Which place is cheaper, Cali or Acapulco de Juarez?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Acapulco de Juarez or Cali?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Acapulco de Juarez or Cali? 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.
Where Should I go: Acapulco de Juarez or Cali?
Acapulco de Juarez
Located on the southwestern Pacific Coast of Mexico is the beautiful beach city of Acapulco de Juarez. Acapulco is one of the original travel and resort destinations in Mexico, and it's still considered a popular spring break destination for Americans. Known as simply "Acapulco" to many travelers, this region is a popular spot for cruise lines to stop and timeshares to grow. Thanks to those cruise lines and timeshares, tourist activities like water parks and jet skis have experienced considerable growth.
Cali
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bogota, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Colombia.
-
Acapulco de Juarez Prices
Mexico PricesCali Prices
Colombia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAcapulco de Juarez $92Cali $31
The average daily cost (per person) in Acapulco de Juarez is $92, while the average daily cost in Cali is $31. 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 Acapulco de Juarez and Cali in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAcapulco de Juarez $35Cali $6.02
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAcapulco de Juarez $70Cali $12
Compare Hotels in Acapulco de Juarez and Cali
Looking for a hotel in Acapulco de Juarez or Cali? 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.
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: Acapulco de Juarez Hotel Prices and Cali Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Acapulco de Juarez $15Cali $5.62
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Acapulco de Juarez
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Acapulco de Juarez:
- Shared Transfer to Acapulco Airport (ACA): $13
- Shared Transfer from Acapulco Airport (ACA): $13
- Roundtrip Shared Transfer from Acapulco Airport (ACA): $27
- Roundtrip Private Transfer from Acapulco Airport (ACA): $27
- Private Transfer to Acapulco Airport (ACA): $13
- Private Transfer from Acapulco Airport (ACA): $13
- Private Airport Transfer &on 2nd Day 4Hr TourAll AttractionsCombo: $90
- Airport Transfer In Suburban: $45
- Acapulco hotels to Acapulco Airport (ACA) – Departure Private Transfer : $45
- Acapulco Airport Roundtrip Transfers: $75
- Acapulco Airport (ACA) to Acapulco hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $46
- Private - One Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer: $66
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cali
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cali:
-
Short Taxi Ride$1.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cali
Also for Cali, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfers Cali (per way): $34
- Airport Transfers to Cali Hotels: $28
- Alfonso Airport (CLO) to Cali/Palmira - Arrival Private Transfer: $37
- Alfonso B.Aragon Airport (CLO) to Cali/Palmira-RoundTrip Transfer: $93
- Arrival Private Transfer from Cali Airport CLO to Cali City by Minivan: $71
- Arrival Transfer from Cali Airport CLO to Cali City by MiniSuv: $93
- Cali Tour Privado x3 horas con Transfers: $182
- Cali Tour Privado x5 horas con Transfers: $250
- Cali to Popayan Private Transfer: $272
- Cali to Popayan Private Transfer: $272
- Cali to or from Coffee Region Private Transfer: $136
- Cali/Palmira to Alfonso B.Aragon Airport (CLO) - Private Transfer: $46
Is it cheaper to fly into Acapulco de Juarez or Cali?
Prices for flights to both Cali and Acapulco de Juarez 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 dayAcapulco de Juarez $45Cali $15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Acapulco de Juarez
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Acapulco de Juarez.
- Lucha Libre-Wrestling FiestaExper Taco Dinner Beer ONLY SUNDAYS: $62
- High Divers DeLuxe Three Course Dinner + Two Drinks plus SUNSET: $66
- Wrestling-Lucha Libre Experience Tacos Beer Dinner Only On SUNDAY: $74
- Sunset Dinner and Cliff Divers in Acapulco: $91
- Mexican Cooking Class & Market Tour with a Professional Chef: $100
- Mexican Fiesta Show & Dinner: $115
- Super DeLuxe Bella Vista Dinner &1 Drink +2 Drinks at CliffDivers: $253
- Off the Beaten Path Mexican Cooking Class Lagoon Boatride &Lunch: $286
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cali
For Cali, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Street Food Tour: $23
- Street Food Tour: $29
- Cali tastes good! Authentic street food tour through the salsa capital: $53
- Alameda Market Food Tour: $55
- Traditional Colombian Meal Cooking Class: $67
- Street Food Tour - Live A Unique Gastronomic Experience: $67
- Flavors of Food tour at the local market: $73
- Food Tour San Antonio: $75
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Acapulco de Juarez $16Cali $11
Tours and Activities in Acapulco de Juarez
Here are a few actual costs in Acapulco de Juarez for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 4Hrs City Tour Exclusively for Hotels, Divers, Chapel & Mural.: $60
- 4Hrs Small Group Half Day City Tour with Lunch at High Divers: $70
- Acapulco Port Tour in 4 hours: $56
- Museums, Magic City Market & Meals: A Cultural Tour of Acapulco: $129
- 4 Hrs Exclusive to Cruise Ship Passengers Sightseeing Experience : $67
- 4 in 1 Combo tours for visitors in their first time: $192
- 4hr Fun Guide Tour For Cruisers or Hotels Guests with Divers Show: $58
- 6 Hour Fun-Filled Tour Perfect for Cruise Travelers & Hotel Stays: $83
- 6Hr Cruise or Hotels City Tour, Divers, Baby Turtles Peace Chapel: $75
- 6Hr Cruisers or Hotels High Diver Peace Chapel BabyTurtleRelease: $96
- Acapulco City Tour: $68
- Acapulco City Tour: $65
Tours and Activities in Cali
For Cali, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Historical Shared Tour Salsa, Graffiti & Resistance in Cali: $10
- Shared Tour of the Historical and Cultural Center of Cali: $10
- Shared Tour Cali's Local Food at Alameda Market: $12
- Shared Tour Cali's Historical Downtown: $12
- Shared Tour Cali's Salsa, Graffiti & Resistance Experience: $12
- Chiva Private Cultural Tour with Audio Guide in Buga: $15
- Cali Zoo Access Ticket: $15
- Cultural and heritage Cali tour: $15
- Ceramic Workshop for Tourists: $18
- Tour in Cali : Culture, Tropical Fruits and Sauce: $23
- Walking tour of the historic center: $25
- Coffee Tasting Experience in Cali Colombia : $26
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayAcapulco de Juarez $9.81Cali $8.48
Sample the Local Flavors in Cali
Also in Cali, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Friday Night Bar Crawl in Cali, Colombia: $25
- Craft Beer Pub Crawl in Cali: $40
- Salsa Pub Crawl in Cali: $45
- Paragliding + Wine tasting + Hacienda El Paraiso + Saint Helena: $210
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Acapulco de Juarez and Cali, we can see that Acapulco de Juarez is more expensive. And not only is Cali much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Acapulco de Juarez is in North America and Cali is in South 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 Cali would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cali 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 Acapulco de Juarez would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Acapulco de Juarez than you might in Cali.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Acapulco de Juarez Expensive? and Is Cali Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Acapulco de Juarez or Cali?
Cali has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Acapulco de Juarez. When comparing the sizes of Acapulco de Juarez and Cali, 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.