A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Cancun vs. Bogota for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Cancun or Bogota?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Cancun and Bogota can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Cancun or Bogota?

Cancun

In the northeast corner of the Mexican Caribbean, Cancun is one of Mexico's most popular destinations. The area that is now Cancun was actually selected specifically by the Mexican government for development as a tourist destination. The area was chosen because it has fourteen miles of beautiful white beaches, nearby Mayan ruins, and turquoise blue water with nearby snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities. Prior to its development as a tourist destination, there were few inhabitants in the area.

Bogota

Sprawling across a high altitude in the Columbian Andes region, Bogota is the capital city of Columbia. It is a mix of the old and new with century-old plazas and churches shadowed by towering skyscrapers, museums representing the history, art, and culture of the region, as well as a mix of distinct neighborhoods from quaint and historic to trendy and contemporary.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen, The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Colombia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia.


Which place is cheaper, Bogota or Cancun?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Cancun is $148, while the average daily cost in Bogota is $53. 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 Cancun and Bogota in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cancun $98
    Bogota $26
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cancun $196
    Bogota $52
Compare Hotels in Cancun and Bogota

Looking for a hotel in Cancun or Bogota? 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 Cancun


Hotels in Bogota


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: Cancun Hotel Prices and Bogota Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cancun $18
    Bogota $8.77
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cancun

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


  • Taxi Around Town
    $1.68
  • Airport Shuttle (for 2)
    $14
  • Ferry to Isla de Mujeres (for 2)
    $17
  • Local Bus (for 2)
    $2.04

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cancun

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

  • transfers between hotels in Cancun hotel strip: $20
  • Xcaret 1 Day Tour from Cancun with Hotel Transfer: $204
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Cancun HTL-APT (CUN): $55
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Cancun APT-HTL (CUN): $45
  • Transfers in Private Minibus: $97
  • Transfers in Private MiniVan wi fi on board: $61
  • Transfers in Luxury Sedan from Cancun Airport: $85
  • Transfers in Lincoln Strecth Limousine with Wi Fi on board: $121
  • Transfers in Lincoln Strecth Limousine with Wi Fi on board: $137
  • Transfers in Lincoln Strecth Limousine with Wi Fi on board: $261
  • Transfer in Private vehicle from Cancun Airport (CUN) - Akumal City: $74
  • Transfer in Luxury Mercedes Benz Minivan: $91

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bogota

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Bogota are as follows:


  • Taxi from Airport
    $7.56
  • Taxi Ride
    $0.39
  • 2 Bus Passes
    $0.89

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bogota

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

  • Transfer in private SUV from Bogota City - Bogota Airport (BOG): $18
  • Transfer from El Dorado Airport to Hotels in Bogota (one way): $15
  • Salt Cathedral Zipaquira • Premium Private Transfer: $39
  • Private Visit to Zipaquira's Town & Salt Cathedral + In&Out Transfer + (6 hours): $176
  • Private Transfer from the Airport to Hotels in Bogota: $12
  • Private Transfer from Bogotá-El Dorado (BOG) Airport to Bogotá City: $33
  • Private Transfer El Dorado Airport to Hotels in Bogotá: $20
  • Private Salt Cathedral and Nemocón Salt Mines + In & out Transfer + (8 hours): $242
  • Private Arrival or Departure Transfer: El Dorado Airport (One Way): $13
  • Layover Bogotá Private Tour + Transfer in & Out (4 Hrs.) : $149
  • El Dorado International Airport (BOG) - Private Round trip transfer Bogota: $80
  • Bogotá to or from Villavieja or Tatacoa Desert Private Transfer: $167

Is it cheaper to fly into Cancun or Bogota?

