Which place is cheaper, Cancun or Montevideo?
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 Montevideo or Cancun?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Montevideo and Cancun can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Montevideo or Cancun?
Montevideo
As the morning sun tinges the calm waters of the Rio de la Plata with a golden hue, the Rambla and its city awakens to life with new adventures for those near and far. From tanning on the luxurious beaches to peering into Uruguayan history at local museums, one can be far from bored while staying in Montevideo. Combining the quaintness of the countryside with the excitement of urban life, this city holds a unique trait that cannot easily be replicated.
Cancun
In the northeast corner of the Mexican Caribbean, Cancun is one of Mexico's most popular destinations. The area that is now Cancun was actually selected specifically by the Mexican government for development as a tourist destination. The area was chosen because it has fourteen miles of beautiful white beaches, nearby Mayan ruins, and turquoise blue water with nearby snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities. Prior to its development as a tourist destination, there were few inhabitants in the area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun.
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Montevideo Prices
Uruguay PricesCancun Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontevideo $70Cancun $162
The average daily cost (per person) in Montevideo is $70, while the average daily cost in Cancun is $162. 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 Montevideo and Cancun in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontevideo $38Cancun $94
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontevideo $76Cancun $188
Compare Hotels in Montevideo and Cancun
Looking for a hotel in Montevideo or Cancun? 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: Montevideo Hotel Prices and Cancun Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montevideo $7.04Cancun $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montevideo
Also for Montevideo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer to Punta del Este from Montevideo O Punta to Montevideo: $91
- Transfer from the Hotel in Montevideo to Montevideo airport: $60
- Transfer from Carrasco International Aiport to Montevideo: $47
- TRANSFER FROM OR TO THE AIRPORT (4 to 12 paxs): $90
- Private transfer from Montevideo to Punta del Este: $328
- Private transfer from Montevideo to Colonia del Sacramento: $438
- Private Transfer from or to Carrasco Airport in Montevideo: $40
- Private Transfer from Montevideo hotels to Punta Del Este Port: $273
- Private Transfer from Montevideo city to Montevideo Cruise Port: $42
- Private Transfer from Montevideo Port to Carrasco Airport (MVD): $42
- Private Transfer from Montevideo Port to Carrasco Airport (MVD): $85
- Private Transfer from Montevideo Cruise Port to Montevideo city: $42
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cancun
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cancun:
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Taxi Around Town$1.61
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Airport Shuttle (for 2)$13
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Ferry to Isla de Mujeres (for 2)$16
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Local Bus (for 2)$1.96
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cancun
Also for Cancun, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Akumal One Way or Roundtrip Private Luxury Transfer: $291
- Limo Transfer Airport Cancun - Puerto Morelos Hotel Zone: $279
- Private Transfer Cancun Airport to Chiquilá Holbox Ferry: $279
- Cancún Airport (CUN) to Tulum - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $266
- Full-Day Tour to Xcaret Plus with Transfer from Playa del Carmen and Lunch: $265
- Private Transfer roundtrip (Cancun Airport-Akumal): $259
- Cancun Airport Private Transfer to Tulum (Round Trip): $250
- Private Transfer from Cancún Airport (CUN) to Tulum: $242
- Luxury Transfers in a Mercedes Maybach GLS 600: $232
- Holbox Private Transfer from Cancun Hotels or Airport: $229
- Airport Transfers to Costa Mujeres - Private van (ROUND TRIP) FLAT RATE: $227
- Private Transfer from Cancun Airport to Tulum: $220
Is it cheaper to fly into Montevideo or Cancun?
