Travel Budget for Cali Visit Cali on a Budget or Travel in Style

Cali, Departamento del Valle del Cauca, Colombia

How much does it cost to travel to Cali?

You should plan to spend around $25 (CO$96,093) per day on your vacation in Cali. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

  • $8.77 (CO$33,476) on meals
  • $5.76 (CO$21,967) on local transportation
  • $12 (CO$47,017) on hotels

A one week trip to Cali for two people costs, on average, $352 (CO$1,345,306). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    $25
    CO$96,093
  • One Week Per person
    $176
    CO$672,653
  • 2 Weeks Per person
    $352
    CO$1,345,306
  • One Month Per person
    $755
    CO$2,882,798
  • One Week For a couple
    $352
    CO$1,345,306
  • 2 Weeks For a couple
    $705
    CO$2,690,612
  • One Month For a couple
    $1,511
    CO$5,765,597
This data comes from the travel budgets of real travelers - How it works. Put these numbers on your website.


How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to Cali cost?

A one week trip to Cali usually costs around $176 (CO$672,653) for one person and $352 (CO$1,345,306) for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to Cali on average costs around $352 (CO$1,345,306) for one person and $705 (CO$2,690,612) for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Cali will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to Cali on average costs around $755 (CO$2,882,798) for one person and $1,511 (CO$5,765,597) for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.




Independent Travel

Traveling Independently to Cali has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.

All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.

Is Cali expensive to visit?

Cali is a very affordable place to visit. Located in Colombia, which is a very affordable country, visitors will appreciate the lower prices of this destination. It is in the top 10% of cities in the country for its affordability. Budget travelers enjoy spending long periods of time exploring Cali in depth.

Within South America, Cali is a reasonably affordable destination compared to other places. It is in the top 25% of cities in South America for its affordability. You can find more affordable cities such as Humahuaca, but there are also more expensive cities, such as Recife.

For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Cali Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to Cali?

The average Cali trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Cali travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.


Category Cost
Accommodation 1 (Double Occupancy) CO$47,017 ($12)
Local Transportation 1 CO$21,967 ($6)
Food 2 CO$33,476 ($9)
Entertainment 1 CO$41,490 ($11)
Tips and Handouts 1 CO$1,460 - 4,380 ($0 - 1)
Alcohol 2 CO$16,564 - 49,692 ($4 - 13)
Accommodation Budget in Cali
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Cali is $6.16 (CO$23,509). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Cali is $12 (CO$47,017). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.


  • Accommodation1 Hotel or hostel for one person
    $6.16
    CO$23,509
  • Accommodation1 Typical double-occupancy room
    $12
    CO$47,017

Hotel Prices in Cali

Looking for a hotel in Cali? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.

Find the best hotel for your travel style.

 

Actual Hotel Prices
The average hotel room price in Cali based on data provided by Kayak for actual hotel rooms is $35. (Prices in U.S. Dollars, before taxes & fees.)

Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.


Recommended Properties


Transportation Budget in Cali
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The cost of a taxi ride in Cali is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $5.76 (CO$21,967) per person, per day, on local transportation in Cali.


  • Transportation1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    $5.76
    CO$21,967

Recommended Services


Flights to Cali
How much does it cost to go to Cali? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.

Rental Cars in Cali
The price of renting a car in Cali will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.


What did other people spend on Transportation in Cali?

Typical prices for Transportation in Cali are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Cali, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.


  • Short Taxi Ride
    CO$3,900


Food Budget in Cali
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • While meal prices in Cali can vary, the average cost of food in Cali is $8.77 (CO$33,476) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Cali should cost around $3.51 (CO$13,390) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Cali is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.


  • Food2 Meals for one day
    $8.77
    CO$33,476

Recommended


Entertainment Budget in Cali
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • Entertainment and activities in Cali typically cost an average of $11 (CO$41,490) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.


  • Entertainment1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    $11
    CO$41,490

Recommended Activities


Tips and Handouts Budget in Cali
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average cost for Tips and Handouts in Cali is $0.77 (CO$2,920) per day. The usual amount for a tip in Cali is 5% - 15%.


  • Tips and Handouts1 For guides or service providers
    $0.77
    CO$2,920


Alcohol Budget in Cali
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average person spends about $8.68 (CO$33,128) on alcoholic beverages in Cali per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.


  • Alcohol2 Drinks for one day
    $8.68
    CO$33,128


Water Budget in Cali
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • On average, people spend $1.56 (CO$5,939) on bottled water in Cali per day. The public water in Cali is not usually considered safe to drink.


