A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers San Fernando vs. Columbia for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit San Fernando or Columbia?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Fernando 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.

Where Should I go: San Fernando or Columbia?

San Fernando

As the industrial capital of Trinidad & Tobago, San Fernando is an oil city which attracts more business visitors than tourists. While it is primarily focused on industry, the city has a certain charm with its old buildings and sloping streets that frame pretty views of the sea. It is the big city of Trinidad's southern half with plenty to offer in nightlife, especially during Carnival.

Columbia

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Columbia or San Fernando?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in San Fernando is $188, 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for San Fernando and Columbia in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    San Fernando $74
    Columbia -
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    San Fernando $148
    Columbia $0.00
Compare Hotels in San Fernando and Columbia

Looking for a hotel in San Fernando 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.

Hotels in San Fernando


Hotels in Columbia


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: Columbia Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    San Fernando $50
    Columbia -

Is it cheaper to fly into San Fernando or Columbia?

Prices for flights to both Columbia and San Fernando 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    San Fernando $83
    Columbia $8.70

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    San Fernando $28
    Columbia -

Tours and Activities in Columbia

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Columbia are as follows:

  • Lanterns and Lunacy of the Lost: Cruel Columbia Ghost Tours: $24

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    San Fernando $22
    Columbia $88


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Fernando and Columbia, we can see that San Fernando is more expensive. And not only is Columbia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Fernando is in Caribbean Islands and Columbia is in North America, 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 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 San Fernando would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Fernando 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 San Fernando Expensive? and Is Columbia Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, San Fernando or Columbia?

Columbia has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of San Fernando. When comparing the sizes of San Fernando 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 San Fernando or Columbia?

Columbia has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but San Fernando experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit San Fernando or Columbia in the Summer?

Both Columbia and San Fernando during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to San Fernando because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, most visitors come to Columbia for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

San Fernando is around the same temperature as Columbia in the summer. The daily temperature in San Fernando averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Columbia fluctuates around 82°F (28°C).

In Columbia, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in San Fernando. In the summer, San Fernando often gets less sunshine than Columbia. San Fernando gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Columbia receives 293 hours of full sun.

Columbia gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in San Fernando. San Fernando usually gets more rain in July than Columbia. San Fernando gets 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain, while Columbia receives 4.6 inches (116 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    San Fernando 27°C (81°F) 
    Columbia 82°F (28°C)

Should I visit San Fernando or Columbia in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both San Fernando and Columbia. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Fernando year-round. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Columbia because of the shopping scene.

In the autumn, San Fernando is much warmer than Columbia. Typically, the autumn temperatures in San Fernando in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Columbia averages at about 64°F (18°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Columbia this time of the year. In San Fernando, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Fernando usually receives less sunshine than Columbia during autumn. San Fernando gets 207 hours of sunny skies, while Columbia receives 230 hours of full sun in the autumn.

San Fernando gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, San Fernando usually receives more rain than Columbia. San Fernando gets 199 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Columbia receives 3 inches (75 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    San Fernando 27°C (81°F) 
    Columbia 64°F (18°C)

Should I visit San Fernando or Columbia in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to San Fernando as well as Columbia. San Fernando attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Columbia this time of year.

In January, San Fernando is generally much warmer than Columbia. Daily temperatures in San Fernando average around 26°C (78°F), and Columbia fluctuates around 45°F (7°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Fernando this time of the year. In the winter, San Fernando often gets more sunshine than Columbia. San Fernando gets 241 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Columbia receives 171 hours of full sun.

San Fernando usually gets less rain in January than Columbia. San Fernando gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Columbia receives 3.7 inches (93 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    San Fernando 26°C (78°F) 
    Columbia 45°F (7°C)

Should I visit San Fernando or Columbia in the Spring?

Both Columbia and San Fernando are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Fernando throughout the year.

San Fernando is much warmer than Columbia in the spring. The daily temperature in San Fernando averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, 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 San Fernando. San Fernando usually receives less sunshine than Columbia during spring. San Fernando gets 238 hours of sunny skies, while Columbia receives 273 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, San Fernando usually receives less rain than Columbia. San Fernando gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Columbia receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    San Fernando 27°C (81°F) 
    Columbia 64°F (18°C)

Typical Weather for Columbia and San Fernando

San Fernando Columbia
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 26°C (78°F) 71 mm (2.8 in) 45°F (7°C) 3.7 inches (93 mm)
Feb 26°C (79°F) 43 mm (1.7 in) 48°F (9°C) 3.5 inches (88 mm)
Mar 26°C (80°F) 34 mm (1.3 in) 56°F (13°C) 3.7 inches (95 mm)
Apr 27°C (81°F) 51 mm (2 in) 64°F (18°C) 2.8 inches (72 mm)
May 28°C (82°F) 117 mm (4.6 in) 72°F (22°C) 3 inches (77 mm)
Jun 27°C (81°F) 252 mm (9.9 in) 78°F (26°C) 3.5 inches (89 mm)
Jul 27°C (81°F) 266 mm (10.5 in) 82°F (28°C) 4.6 inches (116 mm)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 225 mm (8.9 in) 81°F (27°C) 5.8 inches (147 mm)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 203 mm (8 in) 75°F (24°C) 3.3 inches (84 mm)
Oct 27°C (81°F) 199 mm (7.8 in) 64°F (18°C) 3 inches (75 mm)
Nov 27°C (80°F) 228 mm (9 in) 56°F (13°C) 2.1 inches (54 mm)
Dec 26°C (79°F) 155 mm (6.1 in) 48°F (9°C) 2.6 inches (67 mm)


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