Which place is cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Colonia del Sacramento?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Colonia del Sacramento or Playa del Carmen?
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 Playa del Carmen can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Colonia del Sacramento or Playa del Carmen?
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.
Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is in Quintana Roo on the Yucatan Peninsula. It's a popular resort town and is about seventy kilometers south of Cancun. It has a European atmosphere with many small hotels and a nice relaxed feel. It was originally a small fishing town but tourism began with the introduction of a passenger ferry to Cozumel. The area developed rapidly and there are many luxury hotels, condos, and resorts. There are also American chains and a variety of shopping opportunities nearby.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayColonia del Sacramento $68Playa del Carmen $81
The average daily cost (per person) in Colonia del Sacramento is $68, while the average daily cost in Playa del Carmen is $81. 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 Playa del Carmen in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personColonia del Sacramento $34Playa del Carmen $40
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomColonia del Sacramento $68Playa del Carmen $80
Compare Hotels in Colonia del Sacramento and Playa del Carmen
Looking for a hotel in Colonia del Sacramento or Playa del Carmen? 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 Playa del Carmen Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Colonia del Sacramento $17Playa del Carmen $24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Colonia del Sacramento
Also for Colonia del Sacramento, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Colonia Bus Terminal Private Transfer : $15
- Colonia Port Terminal Private Transfer : $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Playa del Carmen
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Playa del Carmen:
- Wedding Transfers Services in Round Trip Playa del Carmen: $180
- Transfers in Lincoln StretchLimo from Puerto Aventuras-Cun Airport.: $194
- Transfer in Private vehicle from Akumal City - Cancun Airport (CUN) : $74
- Tour Bacalar Ponton with Transfer from Cancun & Playa del Carmen : $147
- Shared transfer from Playa del Carmen tu Cancun airport: $25
- Shared roundtrip transfer from Cancun airport to Playa del Carmen: $71
- Shared Transfer Cancun Airport - Puerto Aventuras: $48
- Shared Transfer Cancun Airport - Playa del Carmen: $31
- Roundtrip Private Transfer Playa del Carmen from CUN: $173
- Private Transfer: Akumal to Cancun Airport CUN in SUV: $109
- Private Transfer to Xplor / Xenses / Xplor Fire from Playa del Carmen: $25
- Private Transfer to Xel-Há Park from Playa del Carmen: $53
Is it cheaper to fly into Colonia del Sacramento or Playa del Carmen?
Prices for flights to both Playa del Carmen 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 $19Playa del Carmen $24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Colonia del Sacramento
For Colonia del Sacramento, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Sensory Experience - Blind dinner in Colonia Del Sacramento: $95
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Playa del Carmen
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Playa del Carmen.
- Cenotes by Bike and Mayan Cooking Class Half-Day Guided Tour: $60
- Walking Food Tour: $65
- Playa Del Carmen Authentic Downtown Food Tour: Tacos and Local Flavors: $75
- Playa del Carmen Walking Food Tour: $77
- Mexican Cooking Class: $100
- Seafood Tour in Playa del Carmen: $101
- PDC Traditional Mexican Cooking Experience: $104
- Authentic Mexican Cooking Class in Playa del Carmen: $120
- Isa’s Authentic Mexican Cooking Class: $120
- Cultural Coba Sunset Adventure with Dinner and show from Cancun: $130
- Sunset Adventure in Coba and Dinner with Show from Riviera Maya: $155
- Riviera Maya: Sunset Cruise with Beach Dinner and Open Bar: $157
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Colonia del Sacramento $24Playa del Carmen $17
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:
- Walking tour around Colonia del Sacramento Old Town: $15
- Goup Walking Tour - Spanish Only: $18
- Shared City Tour at sunset in Historic Neighborhood: $20
- Bus Ticket from Colonia del Sacramento to Carmelo: $27
- Hike at promenade + entry ticket to bullring (Walk 5.5km): $28
- Winery tour with shared transport and tasting included: $38
- Shared Boat Tour Experience - Colonia del Sacramento: $43
- Adventure Sightseeing Bike Tour: $53
- Full gastronomic experience: Uruguayan meat,cheese and wine: $55
- Historical Walking Tour with Snack: $58
- Colonia del Sacramento City Tour : $58
- From Horse Ride Experience: $72
Tours and Activities in Playa del Carmen
Here are a few actual costs in Playa del Carmen for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Romantic tour in Akumal: $115
- Tulum Ruins, Turtle Sightseeing & Underground Cenote from Tulum: $140
- VIP Cenote Scuba Tour, Certified Divers Only: $230
- 3 in 1 Private Tour Tulum Cenote and Snorkeling in the reef: $210
- 3D Museum of Wonders Admission Ticket: $42
- 5X1: Tulum and Coba Ruins, Cenote & Mayan Village Full Day Tour : $114
- ATV Adventure with Ziplines Cenote from Playa del Carmen: $75
- ATV Extreme and Snorkel Adventure from the Riviera Maya: $139
- ATV Ride and Secret Caves Tour from Playa del Carmen: $80
- ATV Shared & Ziplines Adventure in Tulum Jungle from Riviera Maya: $133
- ATV Shared, Cavern & Ziplines -Jungle Adventure from Riviera Maya: $158
- ATV Xtreme & Snorkel Experience: $138
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayColonia del Sacramento $5.85Playa del Carmen $21
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Colonia del Sacramento and Playa del Carmen, we can see that Playa del Carmen 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 Playa del Carmen 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 Playa del Carmen would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Playa del Carmen 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 Playa del Carmen Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Colonia del Sacramento or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Colonia del Sacramento. When comparing the sizes of Colonia del Sacramento and Playa del Carmen, 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 Colonia del Sacramento or Playa del Carmen?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Colonia del Sacramento is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Playa del Carmen has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Colonia del Sacramento or Playa del Carmen in the Summer?