  • Water2 Bottled water for one day
    $1.56
    CO$5,939


Cali On a Budget
Cali Cali, Colombia
Cali is Colombia's third largest city. Founded in 1536, can be explored on foot: walk under the shade of trees along the riverbank, admire the architecture of churches and other national monuments, and visit the city's many museums. Being the salsa capital of the world, Cali is primarily a destination for salsa and party but it also offers some great days out in the nearby natural surroundings. In Cali, travelers can enjoy music festivals, learn about sugarcane farming, and take in the mountainous landscapes.
Sights
Visit the Cristo Rey, Admittedly, a giant Jesus statue, not as grand as Rio's Christ the Redeemer, but impressive nonetheless. As it is located on top of a hill overlooking the city, the views are fabulous, and a visit can easily be combined with the nearby Andoke butterfly farm. This huge butterfly farm features over 15 elegant technicolored species. Wander around a series of pretty walking trails while knowledgeable guides explain the life cycles of these wonderful creatures. Another rather unusual sight, is the Gato de Tejada, a famous sculpture of a cat found in a park that pays tribute to famous Colombian artist Hernando Tejada. Local artists got together and sculpted another 15 feline statues in his honor after he passed away just a few years following the realization of his sculpture. Set atop a hill to the west of the historical center lies Iglesia de San Antonio, an impressive 18th-century church that contains a number of unique wood-carved religious artifacts. The church is surrounded by a park in which you will get excellent views of the city. Just down from the church lies Cali's historic center, the funky Barrio San Antonio. Within these charming colonial edifices are trendy cafes, happening bars, and upmarket restaurants, making it a perfect place to eat, drink, and simply discover. You must also stop at Cali's oldest church, the Iglesia de la Merced, a beautiful colonial cathedral on the Plaza Caycedo in the historic district.

Activities
A popular activity in Cali is to visit the Zoologico de Cali, a must for families and wildlife enthusiasts alike. Among the exotic animals on these expansive grounds are tigers, huge iguanas, monkeys, and pink Andean flamingos. Cali also has a few museums worth visiting. The Museo de Arte Colonial, in the monastery adjoining the cathedral, displays mainly colonial religious art. The Museo Arqueologico displays pre-Columbian pottery and artifacts from the various indigenous groups of the area. The Museo de Oro exhibits gold items from the Calima culture and the Museo de Arte Moderno La Tertulia displays modern art, sculpture, and photography. Those keen for a trip out of the city should go for a day tour of San Cipriano. Highlights include a ride on a tiny railway timber cart, a visit to an Afro community, tubing down a tranquil river, and the chance to swim under some cascading waterfalls. Or you can head to the Parque Nacional Farallones de Cali, a mountain park with diverse vegetation and wildlife. You can leave for a day excursions or hike to Reserva Natural Hato Viejo where you will find lodging, food, and guides to the park. You should definitely check out the archaeological sites of pre-Columbian civilizations at Parque Arqueologico De Tierradentro and Parque Arqueologico De San Augustin. Both are considered sacred sites and feature ancient monuments, statuary, tombs and burial mounds. Finally, your trip to Cali would not be complete without experiencing the city's most famous activity, salsa. Those who don't like to dance can watch a live performance, though the real action takes place within the city's steamy clubs.
Food and Dining
The cuisine of Valle del Cauca is delicious and varied. In Cali and around the department of Valle del Cauca, traditional dishes include chicken soup, arroz atollado, and tortilla soup. Pandebono, pandeyuca, and a wide variety of sweets are a specialty of Valle del Cauca cooking. Other highlights include chicken soup cooked over a wood fire and lulada, a drink made from pineapples and lulos. You will find good restaurants in the city that serve traditional food as well as high quality international dishes.

Transportation
You can reach Cali by bus from a few regional, national and domestic destinations. Expreso Bolivariano leaves Terminal de Transportes in Bogota regularly throughout the day and night with journeys taking between 10 and 12 hours to reach Cali. Tickets are priced between USD$20 and USD$25 depending on seat option, availability and time of departure. We recommend that you only travel with certified transport companies, such as Expreso Palmira, Bolivariano or Expreso Brasilia. These companies will bring you and your luggages safely and comfortably to your destination. You may bargain with other companies, but the trip may be very uncomfortable. Cali's International Airport Alfonso Bonilla Aragon is located 20 km northeast of the city and can be reached by bus or taxi. There are flights to and from Medellin, Bogota, Barranquilla, Santa Marta, Bucaramanga, San Andres, Pasto, Cartagena and some international destinations as well.

We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.



1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.