A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Columbia vs. Halifax for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Columbia or Halifax?

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

Should I visit Columbia or Halifax? 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.

Columbia

Columbia is a suburban, friendly, and welcoming city. Other reasons to visit include nightlife, shopping, and museums. See Columbia travel costs.

Halifax

Halifax is a historical, friendly, and cultural city. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping. See Halifax travel costs.

Columbia and Halifax: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Columbia or Halifax?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Halifax than Columbia. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Halifax is more touristy than Columbia and is popular for its maritime past. It is also well known for the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site. Columbia is famous for its southern hospitality and friendly people.

How is Columbia different from Halifax?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Plenty of people visit the nice sights and museums in both Columbia and Halifax.

Columbia offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. 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.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Halifax. You should head to Pier 21, where you'll find the Canadian Museum of Immigration. The Discovery Center is a great spot for kids, as is the Natural History Museum. Finally, check out the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic and the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site.

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

Halifax is a popular place for its local cuisine and restaurants. However, Columbia is not a good city for its restaurants.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Halifax. You'll find lobster rolls and other seafood around town, but also make sure you try the Halifax donair, which is a shaved beef sandwich wrap that can be found a many pizza restaurants.

Columbia may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. 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 Columbia or Halifax Better for Nightlife?

Both Columbia and Halifax are nice when it comes to partying.

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.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Halifax. There's a laid back atmosphere to the nightlife scene. There are casual bars and pubs where you can meet the locals and a few nightclubs where there's a relaxed but fun atmosphere.

Is the Shopping Better in Columbia or Halifax?

Both Columbia and Halifax are nice shopping destinations.

Columbia offers some nice shopping areas. 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.

Halifax has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. You'll find a mix of boutiques, artisan shops, large malls, and shopping centers.

Is Columbia or Halifax Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Columbia or Halifax.

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.

Halifax is a family-friendly city. There are a handful of kid-friendly museums like the Museum of Natural History. Kids will also appreciate a visit to the Discovery Center or stretching their legs at Point Pleasant Park. History lovers should go see the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site.

Is Columbia or Halifax Better for Couples?

Halifax is a popular place for its romantic activities. However, Columbia is not a good city for couples.

Halifax makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples can wander down the waterfront or take a stroll through Point Pleasant Park. The city also has number of romantic restaurants and hotels.

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

Is Columbia or Halifax Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Plenty of budget travelers visit Halifax. There's actually a decent number of hostels around town for backpackers and budget travelers.

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 Columbia or Halifax Better for Students?

Columbia is a nice place to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Halifax is not popular with students.

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

Halifax is not popular with students.

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

Halifax is a popular place for its public transit. However, Columbia is not a good city for times when you don't have a car.

Halifax has a few public transit options. There are buses around town as well as a ferry to Dartmouth.

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

Is Columbia or Halifax a more walkable city?

Halifax is a popular place for its high level of walkability. However, Columbia is not a good city for its ease of walking around.

Halifax is a somewhat walkable place. It's a compact town that's relatively easy to explore on foot.

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 Columbia Worth Visiting? and Is Halifax Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Halifax or Columbia?

How long in Columbia or Halifax?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Columbia and Halifax. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Halifax than in Columbia. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Columbia, and 2-3 days is enough time in Halifax.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Halifax 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 Halifax.

One day in Columbia or Halifax?

In Columbia, you'll find museums and nightlife. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

The city of Halifax offers food and shopping. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Columbia or Halifax?

In Columbia, you'll find nightlife and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Columbia has to offer.

Halifax 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 Halifax, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Columbia or Halifax?

Columbia is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Halifax 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.

A week in Columbia or Halifax?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Columbia. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Columbia. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Halifax 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America, The Best G Adventures Tours to Canada, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Vancouver.

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

Which is Bigger, Columbia or Halifax?

Halifax has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Columbia. When comparing the sizes of Columbia and Halifax, 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 Columbia or Halifax?

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 Columbia or Halifax in the Summer?

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

In July, Columbia is generally much warmer than Halifax. Daily temperatures in Columbia average around 82°F (28°C), and Halifax fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

In Halifax, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Columbia. In the summer, Columbia often gets more sunshine than Halifax. Columbia gets 293 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Halifax receives 230 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Columbia. Columbia usually gets more rain in July than Halifax. Columbia gets 4.6 inches (116 mm) of rain, while Halifax receives 99 mm (3.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Columbia or Halifax in the Autumn?

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

Columbia is much warmer than Halifax in the autumn. The daily temperature in Columbia averages around 64°F (18°C) in October, and Halifax fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).

In Columbia, it's very sunny this time of the year. Columbia usually receives more sunshine than Halifax during autumn. Columbia gets 230 hours of sunny skies, while Halifax receives 148 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Halifax receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Columbia usually receives less rain than Halifax. Columbia gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Halifax receives 121 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Columbia or Halifax in the Winter?

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

The weather in Halifax can be very cold. In the winter, Columbia is much warmer than Halifax. Typically, the winter temperatures in Columbia in January average around 45°F (7°C), and Halifax averages at about -4°C (24°F).

In the winter, Columbia often gets more sunshine than Halifax. Columbia gets 171 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Halifax receives 111 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Halifax. Columbia usually gets less rain in January than Halifax. Columbia gets 3.7 inches (93 mm) of rain, while Halifax receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Columbia or Halifax in the Spring?

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

It's quite cold in Halifax in the spring. In April, Columbia is generally much warmer than Halifax. Daily temperatures in Columbia average around 64°F (18°C), and Halifax fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Columbia. Columbia usually receives more sunshine than Halifax during spring. Columbia gets 273 hours of sunny skies, while Halifax receives 148 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Halifax. In April, Columbia usually receives less rain than Halifax. Columbia gets 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain, while Halifax receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Halifax and Columbia