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

Should you visit Merida or Columbia?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Merida or Columbia, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Merida

Merida is a historical, traditional, and colonial city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping. See Merida travel costs.

Columbia

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

Merida and Columbia: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Merida or Columbia?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Merida than Columbia, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Merida is more touristy than Columbia and is popular for its vibrant plazas, long running history, and colonial architecture. It is also home to Grand Plaza. Columbia is popular for its southern hospitality and friendly people.

How is Merida different from Columbia?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Merida 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.

Merida offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The city is filled with culture and traditional heritage, and there are many museums and architectural landmarks that will educate and inform visitors on the area. Gran Museo del Mundo Maya is a highlight for many visitors. It's also worth visiting Museo Casa Montejo and Museo Palacio Canton. If you want to visit ruins, then the Dzibilchaltun Mayan Ruins are about 45 minutes outside of town.

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 Merida or Columbia? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Merida is a well-known place for its local cuisine and restaurants. However, Columbia is not a good city for its restaurants.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Merida. It's a top foodie destination in the Yucatan region and visitors will enjoy the many local restaurants and diverse local dishes that are influenced by the Mayan, Spanish, and Caribbean cultures. The most well known local dish is cochinita pibil, which is marinated pork shoulder. Other popular dishes include sopa de lima (lime soup), papadzules (enchiladas with pumpkin seed sauce), and relleno negro (a local stew).

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 Merida or Columbia Better for Nightlife?

Merida is a well-known place for nightlife and partying. Also, Columbia is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its evening party scene.

Merida offers plenty to do in the evening. Most tourists take advantage of the nightlife scene in the city's downtown area, while locals congregate in the northern part of town. The city has bars, theaters, night clubs, and live music that keeps the energy high late into the night.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Columbia. You'll find live music venues as well as low key bars and more trendy cocktail lounges.

Is Merida or Columbia Better for its Old Town?

Merida is a well-known place for its old town. However, Columbia does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors explore the old town while visiting Merida. Centered around the city's Grand Plaza, the old town is filled with colonial architecture and colorful buildings. The Catedral de San Ildefonso was the first cathedral built in the Americas. There are also monuments and examples of Mayan art and culture.

Columbia does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Merida or Columbia?

Merida is a well-known place for its shopping opportunities. Also, Columbia is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its shopping areas.

Merida is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. There are colorful markets that are filled with artisan crafts and traditional clothing. Visitors enjoy discovering the unique vendors and picking up souvenirs that are unique to the area.

Columbia has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. 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 Merida or Columbia Better for Families?

Merida and Columbia are both good destinations for the whole family.

Merida is a family-friendly city. The weekend is the best time to visit the city, as this is when there are the most activities. There are live performances that educate visitors on Mayan traditions. There are also historic museums, bike-friendly streets, and a vibrant central market.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Columbia. 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 Merida or Columbia Better for Couples?

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

Merida makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. If you're interested in Mayan culture and history, then this is a wonderful destination. There are also romantic hotels, excellent restaurants, and plenty of fascinating activities that couples will enjoy.

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 Merida or Columbia Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Merida is a well-known place for backpackers. However, Columbia is not a good city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Merida is a great city to visit for backpackers. It's a relatively large city with a number of hostels and budget hotels, so backpackers will have no problem finding a place to stay.

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 Merida or Columbia Better for Students?

Columbia is a nice place to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Merida 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.

Merida is not popular with students.

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

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

Merida has a few public transit options. While there are local bus routes, they can be a bit challenging to figure out when you first arrive.

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 Merida or Columbia a more walkable city?

Merida is a well-known place for its high level of walkability. However, Columbia is not a good city for its ease of walking around.

Merida is a very walkable city. It's a very walkable city and most visitors don't have a car.

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 Merida Worth Visiting? and Is Columbia Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Columbia or Merida?

How long in Merida or Columbia?

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

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

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

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

One day in Merida or Columbia?

The city of Merida offers food and shopping. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the destination of Columbia. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Merida or Columbia?

Merida 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. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Merida, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Columbia is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Merida or Columbia?

Merida 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Columbia. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Merida or Columbia?

Merida is a great place to explore. Visiting the old town is also a must. 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.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the welcoming destination of Columbia. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America.

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

Which is Bigger, Merida or Columbia?

Merida has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Columbia. When comparing the sizes of Merida 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 Merida 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 Merida or Columbia in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Merida as well as Columbia. Many visitors come to Merida in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Columbia for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Merida is generally cooler than Columbia. Daily temperatures in Merida average around 21°C (70°F), and Columbia fluctuates 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 Merida this time of the year. In the summer, Merida often gets less sunshine than Columbia. Merida gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Columbia receives 293 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Columbia. Merida usually gets less rain in July than Columbia. Merida gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Columbia receives 4.6 inches (116 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Merida or Columbia in the Autumn?

Both Columbia and Merida are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Merida for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Columbia because of the shopping scene.

Merida is a little warmer than Columbia in the autumn. The daily temperature in Merida averages around 21°C (70°F) in October, 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 Merida. Merida usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Columbia during autumn. Merida gets 233 hours of sunny skies, while Columbia receives 230 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Merida. In October, Merida usually receives more rain than Columbia. Merida gets 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Columbia receives 3 inches (75 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Merida or Columbia in the Winter?

Both Columbia and Merida during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Merida because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Columbia this time of year.

In the winter, Merida is much warmer than Columbia. Typically, the winter temperatures in Merida in January average around 20°C (68°F), and Columbia averages at about 45°F (7°C).

It's quite sunny in Merida. In the winter, Merida often gets more sunshine than Columbia. Merida gets 209 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Columbia receives 171 hours of full sun.

Merida usually gets less rain in January than Columbia. Merida gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Columbia receives 3.7 inches (93 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Merida or Columbia in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Merida and Columbia. The activities around the city are the main draw to Merida this time of year.

In April, Merida is generally a little warmer than Columbia. Daily temperatures in Merida average around 21°C (70°F), and Columbia fluctuates around 64°F (18°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Columbia this time of the year. In Merida, it's very sunny this time of the year. Merida usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Columbia during spring. Merida gets 260 hours of sunny skies, while Columbia receives 273 hours of full sun in the spring.

Merida gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Merida usually receives more rain than Columbia. Merida gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Columbia receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Columbia and Merida