Which place is cheaper, Cajamarca or Merida?
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 Merida or Cajamarca?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Merida or Cajamarca, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Merida or Cajamarca?
Merida
Merida is the largest city on the Yucatan Peninsula, which separates the Gulf of Mexico from the Caribbean Sea. It is also the capital of the state of Yucatan as a whole. There is a population of 750,000 and is very rich in diversity and culture.
Cajamarca
Located in the northern highlands of Peru, Cajamarca is a town of about 100,000 people. The city's mild weather and fertile soil is ideal for agriculture, which is a major industry in the area. The city is also well known for its cheeses and dairy products. Cajamarca is the site of the Battle of Cajamarca which led to the execution of the Inca emperor Atahualpa and the end of the infamous Inca empire. Today, the area is appealing to visitors in part because of its lovely churches, nice hot springs, and interesting Inca Baths.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru, and The Best Cultural Tours in Peru.
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Merida Prices
Mexico PricesCajamarca Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMerida $105Cajamarca $97
The average daily cost (per person) in Merida is $105, while the average daily cost in Cajamarca is $97. 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 Merida and Cajamarca in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMerida $43Cajamarca $26
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMerida $86Cajamarca $52
Compare Hotels in Merida and Cajamarca
Looking for a hotel in Merida or Cajamarca? 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: Merida Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Merida $18Cajamarca $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Merida
Also for Merida, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared Shuttle Transfer from/to Merida Airport: $11
- Mérida International Airport (MID) to Merida hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $25
- Airport Transfer to Merida Hotels Private: $32
- Merida Airport (MID) Private Transfer to Merida Centre: $40
- Mérida International Airport (MID) to Merida hotels - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $50
- Mexico Private Transfer from Merida airport to central Merida: $125
- Private Transfer from Merida Rejon Airport (MID) to Progreso Port: $133
- Private Transfer from Merida city hotels to Progreso Cruise Port: $133
- transfer from/to airport progress sisal telchac celestun: $148
- Private Transfer From Merida to Uxmal, English Speaking Driver: $154
- Private Transfer From Uxmal to Merida, English Speaking Driver: $154
- Private Transfer Mérida to Tulum with Flexible Stops: $198
Is it cheaper to fly into Merida or Cajamarca?
Prices for flights to both Cajamarca and Merida 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 dayMerida $49Cajamarca $53
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Merida
For Merida, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Private Street Food Tour + Historic Tour Merida - Best Rated: $44
- Twilight Tastes Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
- Yucatán Flavours Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
- Merida Food Tour with local Yucatecan Chef: $65
- Merida Walking Food Tour. Authentic & Local Cuisine: $70
- Hands On night Mexican Cooking with Masa: $82
- Empanadas, Salsas and Spirits in Hands-On Mexican Cooking Night: $82
- Uxmal, two Amazing Cenotes & Local Food Tour from Mérida: $94
- Mérida Food Tour: Markets and Street Flavors: $95
- Taste of the Yucatan: Merida Cooking Class and Market Visit: $95
- Merida Shore Excursion- Mexican Cooking Class with Port Transfers: $135
- Day of the Dead Cooking Experience in Mérida: $158
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Merida $15Cajamarca $29
Typical Entertainment Prices in Merida
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Merida's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Train at the Zoo$0.12
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Uxmal Entrance (for 2)$19
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Mayan Village Entrance (for 2)$5.76
Tours and Activities in Merida
For Merida, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Historical, Cultural, and Artistic Tour of Downtown Merida: $18
- Vanilla Experience Flavor History Gallery and Garden: $21
- Walking Tour Across the Historic Center in Merida: $30
- Mike&Duck Walking Tour Merida: $30
- Mérida Private Walking Tour with a Local: $35
- Merida Highlights Private Walking Tour with Local Guide: $37
- Experience at Telchac Beach and its beach club: $50
- Yucatan Cuisine Tasting Tour Merida: $50
- Merida : Historical and Cultural Tour by Electric Bicycle: $51
- Private Tour Guide in Merida, 100% customisable: $54
- Santa Barbara Cenotes Adventure: $59
- 3 Hour Tour in The Sotuta de Peón Live Museum: $59
Tours and Activities in Cajamarca
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cajamarca are as follows:
- Cajamarca : Sulluscocha extreme adventure.: $63
- Cajamarca Valley Tour – San Nicolas Lagoon: $40
- Cajamarca in its Splendor: San Nicolas Lagoon Tour: $40
- City Tour: $67
- Guided tour of the city + pick-up: $48
- La Colpa, Llacanora & Baños del Inca Tour: $34
- Namora Valley Tour + Guitar Workshop & San Nicolas Lagoon: $28
- Pocon and Otuzco farm tour: $39
- Sulluscocha Extreme Activities Full-Day Adventure: $65
- Tour to Hacienda La Colpa and Baños del Inca: $35
- Tour to the Pre Inca Otuzco Necropolis, Botanical Garden and Hacienda: $28
- From City Tour Cajamarca: $47
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMerida $15Cajamarca $18
Sample the Local Flavors in Merida
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Merida:
- Brewery Tour and Beer Tasting | Tour y Degustación de Cerveza: $41
When comparing the travel costs between Merida and Cajamarca, we can see that Merida 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. Even though Merida is in North America and Cajamarca is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Merida Expensive? and Is Cajamarca Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Merida or Cajamarca?
Merida has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Cajamarca. When comparing the sizes of Merida and Cajamarca, 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.