A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Columbus vs. Saskatoon for Families, Attractions, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit Columbus or Saskatoon?

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

Should I visit Columbus or Saskatoon? 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.

Columbus

Columbus is a authentic, friendly, and welcoming city. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Columbus travel costs.

Saskatoon

Saskatoon is a cultural, friendly, and authentic city. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums. See Saskatoon travel costs.

Columbus and Saskatoon: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Columbus or Saskatoon?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Saskatoon than Columbus. While Columbus is larger than Saskatoon, Saskatoon has more sights and attractions for tourists. Columbus is famous for its youthful energy and its growing arts scene. Saskatoon is famous for its agriculture and outdoor spaces. It is also well known for Wanuskewin Heritage Park.

How is Columbus different from Saskatoon?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Columbus or Saskatoon?

Spend time exploring the nice sights and museums in either Columbus or Saskatoon.

Columbus is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Popular museums around town include the Center of Science and Technology, the Franklin Park Conservatory, the Columbus Museum of Art, and the Ohio History Center.

Saskatoon offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There are some museums and historical sites to check out such as Fort Battleford National Historic Site, Batoche National Historic Site, and the Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre.

Is the Food Better in Columbus or Saskatoon? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Saskatoon is a popular place for its restaurants. However, Columbus is lacking in good options for its restaurant scene.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Saskatoon. There's a great food scene around town with diverse restaurants and cuisines to choose from. You can sample dim sum, Mexican, Middle Eastern, Indian, and many more.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Columbus. Hearty and heavy comfort food is the mainstay in this town. There's pizza, casseroles, sausage, and milkshakes around town.

Is Columbus or Saskatoon Better for Nightlife?

The nice nightlife scene is relatively similar in Columbus and Saskatoon.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Columbus. The live music scene is growing. There are also a growing number of breweries around town.

Saskatoon has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There are enough clubs and bars around town to keep things entertaining. Most cater to a younger crowd, but the vibe is fun and full of energy.

Is the Shopping Better in Columbus or Saskatoon?

Shoppers can find a variety of nice stores in both Columbus and Saskatoon.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Columbus. In addition to the standard shopping malls and retail outlets, there are some interesting shops in the Short North Arts District, German Village, and Easton Town Center.

Saskatoon offers some nice shopping areas. A number of brands have opened stores in the downtown area in recent years, so the shopping scene continues to grow and diversify.

Is Columbus or Saskatoon Better for Families?

Columbus is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Saskatoon is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Columbus is a very kid-friendly city. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is a highlight for many families. Right by it is the Zoombezi Bay Waterpark. For hands-on science-based activities check out the Center of Science and Industry. Kids will also love the Legoland Discovery Center or the Anthony-Thomas Candy Factory. There are also many outdoor parks, greenways, and playgrounds to visit.

Saskatoon is a family-friendly city. It's filled with indoor and outdoor play areas. Make sure you check out the Nutrien Wonderhub as well as the countless playgrounds around town.

Is Columbus or Saskatoon Better for Couples?

Saskatoon is a popular place for romance. However, Columbus is lacking in good options for its romantic activities.

Saskatoon is a nice destination for couples. There are plenty of evening activities like dining out at a nice restaurant or taking in a show at the Persephone Theatre.

Most people don't think of Columbus as a couple's destination. You'll find restaurants and music venues that make for a nice date night. There are also wine tours and other entertainment options.

Is Columbus or Saskatoon Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Visitors will find reasonable public transit in both Columbus and Saskatoon.

Public transit is mostly limited in Columbus. While there's a bus system, you'll really want to have a vehicle to get around town efficiently.

Public transit is generally limited in Saskatoon. There is a bus system around town.

Is Columbus or Saskatoon a more walkable city?

Columbus and Saskatoon are nice when it comes to walkability.

Columbus is somewhat walkable. The older neighborhoods are the most walkable, but if you want to get around town, you'll need to have a car.

Saskatoon is a somewhat walkable place. The downtown is walkable and easy to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Columbus Worth Visiting? and Is Saskatoon Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Saskatoon or Columbus?

How long in Columbus or Saskatoon?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Saskatoon than Columbus 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 Saskatoon.

One day in Columbus or Saskatoon?

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Columbus. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Columbus has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

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

A weekend in Columbus or Saskatoon?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the friendly destination of Columbus. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

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

Five days in Columbus or Saskatoon?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and shopping when visiting the welcoming city of Columbus. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Saskatoon 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 Columbus or Saskatoon?

Columbus is a popular choice for travelers. One week 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Saskatoon 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 Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Canada.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Columbus and Saskatoon, we can see that Columbus is more expensive. And not only is Saskatoon much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Saskatoon would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Saskatoon 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 Columbus would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Columbus than you might in Saskatoon.

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

Which is Bigger, Columbus or Saskatoon?

Columbus has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Saskatoon. When comparing the sizes of Columbus and Saskatoon, 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.