Both Playa del Carmen and Colonia del Sacramento during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Playa del Carmen because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
In January, Colonia del Sacramento is generally cooler than Playa del Carmenin July. Daily temperatures in Colonia del Sacramento average around 25°C (77°F), and Playa del Carmen fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
In Playa del Carmen, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Colonia del Sacramento. In the summer, Colonia del Sacramento often gets more sunshine than Playa del Carmenin July. Colonia del Sacramento gets 285 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa del Carmen receives 223 hours of full sun.
Playa del Carmen gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Colonia del Sacramento usually gets less rain in January than Playa del Carmenin July. Colonia del Sacramento gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Playa del Carmen receives 156 mm (6.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyColonia del Sacramento 25°C (77°F)Playa del Carmen 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Colonia del Sacramento or Playa del Carmen in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Colonia del Sacramento and Playa del Carmen. Also, the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Playa del Carmen this time of year.
Colonia del Sacramento is cooler than Playa del Carmen in the autumn. The daily temperature in Colonia del Sacramento averages around 18°C (65°F) in April, and Playa del Carmen fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in October.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Playa del Carmen this time of the year. Colonia del Sacramento usually receives less sunshine than Playa del Carmen during autumn. Colonia del Sacramento gets 183 hours of sunny skies, while Playa del Carmen receives 233 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Playa del Carmen receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Colonia del Sacramento gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Colonia del Sacramento usually receives less rain than Playa del Carmenin October. Colonia del Sacramento gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Playa del Carmen receives 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The hurricane season in Playa del Carmen is June to October.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberColonia del Sacramento 18°C (65°F)Playa del Carmen 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Colonia del Sacramento or Playa del Carmen in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Colonia del Sacramento as well as Playa del Carmen. Also, many travelers come to Playa del Carmen for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Colonia del Sacramento is much colder than Playa del Carmen. Typically, the winter temperatures in Colonia del Sacramento in July average around 12°C (53°F), and Playa del Carmen averages at about 23°C (73°F)in January.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Playa del Carmen. In the winter, Colonia del Sacramento often gets less sunshine than Playa del Carmenin January. Colonia del Sacramento gets 143 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa del Carmen receives 224 hours of full sun.
Colonia del Sacramento usually gets more rain in July than Playa del Carmenin January. Colonia del Sacramento gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Playa del Carmen receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryColonia del Sacramento 12°C (53°F)Playa del Carmen 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Colonia del Sacramento or Playa del Carmen in the Spring?
Both Playa del Carmen and Colonia del Sacramento are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Playa del Carmen in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.
In October, Colonia del Sacramento is generally much colder than Playa del Carmenin April. Daily temperatures in Colonia del Sacramento average around 18°C (64°F), and Playa del Carmen fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
It's quite sunny in Playa del Carmen. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Colonia del Sacramento. Colonia del Sacramento usually receives less sunshine than Playa del Carmen during spring. Colonia del Sacramento gets 233 hours of sunny skies, while Playa del Carmen receives 259 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Colonia del Sacramento. In October, Colonia del Sacramento usually receives more rain than Playa del Carmenin April. Colonia del Sacramento gets 118 mm (4.6 in) of rain, while Playa del Carmen receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the spring. June to October is the hurricane season in Playa del Carmen.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilColonia del Sacramento 18°C (64°F)Playa del Carmen 27°C (81°F)
Typical Weather for Playa del Carmen and Colonia del Sacramento
| Colonia del Sacramento | Playa del Carmen | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 98 mm (3.9 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 22°C (71°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 18°C (65°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Jun | 12°C (53°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) |
| Jul | 12°C (53°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) |
| Aug | 13°C (55°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Sep | 15°C (59°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (64°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (69°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (74°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
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.