Which place is cheaper, Cali or Pereira?
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 Pereira or Cali?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Pereira and Cali. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Pereira or Cali?
Pereira
Situated in a small valley in the western Andes, Pereira is the capital city of Risaralda, Colombia. The city is surrounded by coffee producing agriculture and sits in the middle of a triangle of cities including Bogota, Medillin and Cali, each of which is about a three to five hour drive away.
The city itself is very much student oriented, as there are many universities around town and at least one quarter of the population is made up of students. There is also a very European vibe to the city and you will find the area beautiful with many parks and museums.
Pereira's economy is based on government, agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, trade, commerce, and tourism. Agricultural products include sugarcane, cacao, rubber, cereals, coffee, and livestock. Apparel is the main manufacturing product, along with aluminium goods, motorcycles and telecommunications technology.
Pereira is found in a warm moorland area with an average temperature of around 72 degrees. The temperatures remain relatively consistent throughout the year with highs in the high 70s Fahrenheit to low 80s Fahrenheit. Low temperatures are usually in the low 60s Fahrenheit. Rain is heaviest during the months of April and May as well as October and November.
Cali
Cali is Colombia's third largest city. Founded in 1536, can be explored on foot: walk under the shade of trees along the riverbank, admire the architecture of churches and other national monuments, and visit the city's many museums. Being the salsa capital of the world, Cali is primarily a destination for salsa and party but it also offers some great days out in the nearby natural surroundings. In Cali, travelers can enjoy music festivals, learn about sugarcane farming, and take in the mountainous landscapes.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Colombia, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Colombia, The Best Luxury Tours to Colombia, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bogota.
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Pereira Prices
Colombia PricesCali Prices
Colombia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPereira $92Cali $35
The average daily cost (per person) in Pereira is $92, while the average daily cost in Cali is $35. 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 Pereira and Cali in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPereira $29Cali $6.82
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPereira $58Cali $14
Compare Hotels in Pereira and Cali
Looking for a hotel in Pereira or Cali? 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: Pereira Hotel Prices and Cali Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pereira $23Cali $6.37
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Pereira
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Pereira are as follows:
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Short Taxi Ride$1.33
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pereira
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pereira:
- Transfer Premium Manizales Pereira All Inclusive in luxury SUV: $225
- Santa Rosa Cabal to Pereira Airport PEI - Departure Transfer: $65
- Private Transfer from Matecaña Airport to Armenia: $249
- Private Transfer Pereira to Salento (or vice versa): $85
- Private Transfer Pereira Airport ↔ Nearby hotels: $13
- Private Transfer Armenia or Pereira Airport to Salento: $43
- Pereira to or from Salento Private Transfer: $39
- PRIVATE Transfer One-Way from Pereira to Philadelphia or return: $43
- One way transfer from Pereira to Salento AND/OR Salento to Pereira: $43
- One way transfer Pereira to Santa Rosa Hot Springs: $98
- Manizales Arrival or Departure Transfer: Matecaña Intl Airport: $41
- Manizales Arrival or Departure Transfer La Nubia Airport: $20
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cali
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cali:
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Short Taxi Ride$1.13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cali
Also for Cali, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Alfonso B.Aragon Airport (CLO) to Cali/Palmira-RoundTrip Transfer: $91
- Arrival Private Transfer from Cali Airport CLO to Cali City by Minivan: $174
- Arrival Transfer from Cali Airport CLO to Cali City by car: $131
- Cali to Popayan Private Transfer: $272
- Cali to Popayan Private Transfer: $272
- Cali to or from Coffee Region Private Transfer: $136
- Cali/Palmira to Alfonso B.Aragon Airport (CLO) - Private Transfer: $45
- Departure Private Transfer from Cali City to Cali Airport CLO by Minibus: $183
- Departure Private Transfer from Cali City to Cali Airport CLO by Minivan: $174
- Private Arrival or Departure Transfer: Alfonso Bonilla Aragón Airport: $19
- Transfer Airport Private- Hotels North: $36
Is it cheaper to fly into Pereira or Cali?
Prices for flights to both Cali and Pereira 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 dayPereira $45Cali $17
Typical Food Prices in Pereira
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Pereira:
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Hamburger$1.89
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cali
For Cali, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Street Food Tour: $23
- Alameda Market Food Tour: $55
- Traditional Colombian Cooking Class in Cali: $71
- Discover Pacific Flavors Cali Cooking Class and Market Tour: $181
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pereira $21Cali $12
Tours and Activities in Pereira
Here are a few actual costs in Pereira for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2-Day Tour at the Salento Cocora Thermal Coffee Shop: $290
- BILINGUE Touristic@ Private / PERSONALIZED@ Guide in the Coffee Axis: $125
- Cocoa (chocolate) and Coffee Tours from Pereira or Armenia: $175
- Cocoa and Santa Rosa Hot Springs Tour from Pereira or Armenia: $140
- Cocora Valley, Salento and Filandia Full-Day Private Tour: $246
- Cocora Valley: Salento & Private Horseback Riding Tour: $182
- Cocora, Salento and Coffee Experience: $263
- Cocora, Salento and Filandia (The daughter of the Andes) Walking Tour in Quindio: $243
- Coffee Farm and Salento Walking Tour: $99
- Coffee Farm and Salento Walking Tour: $88
- Coffee Farm and Santa Rosa Hot Springs Tour from Pereira or Armenia: $200
- Coffee Park Tour from Pereira or Armenia: $144
Tours and Activities in Cali
For Cali, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Historical Shared Tour Salsa, Graffiti & Resistance in Cali: $13
- Shared Tour of the Historical and Cultural Center of Cali: $14
- Cali Food Market Tour Galería Alameda with Exotic Tastings: $29
- The Cali Street Food Walking Tour: $33
- Coffee Tasting Experience in Cali Colombia: $39
- Walking tour of the historic center: $41
- Private Tour in Cali with Salsa Class, Museums and Local Food: $43
- Historical Walking Cali City Tour 3H: $46
- Chef’s Garden Experience at Andoke Butterfly Center: $50
- Discover La Topa Tolondra + 2 Salsa Museums Tour: $60
- Cali River Waterfall Tour (4 hours): $64
- A day to enjoy nature and have an adventure in the Jordan river: $65
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPereira $16Cali $9.61
Sample the Local Flavors in Cali
Also in Cali, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Saturday Night Bar Crawl in Cali, Colombia: $28
- Salsa Friday in Calle del Sabor + Bar Crawl in Cali: $32
- Paragliding + Wine tasting + Hacienda El Paraiso + Saint Helena: $210
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pereira and Cali, we can see that Pereira is more expensive. And not only is Cali much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cali would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cali 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 Pereira would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pereira than you might in Cali.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pereira Expensive? and Is Cali Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Pereira or Cali?
Cali has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Pereira. When comparing the sizes of Pereira and Cali, 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.