A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Manaus vs. Cochabamba for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Manaus or Cochabamba?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Manaus or Cochabamba? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Manaus or Cochabamba?

Manaus

Manaus is a Brazilian city, capital of the state of Amazonas, and is located on the Rio Negro a few miles before it meets the Rio Solimões to form the Amazon River. The city is a major departure point for those visiting the Amazon Rainforest, though there are a few sights worth seeing within the city itself as well.

Cochabamba

With a population of about 630,000, Cochabamba is the fourth largest city in Bolivia. It's located about 240 kilometers from the capital city of La Paz and is surrounded by mountains, but sits within a valley.

The city is known for its gardens and has many sights to offer the visitor. Cochabamba offers a calming retreat that is a refreshing break from the hustle and bustle of many South American cities. It's a great location to learn Spanish and there are plenty of activities and cultural events that you can enjoy in and around town.

Cochabamba's climate is semi-arid. There is an extended dry season between May and October and the wet season is from November to March. The days are warm and the nights are cool.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Contiki Tours to Brazil, The Best G Adventures Tours to Brazil, The Best 10-Day Tours in Bolivia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Bolivia.


Which place is cheaper, Cochabamba or Manaus?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Manaus is $66, while the average daily cost in Cochabamba is $79. 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 Manaus and Cochabamba in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Manaus $41
    Cochabamba $25
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Manaus $82
    Cochabamba $50
Compare Hotels in Manaus and Cochabamba

Looking for a hotel in Manaus or Cochabamba? 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 Manaus


Hotels in Cochabamba


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: Manaus Hotel Prices and Cochabamba Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Manaus $7.63
    Cochabamba $16

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Manaus

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

  • 24-hour Hotel Transfer to Manaus Airport: $16
  • 24-hour transfer from airport to hotel in Manaus: $17
  • 24h Private Transfer Service Hotel to Manaus Airport: $23
  • Transfer service from Iberostar (Port) to Manaus Airport: $23
  • Serviço de Transfer Privado 24h Aeroporto - Hotel em Manaus: $25
  • Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) to Manaus - Arrival Private Transfer: $36
  • Manaus to Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) - Departure Private Transfer: $36
  • Transfer from Manaus Airport to Manaus City: $45
  • Manaus to Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) -Departure Private Transfer: $55
  • Manaus Airport(MAO) to Manaus hotels- Round-Trip Private Transfer: $57
  • Manaus private Airport transfer: $60
  • Shared Round-Trip Transfer: Eduardo Gomes International Airport: $64

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cochabamba

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cochabamba:

  • MiniVan or Bus Transfer from Cochabamba Airport CBB to Cochabamba: $28

Is it cheaper to fly into Manaus or Cochabamba?

Prices for flights to both Cochabamba and Manaus 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
    Manaus $21
    Cochabamba $38

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Manaus

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

  • Folklore Amazonian Dinner Show: $42
  • Food Tour: $60

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cochabamba

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cochabamba.

  • Adelante Mujer Bolivian Cooking Workshops: $29

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Manaus -
    Cochabamba $25

Tours and Activities in Manaus

For Manaus, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Manaus Private Walking Tour with a Local: $30
  • Walking Tours in Manaus: $36
  • MUSA and INPA Museums with Observation Tower Tour: $50
  • Half-Day City Tour: $54
  • Full-Day Tour on the Amazon River: $55
  • Amazon Negro River Half-Day Expedition Tour: $55
  • City Tour in Manaus at Teatro Amazonas and Praça da Matriz: $55
  • Manaus City Tour e Musa: $60
  • Manaus Sightseeing Tour: $64
  • Meeting of the Waters & Pink Dolphin Tour with Lunch: $65
  • Solimoes River Piranha Fishing and Alligator Watching Tour: $66
  • Full-Day Package Tour in Presidente Figueiredo : $67

Tours and Activities in Cochabamba

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cochabamba are as follows:

  • City of Eternal Spring: Self-Guided Tour of Downtown Cochabamba : $5.99
  • Parque Nacional Torotoro Tour 2 Días y 1 Noche : $231
  • Tigre & Delta River Cruise - half day tour from Buenos Aires: $85
  • Tour to Valle Alto (Tarata): $39

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Manaus $2.72
    Cochabamba $15


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Manaus and Cochabamba, we can see that Cochabamba is more expensive. And not only is Manaus much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Manaus would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Manaus 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 Cochabamba would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cochabamba than you might in Manaus.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Manaus Expensive? and Is Cochabamba Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Manaus or Cochabamba?

Manaus has a larger population, and is about 77% larger than the population of Cochabamba. When comparing the sizes of Manaus and Cochabamba, 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.