A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Medellin vs. Lake Titicaca (Puno) for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Medellin or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?

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

Should I visit Medellin or Lake Titicaca (Puno)? 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno)?

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.

Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Lake Titicaca, which directly translates to "puma stone" in Quechua, is located high in the Andes Mountains straddling Peru and Bolivia, with about 60% of the lake in Peru and 40% in Bolivia. Among the lake are three main islands, the most popular of which are the Uros Islands, also known as the floating islands, where the Uros people live on totora reeds that grow in the lake.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, The Best Eco Tours in Colombia, The Best Photography Tours in Peru, and The Best Jungle Trekking Tours in Peru.


Which place is cheaper, Lake Titicaca (Puno) or Medellin?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Medellin is $22, while the average daily cost in Lake Titicaca (Puno) is $55. 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Medellin $4.66
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $26
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Medellin $9.32
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $52
Compare Hotels in Medellin and Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Looking for a hotel in Medellin or Lake Titicaca (Puno)? 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 Medellin


Hotels in Lake Titicaca (Puno)


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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Medellin $4.06
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Medellin

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Medellin:


  • Taxi
    $1.62

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Medellin

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Medellin:

  • Santa Marta Airport to Santa Marta (or vice versa) Private Transfer : $16
  • Transfer Private Car from Medellin city - Medellin Airport (MDE): $20
  • Medellin Airport MDE to Downtown Arrival Private Transfer: $21
  • Medellin to Jose Maria Cordova Airport (MDE) - Departure Transfer: $21
  • Medellin Airport (MDE) to Downtown hotels - Arrival Transfer: $21
  • Downtown hotels to Medellin Airport (MDE) - Departure Transfer: $21
  • Medellín Airport shuttle - Airport Transfer: $25
  • Medellin to Olaya Herrera Airport(EOH)-Departure Private Transfer: $28
  • Private Transfer Aerop Jose Maria Cordova - Up to 3 people: $33
  • Transfer in Private Car from Guatape- Medellin airport (MDE): $34
  • Transfer JMC airport - Medellin or Medellin - JMC airport - Private!!: $39
  • RoundtripTransfer Privatecar Medellin Airport (MDE) Medellin City: $40

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno):


  • Taxi
    $0.82

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno):

  • Direct Private Transfer From Puno to Cusco, English Local Speaking Driver: $207
  • Private Transfer From Puno to Cusco With 2 Stops: $251
  • Private Transfer From Puno to Oruro with English Speaking Driver: $243
  • Private Transfer from Hotel Puno to Puerto de Puno: $21
  • Private Transfer from Puno to Desaguadero: $195
  • Private Transfer from Puno to Frontera Kasani: $204
  • Private transfer airport-puno-viceverse: $60
  • Puno Airport Shared Transfer: $20

Is it cheaper to fly into Medellin or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?

Prices for flights to both Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Medellin $9.43
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $15
Typical Food Prices in Medellin

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Medellin:


  • Lunch
    $2.06

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: $39
  • Sabor Colombiano Cooking Studio: $60
  • Community project cooking class and Medellin social transformation tour: $66
  • Homemade Paisa Dinner at a Local's Home in Medellín: $69
  • Half-Day Food Tour Visiting the Best Viewpoints in Medellín!: $75
  • Private tour: Street food tour, Eat like a Local in Medellin!: $85
  • Combo Tour: Street Art, Christmas Lights and Food Tour in Medellin: $131
  • Medellin Historical and Food Tour with Fernando Botero´s Plaza: $140
  • Comuna 13, Fruit & Street Food Tour: $166
  • Private tour: Medellin City – Pablo Escobar and Food Tour: $166
  • Combo Tour: Dark days & Christmas tour Including Lunch or Dinner: $166
  • A Night Out in Medellin with Dinner and Drinks Included: $175

Typical Food Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Some typical examples of dining costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:


  • Tamales
    $1.50

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Medellin $13
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $30

Tours and Activities in Medellin

Here are a few actual costs in Medellin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Guided Nightlife Tour of Comuna Trece in Medellin : $5.00
  • Skip the Line: Museum of Antioquia Admission Ticket: $7.20
  • Shared Tour of El Poblado "Sin Taboos" in Medellin: $13
  • Shared Tour of the Historical and Cultural Center of Medellín: $13
  • Virtual Tour: Colonial Santa Fe de Antioquia: $14
  • Graffiti Tour | Comuna 13: $15
  • Walking Historical tour of Medellín, walking reality.: $15
  • Comuna 13 Tour. Graffiti Tour Medellín (Graffitour): $17
  • Comuna 13 Graffiti Tour And Enjoy Photos y Videos with Dron: $19
  • Comuna 13 Graffiti Tour and Street Food: $20
  • Comuna 13 History and Graffiti Tour with Cable Car: $20
  • Storytellers Tours: $21

Tours and Activities in Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:

  • Half Day Tour to Sillustani from Puno : $22
  • Sillustani / 4-hour tour from Puno: $25
  • Walking City tour Puno: $25
  • Morning: Uros Floating Islands Tour from Puno: $25
  • Lake Titicaca Uros Floating Islands Half-Day Tour: $25
  • Uros Floating Island Tour: $26
  • Half Day Tour in Sillustani: $26
  • 3h Boat Tour to Uros Island from Puno: $38
  • Full Day Guided Tour of the Aymara Route from Puno: $40
  • Full Day Tour Uros and Taquile (Speed Boat): $40
  • Lake Titicaca Day Tour from Puno: $44
  • Tour to Uros and Taquile Islands in a Fast Boat: $45

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Medellin $7.07
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $13

Sample the Local Flavors in Medellin

Also in Medellin, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Live the Nightlife Rooftop Pub Crawl : $49
  • Medellin Private Bar Crawl: $89
  • Medellin Pub Crawl Including Food and City Tour: $139


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Medellin and Lake Titicaca (Puno), we can see that Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Medellin or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?

Medellin has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Lake Titicaca (Puno). When comparing the sizes of Medellin and Lake Titicaca (Puno), 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.