Which place is cheaper, Huaraz or Medellin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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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 Luxury Tours to Peru, and The Best Budget Tours to Peru.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMedellin $21Huaraz $49
The average daily cost (per person) in Medellin is $21, while the average daily cost in Huaraz is $49. 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 $4.44Huaraz $20
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMedellin $8.88Huaraz $40
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 $3.87Huaraz $9.92
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:
- Airport Transfer: $50
- Downtown hotels to Medellin Airport (MDE) - Departure Transfer: $21
- Guatapé Transfer: José María Córdova Airport: $42
- Medellín Airport Transfer: $50
- Medellín Private Transfer from Medellín City to Olaya Herrera (EOH) Airport: $44
- Medellín to or from Guatapé Private Transfer: $63
- Medellin Airport (EOH) to Medellin hotels - Round-Trip Transfer: $55
- Medellin Airport (MDE) to Downtown hotels - Round-Trip Transfer: $42
- Medellin Airport MDE to Downtown Arrival Private Transfer: $21
- Medellin Coffee Tour with transfer: $123
- Medellin J.M.C Intl Airport (MDE) - Private Arrival / Departure Transfer : $77
- Medellin Private Airport Pick-up transfer service: $35
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Huaraz
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Huaraz are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$2.11
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 $8.99Huaraz $17
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
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$5.81
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Chips$1.45
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Medellin $12Huaraz $19
Tours and Activities in Medellin
Here are a few actual costs in Medellin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Skip the Line: Museum of Antioquia Admission Ticket: $7.20
- History and Street Art Tour in Comuna 13: $8.00
- Graffiti tour in commune 13 guided by locals: $10
- Graffitour Medellín: History, Transformation and Overcoming": $13
- Shared Tour of the Historical and Cultural Center of Medellín: $13
- Shared Tour of El Poblado "Sin Taboos" in Medellin: $13
- Comuna 13 Medellín (Graffitour) Discover the Transformation: $13
- Virtual Tour: Colonial Santa Fe de Antioquia: $14
- Commune 13 Graffitour With Snacks Included: $14
- Graffiti Tour | Commune 13 guided by locals and Snacks: $15
- COMUNA 13 Graffiti Tour: $15
- Medellin Shared Walking Tour Metro ticket included: $16
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$16
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
- 69 Lake Tour of Peru: $26
- Glacier Pastoruri and Puya Raimondi Full Day Tour: $28
- Lake 69 Trek Day Tour - White Mountain Range: $30
- From Tour to Llanganuco Lakes (Chinancocha Lake): $35
- From Tour to Llanganuco Lakes (Chinancocha Lake): $35
- From Tour to Llanganuco Lakes (Chinancocha Lake): $35
- From Huaraz || Tour to Llanganuco Lakes || Full Day: $35
- Huaraz : Adventure in Snowy Pastouri + Puyas Raymondi Forest: $35
- From Ancash: Chavin de Huantar Tour: $35
- From Tour to Archeological Complex of Chavin: $36
- From Tour to the Pastoruri Glacier and Puya Raimondi: $36
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMedellin $6.74Huaraz $15
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 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.