Which place is cheaper, Cochabamba 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 Cochabamba?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Merida or Cochabamba, 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 Cochabamba?
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.
Cochabamba
With a population of about 630,000, Cochabamba is the fourth largest city in Bolivia. It's located about 240 kilometers from the capital city of La Paz and is surrounded by mountains, but sits within a valley.
The city is known for its gardens and has many sights to offer the visitor. Cochabamba offers a calming retreat that is a refreshing break from the hustle and bustle of many South American cities. It's a great location to learn Spanish and there are plenty of activities and cultural events that you can enjoy in and around town.
Cochabamba's climate is semi-arid. There is an extended dry season between May and October and the wet season is from November to March. The days are warm and the nights are cool.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, The Best 10-Day Tours in Bolivia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Bolivia.
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Merida Prices
Mexico PricesCochabamba Prices
Bolivia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMerida $107Cochabamba $47
The average daily cost (per person) in Merida is $107, while the average daily cost in Cochabamba is $47. 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 Cochabamba in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMerida $44Cochabamba $15
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMerida $88Cochabamba $30
Compare Hotels in Merida and Cochabamba
Looking for a hotel in Merida or Cochabamba? 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 and Cochabamba Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Merida $18Cochabamba $9.76
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
- 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: $151
- Private Transfer From Uxmal to Merida, English Speaking Driver: $154
- Private Transfer Mérida to Tulum with Flexible Stops: $198
- Merida Rejon Airport(MID)to Tulum hotels-Arrival Private Transfer: $215
- Private Transfer Merida to Playa del Carmen with Flexible Stops: $245
- Private Transfer Mérida to Cancun with Flexible Sightseeing: $258
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cochabamba
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cochabamba:
- MiniVan or Suv Transfer from Cochabamba Airport CBB to Cochabamba: $36
Is it cheaper to fly into Merida or Cochabamba?
Prices for flights to both Cochabamba 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 $50Cochabamba $23
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 Merida - Best Rated: $39
- Private Street Food Tour + Historic Tour Merida - Best Rated: $44
- Yucatán Flavours Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
- Merida Food Tour: Local Markets, Street Food & Yucatecan Cuisine: $66
- Merida Walking Food Tour. Authentic & Local Cuisine: $72
- Hands On night Mexican Cooking with Masa: $82
- Empanadas, Salsas and Spirits in Hands-On Mexican Cooking Night: $82
- 4hr Cooking Class in Merida with Bottomless Drinks: $85
- Merida : Between Markets and Flavors Food Tour: $88
- Uxmal, two Amazing Cenotes & Local Food Tour from Mérida: $90
- Taste of the Yucatan: Merida Cooking Class and Market Visit: $95
- Day of the Dead Cooking Experience in Mérida: $158
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cochabamba
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cochabamba.
- Adelante Mujer Bolivian Cooking Workshops: $29
- Bolivian Cooking Class with High-Altitude Wines: $50
- Cochabamba Valle Alto 2-Day Food Tour: $355
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Merida $16Cochabamba $15
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)$20
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Mayan Village Entrance (for 2)$5.91
Tours and Activities in Merida
For Merida, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Panoramic Sightseeing Bus City Tour of Merida with 2 Routes: $10
- Walking Tour Across the Historic Center in Merida: $18
- Historical, Cultural, and Artistic Tour of Downtown Merida: $18
- Vanilla Experience Flavor History Gallery and Garden: $21
- Uxmal Guided Walking Tour with Entry | Certified Local Guide: $23
- Mike&Duck Walking Tour Merida: $30
- Mérida Private Walking Tour with a Local: $35
- Merida Highlights Private Walking Tour with Local Guide: $37
- Electric Bike City Tour Discover Landmarks and Culture: $42
- Tour Merida the unforgettable and vibrant city of the Mayab: $45
- Mayan Flavors Merida Markets Tour: $45
- Experience at Telchac Beach and its beach club: $50
Tours and Activities in Cochabamba
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cochabamba are as follows:
- 2-Day, 1-Night Tour: Toro Toro with Caves, Footprints, and Canyons: $270
- City of Eternal Spring: Self-Guided Tour of Downtown Cochabamba: $5.99
- City Highlights Walking Tour groups: $65
- Full-Day 9-Site Heritage Walking Tour with Guide: $84
- Full-Day Valle Alto Tour: Cochabamba: $105
- Incallajta and Torora-Cochabamba Tour: $352
- Shopping tour + history: Cochabamba: $59
- Toro Toro: A full-day tour from Cochabamba: $210
- Torotoro: 2-Day, 1-Night Tour from Cochabamba: $160
- Tour to Valle Alto (Tarata): $82
- Tropical Experience 2 days and 1 night: Villa Tunari Cochabamba: $340
- Walking tour in Cochabamba not your average: $15
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMerida $16Cochabamba $8.72
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Merida and Cochabamba, we can see that Merida is more expensive. And not only is Cochabamba much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Merida is in North America and Cochabamba is in South America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Cochabamba would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cochabamba 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 Merida would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Merida than you might in Cochabamba.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Merida Expensive? and Is Cochabamba Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Merida or Cochabamba?
Cochabamba has a larger population, and is about 26% larger than the population of Merida. When comparing the sizes of Merida and Cochabamba, 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.