A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Cologne vs. Montevideo for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Cologne or Montevideo?

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

Should I visit Cologne or Montevideo? 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: Cologne or Montevideo?

Cologne

Spanning the Rhine River in western Germany, the city of Cologne dates back 2,000 years, once existing as the largest city of the Holy Roman Empire in medieval times. Today, it is the region's cultural hub - a center of museums, galleries, and towering Gothic cathedrals.

Montevideo

As the morning sun tinges the calm waters of the Rio de la Plata with a golden hue, the Rambla and its city awakens to life with new adventures for those near and far. From tanning on the luxurious beaches to peering into Uruguayan history at local museums, one can be far from bored while staying in Montevideo. Combining the quaintness of the countryside with the excitement of urban life, this city holds a unique trait that cannot easily be replicated.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Germany, The Best Budget Tours to Germany, The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, and The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay.


Which place is cheaper, Montevideo or Cologne?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Cologne is €161, while the average daily cost in Montevideo is €59. 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 Cologne and Montevideo in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cologne 91
    Montevideo 37
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cologne 182
    Montevideo 74
Compare Hotels in Cologne and Montevideo

Looking for a hotel in Cologne or Montevideo? 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 Cologne


Hotels in Montevideo


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: Cologne Hotel Prices and Montevideo Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cologne 19
    Montevideo 6.80

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cologne

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cologne:

  • Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Bonn hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $110
  • Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Cologne hotels - Round-trip Private Transfer : $98
  • Transfer from Cologne Airport CGN to Cologne City by Luxury Car: $83
  • Superior Private Transfer from Cologne City to Dortmund City: $64
  • Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Bonn hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $55
  • Cologne hotels to Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) - Departure Private Transfer: $49

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montevideo

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

  • 1 - way - Transfer from Carrasco Interational Airport to Montevideo: $51
  • Airport-Hotel or Hotel-Airport Transfers: $36
  • Carrasco Airport Transfer: $20
  • Carrasco International Airport (MVD) to Montevideo hotels - Round-Trip Transfer: $98
  • Private 1-Way or Round Trip MVD Airport Transfer: $45
  • Shared 1-Way or Round Trip MVD Airport Transfer: $35
  • Private Transfer from Carrasco Airport (MVD) to Montevideo Port: $30
  • Private Transfer from Montevideo Port to Carrasco Airport (MVD): $26
  • Private Transfer from Punta Del Este Port to Carrasco Airport MVD: $72
  • Private Transfer from or to Carrasco Airport in Montevideo: $120
  • TRANSFER FROM OR TO THE AIRPORT (4 to 12 paxs): $80
  • Transfer from Montevideo to Carrasco Airport: $45

Is it cheaper to fly into Cologne or Montevideo?

Prices for flights to both Montevideo and Cologne 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
    Cologne 50
    Montevideo 13
Typical Food Prices in Cologne

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cologne:


  • Dinner
    14
  • Donner Kebab
    4.00

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cologne

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cologne.

  • Hard Rock Café with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $27
  • Hard Rock Cafe Cologne With Set Lunch or Dinner: $29
  • Köln Südstadt kulinarisch – Die Food Tour: $48
  • 3-Hour Südstadt Food Tour: $484

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montevideo

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

  • The best Montevideo Dinner Show. Tango and Candombe. El Milongon.: $85
  • El Milongon Dinner & Show: Candombe, Tango and Folklore: $98

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cologne 20
    Montevideo 19

Tours and Activities in Cologne

Here are a few actual costs in Cologne for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 120min - Cologne City Tour: $158
  • 3-Hour Cologne Street Art Bike Tour in Small Group with Guide: $44
  • 3-Hour Murder Mystery Interactive City Walking Tour in Köln: $75
  • 5 Hours Cologne to Aachen Train Tour in Germany: $63
  • Aachen City Hall tour (public): $20
  • Aachen Private Walking Tour With A Professional Guide: $231
  • Aachen Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
  • Aachen Scavenger Hunt and Self Guided Walking Tour on your Phone: $7.63
  • Aachen old town tour - GERMAN (public): $13
  • Amusing Stories of Cologne Walking Tour: $13
  • Ancient Echoes: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Roman Cologne: $11
  • Awesome Sites of Cologne – Private Family Walking Tour: $397

Tours and Activities in Montevideo

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

  • Montevideo's Culture and History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.20
  • Museo Andes 1972 / Crash Memorial Admission Ticket: $8.00
  • Palacio Salvo Official Ticket with Guided Tour: $13
  • Tourist Bus "Discover Montevideo": $25
  • Half-day Regular City Tour at Montevideo : $25
  • Audio Guided Tour in Montevideo City for Cruisers: $26
  • Montevideo City Tour for Cruisers - AudioGuided: $26
  • City tour Montevideo: $27
  • Half-Day Sightseeing Tour: $28
  • Shared Montevideo Tour for Cruisers: $30
  • Old City Walking Tour with Private Photographer: $30
  • Walking Tour with Photographer and Audioguide: $31

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cologne 23
    Montevideo -

Sample the Local Flavors in Cologne

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Cologne:

