Which place is cheaper, Columbus or Gainesville?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Gainesville vs. Columbus for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Gainesville or Columbus?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Gainesville or Columbus, 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.
Where Should I go: Gainesville or Columbus?
Gainesville
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.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGainesville $215Columbus $158
The average daily cost (per person) in Gainesville is $215, while the average daily cost in Columbus is $158. 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 Gainesville and Columbus in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGainesville $119Columbus $72
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGainesville $238Columbus $144
Compare Hotels in Gainesville and Columbus
Looking for a hotel in Gainesville 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: Gainesville Hotel Prices and Columbus Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Gainesville $41Columbus $50
Is it cheaper to fly into Gainesville or Columbus?
Prices for flights to both Columbus 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayGainesville $70Columbus $49
Typical Food prices in Gainesville
Some typical examples of dining costs in Gainesville are as follows:
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Diner Breakfast for Two$17
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Lunch at Chop Stix (for 2)$24
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Gainesville $20Columbus $46
Typical Entertainment prices in Gainesville
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Gainesville are as follows:
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Manatee Tour for Two$98
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Tour Guide Tip$5.00
Tours and Activities in Gainesville
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Gainesville are as follows:
- Butterfly Rainforest at Florida Museum of Natural History Ticket: $15
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Gainesville by Operation City Quest: $10
Tours and Activities in Columbus
For Columbus, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Columbus Scavenger Hunt Adventure : $21
- LEGOLAND Discovery Center Columbus Ticket: $29
- 1-Day Columbus Attractions Pass Ticket : $32
- 1-Hour Themed Escape Room Adventure & Narrative: $39
- The Escape Game Epic 60-Minute Adventures: $40
- Amazing Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $44
- 3-Day Columbus Attractions Admission Ticket: $45
- Private Downtown Columbus Tour Up to 3 Passengers: $399
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGainesville $49Columbus $20
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Gainesville and Columbus, we can see that Gainesville is more expensive. And not only is Columbus much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Columbus would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Columbus 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 Columbus.
Which is Bigger, Gainesville or Columbus?
Columbus is bigger, and its population is about 5.9 times larger than the population of Gainesville. When comparing the population of Gainesville vs. Columbus, 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 Gainesville 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 Gainesville or Columbus in the Summer?
Both Columbus and Gainesville during the summer are popular places to visit.
Gainesville is around the same temperature as Columbus in the summer. The daily temperature in Gainesville averages around 81°F (27°C) in July, and Columbus fluctuates around 77°F (25°C).
Columbus gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Gainesville. Gainesville usually gets more rain in July than Columbus. Gainesville gets 6.8 inches (174 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 JulyGainesville 81°F (27°C)Columbus 77°F (25°C)
Should I visit Gainesville or Columbus in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Gainesville and Columbus.
In the autumn, Gainesville is much warmer than Columbus. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Gainesville in October average around 71°F (22°C), and Columbus averages at about 57°F (14°C).
In October, Gainesville usually receives less rain than Columbus. Gainesville gets 2 inches (51 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 OctoberGainesville 71°F (22°C)Columbus 57°F (14°C)
Should I visit Gainesville or Columbus in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Gainesville as well as Columbus.
It's quite cold in Columbus in the winter. In January, Gainesville is generally much warmer than Columbus. Daily temperatures in Gainesville average around 54°F (12°C), and Columbus fluctuates around 30°F (-1°C).
Gainesville usually gets more rain in January than Columbus. Gainesville gets 2.9 inches (75 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 JanuaryGainesville 54°F (12°C)Columbus 30°F (-1°C)
Should I visit Gainesville or Columbus in the Spring?
Both Columbus and Gainesville are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
Gainesville is much warmer than Columbus in the spring. The daily temperature in Gainesville averages around 69°F (20°C) in April, and Columbus fluctuates around 54°F (12°C).
In April, Gainesville usually receives less rain than Columbus. Gainesville gets 2 inches (50 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 AprilGainesville 69°F (20°C)Columbus 54°F (12°C)
Typical Weather for Columbus and Gainesville
| Gainesville | Columbus | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 54°F (12°C) | 2.9 inches (75 mm) | 30°F (-1°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) |
| Feb | 57°F (14°C) | 4.5 inches (115 mm) | 33°F (1°C) | 2.2 inches (55 mm) |
| Mar | 63°F (17°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 45°F (7°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Apr | 69°F (20°C) | 2 inches (50 mm) | 54°F (12°C) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) |
| May | 75°F (24°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) | 65°F (18°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) |
| Jun | 80°F (26°C) | 6.8 inches (174 mm) | 73°F (23°C) | 4 inches (102 mm) |
| Jul | 81°F (27°C) | 6.8 inches (174 mm) | 77°F (25°C) | 4.4 inches (112 mm) |
| Aug | 81°F (27°C) | 8.3 inches (211 mm) | 75°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) |
| Sep | 78°F (26°C) | 5.5 inches (139 mm) | 69°F (20°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) |
| Oct | 71°F (22°C) | 2 inches (51 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.2 inches (55 mm) |
| Nov | 63°F (17°C) | 2.4 inches (61 mm) | 47°F (8°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Dec | 56°F (14°C) | 2.9 inches (74 mm) | 35°F (2°C) | 2.8 inches (72 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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