Which place is cheaper, Eagle Beach 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 Eagle Beach?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Merida or Eagle Beach, 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 Eagle Beach?
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.
Eagle Beach
Aruba, only fifteen miles north of Venezuela, is a top Caribbean tourist destination. It's a small island, only 20 miles long and 6 miles wide, and is an autonomous dependency of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. One of the most popular and beautiful beaches on the island is Eagle Beach. It's a popular beach with the locals, and a common destination for many who are looking for a party. The beach is particularly crowded on Easter weekend. The sand is a sugary white and the waters are a stunning crystal blue color. The beach itself is quite flat and the ocean is so calm it's like swimming in a pool. There are a handful of palm trees if you're seeking shade, but otherwise it's the ideal place to soak up some rays. You'll find some shaded picnic areas as well if you're hoping to enjoy a casual lunch.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico.
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Merida Prices
Mexico PricesEagle Beach Prices
Aruba Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMerida $99Eagle Beach $500
The average daily cost (per person) in Merida is $99, while the average daily cost in Eagle Beach is $500. 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 Eagle Beach in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMerida $40Eagle Beach $290
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMerida $80Eagle Beach $580
Compare Hotels in Merida and Eagle Beach
Looking for a hotel in Merida or Eagle Beach? 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 $17Eagle Beach $42
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Merida
Also for Merida, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Mérida International Airport (MID) to Merida hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $25
- Mérida International Airport (MID) to Merida hotels - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $50
- Merida Airport (MID) Private Transfer to Merida Centre: $40
- Merida hotels to Mérida International Airport (MID) - Private Departure Transfer: $25
- One-way Airport Transfers to Merida Hotels: $120
- Private Airport Transfer from Mérida to Campeche: $292
- Private Transfer From Merida to Uxmal, English Speaking Driver: $156
- Private Transfer from Airport to Hotel in Merida One Way: $44
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Eagle Beach
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Eagle Beach:
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Round-trip Bus Ticket$2.84
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One Day Scooter Rental$51
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Eagle Beach
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Eagle Beach:
- VIP luxury limousine airport transfer one way!: $190
- VIP Luxury Sedan Airport Transfer: $105
- Transfers & Pickups: $67
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Aruba Reina Beatrix Airport (AUA)- Aruba: $25
- Roundtrip Transfer Private Vehicle Aruba Airport (AUA) - Aruba: $55
- Round-Trip Aruba Airport Transfer: $23
- Round-Trip Aruba Airport Express Transfer: $45
- Round Trip Private Airport Transfer: $120
- Private roundtrip Airport Transfers in Aruba: $60
- Private Transfer from Oranjestad Port to Oranjestad Airport (AUA): $55
- Private Transfer from Oranjestad Cruise Port to Oranjestad city: $55
- Private Transfer from Oranjestad City to Oranjestad Cruise Port: $55
Is it cheaper to fly into Merida or Eagle Beach?
Prices for flights to both Eagle Beach 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 $46Eagle Beach $150
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
- Merida Food Tour with local Yucatecan Chef : $56
- Merida Walking Food Tour. Authentic & Local Cuisine: $64
- Taste of the Yucatan: Merida Cooking Class and Market Visit: $86
- Merida Shore Excursion- Mexican Cooking Class with Port Transfers: $102
- Market Tour and Authentic Cooking Class in Merida with Transfers: $154
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Eagle Beach
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Eagle Beach.
- Aruba Dinner and Nightlife Tour: $86
- Noord, Aruba: Exclusive Private Dinner aboard the Aqua Donut: $90
- Aruba Caribbean Dinner Sail Experience: $92
- Sunset Sail Cruise to Boca Catalina with BBQ Dinner: $110
- Sunset Sail: Aruba Dinner Cruise with Open Bar by Catamaran: $119
- Tropical Sailing Experience with BBQ Lunch or BBQ Dinner in Aruba: $135
- Caribbean Cooking Class in Aruba: $160
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Merida $15Eagle Beach $155
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$0.11
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Uxmal Entrance (for 2)$18
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Mayan Village Entrance (for 2)$5.43
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: $8.00
- Historical, Cultural, and Artistic Tour of Downtown Merida: $17
- Walking Tour Across the Historic Center in Merida: $22
- Uxmal Archeological Site Guided Walking Tour with Entry Fee: $28
- Mérida Private Walking Tour with a Local: $35
- Yucatan Cuisine Tasting Tour Merida : $35
- Private Merida Tour on a Budget - Best Rated : $37
- 3 Hour Tour in The Sotuta de Peón Live Museum: $56
- Progreso, Flamingos, Cenote, and Salt Ponds adventure from Merida: $61
- Merida Street Food Walking Tour: $62
- From Chichen Itza Tour, Izamal, Cenote Ik Kil and Food: $64
- Guided tour to Chichén Itzá from Mérida: $64
Typical Entertainment Prices in Eagle Beach
Here are a few typical costs in Eagle Beach for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Full Day Bike Rental$32
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Kayak & Snorkeling Tour$126
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Horseback Riding Tour$89
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4 Hr Snorkel Trip$95
Tours and Activities in Eagle Beach
Here are a few actual costs in Eagle Beach for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Aruba Private Tour Mini Bus with SeaFood/Caribbean Food Included: $175
- Aruba Semi-Submarine Cruise from Oranjestad: $60
- Discover Snorkeling Tour Mangel Halto & Baby Beach: $115
- Explore Aruba Coastline with Kayaking Tour: $104
- 2-Hour Horseback Riding Tour to Little Natural Bridge in Aruba: $93
- 2-Seater UTV Island Tour in Aruba: $99
- Action-Packed Half Day Aruba UTV Tour and Cave Pool: $210
- Adventure Kayak & Snorkeling at Reef Island Aruba: $115
- Adventurous Clear Kayak And Snorkeling Tour At Mangel Halto: $105
- Alto Vista Chapel and Arashi Beach Adventure: $77
- Antilla Shipwreck Seabob Tour: $120
- Art, Facts & Baby Beach UTV Adventure by Fofoti: $235
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMerida $14Eagle Beach $40
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Merida and Eagle Beach, we can see that Eagle Beach is more expensive. And not only is Merida much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Merida is in North America and Eagle Beach is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Merida would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Merida 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 Eagle Beach would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Eagle Beach than you might in Merida.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Merida Expensive? and Is Eagle Beach Expensive?.
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.