A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Montevideo vs. Cozumel for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Montevideo or Cozumel?

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 Cozumel 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 Cozumel?

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.

Cozumel

Cozumel is a Caribbean island just off the Yucatan Peninsula. It'as a popular tourist destination because of its beautiful beaches and excellent snorkeling and scuba diving. With crystal clear waters and vibrant colored coral, Cozumel is one of the most popular dive destinations in the area. The island's economy is centered around tourism, and as such, you'll find plenty of amenities for visitors. The prices are comparable to other coastal towns in the area and there is no shortage of activities or attractions nearby.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, and The Best Adventure Tours to Mexico.


Which place is cheaper, Cozumel or Montevideo?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Montevideo is $70, while the average daily cost in Cozumel is $122. 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 Cozumel in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Montevideo $38
    Cozumel $63
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Montevideo $76
    Cozumel $126
Compare Hotels in Montevideo and Cozumel

Looking for a hotel in Montevideo or Cozumel? 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 Montevideo


Hotels in Cozumel


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 Cozumel Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Montevideo $7.06
    Cozumel $21

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montevideo

Also for Montevideo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer from Montevideo to Colonia del Sacramento: $438
  • Transfer from Montevideo to Punta del Este: $328
  • Private Transfer from Montevideo hotels to Punta Del Este Port: $275
  • Roundtrip Transfer Montevideo Airport (MVD) - Punta del Este: $210
  • Private Transfer from or to Carrasco Airport in Montevideo: $120
  • Transfer to Punta del Este from Montevideo / Punta to Montevideo: $112
  • TRANSFER FROM OR TO THE AIRPORT (4 to 12 paxs): $90
  • Private Transfer from Carrasco Airport (MVD) to Montevideo Port: $86
  • Private Transfer from Montevideo Port to Carrasco Airport (MVD): $86
  • Shared 1-Way or Round Trip MVD Airport Transfer: $85
  • Private Transfer from Montevideo Cruise Port to Montevideo city: $81
  • Transfer from the Hotel in Montevideo to Montevideo airport: $60

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cozumel

Also for Cozumel, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Cozumel Airport (CZM) to Cozumel Cruise Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $154
  • Private Transfer from Cozumel Port to Cozumel Airport (CZM): $93
  • ATV Adventure to Jade Cavern with transfer: $83
  • Mexico Cozumel Airport (CZM) to Cozumel Cruise Port - Arrival Private Transfer: $77
  • Private One Way Transfer from Cozumel to Cozumel Airport: $67
  • Private One Way Transfer from Cozumel Airport to Cozumel: $67
  • Cozumel Jungle ATV Tour Adventure and Caverns with transfer: $65
  • ATV tour to jade cavern with transfer (single or double): $55
  • Cozumel Mayan Experience And Beach Getaway with Transfer: $55
  • Mexico Cozumel Airport (CZM) to Cozumel -Arrival Private Transfer: $51
  • Shared Transfer from Airport to Hotel: $27

Is it cheaper to fly into Montevideo or Cozumel?

Prices for flights to both Cozumel 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Montevideo $22
    Cozumel $37

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montevideo

For Montevideo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Show + Dinner - El Milongon (No Transport): $93
  • The best Montevideo Dinner Show. Tango and Candombe. El Milongon.: $98
  • Montevideo Private Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $107
  • El Milongon Dinner & Show: Candombe, Tango and Folklore: $108

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cozumel

For Cozumel, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Under the Stars Twilight Snorkel and Seaside Dinner at Money Bar: $90
  • Cozumel Food Tour: $90
  • Cozumel Food Tour: $110

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Montevideo $20
    Cozumel $40

Tours and Activities in Montevideo

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Montevideo.

  • Colonia del Sacramento - Regular Tour: $60
  • Punta del Este, City Tour from Montevideo: $140
  • Afternoon Tea Experience at Sofitel Montevideo Carrasco & Spa: $29
  • Audio Guided Tour in Montevideo City for Cruisers: $26
  • Best City Shared Tour for Cruisers: $65
  • Best Private Tour of Montevideo for cruise-ship passengers: $450
  • Bodega Santa Rosa: Famiglia Passadore Tour Tasting with Lunch: $86
  • Bouza Winery Full Experience (Tasting and Lunch): $180
  • City Tour of Montevideo: $40
  • City Tour, the best option for small groups: $120
  • City tour Montevideo: $27
  • Colonia & Montevideo from Buenos Aires - Private 2 Day Tour: $1,560

Tours and Activities in Cozumel

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cozumel.

  • 10 Experiences Tour : $200
  • 15-minute Private Parasailing Experience in Cozumel: $78
  • 4 Hour Cozumel Turtle Sanctuary Experience on a Luxury Catamarán : $72
  • 4 Hour Snorkeling Tour in Cozumel: $55
  • ATV Adventour: Jade Cave Cenote, Transportation & Tequila: $87
  • ATV Adventure to Jade Cavern Double: $113
  • ATV Adventure to Mayan Jade Cavern plus Snorkeling and Lunch: $79
  • ATV Jungle Adventure to Hidden Mayan Ruins and Caves: $89
  • ATV Seashore + Cenote Combo: Mezcalitos & Mayan Cenote Experience: $64
  • ATV and Clear Boat Ride Full Experience in Cozumel: $80
  • Adventure Tour Village ATVs Beach with Snorkeling and Villa Maya: $100
  • Adventure in Punta Sur Ecological Reserve Cozumel: $90

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Montevideo -
    Cozumel $10

Sample the Local Flavors in Montevideo

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Montevideo:

  • Pizzorno Winery with Lunch and Wine Tasting: $116
  • The best wine tour: $140
  • Wine tour - Lunch & Tasting with Wine Explorers: $198
  • Wine Tasting & Countryside Lunch Experience: $225
  • Montevideo Wine Tour with Tasting and Lunch: $226
  • Wine Tasting Tour for Cruise Passengers: $450

Sample the Local Flavors in Cozumel

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cozumel:

  • Chocolate Seaside Workshop & Wine Tasting: $45
  • Downtown Cozumel and Brewery Experience: $69
  • Rum and Gin at Cozumel First Distillery : $99
  • Craft Beer Tasting Experience with Brewery Tour: $99
  • Cozumel Mixology Experience at Distillery : $109


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montevideo and Cozumel, we can see that Cozumel 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 Cozumel 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 Cozumel would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cozumel 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 Cozumel Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Montevideo or Cozumel?

Montevideo has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Cozumel. When comparing the sizes of Montevideo and Cozumel, 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.