Which place is cheaper, Cancun or Colonia del Sacramento?
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 Colonia del Sacramento or Cancun?
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 Colonia del Sacramento and Cancun can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Colonia del Sacramento or Cancun?
Colonia del Sacramento
Colonia del Sacramento is in the Rio de la Plata region of Uruguay. It is filled with old colonial buildings and cobbled streets, and is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Colonia del Sacramento was founded in 1680 by the Portuguese, sandwiched in between the Portuguese colony of Brazil and the Spanish Viceroyalty of the River Plate, later Argentina, Uruguay and Southern Brazil. Its strategic position and use as a smuggling port meant that its sovereignty was constantly contested and the city changed hands several times between Spain and Portugal. The irresistibly picturesque town's charm and its proximity to Buenos Aires draw thousands of Argentine and other visitors on weekends and in summer. Prices rise in these periods and it can be difficult to find a room so make sure to book your trip well in advance.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun.
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Colonia del Sacramento Prices
Uruguay PricesCancun Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayColonia del Sacramento $79Cancun $162
The average daily cost (per person) in Colonia del Sacramento is $79, while the average daily cost in Cancun is $162. 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 Colonia del Sacramento and Cancun in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personColonia del Sacramento $33Cancun $94
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomColonia del Sacramento $66Cancun $188
Compare Hotels in Colonia del Sacramento and Cancun
Looking for a hotel in Colonia del Sacramento or Cancun? 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: Colonia del Sacramento Hotel Prices and Cancun Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Colonia del Sacramento $17Cancun $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Colonia del Sacramento
Also for Colonia del Sacramento, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Colonia to Carmelo (or vice - versa): $290
- Colonia Port Terminal Private Transfer: $21
- Colonia Bus Terminal Private Transfer: $21
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cancun
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cancun:
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Taxi Around Town$1.61
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Airport Shuttle (for 2)$13
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Ferry to Isla de Mujeres (for 2)$16
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Local Bus (for 2)$1.96
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
- Transfers in Luxury Sedan from Cancun Airport: $97
- Transfers From Hotel to Hotel: $125
- Transfer hotel Cancun to Cancun Airport up to 8 people: $40
- Transfer from Puerto de Chiquila to Cancun Airport: $159
- Transfer from Cancun Airport (CUN) to Cancun/El Dorado Maroma: $59
- Transfer Redondo Private Airport Cancun to Playa del Carmen: $177
- Transfer Private Airport to HOTEL ZONE CANCUN,: $83
- Transfer Airport To Excellence Finest Atelier Playa Mujeres: $80
- Tour Bacalar Ponton with Transfer from Cancun & Playa del Carmen: $163
- Super Combo ATV in Cancun with Zipline, Snorkel, Cenote, transfer: $110
- Sunset Sailing Adventure to Isla Mujeres Unlimited + Transfer from Cancún: $78
Is it cheaper to fly into Colonia del Sacramento or Cancun?
Prices for flights to both Cancun and Colonia del Sacramento 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 dayColonia del Sacramento $31Cancun $48
Typical Food Prices in Cancun
For Cancun, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two$20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cancun
For Cancun, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Salsa Streets Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $69
- Cancun Food Tour - Taco Attack: Street Food & Tequila Tasting: $69
- Cancun Street Food Tour – Local Market & Downtown Experience: $69
- Cancun Historic Downtown Food Tour with 7+ Authentic Tastings: $76
- Cancun Authentic Downtown Food Tour: Tacos and Local Flavors: $78
- Mexican Cooking Class with fresh Local Market ingredients selection and transpor: $79
- Cancun Hands-On Mexican Cooking Class: $79
- Cancun Taco & Mexican Food Tour with Tequila Tasting: $79
- Couples Special Price! Cancun Pirate Show with Dinner & Drinks: $80
- Pirate Night! Dinner, Fun and Show at Cancun Couples Special: $80
- Cancun Private Mural Art and Food Tour: $81
- Puerto Morelos Walking Food Tour: $81
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Colonia del Sacramento $23Cancun $34
Tours and Activities in Colonia del Sacramento
For Colonia del Sacramento, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Authentic Colony on Walking Tour of Its Historic Quarter: $20
- Bus Ticket from Colonia del Sacramento to Carmelo: $27
- Candombe experience: $35
- Candombe in Colonia: an immersive experience with the local community: $75
- Cerros de San Juan Winery Tour – Tastings & History: $461
- City Tour Colonia del Sacramento - Uruguay: $90
- Cologne Südstadt: Group Bike Tour with Cheese and Craft Beer: $65
- Colonia Walking Tour & Chivito Lunch at Casa Páez Vilaró: $55
- Colonia del Sacramento City Tour: $68
- Colonia del Sacramento Full City Tour: $81
- Colonia del Sacramento Historical Tour Duration of 1 hour: $13
- City Tour Walking and Van Tour: $50
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cancun
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Cancun's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Seasick Pills$0.58
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Whale Shark Tour (for 2)$98
Tours and Activities in Cancun
For Cancun, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 Day ATV, Horse Ride, Ziplines and Cenote Adventure from Cancun: $40
- 1 Day Tour to Bacalar, Cenotes and 7 color Lagoon with lunch from Cancun: $125
- 1-Day Tour to Bacalar with Kayaking, Marmol Beach Club and Cenote: $119
- 1-hour Clear Boat Tour in Nichupte Lagoon from Cancun: $22
- 2 Day Combo Tour, Xcaret, Xel-Ha, Xplor and Chichen Itza Option: $280
- 2 Islands Tour - Isla Contoy and Isla Mujeres from Playa del Carmen: $160
- 2 in 1 Catamaran to Isla Mujeres Tour from Cancun with Open Bar: $50
- 2 in 1 Parasailing and Jet Sky Tour in Cancun: $140
- 2-day tour: Isla Mujeres catamaran and Chichen Itzá: $118
- 2x1 Tulum tour and Chichen Itza tour for 1 price in 2 days: $139
- 3 adrenaline activities Atvs Zipline and a swim experience in a cenote: $60
- 3 in 1 Jungle Tour Adventure Cancun: $69
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayColonia del Sacramento $5.63Cancun $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Colonia del Sacramento
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Colonia del Sacramento:
- Cheese and Wine Tasting - Roots of Colonia del Sacramento: $32
- Private Guided Colonia Wine Tour: $190
- Carmelo from Colonia: Wine Tasting Experience & Lunch at the Zubizarreta Winery: $204
- Indulge in a Scenic Wine Tour from Colonia to Carmelo: $250
Sample the Local Flavors in Cancun
Also in Cancun, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- A bespoke wine tastings crafted for unforgettable moments: $86
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Colonia del Sacramento and Cancun, we can see that Cancun is more expensive. And not only is Colonia del Sacramento much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Colonia del Sacramento is in South America and Cancun 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 Colonia del Sacramento would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Colonia del Sacramento 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 Colonia del Sacramento.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Colonia del Sacramento Expensive? and Is Cancun Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Colonia del Sacramento or Cancun?
Cancun has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Colonia del Sacramento. When comparing the sizes of Colonia del Sacramento and Cancun, 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.