Which place is cheaper, Medellin 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 Medellin?
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 Medellin 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 Medellin?
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, and The Best Eco Tours in Colombia.
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Montevideo Prices
Uruguay PricesMedellin Prices
Colombia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontevideo $68Medellin $28
The average daily cost (per person) in Montevideo is $68, while the average daily cost in Medellin is $28. 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 Medellin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontevideo $37Medellin $4.41
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontevideo $74Medellin $8.82
Compare Hotels in Montevideo and Medellin
Looking for a hotel in Montevideo or Medellin? 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 Medellin Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montevideo $6.78Medellin $3.84
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montevideo
Also for Montevideo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Carrasco Airport (MVD) to Montevideo - Arrival Private Transfer: $40
- Carrasco Airport (MVD) to Montevideo - Arrival Private Transfer: $36
- Carrasco Airport MVD to Montevideo - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $79
- Carrasco Airport(MVD) to Montevideo - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $72
- Montevideo Airport Transfers: $33
- Montevideo Private Airport Transfer (MVD) to City: $20
- Montevideo to Carrasco Airport (MVD) - Departure Private Transfer: $36
- Montevideo to Carrasco Airport (MVD) - Departure Private Transfer: $40
- MVD Airport to Downtown|Hotels Private Transfer: $24
- Private 1-Way or Round Trip MVD Airport Transfer: $45
- Shared 1-Way or Round Trip MVD Airport Transfer: $85
- Private Transfer Montevideo Airport to Hotel Y Hotel - Aero: $20
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Medellin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Medellin:
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Taxi$1.53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Medellin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Medellin:
- Medellín to Guatapé: Private Transfer: $234
- Medellin Tour Privado x3 horas con Transfers: $171
- Arrival Transfer from Medellin Airport MDE to Medellin by Minibus: $156
- Sedan Departure Transfer from Medellin City to Medellin Airport: $137
- Arrival Private Transfer from Medellin Airport to City by Sedan: $137
- Arrival Transfer Medellin Airport MDE to Medellin City by Minivan: $132
- Medellin Coffee Tour with transfer: $123
- Airport Transfers : $120
- PRIVATE Transfer Jose Maria Cordova Airport - Up to 13 People: $119
- Private Transfer Jose Marie Cordova Airport to Medellin Bello: $100
- PRIVATE Transfer Jose Maria Cordova Airport - Up to 10 People: $90
- Private Tejo Sport Experience with Transfer & Beer: $86
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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayMontevideo $22Medellin $15
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): $95
- The best Montevideo Dinner Show. Tango and Candombe. El Milongon.: $98
- Montevideo Private Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $104
- El Milongon Dinner & Show: Candombe, Tango and Folklore: $110
Typical Food Prices in Medellin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Medellin:
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Lunch$1.94
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Medellin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Medellin.
- Medellín: Comuna 13 True Story and Street Food Tour: $11
- Private Empanada Cooking Class in Guatape: $30
- A night in Medellín: food tour and bars in El Poblado!: $30
- Medellín: Guided Street Food Tour with Tastings (El Poblado): $44
- Street Food Tour in Medellín with 10 + Tastings in El Poblado: $45
- Medellin Night E-Bike Tour with Gourmet Dinner Included: $54
- City Tour by Electric Bicycle + Gourmet Dinner: $59
- The Ultimate Medellin Food Tour: $66
- Private Half-Day Food Tour Visiting Best Viewpoints in Medellín!: $75
- Private Street Food Tour, Eat like a Local in Medellin!: $75
- MEDELLÍN: PRIVATE FOOD TOUR WITH THE BEST VIEWPOINTS!: $80
- Traditional Food Tour: $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montevideo $19Medellin $12
Tours and Activities in Montevideo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Montevideo.
- Montevideo's Culture and History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.00
- Museo Andes 1972 / Crash Memorial Admission Ticket: $8.00
- Palacio Salvo Official Ticket with Guided Tour: $13
- Half-Day Sightseeing Tour: $25
- Tourist Bus Discover Montevideo: $25
- Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $25
- Half-day Regular City Tour at Montevideo : $25
- Half-Day City Tour with Live Guide: $25
- Tour and tasting at Bodega Santa Rosa: $26
- Montevideo City Tour for Cruisers - AudioGuided: $26
- Audio Guided Tour in Montevideo City for Cruisers: $26
- City tour Montevideo: $27
Tours and Activities in Medellin
Here are a few actual costs in Medellin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 4x4 ATV Tour with Food & Transportation in Medellin: $135
- Comuna 13 + Medellin City Tour: $251
- Historical Tour in Pablo Escobar : $35
- Medellin City Private Tour: $85
- 2 Day Private Jardin Tour with Activities from Medellin: $260
- 2 Days Medellin autentic Coffee Farm Experience : $225
- 2 Hour Medellin Off Road ATV Experiences: $160
- 3 Hours City Tour in Medellin Colombia: $27
- 3-Hour Private Guided Tour in Medellin: $60
- 360 guided tour of Medellín + Comuna 3: $63
- 4 Hours Private Comuna 13 Graffiti Tour: $60
- 4-Hour Medellin, Envigado & Sabaneta Three County Tour: $79
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontevideo -Medellin $6.69
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
- Private Wine Tours by Wine Explorers Uruguay: $205
- Wine Tasting & Countryside Lunch Experience: $215
- Wine Tasting Tour for Cruise Passengers: $450
Sample the Local Flavors in Medellin
Also in Medellin, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Guided Medellin Pub Crawl: $18
- Rooftop Bar Crawl with VIP Access & Hidden Clubs: $19
- The Medellin Pub Crawl: $20
- Rooftop Bar Crawl with VIP Access & Hidden Clubs: $27
- Live the Nightlife Rooftop Pub Crawl : $49
- Medellín Nightlife: Rooftop Bar Crawl: $85
- Medellín Pub Crawl Tour with Drinks: $125
- All-Inclusive Comuna 13 Nightlife Bar Crawl with Locals: $130
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.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Montevideo Expensive? and Is Medellin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Montevideo or Medellin?
Medellin has a larger population, and is about 57% larger than the population of Montevideo. When comparing the sizes of Montevideo and Medellin, 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.