A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Cozumel vs. Lake Titicaca (Puno) for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Cozumel or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?

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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Cozumel or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?

Cozumel

Cozumel is a Caribbean island just off the Yucatan Peninsula. It'as a popular tourist destination because of its beautiful beaches and excellent snorkeling and scuba diving. With crystal clear waters and vibrant colored coral, Cozumel is one of the most popular dive destinations in the area. The island's economy is centered around tourism, and as such, you'll find plenty of amenities for visitors. The prices are comparable to other coastal towns in the area and there is no shortage of activities or attractions nearby.

Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Lake Titicaca, which directly translates to "puma stone" in Quechua, is located high in the Andes Mountains straddling Peru and Bolivia, with about 60% of the lake in Peru and 40% in Bolivia. Among the lake are three main islands, the most popular of which are the Uros Islands, also known as the floating islands, where the Uros people live on totora reeds that grow in the lake.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, The Best Adventure Tours to Mexico, The Best Photography Tours in Peru, and The Best Jungle Trekking Tours in Peru.


Which place is cheaper, Lake Titicaca (Puno) or Cozumel?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Cozumel is $118, while the average daily cost in Lake Titicaca (Puno) is $55. 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 Cozumel and Lake Titicaca (Puno) in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cozumel $70
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $26
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cozumel $140
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $52
Compare Hotels in Cozumel and Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Looking for a hotel in Cozumel or Lake Titicaca (Puno)? 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 Cozumel


Hotels in Lake Titicaca (Puno)


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: Cozumel Hotel Prices and Lake Titicaca (Puno) Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cozumel $23
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $11

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cozumel

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

  • Shared Transfer from Airport to Hotel: $30
  • Cozumel to Mexico Cozumel Airport (CZM)Departure Private Transfer: $44
  • Mexico Cozumel Airport (CZM) to Cozumel -Arrival Private Transfer: $44
  • Private Transfer from Cozumel hotels to Cozumel Cruise Port: $44
  • Cozumel Port to Cozumel Airport CZM Departure Private Transfer: $44
  • Cozumel Cruise Port to Cozumel hotels Arrival Private Transfer: $44
  • Cozumel Cruise Port to Mexico Cozumel Airport (CZM) - Departure Private Transfer: $44
  • Cozumel Island hotels to Cozumel Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $44
  • Cozumel Island Transfers: $70
  • Wild Jade Cavern Private ATV Tour With Transfer: $86
  • Cozumel Airport (CZM) to Cozumel Cruise Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $87
  • Cozumel Cruise Port to Cozumel Island Hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $87

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno):


  • Taxi
    $0.81

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno):

  • Private Transfer From Puno to Chivay With a 2 Hour Stop: $296
  • Private Transfer From Puno to Oruro With a Stop in Lake Titicaca: $285
  • Private Transfer From Puno to Cusco With 2 Stops: $249
  • Private Transfer From Puno to Chivay, English Speaking Driver: $209
  • Direct Private Transfer From Puno to Cusco, English Local Speaking Driver: $205
  • Private Transfer from Puno to Frontera Kasani: $202
  • Private Transfer from Puno to Desaguadero: $193
  • Puno Airport Private Transfer: $44
  • Private Transfer from Hotel Puno to Puerto de Puno: $21
  • Private Transfer from Puerto de Puno to Hotel Puno: $21
  • Puno Airport Shared Transfer: $20

Is it cheaper to fly into Cozumel or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?

Prices for flights to both Lake Titicaca (Puno) and Cozumel 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
    Cozumel $24
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $15

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cozumel

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

  • Authentic Mayan Cooking Class in Cozumel: $61
  • Cozumel Food Tour: $90
  • Cozumel Food Tour: $110

Typical Food Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Some typical examples of dining costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:


  • Tamales
    $1.49

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cozumel $44
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $29

Tours and Activities in Cozumel

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

  • 1 Hour and Half Private Tropical Fitness Experience in Cozumel: $6.03
  • Cozumel!! Guacamole And Margarita Fiesta!!! ( Virtual Experience): $12
  • Skip the Line: Admission Ticket to El Cedral Town and Mayan Temple: $16
  • 2 Hour Discover Mermaid Experience : $20
  • Cozumel El Cielo 3x1 Reefs Tour: $29
  • Clear Boat & Snorkel Cozumel Tour with Drinks: $37
  • Amazing Cozumel Buggy Adventure with Snorkeling Tequila and More: $39
  • Cozumel Buggy Adventure: Snorkeling and Tequila Tasting: $40
  • Off Road Adventure with ATVs and El Cedral Ruins: $40
  • Cozumel Beach Horseback Riding Tour: $40
  • VIP Glass Bottom Boat & Snorkeling 3 Reefs Tour: $40
  • Guided Day Tour in Cozumel on a Clear Boat and Electric Scooter: $41

Tours and Activities in Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:

  • 2-Day Lake Titicaca Tour with Stay in a Local Family Home: $109
  • 2-Day Tour Lake Titicaca: Uros, Amantani & Taquile Islands: $98
  • 2-Day Tour Uros Islands with Stay in a Local Family House from Puno: $109
  • 2-Day Tour to Uros, Amantani and Taquile From Puno: $85
  • 2-Hour Crop Circles Private Tour on Lake Titicaca from Puno: $130
  • 2-day Tour: Puno To Chivay And Canyon Of Colca: $195
  • 3 Days Tour to Ruta del Sol in Puno: $120
  • 3h Boat Tour to Uros Island from Puno: $38
  • Bus Day Tour along the Ruta del Sol from Puno to Cusco: $62
  • Bus Ticket from Puno to Cusco with Stop.: $108
  • Chucuito Bike Tour: $194
  • Cultural Tour to Uros Floating Island: $60

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cozumel $11
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $13


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cozumel and Lake Titicaca (Puno), we can see that Cozumel is more expensive. And not only is Lake Titicaca (Puno) much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cozumel is in North America and Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno).

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


Which is Bigger, Cozumel or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?

Lake Titicaca (Puno) has a larger population, and is about 58% larger than the population of Cozumel. When comparing the sizes of Cozumel and Lake Titicaca (Puno), 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.