Which city is cheaper, Columbia or Gainesville?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Gainesville or Columbia, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Home to the University of Florida as well as Santa Fe College, the town of Gainesville has all of the shopping, entertainment, and restaurants that you could want in a college town - plus easy access to a number of outdoor adventures from canoeing, diving, and kayaking to birding, fishing, hiking, and biking. Some of the top features include the Butterfly Rainforest, the Florida Museum of Natural History, the Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, and Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park.
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 Gainesville is $172, 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 Gainesville and Columbia in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Gainesville 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 Gainesville:
Prices for flights to both Columbia and Gainesville 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 typical examples of dining costs in Gainesville are as follows:
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Gainesville are as follows:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Gainesville 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 Gainesville and Columbia, we can see that Gainesville 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 Gainesville would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Gainesville 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 Gainesville are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities.
In the summer, Gainesville is around the same temperature as Columbia. Typically, the summer temperatures in Gainesville in July are around 81°F (27°C), and Columbia is about 82°F (28°C).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Columbia. It's quite rainy in Gainesville. In July, Gainesville usually receives more rain than Columbia. Gainesville gets 6.8 inches (174 mm) of rain, while Columbia receives 4.6 inches (116 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
Both Columbia and Gainesville during the autumn are popular places to visit.
In October, Gainesville is generally a little warmer than Columbia. Temperatures in Gainesville average around 71°F (22°C), and Columbia stays around 64°F (18°C).
Gainesville usually gets less rain in October than Columbia. Gainesville gets 2 inches (51 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 Gainesville and Columbia.
Gainesville is much warmer than Columbia in the winter. The temperature in Gainesville is usually 54°F (12°C) in January, and Columbia stays around 45°F (7°C).
In January, Gainesville usually receives less rain than Columbia. Gainesville gets 2.9 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Columbia receives 3.7 inches (93 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
The spring brings many poeple to Gainesville as well as Columbia.
In the spring, Gainesville is a little warmer than Columbia. Typically, the spring temperatures in Gainesville in April are around 69°F (20°C), and Columbia is about 64°F (18°C).
Gainesville usually gets less rain in April than Columbia. Gainesville gets 2 inches (50 mm) of rain, while Columbia receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Gainesville | Columbia | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 54°F (12°C) | 2.9 inches (75 mm) | 45°F (7°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) |
Feb | 57°F (14°C) | 4.5 inches (115 mm) | 48°F (9°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) |
Mar | 63°F (17°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 56°F (13°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) |
Apr | 69°F (20°C) | 2 inches (50 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) |
May | 75°F (24°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) |
Jun | 80°F (26°C) | 6.8 inches (174 mm) | 78°F (26°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) |
Jul | 81°F (27°C) | 6.8 inches (174 mm) | 82°F (28°C) | 4.6 inches (116 mm) |
Aug | 81°F (27°C) | 8.3 inches (211 mm) | 81°F (27°C) | 5.8 inches (147 mm) |
Sep | 78°F (26°C) | 5.5 inches (139 mm) | 75°F (24°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) |
Oct | 71°F (22°C) | 2 inches (51 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) |
Nov | 63°F (17°C) | 2.4 inches (61 mm) | 56°F (13°C) | 2.1 inches (54 mm) |
Dec | 56°F (14°C) | 2.9 inches (74 mm) | 48°F (9°C) | 2.6 inches (67 mm) |
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