Should you visit Cali or Cochabamba?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Cali and Cochabamba can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
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.
Cochabamba
With a population of about 630,000, Cochabamba is the fourth largest city in Bolivia. It's located about 240 kilometers from the capital city of La Paz and is surrounded by mountains, but sits within a valley.
The city is known for its gardens and has many sights to offer the visitor. Cochabamba offers a calming retreat that is a refreshing break from the hustle and bustle of many South American cities. It's a great location to learn Spanish and there are plenty of activities and cultural events that you can enjoy in and around town.
Cochabamba's climate is semi-arid. There is an extended dry season between May and October and the wet season is from November to March. The days are warm and the nights are cool.
Which city is cheaper, Cochabamba or Cali?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Cali is $20, while the average daily cost in Cochabamba is $51. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Cali and Cochabamba in more detail.
Accommodation
Travelers usually pay around $9.80 for a double occupancy room in Cali If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Cochabamba's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $40. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $20.
Food
Cali food costs typically run travelers around $7.02 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
Cochabamba food costs typically run travelers around $18 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
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Food
Meals for one day
Cali $7.02
Cochabamba $18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cali
For Cali, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Culinary Journeys: Cooking Workshop + Dinner Party:
$50
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Night City Tour in Cali + Dinner:
$110
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Dinner Show in Cali:
$189
Local Transportation
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Cali than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $4.59 on transportation in Cali on average per day.
The cost of a taxi ride in Cochabamba is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $13 per person, per day, on local transportation in Cochabamba.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Cali
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cali:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cali
Also for Cali, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Transfer in Cali:
$13
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Private Arrival or Departure Transfer: Alfonso Bonilla Aragón Airport:
$15
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Private Transfer from Cali City to Cali Airport (CLO):
$19
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Transfer in Private Minivan from Cali City to Cali Airport (CLO):
$31
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Private Airport Transfer: from Cali to Alfonso B. Aragon Airport (CLO):
$34
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Private transfer: Cali to Cali International Airport (CLO):
$54
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Private Transfer to / from Buenaventura:
$60
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Arrival Private Transfer from Cali Airport CLO to Cali City by 2x4 Vehicle:
$75
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Departure Private Transfer from Cali City to Cali Airport CLO by 2x4 Vehicle:
$75
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Arrival Private Transfer from Cali Airport CLO to Cali City by Minivan:
$105
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Departure Private Transfer from Cali City to Cali Airport CLO by Minivan:
$105
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Departure Private Transfer from Cali City to Cali Airport CLO by Minibus:
$179
Is it cheaper to fly into Cali or Cochabamba?
Prices for flights to both Cochabamba and Cali 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing expenses in Cali, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $8.66 per day, per person.
Entertainment and activities in Cochabamba typically cost an average of $20 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Tours and Activities in Cali
For Cali, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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RiCo Salsa Tour: Cali Real:
$19
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Cali City Tour:
$29
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Walking Tour in the Historic Center of Cali City:
$37
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Private City Tour:
$39
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Historical Walking Cali City Tour 3H:
$41
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Private City Tour And Shopping:
$44
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Skip the Line: Show de Salsa Ticket:
$46
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Cali City Tour - The Best Of Cali In Comfort:
$47
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Alameda Market Fruit Tour:
$55
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Private Salsa Lesson Experience with Locals:
$70
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sightseeing paragliding adventure:
$72
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Private City Tour in Cali:
$74
Tours and Activities in Cochabamba
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cochabamba are as follows:
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3D/2N Paquete Turistico a Torotoro 22,23 y 24 de Febrero Carnavales-Vision Tours:
$125
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Adventure Through Toro Toro National Park. 3 Days 2 Nights. English Guide:
$600
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Adventure Through Toro Toro National Park. 3 Days 2 Nights. Spanish Guide:
$513
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Adventure Through Toro Toro National Park. 4 Days 3 Nights. English Guide:
$779
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Adventure Through Toro Toro National Park. 4 Days 3 Nights. Spanish Guide:
$656
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Amazing Torotoro National Park Tour (2 days 1 night):
$200
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Romantic tour in Cochabamba:
$498
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TOROTORO PAQUETE DE 2 DIAS 1 NOCHE Con VISION TOURS BOLIVIA:
$82
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The Best of Cochabamba Walking Tour:
$498
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Cali spend on average $6.92 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
The average person spends about $12 on alcoholic beverages in Cochabamba per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cali and Cochabamba, we can see that Cochabamba 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 Cochabamba would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cochabamba than you might in Cali.
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