Which place is cheaper, Guadalajara or Cali?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Cali or Guadalajara?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Cali and Guadalajara can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Cali or Guadalajara?
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.
Guadalajara
Guadalajara is the capital of the state of Jalisco in western Mexico, as well as one of the country's largest cities. It is best known for tequila and mariachi music, which both originate in Jalisco, as well as a thriving historic center with colonial architecture and landmarks.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bogota, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Colombia, The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico.
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Cali Prices
Colombia PricesGuadalajara Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCali $31Guadalajara $138
The average daily cost (per person) in Cali is $31, while the average daily cost in Guadalajara is $138. 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 Cali and Guadalajara in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCali $6.02Guadalajara $38
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCali $12Guadalajara $76
Compare Hotels in Cali and Guadalajara
Looking for a hotel in Cali or Guadalajara? 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: Cali Hotel Prices and Guadalajara Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cali $5.62Guadalajara $35
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cali
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cali:
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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
- Cali Tour Privado x5 horas con Transfers: $250
- City Highlights Private Bus Tour with Transfer: $183
- Cali Tour Privado x3 horas con Transfers: $182
- Departure Private Transfer from Cali City to Cali Airport CLO by Minibus: $171
- Cali to or from Coffee Region Private Transfer: $136
- Alfonso B.Aragon Airport (CLO) to Cali/Palmira-RoundTrip Transfer: $93
- Arrival Transfer from Cali Airport CLO to Cali City by MiniSuv: $93
- Arrival Private Transfer from Cali Airport CLO to Cali City by Minivan: $71
- Departure Private Transfer from Cali City to Cali Airport CLO by Minivan: $71
- Cali/Palmira to Alfonso B.Aragon Airport (CLO) - Private Transfer: $46
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guadalajara
Also for Guadalajara, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from International Airport to Tequila Jalisco: $89
- Transfer by car to or from Guadalajara Airport: $35
- Tequila to Guadalajara Airport (GDL) - Departure Private Transfer: $101
- Tequila to Guadalajara - Private Transfer with English-speaking driver: $179
- Private Airport Transfer to Guadalajara Hotels Safe & Stress-Free: $159
- Guadalajara to Tequila - Private Transfer with English-speaking driver: $179
- Guadalajara Airport(GDL) to Tequila - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $202
- Guadalajara Airport Private Transfer to Ajijic & Chapala: $289
- Guadalajara Airport (GDL) to Guadalajara hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $107
Is it cheaper to fly into Cali or Guadalajara?
Prices for flights to both Guadalajara 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayCali $15Guadalajara $75
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guadalajara
For Guadalajara, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Private Street Food Tour and City Tour Guadalajara - Best Rated : $44
- Guadalajara Private Food Tour: $70
- Authentic Mexican Cooking & Tequila tasting experience-Casa Humo: $108
- Mexican Cooking Classes and Market Visit in Guadalajara: $195
- VIP Tequila Night Tour with Dinner and Tasting: $199
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cali $11Guadalajara $25
Tours and Activities in Cali
For Cali, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Walking Tour through Cali : $68
- A day to enjoy nature and have an adventure in the Jordan river: $65
- Afro Walking Tour. The colors of Cali.: $40
- Birdwatching and Botany Tour at KM18: $140
- Cali ATV tours - Take your adrenaline to the maximum on the road: $179
- Cali Birdwatching and Botany Tour at KM18: $160
- Cali City Tour: $202
- Cali Downtown Walking Tour: $56
- Cali Private City Tour with Salsa Lesson, Museums or Food: $107
- Cali River Waterfall Tour (4 hours): $59
- Cali River Waterfall Tour (Pance): $59
- Cali Salsa Tour: Dance & Play instruments: $78
Tours and Activities in Guadalajara
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Guadalajara.
- Walking Tour Experience in Ajijic Mexico: $50
- 3 Hours Private Tour Guide in Guadalajara, you choose!: $36
- A unique tour! Visiting Hacienda Casa herradura From Guadalajara: $120
- Architecture of Luis Barragan Walking Tour with Street Food: $70
- Bar Tour of the Coolest Quarter of Guadalajara: $17
- Cantaritos and Tequila Factory Tour: $89
- Chapala Ajijic Area Tour from Guadalajara: $40
- Chapala Lake & Ajijic Tour with "Tres Potrillos Ranch": $65
- Chapala and Ajijic Private Full-Day Tour: $128
- Charreria heritage tour be a charro for a day: $50
- City Tour Downtown Guadalajara Historical and Cultural Walking Tour: $79
- City tour in Guadalajara and Tlaquepaque: $90
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCali $8.48Guadalajara $16
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Guadalajara
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Guadalajara:
- Saturday Night Bar Crawl in Guadalajara Mexico: $25
- Tequila distillery experience, Jose Cuervo & Tequila Magic Town: $65
- full day Tequila tour visiting artisanal distillery and downtown.: $95
- Guided Tour of Guachimontones and Tequila Distillery: $105
- Full-Day Tour to La Fortaleza Distillery and Cantaritos: $155
- Private Adventure Day Tour to Tequila and Cazcanes Distillery: $156
- Private Adventure to El Tequileño Distillery and visit to Tequila: $161
- Private One Day Adventure Tour in Tequila and La Fortaleza Distillery: $167
- Private Tour Cascahuin Distillery and visit to Tequila: $190
- Private Tour to El Tequileño Distillery and visit to Tequila: $190
- Private Tour one day in Guachimontones and La Fortaleza Distillery: $211
- Guachimontones and Tequila Distillery in One Day: $264
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cali and Guadalajara, we can see that Guadalajara is more expensive. And not only is Cali much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cali is in South America and Guadalajara is in North 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 Guadalajara would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Guadalajara 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 Cali Expensive? and Is Guadalajara Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cali or Guadalajara?
Cali has a larger population, and is about 46% larger than the population of Guadalajara. When comparing the sizes of Cali and Guadalajara, 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.