Should you visit Montevideo or Medellin?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Montevideo and Medellin can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
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.
Medellin
In addition to big improvements in public safety, Medellin has witnessed a huge surge in urban development projects, including Colombia's first metro system and cable cars to service poorer neighborhoods located high on the mountain sides. There is an abundance of parks, libraries, museums and public spaces with many cultural events taking place. Many travelers also enjoy visiting the surrounding villages, where life is simple and landscapes and nature reserves are wonderful. Medellin has now become one of the "it" cities in the world, with tons of tourists visiting and foreigners settling and retiring here. Beautiful mountains, warm weather, friendly locals, and a vibrant culture are just a few of the reasons why you should visit Medellin.
Which city is cheaper, Medellin or Montevideo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Montevideo is $46, while the average daily cost in Medellin is $16. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Montevideo and Medellin in more detail.
Accommodation
Travelers usually pay around $56 for a double occupancy room in Montevideo If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $3.62. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Medellin the cost is $7.24 on average.
Food
Food in Montevideo costs travelers about $9.73 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
Food in Medellin costs travelers about $6.40 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
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Food
Meals for one day
Montevideo $9.73
Medellin $6.40
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montevideo
For Montevideo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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The best Montevideo Dinner Show. Tango and Candombe.:
$75
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El Milongon Dinner & Show: Candombe, Tango & Folklore in Montevideo:
$105
Typical Food prices in Medellin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Medellin:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Medellin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Medellin.
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Medellin Local Flavours: Night Street Private Food Tour:
$50
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Half-day Medellín Street Food tour with a local guide:
$65
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Homemade Paisa Dinner at a Local's Home in Medellín:
$69
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Homemade Paisa Dinner at a Local's Home in Medellín:
$69
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Community project cooking class and Medellin social transformation tour:
$70
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Private Market Tour and Colombian Cooking Lesson With a Local Family in Medellin:
$80
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Withlocals LIVE Meditation and Online Cooking for a Healthy Mind and Body:
$93
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Medellín Food Tour:
$94
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food tour:
$97
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Sabaneta and Envigado Best Local Food Tour from Medellin:
$99
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Full Day Private Medellin City, Street Art and Food Tour:
$104
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Private Market Tour & Colombian Cooking Lesson with a Local in her Medellín Home:
$111
Local Transportation
Montevideo's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $5.29 per person, per day on transportation in Montevideo.
The average price of local transportation around Medellin is $2.39 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montevideo
Also for Montevideo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Airport-Hotel or Hotel-Airport Transfers:
$28
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Best Private Arrival or Departure Airport Transfer in Montevideo:
$50
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Departure Private Transfer Montevideo to Montevideo Airport MVD in Business Car:
$69
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Departure Private Transfer Montevideo to Montevideo Airport MVD in Sedan Car:
$46
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Departure Private Transfer Montevideo to Montevideo Airport MVD in a Minibus:
$217
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Montevideo Airport Transfers:
$25
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PACK 1: Transfer in - Tour Montevideo - Transfer out:
$60
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PACK 2: Transfer in - Tour Montevideo - Punta del Este - Transfer out:
$110
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PACK 3: Transfer in - Tour Montevideo - Punta del Este - Colonia - Transfer out:
$190
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Private Airport Transfer: Carrasco International Airport (MVD) to Montevideo:
$40
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Private Airport Transfer: Montevideo to Carrasco International Airport (MVD):
$40
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Private Arrival Transfer: Montevideo Airport to Hotel:
$70
Typical Local Transportation prices in Medellin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Medellin:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Medellin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Medellin:
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Private Transfer: Medellin to José María Córdova International Airport (MDE):
$622
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Private Transfer: Medellin to Olaya Herrera International Airport (EOH):
$622
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Private Transfer: Olaya Herrera International Airport (EOH) to Medellin:
$622
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Private Round Transfer to Guatape lakes and Penol rock!:
$239
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Departure Private Transfer from Medellin City to Medellin Airport MDE by Minibus:
$188
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Departure Private Transfer from Medellin City to Medellin Airport MDE by Minivan:
$188
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Medellin Coffee Tour with transfer:
$123
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Transfer Jose Maria Cordoba Airport -Hotel or Accommodation:
$82
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Departure Private Transfer from Medellin City to Medellin Airport MDE by 2x4 Car:
$82
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Private Airport Round-Trip Transfer: MDE Medellin Airport to Medellin City:
$55
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Medellín Private Transfer to / from Guatapé:
$55
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Private Arrival Transfer : From Airport to Medellín Hotels:
$55
Is it cheaper to fly into Montevideo or Medellin?
Prices for flights to both Medellin 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Montevideo can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $15 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Medellin's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $10 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Tours and Activities in Montevideo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Montevideo.
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Ramble through Montevideo's culture and history with this audio walking tour:
$5.20
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Skip the Line: Museo Andes 1972 Crash Memorial Admission Ticket:
$8.00
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Half-Day Shared City Tour of Montevideo AM:
$19
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Tour Montevideo Panoramico:
$23
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Walking Tour Parque Rodo: Idiosyncrasy and art of Uruguay:
$25
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City Tour Montevideo:
$25
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City Tour Montevideo:
$28
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Montevideo Tourist Bus:
$31
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The Best Montevideo City Tour:
$33
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Full-Day City Tour of Punta del Este from Montevideo:
$33
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From Punta del Este Full-Day Tour:
$39
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Montevide Bike Tour:
$40
Tours and Activities in Medellin
Here are a few actual costs in Medellin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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"Tradicion Paisa": Silleteros and Santa Elena tour from Medellin:
$73
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3 Element Tour - ATV 1hr + PARAGLIDING + RAFTING 3hr from MEDELLIN:
$344
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3 Element Tour - ATV 2hr + PARAGLIDING + RAFTING 3hr from MEDELLIN:
$379
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3-Day Great Pablo Tour:
$900
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4-hour Paragliding Adventure from Medellin:
$157
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9-Hour Full Day Tour of Pablo Escobar Including C13, Museum and Barrio PE:
$165
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ATV Tours:
$133
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ATV | Medellín: Quad Tour:
$75
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ATVs Private Tour Medellin:
$172
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ATVs experience on the outskirts:
$112
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Advanced package Pablo Escobar tour including C13 and barrio PE aprox 8 hrs:
$125
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Adventure Motorcycle Rental in Medellin:
$103
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Medellin may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $5.75 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Montevideo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Montevideo:
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Wine Tasting Tour - from Montevideo:
$75
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Private Winery Tour + Wine Tasting (Minimum 4 people):
$80
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Montevideo and Wine Tasting Tour - for cruise passengers:
$89
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Wine tasting - Uruguayan Tannat in Montevideo:
$103
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Private Visit to Uruguayan Winery + Lunch + Wine tasting (minimum 5 people):
$105
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Juanico Wine Tour Lunch:
$120
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Pack 5: Tour Montevideo, Punta del Este & Wine Tasting Tour:
$145
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Guided Private Wine Tour with Tasting and Lunch:
$182
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Private Wine Tours by Wine Explorers Uruguay:
$205
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Private Montevideo Wine Tour & Flight Tour:
$259
Sample the Local Flavors in Medellin
Also in Medellin, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Live the Nightlife Rooftop Pub Crawl:
$20
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Medellin private bar crawl:
$94
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Medellin Pub Crawl Including Food and City Tour:
$145
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montevideo and Medellin, we can see that Montevideo is more expensive. And not only is Medellin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Medellin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Medellin 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 Montevideo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Montevideo than you might in Medellin.
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