Prices for flights to both Bogota and Cancun 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
    Cancun $29
    Bogota $14
Typical Food Prices in Cancun

For Cancun, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Lunch for Two
    $21

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cancun

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

  • Captain Hook: Pirate Show and Dinner Cruise in Cancun: $46
  • Mayan Chichen Itza And Pirate Dinner Two Day Experience: $57
  • The Ultimate Cancun Taco & Street Mexican Food Tour: $59
  • Dinner Show with Pirates! (2x1 Price): $62
  • (2x1 price) Pirate Night! Dinner, Fun and Show: $63
  • (2x1 price) Dinner Show and Pirates Experience : $63
  • (2x1 price)Pirate Adventure! Open Bar, Dinner and Show : $63
  • Cancun Street Food Tour with Food Stalls, Local Market and Murals: $64
  • Dinner Show on a Pirate Ship from Cancun with Open Bar: $65
  • Guided Cancun Local Mexican Food Tour: $78
  • Cancun Authentic Downtown Food Tour: Tacos and Local Flavors: $78
  • Mexican Cooking Class with fresh Local Market ingredients selection and transpor: $79

Typical Food Prices in Bogota

For Bogota, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Breakfast
    $1.57
  • Hot Dog
    $0.92

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bogota

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

  • Peruvian cooking workshop: $26
  • Bogotá Bites: Guided Street Food Tour with Tastings: $45
  • Viejo Bogota Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $49
  • PALOQUEMAO MARKET FOOD TOUR. EXOTIC FRUIT. LOCAL SNACKS. /Min 2 pax: $55
  • Bogota Food Tour • Private Car • Fruits Cacao Lunch Coffee Beer: $59
  • Private Colombian Cooking Class and Market Tour In Bogota: $90
  • Dinner and party at Andres Carne de Res DC: $100

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cancun $35
    Bogota $13
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cancun

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Cancun's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Seasick Pills
    $0.60
  • Whale Shark Tour (for 2)
    $102

Tours and Activities in Cancun

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

  • ATV Jungle Adventure with Ziplines, Cenote Transportation Included: $8.00
  • Bacalar tour + Lunch + Boat, from Cancun and Riviera Maya: $139
  • Coco Bongo Music And Show Ticket: $105
  • Full Day All Inclusive Catamaran Tour to Isla Mujeres : $99
  • Holbox Island Magic Tour from Cancun : $144
  • Riviera Maya Luxury Snorkeling Cruise with Lunch and Drinks: $139
  • (4x1) Full day tour to Tulum, Coba, Cenote and Playa del Carmen : $48
  • (4x1) Tulum, Coba, Cenote and Playa del Carmen tour in one day: $50
  • 1-Day Tour to Bacalar with Kayaking, Marmol Beach Club and Cenote: $115
  • 1-Day Xavage Park Tour from Cancun: $186
  • 12 hour Holbox Plus Tour with Cenote Lunch and Transportation: $105
  • 15 Hours Guided Tour Holbox Island in Mexico: $115

Typical Entertainment Prices in Bogota

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Bogota's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Beer
    $1.31

Tours and Activities in Bogota

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

  • Bogota Zipaquira Salt Cathedral Private Tour + Lunch: $80
  • Express Salt Cathedral Tour• Guided Tour & Tickets • 5h: $219
  • La Candelaria and Monserrate Walking Half Day Tour: $234
  • Lake Guatavitá Private Day Tour: $255
  • Salt Cathedral Zipaquira - Group tour and daily departure: $80
  • *Private tour* to Guatavita sacred lagoon + Nemocon salt mine: $153
  • 3h 30 -Hour StopOver—Walking Tour: Bogota Historical Center: $54
  • 4 Hours Private Tour to Monserrate from Bogotá: $69
  • 4-Hour Private Tour of Bogotá with Guide and Transportation: $77
  • 4-hour Paragliding Adventure from Bogota: $170
  • 5-hour Bogota Street Art Tour with transportation: $184
  • 5-hour Tour through Bogotá during the stopover. Includes round-trip from airport: $160

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cancun $13
    Bogota $14

Sample the Local Flavors in Cancun

Also in Cancun, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Social Pub Crawl in Cancun: $38
  • Brewery Tour / Craft Beer Tasting Cancun Mexico: $116

Sample the Local Flavors in Bogota

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Bogota:

  • Thursday Bar Crawl in Bogotá: $25
  • Friday Night Bar Crawl in Bogotá : $25
  • Saturday Bar Crawl in La Candelaria, Bogotá: $25


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cancun and Bogota, we can see that Cancun is more expensive. And not only is Bogota much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cancun is in North America and Bogota is in South 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 Bogota would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bogota 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 Cancun would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cancun than you might in Bogota.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cancun Expensive? and Is Bogota Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Cancun or Bogota?

Bogota has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Cancun. When comparing the sizes of Cancun and Bogota, 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.