F (16°C)Columbus 54°F (12°C)
Typical Weather for Columbus and Durham
| Durham | Columbus | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 40°F (5°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 30°F (-1°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) |
| Feb | 43°F (6°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) | 33°F (1°C) | 2.2 inches (55 mm) |
| Mar | 52°F (11°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) | 45°F (7°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Apr | 60°F (16°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) | 54°F (12°C) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) |
| May | 68°F (20°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) | 65°F (18°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) |
| Jun | 76°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 73°F (23°C) | 4 inches (102 mm) |
| Jul | 79°F (26°C) | 5.1 inches (129 mm) | 77°F (25°C) | 4.4 inches (112 mm) |
| Aug | 78°F (26°C) | 4.9 inches (125 mm) | 75°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) |
| Sep | 73°F (23°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) | 69°F (20°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) |
| Oct | 61°F (16°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.2 inches (55 mm) |
| Nov | 53°F (11°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) | 47°F (8°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Dec | 44°F (7°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) | 35°F (2°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) |
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