A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Banos vs. Medellin for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Banos or Medellin?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Banos and Medellin. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Banos or Medellin?

Banos

Banos (de Agua Santa) is a small city in the Andean highlands of Ecuador under volcano Tungurahua. Its name, which is Spanish for "Baths (of sacred water)," comes from the famous hydrothermal springs in the area. It's equally popular with foreigners as with Ecuadorians, and is known as the adventure capital of Ecuador. The streets are lined with hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops, and tour agencies. Although it is very touristy, lots of people love it, more for the activities and surroundings than for the city itself. It is an important hub for outdoor sports and jungle tours.

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 Wildlife Tours to Ecuador, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Ecuador, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, and The Best Eco Tours in Colombia.


Which place is cheaper, Medellin or Banos?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Banos is $46, while the average daily cost in Medellin is $22. 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 Banos and Medellin in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Banos $16
    Medellin $4.66
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Banos $32
    Medellin $9.32
Compare Hotels in Banos and Medellin

Looking for a hotel in Banos 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.

Hotels in Banos


Hotels in Medellin


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: Banos Hotel Prices and Medellin Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Banos $10
    Medellin $4.06

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Medellin

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Medellin:


  • Taxi
    $1.62

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Medellin

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Medellin:

  • Arrival Private Transfer from Medellin Airport to City by MiniSuv: $98
  • Downtown hotels to Medellin Airport (MDE) - Departure Transfer: $21
  • Medellín Airport shuttle - Airport Transfer: $25
  • Medellín to or from Guatapé Private Transfer: $63
  • Medellin Airport (MDE) to Downtown hotels - Arrival Transfer: $21
  • Medellin Airport (MDE) to Downtown hotels - Round-Trip Transfer: $42
  • Medellin Airport MDE to Downtown Arrival Private Transfer: $21
  • Medellin to Jose Maria Cordova Airport (MDE) - Departure Transfer: $21
  • Medellin to Olaya Herrera Airport(EOH)-Departure Private Transfer: $28
  • MiniSuv Departure Transfer from Medellin City to Medellin Airport: $98
  • Olaya Herrera Airport (EOH) to Medellin - Round-trip transfer: $55
  • PRIVATE Transfer Jose Maria Cordova Airport - Up to 10 People: $90

Is it cheaper to fly into Banos or Medellin?

Prices for flights to both Medellin and Banos 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
    Banos $15
    Medellin $9.43
Typical Food Prices in Banos

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Banos:


  • Dinner
    $13
  • Ice cream
    $1.50
  • Coffee
    $2.50

Typical Food Prices in Medellin

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Medellin:


  • Lunch
    $2.06

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Medellin

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Medellin.

  • Cooking Class Preparing Colombian Empanadas: $39
  • Sabor Colombiano Cooking Studio: $60
  • Community project cooking class and Medellin social transformation tour: $66
  • Homemade Paisa Dinner at a Local's Home in Medellín: $69
  • Half-Day Food Tour Visiting the Best Viewpoints in Medellín!: $75
  • Private tour: Street food tour, Eat like a Local in Medellin!: $85
  • Combo Tour: Street Art, Christmas Lights and Food Tour in Medellin: $131
  • Medellin Historical and Food Tour with Fernando Botero´s Plaza: $140
  • Comuna 13, Fruit & Street Food Tour: $166
  • Private tour: Medellin City – Pablo Escobar and Food Tour: $166
  • Combo Tour: Dark days & Christmas tour Including Lunch or Dinner: $166
  • A Night Out in Medellin with Dinner and Drinks Included: $175

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Banos $19
    Medellin $13
Typical Entertainment Prices in Banos

Here are a few typical costs in Banos for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Two Rented Bikes for the Day
    $10
  • Cost to see Waterfall
    $2.00
  • Day at the Spa
    $45
  • 2 Bike Rentals (1 Day)
    $10
  • Entrance to Waterfall
    $2.00

Tours and Activities in Banos

Here are a few actual costs in Banos for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Adventure Circuit 4 activities in 1. All within an impressive cascade: $25
  • Canopy Ziplining in Puntzan Adventure Park: $26
  • Private Canyoning Experience in Baños de Agua Santa Ecuador: $26
  • Tourist Transportation Rental in Baños de Agua Santa: $27
  • 2 Hours Small-Group Horseback Riding Experience in Banos: $30
  • Canyoning Adventure Tour in the Ravine: $30
  • Private 3-Hour Canyoning Experience in Chamana: $30
  • Full Day Jungle Tour: $32
  • Puyo Jungle Tour in 1 Day: $35
  • Full Day Guided Tour in the Ecuadorian Amazon: $35
  • Pailón del Diablo | Waterfall Route | Tour for 3 hours: $35
  • Adventure and Fun River Rafting in Baños Ecuador: $35

Tours and Activities in Medellin

Here are a few actual costs in Medellin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Guided Nightlife Tour of Comuna Trece in Medellin : $5.00
  • Skip the Line: Museum of Antioquia Admission Ticket: $7.20
  • Shared Tour of El Poblado "Sin Taboos" in Medellin: $13
  • Shared Tour of the Historical and Cultural Center of Medellín: $13
  • Virtual Tour: Colonial Santa Fe de Antioquia: $14
  • Graffiti Tour | Comuna 13: $15
  • Walking Historical tour of Medellín, walking reality.: $15
  • Comuna 13 Tour. Graffiti Tour Medellín (Graffitour): $17
  • Comuna 13 Graffiti Tour And Enjoy Photos y Videos with Dron: $19
  • Comuna 13 Graffiti Tour and Street Food: $20
  • Comuna 13 History and Graffiti Tour with Cable Car: $20
  • Storytellers Tours: $21

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Banos $9.74
    Medellin $7.07
Typical Alcohol Prices in Banos

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Banos from other travelers:


  • Beer
    $4.00

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
  • Medellin Private Bar Crawl: $89
  • Medellin Pub Crawl Including Food and City Tour: $139


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Banos and Medellin, we can see that Banos 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 Banos would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Banos 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 Banos Expensive? and Is Medellin Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Banos or Medellin?

Medellin has a larger population, and is about 210 times larger than the population of Banos. When comparing the sizes of Banos 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.