Which place is cheaper, Ponce or Columbus?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Columbus or Ponce?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Columbus or Ponce? 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.
Where Should I go: Columbus or Ponce?
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.
Ponce
Ponce is on the south coast of Puerto Rico. It's the second largest city on the island and has been around since 1692 when it was originally founded by Ponce de Leon's grandson Juan Ponce de Leon y Loayza. The city has several nicknames, including La Perla del Sur (The Pearl of the South), La Ciudad Senorial (The Noble, or Lordly, City), and La Ciudad de las Quenepas (Genip City).
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, and The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America.
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Columbus Prices
USA PricesPonce Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayColumbus $193Ponce $230
The average daily cost (per person) in Columbus is $193, while the average daily cost in Ponce is $230. 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 Columbus and Ponce in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personColumbus $72Ponce $151
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomColumbus $144Ponce $302
Compare Hotels in Columbus and Ponce
Looking for a hotel in Columbus or Ponce? 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: Columbus Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Columbus $50Ponce $10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Columbus
Also for Columbus, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Columbus International Airport Private Transfer with Bus or Coach: $90
- Columbus John Glen Airport (CMH) to Columbus - Arrival Private Transfer: $106
- Columbus to Columbus John Glen Airport (CMH) - Departure Private Transfer: $106
- Columbus Ohio (CMH) Airport Arrival or Departure Private Transfer: $180
- Columbus John Glen Airport (CMH) to Columbus - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $212
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ponce
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ponce:
- Vega Baja to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $170
- Transfer TO or FROM: Airport,Cruise,Hotel in DORADO or RIO GRANDE: $70
- Transfer SJU Airport to Humacao and Nagüabo. Vice Versa One Way Trip: $185
- San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $46
- San Juan PR Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Transfer: $46
- San Juan Departure Share Transfer: $27
- Rio Grande hotel to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $109
- Private Transfers from SJU Airport to Isla Verde, Condado or San Juan área : $60
- Private Transfer from San Juan City Hotels to Ponce Cruise Port: $79
- Isabela / Hatillo to Aguadilla Airport(BQN) - DepartureTransfer: $44
- Aguadilla Hernandez Airport (BQN) to Isabela - RoundTrip Transfer: $87
Is it cheaper to fly into Columbus or Ponce?
Prices for flights to both Ponce and Columbus 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 dayColumbus $85Ponce $61
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Columbus
For Columbus, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Short North Walking Food Tour : $89
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ponce
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ponce.
- Latin Night with Dinner and Local Music with Transportation: $59
- Puerto Rico Art and Wine Dinner with One Way Transportation: $89
- Private Cooking Class with a Fun Local in San German, Puerto Rico: $96
- Private Half-Day Island Authentic Food Tour : $130
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Columbus $46Ponce $56
Tours and Activities in Columbus
For Columbus, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Columbus by Crazy Dash: $10
- Experience a Scavenger Hunt in A German Village: $15
- Experience the season with a scavenger hunt in Columbus with Holly Jolly Hunt: $20
- Columbus Ohio Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour and Game: $25
- LEGOLAND Discovery Center Columbus Admission Ticket: $26
- Shared Yoga and Coffee Experience On The Trolley Pub: $39
- Columbus Scavenger Hunt Adventure : $49
- The Perfect Half Day Columbus Adventure: $59
Tours and Activities in Ponce
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ponce are as follows:
- Half-Day El Yunque Rainforest Tour from Fajardo: $65
- Scuba Boat Diving Experience in Gilligan's Island at Copamarina: $160
- 2.5-Hour Historical Walking Tour of Old San Juan: $65
- 5 hours Tour in La Parguera Private Boat Charter: $200
- 7 Hours River Tour with Beach and Learn to Make Piña Colada : $195
- 8 Hours Private Tours in Puerto Rico: $150
- Adventure in Cave and the Guayaney Spring: $99
- Afro-Boriken-Loiza: Food, Cave & Art Tour: $140
- Aguadilla 6 Hour Local Tour: $150
- Camuy Caves Experience Tour with transportation: $130
- Cave Hopping Tour: $198
- Caves Coastlines and Beach; Cueva del Indio, Arecibo Adventure : $125
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayColumbus $20Ponce $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Columbus
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Columbus:
- Columbus Ohio Bar Crawl: $15
Sample the Local Flavors in Ponce
Also in Ponce, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Artisan Puertorrican Winery and Distillery Tour: $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Columbus and Ponce, we can see that Ponce is more expensive. And not only is Columbus much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Columbus is in North America and Ponce is in Caribbean Islands, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Ponce would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ponce than you might in Columbus.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Columbus Expensive? and Is Ponce Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Columbus or Ponce?
Columbus has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Ponce. When comparing the sizes of Columbus and Ponce, 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 Columbus or Ponce?
Columbus has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Ponce experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Columbus or Ponce in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Columbus as well as Ponce. Many visitors come to Columbus in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ponce throughout the year.
In the summer, Columbus is cooler than Ponce. Typically, the summer temperatures in Columbus in July average around 77°F (25°C), and Ponce averages at about 28°C (83°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ponce. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Columbus this time of the year. In the summer, Columbus often gets less sunshine than Ponce. Columbus gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 287 hours of full sun.
Columbus receives a lot of rain in the summer. Columbus usually gets more rain in July than Ponce. Columbus gets 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain, while Ponce receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyColumbus 77°F (25°C)Ponce 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Columbus or Ponce in the Autumn?
Both Ponce and Columbus are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Columbus for the shopping scene during these months. Plenty of visitors come to Ponce because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In October, Columbus is generally much colder than Ponce. Daily temperatures in Columbus average around 57°F (14°C), and Ponce fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
It's quite sunny in Ponce. Columbus usually receives less sunshine than Ponce during autumn. Columbus gets 179 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 235 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Ponce. In October, Columbus usually receives less rain than Ponce. Columbus gets 2.2 inches (55 mm) of rain, while Ponce receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberColumbus 57°F (14°C)Ponce 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Columbus or Ponce in the Winter?
Both Ponce and Columbus during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Columbus because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ponce year-round.
The weather in Columbus can be very cold. Columbus is much colder than Ponce in the winter. The daily temperature in Columbus averages around 30°F (-1°C) in January, and Ponce fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
In Ponce, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Columbus often gets less sunshine than Ponce. Columbus gets 105 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 240 hours of full sun.
Columbus usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Ponce. Columbus gets 2.2 inches (56 mm) of rain, while Ponce receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryColumbus 30°F (-1°C)Ponce 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Columbus or Ponce in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Columbus and Ponce. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the spring, Columbus is much colder than Ponce. Typically, the spring temperatures in Columbus in April average around 54°F (12°C), and Ponce averages at about 26°C (79°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ponce this time of the year. Columbus usually receives less sunshine than Ponce during spring. Columbus gets 200 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 272 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Columbus usually receives more rain than Ponce. Columbus gets 3.2 inches (81 mm) of rain, while Ponce receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilColumbus 54°F (12°C)Ponce 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for Ponce and Columbus
| Columbus | Ponce | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 30°F (-1°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 33°F (1°C) | 2.2 inches (55 mm) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 45°F (7°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 54°F (12°C) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 65°F (18°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 73°F (23°C) | 4 inches (102 mm) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 77°F (25°C) | 4.4 inches (112 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 75°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 69°F (20°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 57°F (14°C) | 2.2 inches (55 mm) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 47°F (8°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 35°F (2°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
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.