  • Public brewery tour in German in Cologne: $18
  • Old Town Walking Tour with Brewery and Kölsch Beer: $18
  • Guided tour of the old town with a visit to the brewery in Cologne: $19
  • Old Town Walking Tour inkl Brewery Visit: $24
  • Entertaining Brewery Tour: Feel Good Package including local beer: $27
  • South Cologne Walking Tour with brewery visit: $27
  • Pub Crawl Cologne Including Admission Fee for Bars and Shots: $27
  • Brewery Tour with 3 Kölsch Beer Tastings: $30
  • Brewery Tour with Beer Tasting and Halven Hahn: $31
  • The Legendary Kölsch Brewery Tour: $32
  • The Legendary Kölsch Brewery Tour: $33
  • Cologne-Nippes: Gourmet wine tasting with cheese platter: $64

Sample the Local Flavors in Montevideo

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Montevideo:

  • Half Day Tour at Pizzorno Winery with Lunch and Wine Tasting: $120
  • The best wine tour: $140
  • Wine tour - Lunch & Tasting with Wine Explorers: $198
  • Wine Tasting & Countryside Lunch Experience: $210


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

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


Which is Bigger, Cologne or Montevideo?

Montevideo has a larger population, and is about 32% larger than the population of Cologne. When comparing the sizes of Cologne and Montevideo, 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.


When is the best time to visit Cologne or Montevideo?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Montevideo is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Cologne has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Cologne or Montevideo in the Summer?

Both Montevideo and Cologne during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Cologne in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

Cologne is cooler than Montevideo in the summer. The daily temperature in Cologne averages around 19°C (66°F) in July, and Montevideo fluctuates around 24°C (75°F)in January.

In Montevideo, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Cologne often gets less sunshine than Montevideoin January. Cologne gets 184 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montevideo receives 296 hours of full sun.

Cologne usually gets less rain in July than Montevideoin January. Cologne gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Montevideo receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July and January
    Cologne 19°C (66°F) 
    Montevideo 24°C (75°F)

Should I visit Cologne or Montevideo in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Cologne and Montevideo. Most visitors come to Cologne for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In the autumn, Cologne is cooler than Montevideo. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Cologne in October average around 12°C (54°F), and Montevideo averages at about 17°C (63°F)in April.

Cologne usually receives less sunshine than Montevideo during autumn. Cologne gets 104 hours of sunny skies, while Montevideo receives 171 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Montevideo receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Cologne usually receives less rain than Montevideoin April. Cologne gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Montevideo receives 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October and April
    Cologne 12°C (54°F) 
    Montevideo 17°C (63°F)

Should I visit Cologne or Montevideo in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Cologne as well as Montevideo. The winter months attract visitors to Cologne because of the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Cologne can be very cold. In January, Cologne is generally much colder than Montevideoin July. Daily temperatures in Cologne average around 3°C (37°F), and Montevideo fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In the winter, Cologne often gets less sunshine than Montevideoin July. Cologne gets 43 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montevideo receives 135 hours of full sun.

Cologne usually gets less rain in January than Montevideoin July. Cologne gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Montevideo receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January and July
    Cologne 3°C (37°F) 
    Montevideo 11°C (52°F)

Should I visit Cologne or Montevideo in the Spring?

Both Montevideo and Cologne are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Cologne this time of year.

Cologne is much colder than Montevideo in the spring. The daily temperature in Cologne averages around 10°C (50°F) in April, and Montevideo fluctuates around 17°C (63°F)in October.

It's quite sunny in Montevideo. Cologne usually receives less sunshine than Montevideo during spring. Cologne gets 152 hours of sunny skies, while Montevideo receives 248 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Montevideo. In April, Cologne usually receives less rain than Montevideoin October. Cologne gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Montevideo receives 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April and October
    Cologne 10°C (50°F) 
    Montevideo 17°C (63°F)

Typical Weather for Montevideo and Cologne

Cologne Montevideo
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 3°C (37°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 24°C (75°F) 90 mm (3.5 in)
Feb 4°C (39°F) 48 mm (1.9 in) 23°C (73°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)
Mar 7°C (44°F) 63 mm (2.5 in) 21°C (70°F) 110 mm (4.3 in)
Apr 10°C (50°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 17°C (63°F) 100 mm (3.9 in)
May 14°C (58°F) 68 mm (2.7 in) 14°C (57°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)
Jun 17°C (63°F) 76 mm (3 in) 11°C (52°F) 60 mm (2.4 in)
Jul 19°C (66°F) 80 mm (3.1 in) 11°C (52°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)
Aug 19°C (66°F) 73 mm (2.9 in) 12°C (54°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)
Sep 16°C (61°F) 62 mm (2.5 in) 14°C (57°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)
Oct 12°C (54°F) 54 mm (2.1 in) 17°C (63°F) 100 mm (3.9 in)
Nov 7°C (45°F) 65 mm (2.6 in) 19°C (66°F) 90 mm (3.5 in)
Dec 4°C (39°F) 71 mm (2.8 in) 22°C (72°F) 100 mm (3.9 in)