Should you visit Montevideo or Rosario Islands?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Montevideo and Rosario Islands 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.
Rosario Islands
The Rosario Islands, also referred to as Coral Islands of Rosario, is an archipelago located off the coast of Colombia, approximately 100 kilometres (62 miles) from Cartagena. The Rosario Islands are integrated by 28 islands and all of them form one of the 46 Natural National Parks of Colombia, created to protect one of the most important coral reefs in the Colombian Caribbean Coast. Only three of these islands are property of the Colombian state. Before establishing the national park in 1977, wealthy families used this natural paradise to build their summer houses, but then the government allowed them to keep their properties, only if they paid annual rent and taxes to be there, and complied with certain rules to preserve the ecosystem of the islands. People can visit the national park area of the islands, and tours are available. Isla Rosario has an aquarium and open-sea oceanarium that people can visit. Activities on the Rosario Islands include swimming, snorkeling and fishing, among others. The best time to visit Colombia in general, and especially the Rosario Islands is the dry-season months from December to March. These uninterrupted sunny days are just perfect for a Caribbean coastal experience and to enjoy all the activities it has to offer.
Which city is cheaper, Rosario Islands or Montevideo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Montevideo is $47, while the average daily cost in Rosario Islands is $69. 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 Rosario Islands in more detail.
Accommodation
Travelers usually pay around $58 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.
Rosario Islands's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $52. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $26.
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 $5.45 per person, per day on transportation in Montevideo.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $36 per day to get around in Rosario Islands.
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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Jose Ignacio: Private Transfer to Montevideo:
$175
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Montevideo Airport Transfers:
$25
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Private 1-Way or Round Trip MVD Airport Transfer:
$45
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Shared 1-Way or Round Trip MVD Airport Transfer:
$23
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Transfer to Punta del Este or Jose Ignacio:
$150
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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
Is it cheaper to fly into Montevideo or Rosario Islands?
Prices for flights to both Rosario Islands 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 in Montevideo costs travelers about $10 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.
The average traveler spends about $22 per day in Rosario Islands for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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Food
Meals for one day
Montevideo $10
Rosario Islands $22
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
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.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $11 per person, per day in Rosario Islands. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
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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Palacio Salvo Official Ticket with Guided Tour:
$7.50
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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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Full-Day City Tour of Punta del Este from Montevideo:
$33
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The Best Montevideo City Tour:
$33
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3-Hour Bike Tour:
$37
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Rosario Islands may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $4.73 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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Wine Tasting & Countryside Lunch Experience:
$200
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Full-Day Wine Tasting and Vineyard Tour:
$200
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Private Wine Tours by Wine Explorers Uruguay:
$205
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Private Montevideo Wine Tour & Flight Tour:
$259
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montevideo and Rosario Islands, we can see that Rosario Islands is more expensive. And not only is Montevideo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Rosario Islands would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rosario Islands than you might in Montevideo.
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