Which city is cheaper, Columbia or Tampa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Tampa or Columbia? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
On the north shore of Tampa Bay, across the water from Saint Peterburg, is the city of Tampa. The city has a population of almost 350,000. The metropolitan area includes Tampa, St. Peterburg, and Clearwater. It has about 2.9 million residents and is the second largest metropolitan area in the state. The city is a popular destination for outdoor activities and in 2008 it was ranked the 5th best outdoor city by Forbes.
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 Tampa is $136, 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 Tampa and Columbia in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Tampa 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.
Also for Tampa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Columbia and Tampa 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.
For Tampa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Columbia are as follows:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Tampa:
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 Tampa and Columbia, we can see that Tampa 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 Tampa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tampa than you might in 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.
The summer brings many poeple to Tampa as well as Columbia. The summer months attract visitors to Tampa because of the beaches, snorkeling, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Tampa is generally around the same temperature as Columbia. Temperatures in Tampa average around 82°F (28°C), and Columbia stays around 82°F (28°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Columbia. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Tampa this time of the year. In the summer, Tampa often gets less sunshine than Columbia. Tampa gets 265 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Columbia receives 293 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Columbia. Tampa receives a lot of rain in the summer. Tampa usually gets more rain in July than Columbia. Tampa gets 8.4 inches (214 mm) of rain, while Columbia receives 4.6 inches (116 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Both Columbia and Tampa are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The city's sights and attractions are the main draw to Tampa this time of year.
Tampa is a little warmer than Columbia in the autumn. The temperature in Tampa is usually 75°F (24°C) in October, and Columbia stays around 64°F (18°C).
It's quite sunny in Columbia. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Tampa. Tampa usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Columbia during autumn. Tampa gets 234 hours of sunny skies, while Columbia receives 230 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Tampa usually receives less rain than Columbia. Tampa gets 2.6 inches (65 mm) of rain, while Columbia receives 3 inches (75 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
Both Columbia and Tampa during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Tampa for the cuisine.
In the winter, Tampa is much warmer than Columbia. Typically, the winter temperatures in Tampa in January are around 60°F (15°C), and Columbia is about 45°F (7°C).
It's quite sunny in Tampa. In the winter, Tampa often gets more sunshine than Columbia. Tampa gets 200 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Columbia receives 171 hours of full sun.
Tampa usually gets less rain in January than Columbia. Tampa gets 2.3 inches (59 mm) of rain, while Columbia receives 3.7 inches (93 mm) of rain this time of the year.
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Tampa and Columbia. Many visitors come to Tampa in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city.
In April, Tampa is generally a little warmer than Columbia. Temperatures in Tampa average around 71°F (22°C), and Columbia stays around 64°F (18°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Columbia this time of the year. In Tampa, it's very sunny this time of the year. Tampa usually receives more sunshine than Columbia during spring. Tampa gets 299 hours of sunny skies, while Columbia receives 273 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Tampa usually receives less rain than Columbia. Tampa gets 2.1 inches (53 mm) of rain, while Columbia receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
Tampa | Columbia | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 60°F (15°C) | 2.3 inches (59 mm) | 45°F (7°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) |
Feb | 61°F (16°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) | 48°F (9°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) |
Mar | 67°F (19°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) | 56°F (13°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) |
Apr | 71°F (22°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) |
May | 77°F (25°C) | 2.4 inches (61 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) |
Jun | 81°F (27°C) | 6.5 inches (165 mm) | 78°F (26°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) |
Jul | 82°F (28°C) | 8.4 inches (214 mm) | 82°F (28°C) | 4.6 inches (116 mm) |
Aug | 82°F (28°C) | 8 inches (203 mm) | 81°F (27°C) | 5.8 inches (147 mm) |
Sep | 81°F (27°C) | 6.3 inches (161 mm) | 75°F (24°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) |
Oct | 75°F (24°C) | 2.6 inches (65 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) |
Nov | 68°F (20°C) | 1.8 inches (45 mm) | 56°F (13°C) | 2.1 inches (54 mm) |
Dec | 62°F (17°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) | 48°F (9°C) | 2.6 inches (67 mm) |
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