A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Buzios vs. Cali for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Buzios or Cali?

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

Should I visit Buzios 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: Buzios or Cali?

Buzios

Initially a fishing village, Armação dos Buzios is a small beach resort town about three hours from Rio de Janeiro by bus. Buzios is a common weekend getaway destination for Cariocas. With 23 beaches, visitors from all over come to swim, snorkel, surf and enjoy sun and sand.

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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Rio de Janeiro, The Best 3-Day Tours from Foz Do Iguacu, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bogota, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Colombia.


Which place is cheaper, Cali or Buzios?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Buzios is $79, while the average daily cost in Cali is $25. 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 Buzios and Cali in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Buzios $38
    Cali $6.04
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Buzios $76
    Cali $12
Compare Hotels in Buzios and Cali

Looking for a hotel in Buzios 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.

Hotels in Buzios


Hotels in Cali


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: Cali Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Buzios $19
    Cali $5.65

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Buzios

Also for Buzios, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Tour in Buzios City Tour, Lunch and Transfer: $60
  • Private transfer from Buzios to the GIG Airport : $195
  • Private transfer Minivan from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 6 pax to Buzios: $115
  • Private transfer Buzios in Rio to the SDU Airport : $195
  • Private Transfer from GIG Airport to City Buzios in Rio : $170
  • Private Transfer from Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro: $91
  • Private Transfer from Buzios Port to Santos Dumont Airport (SDU): $32
  • Private Transfer from Buzios Port to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB): $43
  • Private Transfer from Buzios Port to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB): $47
  • Private Transfer from Buzios Cruise Port to Rio de Janeiro hotels: $32
  • Private Transfer from Buzios Cruise Port to Rio de Janeiro hotels: $29
  • Private Transfer from Buzios Cruise Port to Cabo Frio hotels: $41

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:

  • Cali to Popayan Private Transfer: $272
  • Cali to Popayan Private Transfer: $272
  • Departure Private Transfer from Cali City to Cali Airport CLO by Minibus: $171
  • City Highlights Private Bus Tour with Transfer: $150
  • National Park Waterfalls Tour with Lunch & Transfer: $115
  • Arrival Transfer from Cali Airport CLO to Cali City by MiniSuv: $98
  • From Cali Airport: One-way Privater Transfer to Cali: $58
  • RoundTrip Transfer in Private Minivan Cali Airport (CLO) - Cali City: $51
  • Alfonso B.Aragon Airport (CLO) to Cali/Palmira-RoundTrip Transfer: $48
  • Airport Transfers Cali (per way): $34
  • Transfer in Private Minivan from Cali Airport (CLO) - Cali City: $25
  • Alfonso Aragon Airport CLO to Cali Palmira Arrival Transfer: $24

Is it cheaper to fly into Buzios or Cali?

Prices for flights to both Cali and Buzios 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
    Buzios $24
    Cali $8.60

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cali

For Cali, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Alameda Market Cali Food Tour: $14
  • Street Food Tour: $21
  • Alameda Market Food Tour: $55
  • Flavors of Food tour at the local market: $59

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Buzios $27
    Cali $11

Tours and Activities in Buzios

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Buzios.

  •  Trolley Tour Through the City Buzios: $29
  • 3-hour Small Group Buzios Peninsula Open Air Trolley Tour: $33
  • Búzios Full day: Boat and Trolley Tour with Lunch from Arraial do Cabo: $128
  • Búzios Full day: Boat and Trolley Tour with Lunch from Búzios: $99
  • Búzios Full day: Boat and Trolley Tour with Lunch from Cabo Frio: $116
  • Boat Tour in Arraial do Cabo: $24
  • Boat Tour in Arraial do Cabo from Buzios with Lunch: $60
  • Buggy Ride in Buzios by Buziana Tour: $16
  • Buggy Tour in Arraial do Cabo by Arraial Trips (For 2 People): $57
  • Cabo Frio Full-Day Tour From Buzios with Lunch: $68
  • Catamaran Boat Tour in Búzios: $24
  • Diving Experience In Buzios: $109

Tours and Activities in Cali

For Cali, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 4 Hours Private River Tour to Pance Cali Colombia : $60
  • A day to enjoy nature and have an adventure in the Jordan river: $65
  • Cali ATV tours - Take your adrenaline to the maximum on the road: $159
  • Cali Bike Park Tour: $95
  • Cali City Tour - The Best Of Cali In Comfort: $53
  • Cali City Tour by 3 Hours (transportation + guide): $182
  • Cali City Tour by 5 Hours (transportation + guide): $251
  • Cali City Tour by 8 Hours (transportation + guide): $374
  • Cali Downtown Walking Tour: $56
  • Cali Mountain Bike Tour: $95
  • Cali Salsa & Resistance Street Art Tour: $14
  • Cali Salsa Tour: Learn the history, dance and play instruments: $15

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Buzios $18
    Cali $8.51


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Buzios and Cali, we can see that Buzios is more expensive. And not only is Cali much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Buzios would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Buzios 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 Buzios Expensive? and Is Cali Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Buzios or Cali?

Cali has a larger population, and is about 100 times larger than the population of Buzios. When comparing the sizes of Buzios 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.