A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Merida vs. Rosario for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Merida or Rosario?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Merida or Rosario, 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 Rosario?

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.

Rosario

Rosario is the third largest city in Argentina. Located at the Parana river and known for its rich architectural heritage and beautiful riverside scenery, Rosario is the birthplace of the Argentinian flag as well as two of the nation's most famous icons, Che Guevara and Lionel Messi. Rosario is still an important river port but has done a great job of regenerating its center, which now has a vibrant cultural and night life. The abandoned buildings of the long riverbank have been converted into galleries, restaurants, skateparks and river beaches, which buzz with life in summer. Dynamic and confident without being showy, culturally rich and the best urban location to cool off in the boiling summers, Rosario is easily overlooked but not to be missed.

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 Argentina, and The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina.


Which place is cheaper, Rosario or Merida?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Merida is $88, while the average daily cost in Rosario is $9.05. 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 Rosario in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Merida $44
    Rosario $3.11
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Merida $88
    Rosario $6.22
Compare Hotels in Merida and Rosario

Looking for a hotel in Merida or Rosario? 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.

Hotels in Merida


Hotels in Rosario


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 Rosario Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Merida $18
    Rosario $2.66

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
  • One-way Airport Transfers to Merida Hotels: $120
  • Private Transfer From Uxmal to Merida, English Speaking Driver: $73
  • Private Transfer from Airport to Hotel in Merida One Way: $47
  • Mexico Private Transfer from Merida airport to central Merida: $41
  • Mexico Private Transfer from Merida hotels to Merida airport: $41
  • Merida hotels to Mérida International Airport (MID) - Private Departure Transfer: $33

Is it cheaper to fly into Merida or Rosario?

Prices for flights to both Rosario 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Merida $29
    Rosario $3.84

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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Merida $16
    Rosario $3.08
Typical Entertainment Prices in Merida

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Merida's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Train at the Zoo
    $0.12
  • Uxmal Entrance (for 2)
    $20
  • 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:

  • From Mérida Tour Plus: Chichen Itza Ruins and Cenote Ik-kil: $195
  • Romantic tour in Izamal: $159
  • 2-hour Temazcal experience in the Mayan world: $179
  • 3 Hour Tour in The Sotuta de Peón Live Museum: $60
  • 3 Hours Private Tour in Merida, you choose!: $125
  • 4 Cenotes Full Day Tour from Merida: $110
  • 4x1 Tour Chichen Itza Magic Towns Valladolid & Izamal from Merida: $95
  • Ancestral Mayan Private Culinary Experience in Merida: $138
  • Beach Tour in Yucalpetén from Mérida: $95
  • Celestun Biosphere Reserve Tour from Merida: $208
  • Cenotes Santa Barbara, Eknakan Church & Acanceh Ruins Tour: $110
  • Chichen Itza Adventure! Cenote and Izamal from Merida: $104

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Merida $16
    Rosario $1.77


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Merida and Rosario, we can see that Merida is more expensive. And not only is Rosario much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Merida is in North America and Rosario 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 Rosario would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Rosario 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 Rosario.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Merida Expensive? and Is Rosario Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Merida or Rosario?

Rosario has a larger population, and is about 64% larger than the population of Merida. When comparing the sizes of Merida and Rosario, 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.