Which place is cheaper, Cali or Medellin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Medellin or Cali?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Medellin or Cali? 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: Medellin or Cali?
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.
Cali
Cali is Colombia's third largest city. Founded in 1536, can be explored on foot: walk under the shade of trees along the riverbank, admire the architecture of churches and other national monuments, and visit the city's many museums. Being the salsa capital of the world, Cali is primarily a destination for salsa and party but it also offers some great days out in the nearby natural surroundings. In Cali, travelers can enjoy music festivals, learn about sugarcane farming, and take in the mountainous landscapes.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, The Best Eco Tours in Colombia, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Colombia, and The Best Luxury Tours to Colombia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMedellin $21Cali $24
The average daily cost (per person) in Medellin is $21, while the average daily cost in Cali is $24. 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 Medellin and Cali in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMedellin $4.44Cali $5.76
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMedellin $8.88Cali $12
Compare Hotels in Medellin and Cali
Looking for a hotel in Medellin or Cali? 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 and Cali Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Medellin $3.87Cali $5.38
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Medellin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Medellin:
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Taxi$1.54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Medellin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Medellin:
- Transfer Private Car from Medellin city - Medellin Airport (MDE): $23
- Transfer Private Car from Medellin Airport (MDE) - Medellin city: $23
- Transfer José María Córdova Airport - Medellin - Private Ride Airport .. !!: $45
- Transfer JMC airport - Medellin or Medellin - JMC airport - Private!!: $39
- Private transfer service from or to Medellín Airport: $42
- Private Transfer from Medellín City to José María Córdova (MDE) Airport: $64
- Private Transfer Jose Marie Cordova Airport to Medellin Bello: $100
- Private Transfer José María Cordova Airport in Medellín: $38
- Private Round Transfer to Guatape lakes and Penol rock!: $239
- Private Medellin MDE airport pick up transfer service one way: $21
- Private Medellin Airport Transfer with English-Speaking Driver: $50
- Private Medellín Hotel to Airport transfer service: $35
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cali
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cali:
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Short Taxi Ride$0.96
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cali
Also for Cali, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfers Cali (per way): $33
- Alfonso Aragon Airport CLO to Cali Palmira Arrival Transfer: $24
- Alfonso B.Aragon Airport (CLO) to Cali/Palmira-RoundTrip Transfer: $49
- Arrival Private Transfer from Cali Airport CLO to Cali City by Minivan: $102
- Arrival Transfer from Cali Airport CLO to Cali City by MiniSuv: $98
- Cali Tour Privado x3 horas con Transfers: $175
- Cali Tour Privado x5 horas con Transfers: $241
- Cali Tour Privado x8 horas con Transfers: $359
- Cali to or from Buenaventura Private Transfer: $86
- Cali to or from Coffee Region Private Transfer: $136
- Cali to or from Coffee Region Private Transfer: $140
- Cali/Palmira to Alfonso B.Aragon Airport (CLO) - Private Transfer: $24
Is it cheaper to fly into Medellin or Cali?
Prices for flights to both Cali and Medellin 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 dayMedellin $8.99Cali $8.20
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$1.96
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Medellin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Medellin.
- Cooking Class Preparing Colombian Empanadas: $12
- Private Empanada Cooking Class in Guatape: $24
- Community project cooking class and Medellin social transformation tour: $65
- Homemade Paisa Dinner at a Local's Home in Medellín: $69
- Homemade Paisa Dinner at a Local's Home in Medellín: $71
- Private Street Food Tour, Eat like a Local in Medellin!: $85
- Medellín Food Tour: $94
- Sabaneta and Envigado Best Local Food Tour from Medellin: $99
- Medellin tour with Fernando Botero´s, street art and food tour: $145
- Medellin City Tour Including The History of Tango and Lunch or Dinner: $145
- Best Food Tour and Horseback Adventure in Medellin: $163
- Comuna 13, Fruit & Street Food Tour: $166
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cali
For Cali, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Street Food Tour: $21
- Alameda Market Food Tour: $55
- Flavors of Food tour at the local market: $59
- Patio Santo Style Rumba Dinner: $168
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Medellin $12Cali $10
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
- Medellin City Walking Tour plus Metro Cable Cars: $83
- 1 Hour ATV Adventure Tour in Medellin : $140
- 2 Days Medellin autentic Coffee Farm Experience : $225
- 2 Hour Medellin Off Road ATV Experiences: $160
- 3 Hours City Tour in Medellin Colombia: $27
- 3 Towns Colonial Private Tour Leaving from Medellin: $130
- 4 Hours Private Comuna 13 Graffiti Tour: $60
- 90 Minute Walking Tour of Guatapé: $16
- ATV Quad Tour from Medellin with Transportation : $132
- ATV Tour 3 Mountains Medellin: $170
- ATV Tours from Medellin : $133
Tours and Activities in Cali
For Cali, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Shared Tour of the Historical and Cultural Center of Cali: $13
- Gastronomic Tour at the Alameda Market Shared: $13
- Cultural and heritage Cali tour: $15
- Ceramic Workshop for Tourists: $17
- Weed Tour: Cali's Cannabis culture and smoke spots: $30
- The Cali Street Food Walking Tour: $30
- RiCo Salsa Tour: Cali Real: $32
- Coffee Tasting Experience in Cali Colombia : $35
- Medicinal Plant Private Tour in La Galeria Alameda of Cali: $35
- Walking tour of the historic center: $37
- Afro Walking Tour. THE COLORS OF CALI.: $39
- Craft beer tour in Cali: $41
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMedellin $6.74Cali $8.12
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
- Live the Nightlife Rooftop Pub Crawl : $49
- Chill Music, Food, Brewery & Sight seeing Tour : $75
- Medellin Private Bar Crawl: $125
- All-Inclusive Comuna 13 Nightlife Bar Crawl with Locals: $130
When comparing the travel costs between Medellin and Cali, we can see that Cali is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in South America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Medellin Expensive? and Is Cali Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Medellin or Cali?
Cali has a larger population, and is about 20% larger than the population of Medellin. When comparing the sizes of Medellin and Cali, 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.