Which place is cheaper, Tulum or Curitiba?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Curitiba or Tulum?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Curitiba and Tulum can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Curitiba or Tulum?
Curitiba
Curitiba is a relatively large city that is convenient to visit if you're traveling to Iguazu Falls from either Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo. It is worth a day or two stop over because it has a great old city that has been restored. It's also the capital of Parana, Brazil. Curitiba is one of the more wealthy cities in the southern region of Brazil. It has a diverse population with many immigrants and some interesting cultural events.
Tulum
When you think of ancient ruins you probably picture dusty archaeological digs surrounded by sand and professors in khaki shorts. What if I told you there is a way to see ancient ruins and visit a tropical beach? That's exactly what you find in Tulum, Mexico.
Built near the end of Mayan era, the ruins of Tulum served as a port before the arrival of the Spanish. It may have been called Zama, meaning City of Dawn, given that these ruins face the sunrise. Because of Tulum's access to both land and sea routes, this spot was an important hub for the trade industry. It may have had another claim to fame, too. According to some murals and other works around the site, it seems this spot was an important site for the worship of the Diving or Descending God. Today, the area is the third most visited archaeological site in all of Mexico with daily tour buses dropping off visitors.
This area is usually packed with people looking to get a glimpse of the seaside ruins. To avoid crowds and capture the best view of the day, try to arrive as early as possible.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Brazil, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Brazil, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, and The Best Historical Tours in Mexico.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCuritiba $73Tulum $122
The average daily cost (per person) in Curitiba is $73, while the average daily cost in Tulum is $122. 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 Curitiba and Tulum in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCuritiba $30Tulum $60
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCuritiba $60Tulum $120
Compare Hotels in Curitiba and Tulum
Looking for a hotel in Curitiba or Tulum? 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: Curitiba Hotel Prices and Tulum Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Curitiba $16Tulum $28
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Curitiba
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Curitiba:
-
Taxi Ride$1.95
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Curitiba
Also for Curitiba, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Curitiba to Curitiba Airport (CWB) - Departure Private Transfer: $16
- Curitiba Airport CWB to Downtown hotels- Arrival Private Transfer: $16
- Curitiba to Afonso Pena Airport (CWB)- Departure Private Transfer: $17
- Curitiba Airport (CWB) to Downtown - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $33
- Private Transfer from Curitiba City to Curitiba Airport (CWB): $35
- Shared Transfer: Curitiba International Airport: $39
- Afonso Pena Airport CWB to Beach Resorts : Arrival Transfer: $44
- Shared transfer between Curitiba Airport and Hotels: $74
- Private Transfer from Curitiba City Hotels to Porto Belo Port: $75
- Private Transfer from Curitiba Airport (CWB) to Porto Belo Port : $75
- Afonso Pena Airport (CWB) to Beach Resorts - Round-Trip Transfer: $87
- Private Transfer from Curitiba Airport: $106
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Tulum
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Tulum are as follows:
-
Scooter Rental$18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tulum
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tulum:
- Round-trip Private Transfer Cancun Airport to TULUM - up to 9 pax: $299
- Roundtrip Transfer from Cancun Airport to Tulum: $269
- Roundtrip Private Transfer from Cancun Airport to Tulum: $254
- Transfer from Tulum airport to Bacalar: $233
- Private Luxury Transfer Tulum to Cancun Airport: $220
- Private Transfer Tulum-Bacalar with optional 2h in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve: $210
- Private Transfer From Cancun Airport - Tulum: $208
- Cancun Airport Departure transfer from Akumal, Tulum: $191
- Tulum to Chetumal - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $182
- Private Transfer Tulum Zone - Cancun International Airport: $160
- One Way Private Tulum Transfers to or from Cancun Airport: $160
- Tulum to Mahahual - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $160
Is it cheaper to fly into Curitiba or Tulum?
Prices for flights to both Tulum and Curitiba 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 dayCuritiba $28Tulum $34
Typical Food Prices in Curitiba
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Curitiba:
-
Chips$0.88
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Curitiba
For Curitiba, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Bar-hopping and Food Tour in Curitiba: $31
- Curitiba's History Food Tour: $70
- Curitiba's History Food Tour: $75
- Curitiba Tour by Night with Dinner: $94
Typical Food Prices in Tulum
Some typical examples of dining costs in Tulum are as follows:
-
Lunch$3.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tulum
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tulum.
- Tulum Local Walking Food Tour: $86
- Vegan Walking Food Tour with Tasting: $87
- Mexican Cooking from Scratch and Mezcal Tasting in a Local Home in Tulum: $87
- Mayan Night Guided Tour, Cenote Swim and Mayan Dinner: $209
- Private transfer for 5 hours (go dinner,cenotes, shopping and more) : $299
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Curitiba $19Tulum $32
Tours and Activities in Curitiba
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Curitiba.
- Ticket MAI - Museum of Indigenous Art - Curitiba: $4.91
- Walking tour from past to present: $12
- Arte Bike Tour - Bike Tour with Kuritbike: $25
- Half Day Curitiba Sightseeing Tour: $31
- Private City Tour - Top Postcards from Curitiba by Pinheiro Turismo: $40
- Historic City Tour in Curitiba with Jens Tours: $40
- Interparks Cycling Tour Curitiba for small groups: $50
- Curitiba City Tour: $58
- 4-Hour Private Tour of Curitiba City: $70
- CRAFT BREWERS TOUR By Jens Tours: $72
- Full-day tour in Curitiba: $79
- Gastronomic Tour in Curitiba with Jens Tours: $80
Tours and Activities in Tulum
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tulum are as follows:
- Private Tour - The best Cenotes in Yucatan - Suytun & Oxman: $195
- Romantic tour in Tulum: $169
- 4-Hour Cenotes Tour with Hotel Pickup in Riviera Maya: $109
- 5 Hours Mayan Snorkeling Experience in Tulum: $90
- 5x1 Deluxe Tour Tulum, Coba, Cenote Transportation from Tulum: $88
- 5x1: Tulum, Coba, Cenote and Mayan Village Full Day Tour: $99
- ATV Cenote and Zipline Adventure from Tulum: $119
- ATV Extreme Adventure Single with Ziplines and Cenote Swim: $137
- ATV Jungle Adventure with Ziplines, Cenote & Tulum Pickup: $75
- ATV Tour with Ziplines and Cenote Swim Experience in Quintana Roo: $59
- Adventure Tulum: $105
- Adventure in the Mayan Jungle with ATV and Zip Line in Tulum: $90
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayCuritiba $14Tulum $25
Typical Alcohol Prices in Curitiba
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Curitiba:
-
Beer$0.44
Sample the Local Flavors in Tulum
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Tulum:
- 30 Minutes Brewery Tour in Tulum: $39
- Wine Tasting at Pan y Vino Tulum: $58
- Beer Tasting and Brewery Tour: $69
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Curitiba and Tulum, we can see that Tulum is more expensive. And not only is Curitiba much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Curitiba is in South America and Tulum 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 Curitiba would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Curitiba 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 Tulum would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tulum than you might in Curitiba.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Curitiba Expensive? and Is Tulum Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Curitiba or Tulum?
Curitiba has a larger population, and is about 200 times larger than the population of Tulum. When comparing the sizes of Curitiba and Tulum, 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.