Which place is cheaper, Medellin or Galapagos Islands?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Galapagos Islands or Medellin?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Galapagos Islands or Medellin, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Galapagos Islands or Medellin?
Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos Islands are a small archipelago of islands belonging to Ecuador in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The Galapagos archipelago is world-renowned for its unique and fearless wildlife, much of which was inspiration for Charles Darwin's Theory of Natural Selection. Thanks to a lack of natural predators, friendly wildlife such as sea lions and gigantic sea tortoises let visitors get up close. This archipelago of about 19 islands and many smaller islets found over 620 miles off Ecuador's coast in the Pacific Ocean is a double World Heritage site, where both land and sea are protected. Each island boasts its own unique landscape, ranging from black, volcanic rocks to white sand beaches and gemstone-blue waters. There is no bad time to visit the Galapagos Islands but the busiest months for tourism tend to be June, July and August, as well as mid-December to mid-January. This is when prices are at their highest.
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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Ecuador, The Best Honeymoon 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 dayGalapagos Islands $138Medellin $23
The average daily cost (per person) in Galapagos Islands is $138, while the average daily cost in Medellin is $23. 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 Galapagos Islands and Medellin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGalapagos Islands $65Medellin $4.75
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGalapagos Islands $130Medellin $9.50
Compare Hotels in Galapagos Islands and Medellin
Looking for a hotel in Galapagos Islands 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: Medellin Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Galapagos Islands $54Medellin $4.14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Galapagos Islands
Also for Galapagos Islands, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Baltra Airport to Hotels in Santa Cruz Island: $144
- Private Transfer from Hotels in Santa Cruz to Baltra Airport: $138
- Transfer from Santa Cruz Island to Isabela Island: $55
- Transfer from Santa Cruz Island to Isabela Island: $60
- Transfer from Santa Cruz Island to San Cristobal Island: $48
- Transfer from Santa Cruz Island to San Cristobal Island: $64
- Transfer in + Visit to the giant turtle nature reserve: $205
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Medellin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Medellin:
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Taxi$1.65
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Medellin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Medellin:
- Private Round Transfer to Guatape lakes and Penol rock!: $239
- Arrival Transfer Medellin Airport MDE to Medellin City by Minivan: $129
- Private Transfer from MDE Airport to Hotels and City of Medellín: $120
- PRIVATE Transfer Jose Maria Cordova Airport - Up to 13 People: $119
- Private Transfer Jose Marie Cordova Airport to Medellin Bello: $100
- MiniSuv Departure Transfer from Medellin City to Medellin Airport: $98
- Arrival Private Transfer from Medellin Airport to City by MiniSuv: $98
- PRIVATE Transfer Jose Maria Cordova Airport - Up to 10 People: $90
- Transfer Jose Maria Cordoba Airport -Hotel or Accommodation: $79
- Transfer from or to Medellin's airport: $55
- Olaya Herrera Airport (EOH) to Medellin - Round-trip transfer: $54
- Private Arrival Transfer : From Airport to Medellín Hotels : $54
Is it cheaper to fly into Galapagos Islands or Medellin?
Prices for flights to both Medellin and Galapagos Islands 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 dayGalapagos Islands $33Medellin $9.61
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$2.10
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Medellin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Medellin.
- Homemade Paisa Dinner at a Local's Home in Medellín: $71
- Half-Day Food Tour Visiting the Best Viewpoints in Medellín!: $75
- Sabor Colombiano Cooking Studio: $75
- Food Tour in An Authentic Culinary Experience: $109
- Combo Tour: Street Art, Christmas Lights and Food Tour in Medellin: $131
- Medellin tour with Fernando Botero´s, street art and food tour: $138
- Medellin City Tour Including The History of Tango and Lunch or Dinner: $138
- Full Day Private Medellin City, Street Art and Food Tour: $145
- Private tour: Medellin City – Pablo Escobar and Food Tour: $166
- Combo Tour: Metro System, Christmas Lights and Food Tour of Medellin: $166
- Combo Tour: Dark days & Christmas tour Including Lunch or Dinner: $166
- A Night Out in Medellin with Dinner and Drinks Included: $175
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Galapagos Islands $35Medellin $13
Tours and Activities in Galapagos Islands
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Galapagos Islands.
- Private Tour Sighting Giant Tortoises and Lava Tunnels: $36
- Isabela Island Wetlands Walking Tour: $40
- Bay Tour in Santa Cruz - Galapagos Islands: $60
- Isabela Island Tour in Galapagos with Kayak and Snorkeling: $64
- FERRY TICKET From: Santa Cruz / To: San Cristobal (PM): $65
- FERRY TICKET From: Isabela / To: Santa Cruz (AM): $65
- Hiking Tour to Sierra Negra Volcano: $67
- Half Day Bay Tour in Santa Cruz Island: $72
- Private BiciTour Giant Tortoises and Lava Tunnel in Galapagos: $90
- Half Day Tour in Sierra Negra Volcano & Lava Fields: $90
- Kayaking Experience in Franklin Bay: $95
- Tintoreras Islet Tour from Isabela - Hiking & Snorkeling in Galapagos Islands: $99
Tours and Activities in Medellin
Here are a few actual costs in Medellin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Medellin City Private Tour: $83
- Private Full Day Tour in Guatape: $40
- Private Tour to Explore Comuna 13 in Medellín: $65
- Private tour Guatapé Peñol stone and coffee farm: $139
- 2 Hour Medellin Off Road ATV Experiences: $160
- 3 Hours City Tour in Medellin Colombia: $27
- 4 hours Private Pablo Escobar Dark days Tour of Medellin: $60
- 5-Hour Coffee and Pablo Express Mix Tour in Medellín: $110
- ATV Quad Tour from Medellin with Transportation : $132
- ATV Tour 3 Mountains Medellin: $170
- ATV | Medellín: Quad Tour : $155
- Amazing Arvi natural reserve private tour: $118
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGalapagos Islands $15Medellin $7.21
Sample the Local Flavors in Medellin
Also in Medellin, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Medellin Pub Crawl Including Food and City Tour: $139
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Galapagos Islands and Medellin, we can see that Galapagos Islands 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 Galapagos Islands would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Galapagos Islands 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 Galapagos Islands Expensive? and Is Medellin Expensive?.
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.