Which place is cheaper, Medellin or Cuenca?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cuenca or Medellin?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Cuenca and Medellin. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Cuenca or Medellin?
Cuenca
Cuenca is a vibrant colonial city in southern Ecuador, the third largest in the country, and the capital of Azuay Province. Cuenca is considered as Ecuador's most important and beautiful colonial city after Quito. Dating from the 16th century, Cuenca's historic center, a Unesco World Heritage Site with its trademark skyline of massive rotundas and soaring steeples, is a magical sight in which you will feel like you are moving back in time. Cuenca is the center of many craft traditions, including ceramics, metalwork and the internationally famous panama hat. The nearby villages also offer many other handicrafts. Tourists enjoy wandering the ancient streets discovering picturesque alleys and hidden corners, where nuns march along cobblestone streets and kids in Catholic-school uniforms skip past historic churches. Fascinating historic monuments and fabulous views are found at every turn. Cuenca also has outstanding art museums and festivals. For a rewarding cultural experience, visit during Easter to attend the Festival of Religious Music.
Medellin
In addition to big improvements in public safety, Medellin has witnessed a huge surge in urban development projects, including Colombia's first metro system and cable cars to service poorer neighborhoods located high on the mountain sides. There is an abundance of parks, libraries, museums and public spaces with many cultural events taking place. Many travelers also enjoy visiting the surrounding villages, where life is simple and landscapes and nature reserves are wonderful. Medellin has now become one of the "it" cities in the world, with tons of tourists visiting and foreigners settling and retiring here. Beautiful mountains, warm weather, friendly locals, and a vibrant culture are just a few of the reasons why you should visit Medellin.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Ecuador, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Ecuador, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, and The Best Eco Tours in Colombia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCuenca $42Medellin $21
The average daily cost (per person) in Cuenca is $42, while the average daily cost in Medellin is $21. 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 Cuenca and Medellin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCuenca $13Medellin $4.35
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCuenca $26Medellin $8.70
Compare Hotels in Cuenca and Medellin
Looking for a hotel in Cuenca or Medellin? 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: Cuenca Hotel Prices and Medellin Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cuenca $11Medellin $3.79
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cuenca
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cuenca:
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Taxi Ride$2.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cuenca
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cuenca:
- Ecuador: Airport Transfers on Quito, Guayaquil and others.: $30
- Shared transfer from Hotel to Airport in Cuenca: $47
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Medellin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Medellin:
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Taxi$1.51
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Medellin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Medellin:
- Airport Transfer: $50
- Airport Transfers : $120
- Guatapé Private Transfer: José María Córdova Airport: $42
- Medellín Airport Transfer: $50
- Medellín Private Transfer from Medellín City to Olaya Herrera (EOH) Airport: $45
- Medellin Airport (EOH) to Medellin hotels - Arrival Transfer: $28
- Medellin Airport (EOH) to Medellin hotels - Round-Trip Transfer: $56
- Medellin Airport MDE to Downtown Arrival Private Transfer: $21
- Medellin J.M.C Intl Airport (MDE) - Private Arrival / Departure Transfer : $77
- Medellin hotels to Medellin Airport (EOH) - Departure Transfer: $28
- Medellin to Jose Maria Cordova Airport (MDE) - Departure Transfer: $21
- MiniSuv Departure Transfer from Medellin City to Medellin Airport: $98
Is it cheaper to fly into Cuenca or Medellin?
Prices for flights to both Medellin and Cuenca 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 dayCuenca $15Medellin $8.80
Typical Food Prices in Cuenca
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cuenca:
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Lunch$10
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Snacks$5.00
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Empanada$1.50
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Hot Dog$1.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cuenca
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cuenca.
- Street food Tour in Cuenca,Ecuador: $33
- Cooking Class & Market Tour in Cuenca: $55
- Private Cooking Class: $125
Typical Food Prices in Medellin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Medellin:
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Lunch$1.92
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Medellin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Medellin.
- Community project cooking class and Medellin social transformation tour: $66
- Homemade Paisa Dinner at a Local's Home in Medellín: $69
- Homemade Paisa Dinner at a Local's Home in Medellín: $71
- Medellín Food Tour: $94
- Food Tour in An Authentic Culinary Experience: $109
- Sabaneta and Envigado Best Local Food Tour from Medellin: $145
- Best Food Tour and Horseback Adventure in Medellin: $163
- Market Tour, Cooking Class in Medellin with a Colombian Chef: $178
- Medellin tour with Fernando Botero´s, street art and food tour: $199
- Combo Tour: Metro System, Christmas Lights and Food Tour of Medellin: $199
- Combo Tour: Dark days & Christmas tour Including Lunch or Dinner: $199
- Spa: Hydrotherapy + Thematic Relaxing Massage + Teppanyaki dinner: $232
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cuenca $16Medellin $12
Tours and Activities in Cuenca
Here are a few actual costs in Cuenca for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Express Tour Cajas National Park Hostería Dos Chorreras: $25
- Cuenca Half-Day City Tour Including Panama Hat Factory: $30
- Cuenca-Ec- City Tour with Panama Hat factory Half Day: $30
- Half-Day Biking and Walking Tour in Cuenca: $30
- Tour with the best of Cuenca walking through its Historic Center: $33
- Cajas National Park Half Day Tour from Cuenca: $40
- El Chorro waterfalls and Busa lake tour from Cuenca: $44
- Private Cuenca City Tour including Turi Viewpoint: $45
- City Sightseeing Tour: $45
- Amazing Cajas National Park Tour from Cuenca: $48
- Cajas National Park Small-Group tour from Cuenca: $48
- Cuenca City Tour: $48
Tours and Activities in Medellin
Here are a few actual costs in Medellin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Skip the Line: Museum of Antioquia Admission Ticket: $7.20
- Graffiti tour in commune 13 guided by locals: $8.00
- Medellín: Comuna 13 Graffitour With Snacks Included: $10
- Comuna 13 Medellín (Graffitour) Discover the Transformation: $13
- Shared Tour of the Historical and Cultural Center of Medellín: $13
- Post-conflict and Violence Tour (after Pablo) in Medellin: $13
- Virtual Tour: Colonial Santa Fe de Antioquia: $14
- Guided Tour of Comuna 13 Medellín with Snacks Included: $14
- Private Virtual Tour Exploring Medellín like a Local: $16
- Beyond Escobar History Museum Entry Ticket: $17
- Comuna 13 Graffiti Tour And Enjoy Photos y Videos with Dron: $18
- Graffiti Tour Comuna 13: $18
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCuenca $14Medellin $6.60
Sample the Local Flavors in Medellin
Also in Medellin, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- 4 Hours Pub Crawl Nightlife in Medellin: $41
- All-Inclusive Comuna 13 Nightlife Bar Crawl with Locals: $130
- Medellin Private Bar Crawl: $145
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cuenca and Medellin, we can see that Cuenca is more expensive. And not only is Medellin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Medellin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Medellin 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 Cuenca would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cuenca than you might in Medellin.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cuenca Expensive? and Is Medellin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cuenca or Medellin?
Medellin has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Cuenca. When comparing the sizes of Cuenca and Medellin, 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.