Which place is cheaper, Santa Cruz de la Sierra 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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra?
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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra 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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra?
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.
Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Santa Cruz de la Sierra, or simply Santa Cruz, is a larger city in the middle of Bolivia. It is also one of the most wealthy cities in the country. The city is also one of the fastest growing in the world. It is famous for its nightlife and it makes an excellent base for exploring many of the tourist attractions in the nearby areas.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best Tours Under $1000 in Bolivia, and The Best Luxury Tours to Bolivia.
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Montevideo Prices
Uruguay PricesSanta Cruz de la Sierra Prices
Bolivia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontevideo $70Santa Cruz de la Sierra $40
The average daily cost (per person) in Montevideo is $70, while the average daily cost in Santa Cruz de la Sierra is $40. 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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontevideo $38Santa Cruz de la Sierra $13
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontevideo $76Santa Cruz de la Sierra $26
Compare Hotels in Montevideo and Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Looking for a hotel in Montevideo or Santa Cruz de la Sierra? 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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montevideo $7.04Santa Cruz de la Sierra $5.79
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montevideo
Also for Montevideo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 1 - way - Transfer from Carrasco Interational Airport to Montevideo: $70
- Airport-Hotel or Hotel-Airport Transfers: $41
- Carrasco Airport (MVD) to Montevideo - Arrival Private Transfer: $40
- Carrasco Airport MVD to Montevideo - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $80
- Montevideo to Carrasco Airport (MVD) - Departure Private Transfer: $36
- Montevideo to Carrasco Airport (MVD) - Departure Private Transfer: $40
- Private 1-Way or Round Trip MVD Airport Transfer: $45
- Shared One-Way Transfer: Airport ↔ Hotel: $49
- Private & Exclusive Transfer MVD Airport, Port or Hotel: $122
- Private Transfer Montevideo Airport to Hotel O Hotel - Aero: $23
- Private Transfer Montevideo to José Ignacio: $135
- Private Transfer from Carrasco Airport (MVD) to Montevideo Port: $85
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Santa Cruz de la Sierra:
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Taxi Ride$2.53
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Mini Bus$0.34
Is it cheaper to fly into Montevideo or Santa Cruz de la Sierra?
Prices for flights to both Santa Cruz de la Sierra 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 $22Santa Cruz de la Sierra $20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montevideo
For Montevideo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Best Montevideo Street Food Tour With 5 tastings: $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
- Traditional Dinner & Tango Show at Primuseum: $110
- Authentic Montevideo Food Tour: $190
- Food Tour with Asado, Chivito, and Mate: $221
Typical Food Prices in Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Santa Cruz de la Sierra:
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Snacks$1.86
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Chips$0.17
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Banana$0.08
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Cookies$0.76
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montevideo $20Santa Cruz de la Sierra $11
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
- Montevideo Audio guided walking tour 3h and 19 audio commentary: $6.93
- El Juguetero Museum Entry Ticket: $7.00
- Museo Andes 1972 / Crash Memorial Admission Ticket: $8.00
- Guided Tour of the National Hat Factory: $10
- Palacio Salvo Official Ticket with Guided Tour: $13
- Complete Half-Day Tour with Guide and 6 Stops: $20
- Experience the Local Magic at a Bohemian Nightclub with a Live Show: $20
- Montevideo Full Unique Tour Includes Barrio Carrasco: $23
- Montevideo Jogging Tour: $25
- Half-Day City Tour with Live Guide: $25
- Tourist Bus Discover Montevideo: $25
Tours and Activities in Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Here are a few actual costs in Santa Cruz de la Sierra for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Amboro Day Tour: Garden of Delights: $129
- Day Tour /El Fuerte & Samaipata: $129
- From Santa Cruz: Jesuit Missions and Hot Springs Tour: $399
- Lomas de Arena Sandboarding Sightseeing Tour: $42
- Private Tour of Santa Cruz: We visit the city center, Porongo, markets, and the river: $40
- Santa Cruz: 2-day tour of the Che Guevara route in Bolivia: $513
- Santa Cruz: Buena Vista Coffee Tour with Biopark Visit: $99
- Santa Cruz: Wildlife Sanctuary and Preservation Park Tour: $85
- Walking tour - A journey through the History of Santa Cruz: $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontevideo -Santa Cruz de la Sierra $7.98
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
Typical Alcohol Prices in Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Santa Cruz de la Sierra from other travelers:
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Beer$0.93
Sample the Local Flavors in Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Also in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Bolivia: Bolivian Wine Tasting with Charcuterie Board: $49
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montevideo and Santa Cruz de la Sierra, we can see that Montevideo is more expensive. And not only is Santa Cruz de la Sierra much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Santa Cruz de la Sierra would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Cruz de la Sierra 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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Montevideo Expensive? and Is Santa Cruz de la Sierra Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Montevideo or Santa Cruz de la Sierra?
Santa Cruz de la Sierra has a larger population, and is about 7% larger than the population of Montevideo. When comparing the sizes of Montevideo and Santa Cruz de la Sierra, 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.