A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Tallahassee vs. Columbia for Attractions, Nightlife, Families, and Backpackers

Should you visit Tallahassee or Columbia?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Tallahassee and Columbia can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Tallahassee

Tallahassee is a youthful, lively, and vibrant city. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Columbia

Columbia is a welcoming, suburban, and friendly city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and shopping.

Tallahassee and Columbia: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Tallahassee or Columbia?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Tallahassee than Columbia, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Tallahassee is more touristy than Columbia and is popular for its capital building and many universities. It is also home to Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park. Columbia is popular for its southern hospitality and friendly people.

How is Tallahassee different from Columbia?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Columbia and Tallahassee. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Tallahassee or Columbia?

Tallahassee is a well-known place for its sights and museums. Also, Columbia is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

Tallahassee offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. As the capital city of Florida, you'll find a number of museums around town. Tallahassee Museum has outdoor and indoor space to explore. You can also visit the Tallahassee Automobile Museum, the Museum of Florida History, or the Florida Historic Capital Museum.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Columbia. As the state capital, there are some decent museums around town like the Columbia Museum of Art, the South Carolina Military Museum, the South Carolina State Museum, and the U.S. Army Basic Combat Training Museum.

Is the Food Better in Tallahassee or Columbia? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Tallahassee and Columbia can be difficult as they are each decent in their own way.

Tallahassee may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. You'll find plenty of chain restaurants and cheap eateries that cater to the students. The main options are classic American restaurants with a few international restaurants mixed in as well.

Columbia offers some easy restaurants to choose from. Barbecue and other southern favorites are among the more local dishes, but the city is also filled with fast food joints and other major chain restaurants.

Is Tallahassee or Columbia Better for Nightlife?

The vibe at night is good in both Tallahassee and Columbia.

If you're looking for night time activities Tallahassee has a few options to choose from. The nightlife scene is mostly centered around the student population. There are many bars and pubs that fill up with students on weekends.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Columbia. You'll find live music venues as well as low key bars and more trendy cocktail lounges.

Is the Shopping Better in Tallahassee or Columbia?

If you're looking to go shopping, Tallahassee and Columbia both offer plenty of good spots.

Tallahassee has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There is no shortage of strip malls and shopping centers in the area. Some of the most interesting shopping is found at Railroad Square and Market Square.

Columbia is a great destination for shopping. You'll find independent and locally owned shops along Devine Street and in the Five Points area. Also interesting are the Vista, which is a warehouse district, and Trenholm Plaza.

Is Tallahassee or Columbia Better for Families?

Both Tallahassee and Columbia are good to visit with kids.

Tallahassee offers lots of family activities. There are plenty of outdoor parks and adventure activities for kids. You could also see the wild manatees at Wakulla Springs.

Columbia is a family-friendly place to visit. Around town you'll find parks, playgrounds, and kid-friendly restaurants. There's a zoo in the area as well as a nice state park - Sesquicentennial State Park. There's also EdVenture Children's Museum, which is filled with hands-on exhibits.

Is Tallahassee or Columbia Better for Couples?

Neither Tallahassee or Columbia is generally regarded as a top spot for a couple to visit.

Tallahassee is not always the best place to visit for a couple. Head to a restaurant or bar. You could also check out a concert or explore a garden or park in town.

Columbia is not the best destination for a couple to visit. You'll find parks to explore and some nice restaurants that make for a good date night.

Is Tallahassee or Columbia Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Tallahassee is a popular place for backpackers. However, Columbia is not a good city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Tallahassee. The student population creates an environment that is welcoming to backpackers. There's also a hostel in town with affordable rooms.

Columbia is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. While it's not an expensive place to visit, there is little in the area to attract backpackers.

Is Tallahassee or Columbia Better for Students?

Tallahassee is a well-known place for students. Also, Columbia is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its student-friendly activities.

Tallahassee is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. Both Florida State University and Florida A&M University are located here. There's a large student population with many activities and cheap restaurants that appeal to the student crowd.

Plenty of students visit Columbia. The University of South Carolina, and other nearby colleges all bring in a decent student population.

Is Tallahassee or Columbia Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Tallahassee and Columbia both offer decent public transit to get you around.

Public transit is mostly limited in Tallahassee. There is a bus system operated by StarMetro.

Public transit is generally limited in Columbia. The COMET is the bus system through town, but you really must have your own car to enjoy the city.

Is Tallahassee or Columbia a more walkable city?

Tallahassee is a moderate city for its high level of walkability. However, Columbia is not a good city for its ease of walking around.

