Which place is cheaper, Huaraz or Medellin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Medellin or Huaraz?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Medellin or Huaraz? 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 Huaraz?
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.
Huaraz
Huaraz is a large town in the Cordillera Blanca region of Peru's Central Sierra. Huaraz stands tall at 3100m; travellers from Lima might need a day or two to acclimatize to the change in atmosphere. Nearly wiped out by the earthquake of 1970, the town of 100,000 blends a mix of modern and native culture. Huarez is first and foremost a trekking metropolis. During high season the streets buzz with hundreds of backpackers and adventurers freshly returned from arduous hikes or planning their next expedition. The town has many markets, shops, quality restaurants and hopping bars catering to tourist and local needs. Mountain adventures in the off-season can be equally rewarding, but the vibe is calmer and some places go into hibernation once the rains set in.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, The Best Eco Tours in Colombia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Peru, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Peru.
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Medellin Prices
Colombia PricesHuaraz Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMedellin $33Huaraz $68
The average daily cost (per person) in Medellin is $33, while the average daily cost in Huaraz is $68. 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 Huaraz in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMedellin $5.26Huaraz $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMedellin $11Huaraz $44
Compare Hotels in Medellin and Huaraz
Looking for a hotel in Medellin or Huaraz? 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 Huaraz Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Medellin $4.58Huaraz $11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Medellin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Medellin:
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Taxi$1.83
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Medellin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Medellin:
- 2-hour horseback ride + Private transfer + Photos & videos + Gift for the first 5 to book: $88
- Guatapé Private Transfer: José María Córdova Airport: $54
- Guatapé and Piedra del Penol, Lunch Transfers and Guide: $127
- Medellín - Arboletes, Antioquia Transfer by Van: $560
- Medellín Airport Private Transfer Service (Departure): $43
- Medellín Highlights: with local guide and transfers from hotel: $132
- Medellín Platinum Pack: Transfers + Hotel + Exclusive Tours: $250
- Medellín to or from Guatapé Private Transfer: $78
- Medellín: 5-Day Luxury Tour with Private Transfers: $1,599
- Medellín: Comuna 13, Graffiti Workshop, Guide and Transfers: $206
- Medellín: Guatapé and Medellín City Door-to-Door Transfer: $105
- Medellín: José María Córdova Airport Private Transfer: $36
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Huaraz
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Huaraz are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$2.36
Is it cheaper to fly into Medellin or Huaraz?
Prices for flights to both Huaraz 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 $18Huaraz $33
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$2.32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Medellin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Medellin.
- Medellín: Comuna 13 True Story and Street Food Tour: $14
- Empanada Cooking Class with Local Chef - Comuna 13: $34
- Food tour with 12 tastings in the best area of Medellin: $40
- Medellín: Comuna 13 Street Art and Street Food Tour: $44
- Private Empanada Cooking Class in Guatape: $45
- Medellin Food Tour in Laureles: $54
- Medellín Home Cooking Class, Fruit Tasting & Colombian Snack: $55
- Medellin Private Nighttime City Sightseeing Tour by E-Bike + Gourmet Dinner: $59
- Empanadas, Arepas & Patacones Cooking Class: $60
- Gastronomy and Street Food Tour in Sabaneta Colombia Experience: $60
- Medellín: Street Food Tour with Local Tastings: $62
- Community project cooking class and Medellin social transformation tour: $65
Typical Food Prices in Huaraz
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Huaraz:
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Lunch$6.50
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Chips$1.63
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Medellin $14Huaraz $21
Tours and Activities in Medellin
Here are a few actual costs in Medellin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Guided Electric Bicycle Tour of Guatapé: $7.98
- Fly over Medellín Metrocable: Transformation Tour: $10
- Medellín Explore Downtown And Live The Real City Experience: $11
- Medellín: Explore Downtown And Live The Real City Experience: $12
- Entry Ticket to the Museum of Modern Art of Medellin: $12
- Medellín: Comuna 13 Tour with Snacks and a Local Guide: $13
- Medellin Walking Tour with Local Guide: $13
- Medellin Commune 13 Historic Tour With Snacks and Drinks: $13
- Medellín: Comuna 13 Local History Tour with Graffiti & Snack: $13
- Medellín: Comuna 13 Graffiti Tour With Local Snacks Included: $13
- Medellín: Comuna 13 Graffitour With Snacks Included: $14
- Comuna 13 Graffiti Tour with a Local & Artisan Ice Cream ⭐: $14
Typical Entertainment Prices in Huaraz
Here are a few typical costs in Huaraz for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Climbing Gear$18
Tours and Activities in Huaraz
Here are a few actual costs in Huaraz for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Traditional Picante de Cuy Gastronomy Tour in Huaraz: $15
- Tour to Laguna 69 From Huaraz Trekking and Spectacular Views: $25
- Discover Peru's Ancient Civilization at Chavín de Huántar Tour: $25
- Full day,Trekking Puya Raimondi and Pastoruri Glacier Adventure: $25
- Pastoruri Glacier - Day Tour - Ice and Adventure: $29
- Full-day tour, Trekking Adventure to Laguna Paron at 4200meters: $30
- Trekking to Laguna 69 Full-Day Adventure in Cordillera Blanca: $30
- Laguna 69 Hiking Adventure in Huascarán National Park: $33
- Huaraz Pastoruri Glacier Adventure in Cordillera Blanca: $35
- Glacier Pastoruri and Puya Raimondi Full Day Tour: $36
- Lake 69 Full-Day Hiking Tour from Huaraz: $40
- Pachamanca Gastronomy Tour in Huaraz: $40
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMedellin $7.98Huaraz $17
Sample the Local Flavors in Medellin
Also in Medellin, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- The "Beyond Local Pub Crawl" Now in Medellín!: $24
- The "Beyond Local Pub Crawl" Now in Medellín!: $25
- Rooftop Bar Crawl with VIP Access & Hidden Clubs: $27
- Medellín: Pub crawl in Provenza, music, dancing, and shots: $30
- Medellin Private Bar Crawl with private transportation: $145
- Medellin Pub Crawl with transport Including Food and City Tour: $175
- Medellín: San Francisco Wine Tour with Tastings & Lunch: $332
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Medellin and Huaraz, we can see that Huaraz 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 Huaraz would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Huaraz 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 Medellin Expensive? and Is Huaraz Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Medellin or Huaraz?
Medellin has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Huaraz. When comparing the sizes of Medellin and Huaraz, 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.