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

Merida, Estado de Yucatan, Mexico

How much does it cost to travel to Merida?

You should plan to spend around $87 (M$1,461) per day on your vacation in Merida. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

  • $29 (M$488) on meals
  • $18 (M$305) on local transportation
  • $88 (M$1,479) on hotels

A one week trip to Merida for two people costs, on average, $1,220 (M$20,451). 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
    $87
    M$1,461
  • One Week Per person
    $610
    M$10,225
  • 2 Weeks Per person
    $1,220
    M$20,451
  • One Month Per person
    $2,614
    M$43,823
  • One Week For a couple
    $1,220
    M$20,451
  • 2 Weeks For a couple
    $2,440
    M$40,902
  • One Month For a couple
    $5,228
    M$87,646
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 Merida cost?

A one week trip to Merida usually costs around $610 (M$10,225) for one person and $1,220 (M$20,451) for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to Merida on average costs around $1,220 (M$20,451) for one person and $2,440 (M$40,902) 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 Merida will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to Merida on average costs around $2,614 (M$43,823) for one person and $5,228 (M$87,646) 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 Merida 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 Merida expensive to visit?

Merida is a reasonably affordable place to visit. Located in Mexico, which is a moderately priced country, visitors will appreciate the relatively low cost of this destination. It is in the top 25% of cities in the country for its affordability. If you're traveling on a budget, then this is a good destination with affordable accommodation, food, and transportation.

Within North America, which is known to be an expensive region, Merida is a reasonably affordable destination compared to other places. It is in the top 25% of cities in North America for its affordability. You can find more affordable cities such as Vernon, but there are also more expensive cities, such as Key West.

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

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

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


Category Cost
Accommodation 1 (Double Occupancy) M$1,479 ($88)
Local Transportation 1 M$305 ($18)
Food 2 M$488 ($29)
Entertainment 1 M$268 ($16)
Alcohol 2 M$132 - 397 ($8 - 24)
Accommodation Budget in Merida
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Merida is $44 (M$740). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Merida is $88 (M$1,479). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.


  • Accommodation1 Hotel or hostel for one person
    $44
    M$740
  • Accommodation1 Typical double-occupancy room
    $88
    M$1,479

Hotel Prices in Merida

Looking for a hotel in Merida? 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 Merida based on data provided by Kayak for actual hotel rooms is $59. (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 Merida
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The cost of a taxi ride in Merida is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $18 (M$305) per person, per day, on local transportation in Merida.


  • Transportation1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    $18
    M$305

Recommended Services


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

Rental Cars in Merida
The price of renting a car in Merida 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.



Food Budget in Merida
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • While meal prices in Merida can vary, the average cost of food in Merida is $29 (M$488) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Merida should cost around $12 (M$195) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Merida is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.


  • Food2 Meals for one day
    $29
    M$488

Recommended


Entertainment Budget in Merida
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • Entertainment and activities in Merida typically cost an average of $16 (M$268) 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.
    $16
    M$268

Recommended Activities

What did other people spend on Entertainment in Merida?

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


  • Train at the Zoo
    M$2.00
  • Uxmal Entrance (for 2)
    M$332
  • Mayan Village Entrance (for 2)
    M$100


Alcohol Budget in Merida
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average person spends about $16 (M$264) on alcoholic beverages in Merida per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.


  • Alcohol2 Drinks for one day
    $16
    M$264


Water Budget in Merida
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • On average, people spend $0.73 (M$12) on bottled water in Merida per day. The public water in Merida is considered safe to drink.


  • Water2 Bottled water for one day
    $0.73
    M$12


Merida On a Budget
Merida Diving in a Cenote in Merida, Mexico
Merida is the largest city on the Yucatan Peninsula, which separates the Gulf of Mexico from the Caribbean Sea. It is also the capital of the state of Yucatan as a whole. There is a population of 750,000 and is very rich in diversity and culture.
Sights
This city is over four hundred years old so there are many historical sights around the city as well as plenty of other activities. You might be surprised at how many things to do in Merida are available, so make a plan. There are also nearby beaches, quaint neighborhoods, and shopping centers. The historic center of town is called Plaza Grande and is surrounded by many historic buildings like the Grand Cathedral, the Museo Macay, and the Casa de Montejo. The latter was the palace of Montejo the Conquistador in 1549 and inside you can find sculptures of Spanish Conquistadors. On the west side of the plaza is the Ayuntamiento, which was once the City Hall. Finally, there is the Governor's Palace where you can find murals that depict the history of Merida.

The Palacio Canton houses the regional archaeology museum (the Museo Regional de Arquaeologia de Yucatán. This building was one of the grandest mansions in Merida and it has many ancient Mayan artworks that are very interesting to see.

The opera house, Teatro Peon Contreras, is another historic building to check out in Merida. It was designed by an Italian architect in 1908 and today is part of Merida's high culture.
Neighborhoods
Merida is close to many Mayan ruins and archaeological sites. Dzibilchaltun and Mayapan are close by and are perfect locations for day trips outside Merida. Dzibilchaltun is about an hour from Merida and is known for its famous sculpture, "Temple of the Seven Dolls". There is also a museum that holds ancient Mayan artifacts and a 16th-century ruin of a famous church built by the Spanish.

Mayapan is another nearby Mayan ruin site that is about forty kilometers from Merida. This site was the political capital during the 1200's until the 1400's. Chichen Itza is a much larger ruin site but is located much further away from Merida. If you wish to visit this place, it is best to stay overnight to ensure that you can see everything it has to offer. The main attraction there is the Pyramid of Kukulcan, which was recently voted as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World.

Activities
Visit the Mercado Lucas de Galvez and San Benito (an indoor market), which is open every day until 6:00 pm. This market has vendors that sell an entire range of things from food to clothing, to pets.

Carnaval de Merida is a lively activity for those visiting the city sometime between mid-February and early March. This carnival is in the top five for the whole country of Mexico. A fun activity to do at night is head to El Gran Museo del Mundo Maya, where there is a nightly light and sound show at 9:00 pm. The museum also has tons of historical, archaeological, and anthropological displays that portray Mayan culture. This city is a great place to explore the beautiful and historic Yucatán Peninsula.
Food and Dining
Most of the food in Merida is in the category of Mayan Cuisine. This type of cuisine usually involves corn, turkey, squash, tomatoes, chiles, pork, cheese, and chocolate. A great place to try traditional Yucatán dishes is at Eladios. There are a couple locations for this restaurant, but many say that the one in Progreso in front of the beach is the best. For the best tacos in town, head to Wayan'e. A less traditional choice is Hennessy's Irish Pub, which is popular among locals, expats, and tourists. Another great place to get food in town is at the Mercado Lucas de Galvez that was mentioned above. There are several options of places to eat within this market for traditional, homemade food as well as great treats for dessert. Here are a few more amazing places to eat, too.

Transportation
There is an international airport in Merida, about eight kilometers outside of the city. This airport has service to other cities in Mexico, and many to and from the states. Once you land at the airport, you can either take a taxi or a bus to the main road in town (Calle 23).

If you are coming to Merida from another part of Mexico, you can take a bus into one of the three bus stations in town (Grupo ADO, Terminal de Autobuses de 2a Clase, Hotel Americana Fiesta). Once in the city, walking is a good option if you do not mind the hot temperatures. However, there are several taxis in town, as well as frequent buses.


Related:

Looking for a party hostel in Mexico? Heading to San Diego or LA?

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.