Tallahassee is generally not very walkable. There are a couple of walkable areas around Railroad Square, Downtown, and Midtown, but for the most part the city is not pedestrian-friendly.

Columbia is not a very walkable city. It's filled with suburban-style development and is generally very car dependent.

For even more information, also check out Is Tallahassee Worth Visiting? and Is Columbia Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Columbia or Tallahassee?

How long in Tallahassee or Columbia?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Tallahassee or Columbia to fill your time. In our opinion, Tallahassee has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Tallahassee than Columbia. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Families should spend more time in Tallahassee than Columbia. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Tallahassee, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Tallahassee than Columbia. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Tallahassee that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Tallahassee than Columbia if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Tallahassee.

One day in Tallahassee or Columbia?

The city of Tallahassee offers nightlife and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and shopping when visiting the friendly city of Columbia. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A weekend in Tallahassee or Columbia?

Tallahassee is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Tallahassee, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Visitors enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the friendly destination of Columbia. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Five days in Tallahassee or Columbia?

Tallahassee is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

The friendly city of Columbia offers museums and nightlife. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A week in Tallahassee or Columbia?

Tallahassee is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

Many people enjoy the nightlife and shopping when visiting Columbia. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tallahassee and Columbia, we can see that Tallahassee 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 Tallahassee would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tallahassee than you might in Columbia.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tallahassee Expensive? and Is Columbia Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Tallahassee or Columbia?

Tallahassee has a larger population, and is about 32% larger than the population of Columbia. When comparing the sizes of Tallahassee and Columbia, 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 along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Tallahassee or Columbia?

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 Tallahassee or Columbia in the Summer?

Both Columbia and Tallahassee during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Tallahassee for the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, many visitors come to Columbia in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Tallahassee is generally around the same temperature as Columbia. Daily temperatures in Tallahassee average around 82°F (28°C), and Columbia fluctuates around 82°F (28°C).

In Columbia, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Tallahassee. In the summer, Tallahassee often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Columbia. Tallahassee gets 283 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Columbia receives 293 hours of full sun.

Columbia gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Tallahassee. Tallahassee usually gets more rain in July than Columbia. Tallahassee gets 8.9 inches (227 mm) of rain, while Columbia receives 4.6 inches (116 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Tallahassee or Columbia in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Tallahassee and Columbia. Many visitors come to Tallahassee in the autumn for the shopping scene. Furthermore, most visitors come to Columbia for the shopping scene during these months.

Tallahassee is a little warmer than Columbia in the autumn. The daily temperature in Tallahassee averages around 69°F (20°C) in October, and Columbia fluctuates around 64°F (18°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Columbia this time of the year. In Tallahassee, it's very sunny this time of the year. Tallahassee usually receives more sunshine than Columbia during autumn. Tallahassee gets 256 hours of sunny skies, while Columbia receives 230 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Tallahassee usually receives around the same amount of rain as Columbia. Tallahassee gets 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain, while Columbia receives 3 inches (75 mm) of rain each month for the autumn. The hurricane season in Tallahassee is June to November.

Should I visit Tallahassee or Columbia in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Tallahassee as well as Columbia. Most visitors come to Tallahassee for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Additionally, the winter months attract visitors to Columbia because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In the winter, Tallahassee is a little warmer than Columbia. Typically, the winter temperatures in Tallahassee in January average around 51°F (11°C), and Columbia averages at about 45°F (7°C).

In the winter, Tallahassee often gets more sunshine than Columbia. Tallahassee gets 185 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Columbia receives 171 hours of full sun.

Tallahassee usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Columbia. Tallahassee gets 3.7 inches (95 mm) of rain, while Columbia receives 3.7 inches (93 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Tallahassee or Columbia in the Spring?

Both Columbia and Tallahassee are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.

In April, Tallahassee is generally around the same temperature as Columbia. Daily temperatures in Tallahassee average around 67°F (19°C), and Columbia fluctuates around 64°F (18°C).

It's quite sunny in Columbia. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Tallahassee. Tallahassee usually receives more sunshine than Columbia during spring. Tallahassee gets 295 hours of sunny skies, while Columbia receives 273 hours of full sun in the spring.

It's quite rainy in Tallahassee. In April, Tallahassee usually receives more rain than Columbia. Tallahassee gets 4.1 inches (103 mm) of rain, while Columbia receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain each month for the spring. June to November is the hurricane season in Tallahassee.

Typical Weather for Columbia and Tallahassee