Which place is cheaper, Cali or Mexico City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Mexico City or Cali?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Mexico City or Cali? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Mexico City or Cali?
Mexico City
Mexico City is one of the largest and most populated cities in the world. There are an estimated 26 million people living in the greater Mexico City metropolitan area. The area is about 60 kilometers by 40 kilometers and is surrounded by tall mountains and volcanoes on three sides. Mexico City proper has about 8.8 million people and is the capital of the country. More than a third of the country's economy is based here, making it the wealthiest city in all of Latin America.
Cali
Cali is Colombia's third largest city. Founded in 1536, can be explored on foot: walk under the shade of trees along the riverbank, admire the architecture of churches and other national monuments, and visit the city's many museums. Being the salsa capital of the world, Cali is primarily a destination for salsa and party but it also offers some great days out in the nearby natural surroundings. In Cali, travelers can enjoy music festivals, learn about sugarcane farming, and take in the mountainous landscapes.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bogota, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Colombia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMexico City $214Cali $25
The average daily cost (per person) in Mexico City is $214, while the average daily cost in Cali is $25. 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 Mexico City and Cali in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMexico City $41Cali $6.16
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMexico City $82Cali $12
Compare Hotels in Mexico City and Cali
Looking for a hotel in Mexico City or Cali? 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: Mexico City Hotel Prices and Cali Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mexico City $13Cali $5.76
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Mexico City
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Mexico City:
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Metro$1.20
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Uber Ride$4.21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mexico City
Also for Mexico City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Mexico APT-HTL (MEX) : $36
- Transfer to and from Mexico City Airport: $30
- Transfer in private vehicle from Mexico City - Mexico Airport (MEX): $43
- Transfer in Private Minivan from Tlalnepantla - Mexico City Airport (MEX): $83
- Transfer in Private Minivan from Mexico Airport (MEX)- Mexico City: $93
- Transfer in Private Minivan from Mexico Airport (MEX) - Tlalnepantla: $83
- Transfer from Mexico City Airport to Puebla: $245
- Transfer Mexico city Airport - Mexico city Downtown hotels: $18
- Transfer Mexico City Airport to Downtown and Zona Rosa Hotels: $80
- Transfer Mexico City - Taxco - Acapulco (2 days): $83
- Transfer Airport - hotel in Mexico City: $80
- Transfer & assistance one-way from/to Mexico City Airport/hotel : $36
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cali
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cali:
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Short Taxi Ride$1.02
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cali
Also for Cali, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer in Private Minivan from Cali City- Cali Airport (CLO): $25
- Transfer in Private Car from Cali Airport (CLO) -Cali City: $22
- RoundTrip Transfer in Private Minivan Cali Airport (CLO) - Cali City: $51
- Private Arrival or Departure Transfer: Alfonso Bonilla Aragón Airport : $17
- From Cali Airport: One-way Privater Transfer to Cali: $58
- Departure Private Transfer from Cali City to Cali Airport CLO by Minibus: $171
- National Park Waterfalls Tour with Lunch & Transfer: $113
- City Highlights Private Bus Tour with Transfer: $147
- Alfonso Bonilla Aragón Airpot One Way Transfer: $18
- Cali to Popayan Private Transfer: $272
- Cali to Popayan Private Transfer: $272
- Arrival Transfer from Cali Airport CLO to Cali City by MiniSuv: $98
Is it cheaper to fly into Mexico City or Cali?
Prices for flights to both Cali and Mexico City 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 dayMexico City $27Cali $8.77
Typical Food Prices in Mexico City
For Mexico City, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two$13
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Coffee and Snacks$4.69
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Dinner for 2$27
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mexico City
For Mexico City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Traveling Spoon Mexican Tacos and Tortillas Private Online Cooking Class: $40
- Virtual Mexican Cooking Class (private and personalized): $50
- Veracruz and Boca del Rio Food Tour with Mangroves Boat Trip: $50
- Local Markets & Food Tour in Mexico City: $50
- Tortilla Crawl: Food Tour in Mexico City: $55
- Uruapan Food Tour: $60
- 3 Hours Food Tour Best Vegan Tacos in Mexico City: $66
- Muchos moles: Multi-variety mole cooking class and feast: $70
- Mexico City Vegan & Veggie Market Explorer plus Cooking Lesson: $72
- Street Food Tour with Friends: $75
- La Roma Authentic Downtown Food Tour: Tacos and Local Flavors: $78
- Food Tour with Ride an Electric Bike in Mexico: $80
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cali
For Cali, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Street Food Tour: $21
- Alameda Market Food Tour: $55
- Street Food Tour - Live A Unique Gastronomic Experience: $55
- Flavors of Food tour at the local market: $59
- Patio Santo Style Rumba Dinner: $168
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mexico City $15Cali $11
Tours and Activities in Mexico City
For Mexico City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- City Tour/español-ingles: $68
- Frida Kahlo Tour with Admission Tickets: $76
- Mixology, Food, Wine and Beer Experience in Xochimilco: $99
- Monarch Butterfly Tour from Mexico City: $220
- Romantic Walking tour in Mexico City: $150
- Romantic tour in San Andrés Mixquic: $150
- Teotihuacan Early Access tour with Tequila Tasting: $37
- The best of Mixquic walking tour: $150
- VIP - FULL DAY - Mexico City Private Tour : $180
- 2 Day tour Teotihuacan pyramids +City tour & Xochimilco : $132
- 2 Days Private Tour with Hiking in Malinche from Puebla: $207
- 2 Hours Private Tour with Electric Scooter in Mexico City: $78
Tours and Activities in Cali
For Cali, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 4 Hours Private River Tour to Pance Cali Colombia : $60
- A day to enjoy nature and have an adventure in the Jordan river: $65
- Cali ATV tours - Take your adrenaline to the maximum on the road: $159
- Cali Bike Park Tour: $95
- Cali Bike Tour: $32
- Cali City Tour - The Best Of Cali In Comfort: $53
- Cali City Tour by 3 Hours (transportation + guide): $178
- Cali City Tour by 5 Hours (transportation + guide): $245
- Cali City Tour by 8 Hours (transportation + guide): $366
- Cali Downtown Walking Tour: $55
- Cali Mountain Bike Tour: $95
- Cali Salsa Tour: Learn the history, dance and play instruments: $15
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMexico City $21Cali $8.68
Sample the Local Flavors in Mexico City
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Mexico City:
- Mexico City Pub Crawl: $27
- CDMX Pub Crawl: Mexico City Bar Crawl: $29
- Mexico City Bar Crawl: $39
- Best Bar Crawl at Downtown: $49
- Nightly Historic Center From Above© Rooftop Bar Crawl +Taco Snack: $129
- 2 Hours Private Mexican Wine Tasting in Polanco: $155
- Third Largest Monolith in the World:Bernal with wine tasting: $235
- Cavas Freixenet Wine Tour from Mexico City: $255
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mexico City and Cali, we can see that Mexico City is more expensive. And not only is Cali much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Mexico City is in North America and Cali 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 Cali would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cali 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 Mexico City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mexico City than you might in Cali.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mexico City Expensive? and Is Cali Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mexico City or Cali?
Mexico City has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Cali. When comparing the sizes of Mexico City and Cali, 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.