Which place is cheaper, Huaraz or Merida?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Merida or Huaraz?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Merida or Huaraz, 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 Huaraz?
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.
Huaraz
Huaraz is a large town in the Cordillera Blanca region of Peru's Central Sierra. Huaraz stands tall at 3100m; travellers from Lima might need a day or two to acclimatize to the change in atmosphere. Nearly wiped out by the earthquake of 1970, the town of 100,000 blends a mix of modern and native culture. Huarez is first and foremost a trekking metropolis. During high season the streets buzz with hundreds of backpackers and adventurers freshly returned from arduous hikes or planning their next expedition. The town has many markets, shops, quality restaurants and hopping bars catering to tourist and local needs. Mountain adventures in the off-season can be equally rewarding, but the vibe is calmer and some places go into hibernation once the rains set in.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Peru, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Peru.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMerida $88Huaraz $50
The average daily cost (per person) in Merida is $88, while the average daily cost in Huaraz is $50. 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 Huaraz in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMerida $44Huaraz $20
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMerida $88Huaraz $40
Compare Hotels in Merida and Huaraz
Looking for a hotel in Merida or Huaraz? 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 Huaraz Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Merida $18Huaraz $10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Merida
Also for Merida, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Merida Rejon Airport (MID) to Tulum hotels - Round Trip Transfer: $227
- Merida hotels to Mérida International Airport (MID) - Private Departure Transfer: $33
- One-way Airport Transfers to Merida Hotels: $120
- Mexico Private Transfer from Merida airport to central Merida: $41
- Mexico Private Transfer from Merida hotels to Merida airport: $41
- Private Transfer From Uxmal to Merida, English Speaking Driver: $73
- Private Transfer from Airport to Hotel in Merida One Way: $47
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Huaraz
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Huaraz are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$2.17
Is it cheaper to fly into Merida or Huaraz?
Prices for flights to both Huaraz 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 $29Huaraz $18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Merida
For Merida, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Merida Walking Food Tour. Authentic & Local Cuisine: $62
- Taste of the Yucatan: Merida Cooking Class and Market Visit: $89
- Private Yucatecan Cooking Lesson in a Local Merida Home: $90
- Private Market Tour and Authentic Mexican Cooking Class in Merida with Transfers: $126
Typical Food Prices in Huaraz
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Huaraz:
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Lunch$5.97
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Chips$1.49
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Merida $16Huaraz $19
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)$6.01
Tours and Activities in Merida
For Merida, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Panoramic Sightseeing Tour of Merida: $8.00
- Mérida Scavenger Hunt and Sights Private Self-Guided Tour: $8.95
- Walking Tour Across the Historic Center in Merida: $22
- Walking Tour in the City of Mérida: $22
- Merida Private Tour on a Budget : $29
- Mérida Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $35
- 3 Hour Tour in The Sotuta de Peón Live Museum: $60
- Merida Street Food Walking Tour: $65
- Tour to Uxmal + Choco Story Chocolate Museum: $67
- Private Walking Tour in City of Merida: $75
- Day of the Dead Tour & Taco buffet: $80
- Tour to progreso, corchito and salt ponds: $81
Typical Entertainment Prices in Huaraz
Here are a few typical costs in Huaraz for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Climbing Gear$17
Tours and Activities in Huaraz
Here are a few actual costs in Huaraz for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 3-day tour to Parón, Llanganuco and Laguna 69 from Huaraz: $150
- 69 Lake Tour of Peru: $26
- Ancash: Adventure and Climbing to Mountain Alpamayo |6D-5N|: $3,303
- Ancash: Nevado pastors and puyas Raymondi Tour | Full Day |: $40
- Ancash: Trek and Adventure to Quillcayhuanca |3Days-2Nights|: $410
- From Ancash: Fantastic tour Huaraz/Nevado Pastoruri |4D-3N|: $192
- From Ancash: Huaraz Adventure with meals |3Days-2Nights|: $142
- From Ancash: Tour Huaraz with Puya Raymondi |4Days-3Nights|: $197
- From Ancash: Tour fantastic in Huaraz |2Days-1Night|: $92
- From Ancash: Tour in Huaraz with tickets and Hotel |5D-4N|: $250
- From Huaraz | Live an adventure between mountains and lakes: $214
- From Huaraz || Full day tour Laguna 69 in -Cordillera Blanca: $36
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMerida $16Huaraz $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Merida and Huaraz, we can see that Merida is more expensive. And not only is Huaraz much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Merida is in North America and Huaraz 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 Huaraz would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Huaraz 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 Huaraz.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Merida Expensive? and Is Huaraz Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Merida or Huaraz?
Merida has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Huaraz. When comparing the sizes of Merida and Huaraz, 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.
When is the best time to visit Merida or Huaraz?
Merida has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Huaraz experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Merida or Huaraz in the Summer?
Both Huaraz and Merida during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Merida for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Huaraz year-round.
The weather in Huaraz can be very cold. In the summer, Merida is much warmer than Huaraz. Typically, the summer temperatures in Merida in July average around 21°C (70°F), and Huaraz averages at about 3°C (37°F).
Merida usually gets more rain in July than Huaraz. Merida gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Huaraz receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMerida 21°C (70°F)Huaraz 3°C (37°F)
Should I visit Merida or Huaraz in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Merida and Huaraz. The autumn months attract visitors to Merida because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Huaraz attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
It's quite cold in Huaraz in the autumn. In October, Merida is generally much warmer than Huaraz. Daily temperatures in Merida average around 21°C (70°F), and Huaraz fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).
Merida gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Merida usually receives more rain than Huaraz. Merida gets 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Huaraz receives 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMerida 21°C (70°F)Huaraz 4°C (39°F)
Should I visit Merida or Huaraz in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Merida as well as Huaraz. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Merida this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to Huaraz throughout the year.
Merida is much warmer than Huaraz in the winter. The daily temperature in Merida averages around 20°C (68°F) in January, and Huaraz fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).
It's quite rainy in Huaraz. Merida usually gets less rain in January than Huaraz. Merida gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Huaraz receives 122 mm (4.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMerida 20°C (68°F)Huaraz 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit Merida or Huaraz in the Spring?
Both Huaraz and Merida are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Merida for the activities around the city. Plenty of visitors come to Huaraz because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the spring, Merida is much warmer than Huaraz. Typically, the spring temperatures in Merida in April average around 21°C (70°F), and Huaraz averages at about 6°C (43°F).
It's quite rainy in Merida. In April, Merida usually receives more rain than Huaraz. Merida gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Huaraz receives 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMerida 21°C (70°F)Huaraz 6°C (43°F)
Typical Weather for Huaraz and Merida
| Merida | Huaraz | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 20°C (68°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) |
| Mar | 21°C (70°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 126 mm (5 in) |
| Apr | 21°C (70°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| May | 22°C (72°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 21°C (70°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Sep | 21°C (70°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 21°C (70°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (70°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Dec | 20°C (68°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
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.