Which place is cheaper, Santa Cruz de la Sierra or Merida?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Merida or Santa Cruz de la Sierra?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Merida or Santa Cruz de la Sierra, 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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra?
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.
Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Santa Cruz de la Sierra, or simply Santa Cruz, is a larger city in the middle of Bolivia. It is also one of the most wealthy cities in the country. The city is also one of the fastest growing in the world. It is famous for its nightlife and it makes an excellent base for exploring many of the tourist attractions in the nearby areas.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, The Best Tours Under $1000 in Bolivia, and The Best Luxury Tours to Bolivia.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMerida $88Santa Cruz de la Sierra $54
The average daily cost (per person) in Merida is $88, while the average daily cost in Santa Cruz de la Sierra is $54. 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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMerida $44Santa Cruz de la Sierra $22
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMerida $88Santa Cruz de la Sierra $44
Compare Hotels in Merida and Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Looking for a hotel in Merida or Santa Cruz de la Sierra? 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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Merida $18Santa Cruz de la Sierra $9.90
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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Santa Cruz de la Sierra:
-
Taxi Ride$4.34
-
Mini Bus$0.58
Is it cheaper to fly into Merida or Santa Cruz de la Sierra?
Prices for flights to both Santa Cruz de la Sierra 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 dayMerida $29Santa Cruz de la Sierra $20
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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Santa Cruz de la Sierra:
-
Snacks$3.18
-
Chips$0.29
-
Banana$0.14
-
Cookies$1.30
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Merida $16Santa Cruz de la Sierra $19
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:
- 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
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayMerida $16Santa Cruz de la Sierra $14
Typical Alcohol Prices in Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Santa Cruz de la Sierra from other travelers:
-
Beer$1.59
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Merida and Santa Cruz de la Sierra, we can see that Merida is more expensive. And not only is Santa Cruz de la Sierra much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Merida is in North America and Santa Cruz de la Sierra 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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Cruz de la Sierra 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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Merida Expensive? and Is Santa Cruz de la Sierra Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Merida or Santa Cruz de la Sierra?
Santa Cruz de la Sierra has a larger population, and is about 90% larger than the population of Merida. When comparing the sizes of Merida and Santa Cruz de la Sierra, 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.