Which place is cheaper, Medellin or Asuncion?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Asuncion or Medellin?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Asuncion or Medellin, 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: Asuncion or Medellin?
Asuncion
Asuncion is a vastly underrated city. It is the capital but also the administrative economic and cultural center of Paraguay. It is located in the south central part of the country, near the border with Argentina and it is one of the oldest cities in South America, with people living here since almost 500 years. The city has a beautiful and simple center, with a few unique colonial and beaux arts buildings, international cuisine, shady plazas and friendly people. Its handful of historic buildings around the Plaza de los Heroes, Plaza Uruguaya and Manzana de la Ribera, two or three small museums, old bars and cafes, but also smart suburbs, ritzy shopping malls and fashionable nightclubs will keep you entertained for a day or two. It is a very charming city for travellers and apart from the sights, the city boasts a good tourist infrastructure with hotels and restaurants.
Medellin
In addition to big improvements in public safety, Medellin has witnessed a huge surge in urban development projects, including Colombia's first metro system and cable cars to service poorer neighborhoods located high on the mountain sides. There is an abundance of parks, libraries, museums and public spaces with many cultural events taking place. Many travelers also enjoy visiting the surrounding villages, where life is simple and landscapes and nature reserves are wonderful. Medellin has now become one of the "it" cities in the world, with tons of tourists visiting and foreigners settling and retiring here. Beautiful mountains, warm weather, friendly locals, and a vibrant culture are just a few of the reasons why you should visit Medellin.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, and The Best Eco Tours in Colombia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAsuncion $68Medellin $23
The average daily cost (per person) in Asuncion is $68, while the average daily cost in Medellin is $23. 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 Asuncion and Medellin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAsuncion $22Medellin $4.75
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAsuncion $44Medellin $9.50
Compare Hotels in Asuncion and Medellin
Looking for a hotel in Asuncion or Medellin? 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: Asuncion Hotel Prices and Medellin Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Asuncion $8.82Medellin $4.14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Asuncion
Also for Asuncion, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- RoundTrip Private Transfer Asuncion Airport (ASU) - Asuncion City: $52
- RoundTrip Transfer in Private Minivan Asuncion Airport (ASU) - Asuncion City: $59
- Transfer in Private Car from Asuncion Airport (ASU) - Asuncion City: $21
- Transfer in private car from Asuncion City - Asuncion Airport (ASU): $20
- Transfer in private minivan Asuncion City - Silvio Pettirosi Airport (ASU): $29
- Transfer in private minivan from Asuncion Airport (ASU) - Asuncion City: $29
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Medellin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Medellin:
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Taxi$1.65
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Medellin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Medellin:
- Transfer in Private Car from Guatape- Medellin airport (MDE): $34
- Transfer from or to Medellin's airport: $55
- Transfer Private Car from Medellin city - Medellin Airport (MDE): $23
- Transfer Jose Maria Cordoba Airport -Hotel or Accommodation: $79
- Transfer JMC airport - Medellin or Medellin - JMC airport - Private!!: $39
- Santa Marta Airport to Santa Marta (or vice versa) Private Transfer : $16
- Private transfer service from or to Medellín Airport: $43
- Private Transfer Jose Marie Cordova Airport to Medellin Bello: $100
- Private Transfer Aerop Jose Maria Cordova - Up to 3 people: $33
- Private Medellin Airport Transfer with English-Speaking Driver: $50
- Private Medellín Hotel to Airport transfer service: $35
- Private Arrival Transfer : From Airport to Medellín Hotels : $54
Is it cheaper to fly into Asuncion or Medellin?
Prices for flights to both Medellin and Asuncion 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
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Food Meals for one dayAsuncion $17Medellin $9.61
Typical Food Prices in Medellin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Medellin:
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Lunch$2.10
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Medellin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Medellin.
- Street Food Tour in Medellín: $45
- Private tour: Street food tour, Eat like a Local in Medellin!: $85
- Authentic Colombian Cooking Class in Medellin with a Local Family: $99
- Medellin Historical and Food Tour with Fernando Botero´s Plaza: $140
- Full Day Private Medellin City, Street Art and Food Tour: $145
- Best Food Tour and Horseback Adventure in Medellin: $163
- Private tour: Medellin City – Pablo Escobar and Food Tour: $166
- A Night Out in Medellin with Dinner and Drinks Included: $175
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Asuncion $16Medellin $13
Tours and Activities in Asuncion
For Asuncion, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Private Custom Walking Tour with a Local Guide in Asuncion: $34
- Walking Tour with a Local in Asuncion "The Mother of Cities": $35
- Asunción Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $35
- Asuncion Birding Tour: $70
- Golden Triangle Tour: $110
- Crystal Fall - day tour in a reduced group: $120
- Birding and Nature Chaco Tour: $140
- Paraguay River Nature and Wildlife Boat Tour from Asunción: $160
- Half-Day Yparacai Lake Tour from Asuncion with Pick Up: $185
- Full day Paraguay River Nature and Wildlife Boat Tour: $207
- Day tour “Circuito San Bernardino”: $214
- Day tour “Circuito Sapucai”: $221
Tours and Activities in Medellin
Here are a few actual costs in Medellin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Comuna 13 + Medellin City Tour: $230
- Medellin City Private Tour: $83
- Medellin City Walking Tour plus Metro Cable Cars: $83
- Private tour Guatapé Peñol stone and coffee farm: $139
- 2 Hour Medellin Off Road ATV Experiences: $160
- 3 Hours City Tour in Medellin Colombia: $27
- 3 Towns Colonial Private Tour Leaving from Medellin: $130
- 4 Hours Private Comuna 13 Graffiti Tour: $60
- 5-Hour Coffee and Pablo Express Mix Tour in Medellín: $110
- 90 Minute Walking Tour of Guatapé: $16
- ATV Quad Tour from Medellin with Transportation : $132
- ATV Tour 3 Mountains Medellin: $170
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAsuncion $10Medellin $7.21
Typical Alcohol Prices in Asuncion
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Asuncion are as follows:
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Beer$1.22
Sample the Local Flavors in Medellin
Also in Medellin, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Live the Nightlife Rooftop Pub Crawl : $49
- All-Inclusive Comuna 13 Nightlife Bar Crawl with Locals: $130
- Medellin Pub Crawl Including Food and City Tour: $139
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Asuncion and Medellin, we can see that Asuncion is more expensive. And not only is Medellin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Medellin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Medellin 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 Asuncion would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Asuncion than you might in Medellin.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Asuncion Expensive? and Is Medellin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Asuncion or Medellin?
Medellin has a larger population, and is about 35% larger than the population of Asuncion. When comparing the sizes of Asuncion and Medellin, 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.