A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Cozumel vs. Greenville for Nightlife, Families, Couples, and Attractions

Should you visit Cozumel or Greenville?

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 Cozumel and Greenville can help you decide which place is right for you.

Cozumel

Cozumel is a vibrant, active, and colorful island. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Greenville

Greenville is a southern, welcoming, and hospitable city. Other reasons to visit include nightlife, shopping, and museums.

Cozumel and Greenville: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Cozumel or Greenville?

You'll generally find more things to do in Cozumel than Greenville. Cozumel is bigger than Greenville, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Cozumel is more touristy than Greenville and is known for its beautiful beaches and world class dive sites. Also, Cozumel is famous for Palancar Reef. Greenville is well known for its outdoor spaces and its growing arts scene.

How is Cozumel different from Greenville?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Greenville and Cozumel. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Cozumel or Greenville?

Spend time exploring the notable sights and museums in either Cozumel or Greenville.

Cozumel is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Check out the Island Museum, the Coral Reefs Monument, and some of the local Mayan ruins. Also worth a visit is Cozumel's Lighthouse.

Greenville offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Museums focus on art, history, and science. Notable museums in town include the Greenville County Museum of Art, the Upcountry History Museum, and the Sigal Music Museum.

Is the Food Better in Cozumel or Greenville? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Cozumel is very good for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Greenville is not known for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Cozumel is becoming an appealing option for foodies. You'll find a mix of tourist restaurants and hidden gems that serve up authentic Mexican dishes. Wander off the main streets to find the restaurants that are tucked away from the cruise ship crowds.

Greenville offers some easy restaurants to choose from. The food scene is growing and the farm-to-table movement is apparent here, but the city is still often overlooked by foodies in the area.

Is Cozumel or Greenville Better for Nightlife?

Cozumel is a great island for its evening party scene. Also, Greenville is not as popular, but is still a nice city for nightlife.

The nightlife in Cozumel has something for everybody. The nightlife scene is filled with cocktail lounges, beachfront bars, and wild weekend parties. There is something for everyone, whether you'll looking to sip wine by the ocean or party into the early morning.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Greenville. Bars, breweries, and low key clubs are what drive the city's nightlife scene. There are both piano bars and live music venues that often lean towards the local country classics.

Is Cozumel or Greenville Better for Resorts?

Cozumel is a great island for its luxury resorts. However, Greenville is not a resort destination.

Vacationers can choose from a number of terrific resorts in Cozumel. There are hotels in the city center, and resorts by the beaches. For diving and snorkeling, stay in Southern Cozumel. Golfing and waterfront properties are popular in Northern Cozumel.

Greenville is not a resort destination.

Is Cozumel or Greenville Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Cozumel is an unbeatable place for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Greenville is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

The scuba diving and snorkeling in Cozumel is not to be missed. Many people visit Cozumel specifically for the world class diving. Palancar Reef is one of the best dive spots in the area, and thanks to conservation efforts it is rebounding and offers a diverse environment.

Greenville is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Cozumel or Greenville Better for Beaches?

Cozumel is an unbeatable place for the beach. However, Greenville is not a beach destination.

With world-famous beaches, Cozumel is a very popular vacation destination. The island is lined with beautiful beaches and you'll find great snorkeling and tourist-friendly amenities. Some of the best beaches are Playa Punta Morena, Playa El Cielo, and Playa Chen Rio.

Greenville is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Cozumel or Greenville?

Cozumel is a great island for its shopping areas. Also, Greenville is not as popular, but is still a nice city for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Cozumel. For the best shopping head to Plaza del Sol, the Royal Village Shopping Center, or Los Cincos Soles. Expect cruise ship crowds and no shortage of tourists.

Greenville is a great destination for shopping. You'll find upscale shopping in the city's downtown and sprawling shopping malls in other neighborhoods. There are plenty of name brand stores where you can pick up the latest style.

Is Cozumel or Greenville Better for Families?

Cozumel is a great island for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Greenville is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Cozumel. The area is filled with water parks, snorkeling opportunities and, of course, fun-filled beaches. There are also wildlife reserves and Mayan ruins that aren't too far away.

Greenville is a family-friendly place to visit. There are many local families in town, so you'll find all kinds of kid-friendly activities to enjoy. Paris Mountain State Park is a popular place where everyone can run around. Falls Park on the Reedy River also has walking trails and is in the city's historic district. There's also a children's theater and plenty of playgrounds around town.

Is Cozumel or Greenville Better for Couples?

Cozumel is a great island for couples. However, Greenville is not known for romance.

Cozumel is a great island if you're traveling as a couple. Beaches, resorts, and adventure sports make this the perfect couples destination. There are also great restaurants and plenty of interesting places to explore.

Greenville is not the best destination for a couple to visit. You can take the free trolley down Main Street and then enjoy a meal at one of the local restaurants.

Is Cozumel or Greenville Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Cozumel is a great island for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Greenville is not known for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Cozumel. There are a few hostels in town and it's a safe and easy place to explore independently.

Greenville is not the best destination for backpackers and budget travelers due to its high prices. While there are students in the area, there is little else to bring backpackers to town.

Is Cozumel or Greenville Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Cozumel and Greenville both offer respectable public transit to get you around.

Public transit is mostly limited in Cozumel. Local buses don't efficiently travel to the beaches or the hotel areas, so most tourists don't use them.

Public transit is generally limited in Greenville. There are free trolleys that make their way around the downtown neighborhoods.

Is Cozumel or Greenville a more walkable city?

Cozumel is a great island for its ease of walking around. However, Greenville is not known for its walkability.

Cozumel is a very walkable destination. It's easy to walk around the downtown as it's compact and fun to explore on foot.

Greenville is generally not very walkable. The downtown area is surprisingly walkable, but like most cities in the area, you need a car to make the most of your visit.

For even more information, also check out Is Cozumel Worth Visiting? and Is Greenville Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Greenville or Cozumel?

How long in Cozumel or Greenville?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Cozumel or Greenville to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Cozumel than Greenville because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Cozumel, and 1-2 days is enough time in Greenville.

Families should spend more time in Cozumel than Greenville. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Cozumel, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Cozumel than Greenville. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Cozumel that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Cozumel than Greenville if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Cozumel.

One day in Cozumel or Greenville?

With food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the scenic island of Cozumel, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

In Greenville, you'll find museums and nightlife. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A weekend in Cozumel or Greenville?

With scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping around the destination of Cozumel, there's plenty to do. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. It offers something for everyone. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything.

In Greenville, you'll find nightlife and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Greenville has to offer.

Five days in Cozumel or Greenville?

Cozumel, a popular island, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for five days. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. In five days, you should have a good grasp of this island. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Greenville is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Cozumel or Greenville?

Cozumel is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have one week, this island makes for a great vacation. One week should give you a good understanding of everything this island has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Greenville. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Greenville. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, The Best Adventure Tours to Mexico, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Cozumel or Greenville?

Cozumel has a larger population, and is about 33% larger than the population of Greenville. When comparing the sizes of Cozumel and Greenville, 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.