Which place is cheaper, Santa Marta or Cancun?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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 Santa Marta can help you decide which place is right for you.
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.
Santa Marta is a city in the Magdalena Department of Colombia's Costa Norte. Over the last decade, security has steadily been replacing the shadow of the Colombia's violent past. One destination in Colombia's northeast region is now attracting more international visitors: the coastal Caribbean area of Santa Marta. Established in 1525 by the Spanish as a base of conquest, Santa Marta sits at the foot of the world's highest coastal mountain range, the towering Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. It is South America's oldest European-founded town and the second most important colonial city on Colombia's Caribbean coast. While many travelers complain about Santa Marta's horrible traffic and unsightly urban sprawl, the city holds a numerous amounts of great hotels, bars and restaurants and holds a few fantastic destinations nearby to which you can go during the daytime.
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, The Best Eco Tours in Colombia, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Colombia.
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 Santa Marta is $32. 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 Santa Marta in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Cancun or Santa Marta? 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.
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cancun:
Also for Cancun, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Santa Marta:
Also for Santa Marta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Santa Marta 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.
For Cancun, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
For Cancun, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
For Santa Marta, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
For Santa Marta, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Cancun's activities, tours, and tickets:
For Cancun, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
For Santa Marta, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Also in Cancun, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Santa Marta from other travelers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cancun and Santa Marta, we can see that Cancun is more expensive. And not only is Santa Marta much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cancun is in North America and Santa Marta 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 Santa Marta would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Marta 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 Santa Marta.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cancun Expensive? and Is Santa Marta Expensive?.
Cancun has a larger population, and is about 26% larger than the population of Santa Marta. When comparing the sizes of Cancun and Santa Marta, 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.