Which place is cheaper, Tilcara or Medellin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Medellin or Tilcara?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Medellin or Tilcara? 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 Tilcara?
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.
Tilcara
Tilcara signifies shooting star in Quechua. At 2465m of altitude, the little town of Tilcara is one of the most animated place of the area of the quebrada de humahuaca. Many South American backpackers and tourists from all around the world come to visit Tilcara and its pucara, the forteresse built by the Incas at the top of the hill, providing a stunning walk around the town. Tilcara hosts many festivals for different occasions such as the celebration of the Pachamama in August, the semana santa (Holy Week) in April, and the Enero Tilcareno, held in January as its name indicates, which is probably the busiest month of the year for the little town. If you enjoy concerts, parades and folklorique parties then definitely try to visit Tilcara during a festival month and avoid them if you prefer a calm and more relaxed holiday. There are many available activities around Tilcara including horseback riding, VTT, and you could also even try a ride in a caravan pulled by llamas.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, The Best Eco Tours in Colombia, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Argentina, and The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMedellin $23Tilcara $8.25
The average daily cost (per person) in Medellin is $23, while the average daily cost in Tilcara is $8.25. 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 Tilcara in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMedellin $4.75Tilcara $3.25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMedellin $9.50Tilcara $6.50
Compare Hotels in Medellin and Tilcara
Looking for a hotel in Medellin or Tilcara? 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 Tilcara Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Medellin $4.14Tilcara $2.19
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Medellin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Medellin:
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Taxi$1.65
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Medellin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Medellin:
- Arrival Transfer from Medellin Airport MDE to Medellin by Minibus: $182
- PRIVATE Transfer Jose Maria Cordova Airport - Up to 13 People: $119
- Private Transfer Jose Marie Cordova Airport to Medellin Bello: $100
- MiniSuv Departure Transfer from Medellin City to Medellin Airport: $98
- Arrival Private Transfer from Medellin Airport to City by MiniSuv: $98
- Transfer Jose Maria Cordoba Airport -Hotel or Accommodation: $79
- Transfer from or to Medellin's airport: $55
- Medellin Airport (EOH) to Medellin hotels - Round-Trip Transfer: $54
- Private Arrival Transfer : From Airport to Medellín Hotels : $54
- Private Medellin Airport Transfer with English-Speaking Driver: $50
- Night-time Private transfer service from or to Medellín Airport: $47
- Medellín Private Transfer from Medellín City to Olaya Herrera (EOH) Airport: $43
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Tilcara
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Tilcara:
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Taxi Ride$0.01
Is it cheaper to fly into Medellin or Tilcara?
Prices for flights to both Tilcara 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 $9.61Tilcara $3.41
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$2.10
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Medellin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Medellin.
- Street Food Tour in Medellín: $45
- Private tour: Street food tour, Eat like a Local in Medellin!: $85
- Authentic Colombian Cooking Class in Medellin with a Local Family: $99
- Medellin Historical and Food Tour with Fernando Botero´s Plaza: $140
- Full Day Private Medellin City, Street Art and Food Tour: $145
- Best Food Tour and Horseback Adventure in Medellin: $163
- Private tour: Medellin City – Pablo Escobar and Food Tour: $166
- A Night Out in Medellin with Dinner and Drinks Included: $175
Typical Food Prices in Tilcara
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Tilcara:
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Sandwich$0.01
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Burger$0.01
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Fruit$0.01
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Sandwich$0.01
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tilcara
For Tilcara, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Northern Argentine cooking experience: $70
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Medellin $13Tilcara $1.95
Tours and Activities in Medellin
Here are a few actual costs in Medellin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Comuna 13 + Medellin City Tour: $230
- Medellin City Private Tour: $83
- Medellin City Walking Tour plus Metro Cable Cars: $83
- Private tour Guatapé Peñol stone and coffee farm: $139
- 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
- 5-Hour Coffee and Pablo Express Mix Tour in Medellín: $110
- 90 Minute Walking Tour of Guatapé: $16
- ATV Quad Tour from Medellin with Transportation : $132
- ATV Tour 3 Mountains Medellin: $170
Tours and Activities in Tilcara
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tilcara.
- 2 hours cycling tour trough the rural area: $20
- Purmamarca Night Experience: $30
- Serranías del Hornocal + Citytour Humahuaca: $30
- Bike Adventure through Juella with lunch: $35
- Half day mountain bike tour with lunch: $35
- Private Full Day Tour to Salinas de Grandes and Barrancas: $130
- Full-Day Tour to Laguna de los Pozuelos from Tilcara: $162
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMedellin $7.21Tilcara $1.07
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
- All-Inclusive Comuna 13 Nightlife Bar Crawl with Locals: $130
- Medellin Pub Crawl Including Food and City Tour: $139
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Medellin and Tilcara, we can see that Medellin is more expensive. And not only is Tilcara much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Tilcara would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tilcara 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 Medellin would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Medellin than you might in Tilcara.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Medellin Expensive? and Is Tilcara Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Medellin or Tilcara?
Medellin has a larger population, and is about 350 times larger than the population of Tilcara. When comparing the sizes of Medellin and Tilcara, 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.