Prices for flights to both Cancun and Montevideo 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 dayMontevideo $22Cancun $48
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montevideo
For Montevideo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Montevideo Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $65
- Private Uruguayan Cooking Class with Local Chef: $85
- Uruguayan Wine Pairing Dinner at City Winery Uruguay: $90
- Show + Dinner - El Milongon (No Transport): $93
- The best Montevideo Dinner Show. Tango and Candombe. El Milongon.: $98
- Dinner and Tango Show at Primuseum Restaurant: $100
- Dinner and Tango Show at the Historic Bar Fun Fun, Established in 1895: $100
- El Milongon Dinner & Show: Candombe, Tango and Folklore: $107
- Traditional Dinner & Tango Show at Primuseum: $110
- Food Tour with Asado, Chivito, and Mate: $221
- Montevideo private city tour with dinner included and tango show: $250
Typical Food Prices in Cancun
For Cancun, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two$20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cancun
For Cancun, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Salsa Streets Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $69
- Cancun Food Tour - Taco Attack: Street Food & Tequila Tasting: $69
- Cancun Street Food Tour – Local Market & Downtown Experience: $69
- Cancun Historic Downtown Food Tour with 7+ Authentic Tastings: $76
- Cancun Authentic Downtown Food Tour: Tacos and Local Flavors: $78
- Mexican Cooking Class with fresh Local Market ingredients selection and transpor: $79
- Cancun Hands-On Mexican Cooking Class: $79
- Cancun Taco & Mexican Food Tour with Tequila Tasting: $79
- Couples Special Price! Cancun Pirate Show with Dinner & Drinks: $80
- Pirate Night! Dinner, Fun and Show at Cancun Couples Special: $80
- Cancun Private Mural Art and Food Tour: $81
- Puerto Morelos Walking Food Tour: $81
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montevideo $20Cancun $34
Tours and Activities in Montevideo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Montevideo.
- “Discovering Montevideo” – Shared Small-Group Tour for Cruise Passengers: $65
- Afternoon Tea Experience at Sofitel Montevideo Carrasco & Spa: $36
- Audio Guided Tour in Montevideo City for Cruisers: $26
- Best Private Montevideo Shore Excursion: City Tour. Optional WineTasting Tour.: $210
- Best Private Tour of Montevideo for Cruise Passengers: $450
- Bodega Santa Rosa: Passadore Family Tasting Tour with Lunch: $86
- City tour Montevideo: $27
- Club Atlético Peñarol Match Live Experience: $157
- Colonia del Sacramento - Regular Tour: $60
- Complete Tour of Uruguay: $1,455
- Cruise-Friendly Shared Tour: Explore Montevideo’s Best: $69
- Culinary Experience Making Alfajores in Montevideo: $85
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cancun
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Cancun's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Seasick Pills$0.58
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Whale Shark Tour (for 2)$98
Tours and Activities in Cancun
For Cancun, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 Day ATV, Horse Ride, Ziplines and Cenote Adventure from Cancun: $40
- 1 Day Tour to Bacalar, Cenotes and 7 color Lagoon with lunch from Cancun: $125
- 1-Day Tour to Bacalar with Kayaking, Marmol Beach Club and Cenote: $119
- 1-hour Clear Boat Tour in Nichupte Lagoon from Cancun: $22
- 2 Day Combo Tour, Xcaret, Xel-Ha, Xplor and Chichen Itza Option: $280
- 2 Islands Tour - Isla Contoy and Isla Mujeres from Playa del Carmen: $160
- 2 in 1 Catamaran to Isla Mujeres Tour from Cancun with Open Bar: $50
- 2 in 1 Parasailing and Jet Sky Tour in Cancun: $140
- 2-day tour: Isla Mujeres catamaran and Chichen Itzá: $118
- 2x1 Tulum tour and Chichen Itza tour for 1 price in 2 days: $139
- 3 adrenaline activities Atvs Zipline and a swim experience in a cenote: $60
- 3 in 1 Jungle Tour Adventure Cancun: $69
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontevideo -Cancun $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Montevideo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Montevideo:
- Bodega Pizzorno wine tasting in Montevideo: $45
- Wine tasting of 4 wines from 4 wineries & empanadas in Montevideo: $50
- Pizzorno Winery with Lunch and Wine Tasting: $125
- Wine tour - Lunch & Tasting with Wine Explorers: $198
- Private Wine Tours by Wine Explorers Uruguay: $205
- Wine Tasting & Countryside Lunch Experience: $220
- Wine Tasting Tour for Cruise Passengers: $450
Sample the Local Flavors in Cancun
Also in Cancun, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- A bespoke wine tastings crafted for unforgettable moments: $86
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montevideo and Cancun, we can see that Cancun is more expensive. And not only is Montevideo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Montevideo is in South America and Cancun is in North 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 Montevideo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Montevideo 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 Cancun would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cancun than you might in Montevideo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Montevideo Expensive? and Is Cancun Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Montevideo or Cancun?
Montevideo has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Cancun. When comparing the sizes of Montevideo and Cancun, 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.