Which place is cheaper, Pereira or Cuenca?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cuenca or Pereira?
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 Pereira. 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 Pereira?
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.
Pereira
Situated in a small valley in the western Andes, Pereira is the capital city of Risaralda, Colombia. The city is surrounded by coffee producing agriculture and sits in the middle of a triangle of cities including Bogota, Medillin and Cali, each of which is about a three to five hour drive away.
The city itself is very much student oriented, as there are many universities around town and at least one quarter of the population is made up of students. There is also a very European vibe to the city and you will find the area beautiful with many parks and museums.
Pereira's economy is based on government, agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, trade, commerce, and tourism. Agricultural products include sugarcane, cacao, rubber, cereals, coffee, and livestock. Apparel is the main manufacturing product, along with aluminium goods, motorcycles and telecommunications technology.
Pereira is found in a warm moorland area with an average temperature of around 72 degrees. The temperatures remain relatively consistent throughout the year with highs in the high 70s Fahrenheit to low 80s Fahrenheit. Low temperatures are usually in the low 60s Fahrenheit. Rain is heaviest during the months of April and May as well as October and November.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Ecuador, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Ecuador, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Colombia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCuenca $42Pereira $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Cuenca is $42, while the average daily cost in Pereira is $66. 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 Pereira in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCuenca $13Pereira $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCuenca $26Pereira $54
Compare Hotels in Cuenca and Pereira
Looking for a hotel in Cuenca or Pereira? 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 Pereira Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cuenca $11Pereira $21
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:
- Private Transfer from Cuenca to Guayaquil.: $104
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Pereira
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Pereira are as follows:
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Short Taxi Ride$1.21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pereira
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pereira:
- Private Transfer Pereira to Salento (or vice versa): $59
- Manizales Arrival or Departure Transfer La Nubia Airport: $20
- Manizales Arrival or Departure Transfer: Matecaña Airport: $45
- Manizales Arrival or Departure Transfer: Matecaña Intl Airport: $41
- One way transfer from Pereira to Salento AND/OR Salento to Pereira: $43
- One-Way Private Transfer from Matecaña Airport: $11
- Santa Rosa Cabal to Pereira Airport PEI - Departure Transfer: $63
Is it cheaper to fly into Cuenca or Pereira?
Prices for flights to both Pereira 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 $15Pereira $23
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 Pereira
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Pereira:
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Hamburger$1.70
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cuenca $16Pereira $19
Tours and Activities in Cuenca
Here are a few actual costs in Cuenca for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Cuenca, Ecuador Half-Day City Shared Tour: $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
- Cajas National Park Half Day Tour from Cuenca: $40
- Private Cuenca City Tour including Turi Viewpoint: $40
- El Chorro waterfalls and Busa lake tour from Cuenca: $44
- Experience Historical City Tour: $44
- Cuenca Heritage Complex: Chocolate Tasting, Tour and Museums: $45
- City Sightseeing Tour: $45
- Cuenca, Ecuador Half-Day City Tour: $46
- Amazing Cajas National Park Tour from Cuenca: $48
Tours and Activities in Pereira
Here are a few actual costs in Pereira for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Coffee Tour at the Finca del Café: $40
- City Tour Historic Center of Manizales in Caldas: $46
- Santa Rita Waterfall and Salento Hike Tour: $48
- Cocora Valley and Salento Hike Tour: $79
- Coffee Farm and Salento Walking Tour with Lunch: $87
- Coffee Farm and Salento Walking Tour with Lunch: $91
- Paratrike experience over the sky of Colombia: $95
- Tour to hot springs of Santa Rosa from Pereira, Armenia or Salento: $104
- Private Tour of Chocolate Plantation and Processing: $113
- Private Tour to the Coffee Park from Pereira or Armenia: $115
- Tour Santa Rosa hot springs from Pereira, Armenia or Salento: $116
- Cocora Valley, Salento and Coffee Farm Day Tour : $124
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCuenca $14Pereira $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cuenca and Pereira, we can see that Pereira is more expensive. And not only is Cuenca much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cuenca would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cuenca 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 Pereira would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pereira than you might in Cuenca.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cuenca Expensive? and Is Pereira Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cuenca or Pereira?
Pereira has a larger population, and is about 59% larger than the population of Cuenca. When comparing the sizes of Cuenca and Pereira, 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.