A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Pereira vs. Cochabamba for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Pereira or Cochabamba?

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 Cochabamba. 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 Cochabamba?

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.

Cochabamba

With a population of about 630,000, Cochabamba is the fourth largest city in Bolivia. It's located about 240 kilometers from the capital city of La Paz and is surrounded by mountains, but sits within a valley.

The city is known for its gardens and has many sights to offer the visitor. Cochabamba offers a calming retreat that is a refreshing break from the hustle and bustle of many South American cities. It's a great location to learn Spanish and there are plenty of activities and cultural events that you can enjoy in and around town.

Cochabamba's climate is semi-arid. There is an extended dry season between May and October and the wet season is from November to March. The days are warm and the nights are cool.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Colombia, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, The Best 10-Day Tours in Bolivia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Bolivia.


Which place is cheaper, Cochabamba or Pereira?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Pereira is $66, while the average daily cost in Cochabamba is $63. 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 Cochabamba in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Pereira $27
    Cochabamba $25
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Pereira $54
    Cochabamba $50
Compare Hotels in Pereira and Cochabamba

Looking for a hotel in Pereira or Cochabamba? 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.

Hotels in Pereira


Hotels in Cochabamba


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 Cochabamba Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Pereira $21
    Cochabamba $16
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Pereira

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Pereira are as follows:


  • Short Taxi Ride
    $1.21

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pereira

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pereira:

  • One-Way Private Transfer from Matecaña Airport: $12
  • Manizales Arrival or Departure Transfer La Nubia Airport: $20
  • Manizales Arrival or Departure Transfer: Matecaña Intl Airport: $41
  • One way transfer from Pereira to Salento AND/OR Salento to Pereira: $43
  • Manizales Arrival or Departure Transfer: Matecaña Airport: $46
  • Private Transfer Pereira to Salento (or vice versa): $59
  • Santa Rosa Cabal to Pereira Airport PEI - Departure Transfer: $63

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cochabamba

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cochabamba:

  • Airport - Hotels transfer Service 24/7: $28
  • MiniVan or Bus Transfer from Cochabamba Airport CBB to Cochabamba: $28

Is it cheaper to fly into Pereira or Cochabamba?

Prices for flights to both Cochabamba 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Pereira $23
    Cochabamba $22
Typical Food Prices in Pereira

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Pereira:


  • Hamburger
    $1.70

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pereira

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Pereira.

  • Private Traditional Colombian Cooking Class in Pereira: $82

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Pereira $19
    Cochabamba $25

Tours and Activities in Pereira

Here are a few actual costs in Pereira for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Coffee Tour at the Finca del Café: $40
  • City Tour Historic Center of Manizales in Caldas: $46
  • Santa Rita Waterfall and Salento Hike Tour: $48
  • Filandia and Salento Coffee Towns Tour: $57
  • Cocora Valley and Salento Hike Tour: $79
  • Coffee Farm and Salento Walking Tour with Lunch: $87
  • Coffee Farm and Salento Walking Tour with Lunch: $93
  • Paratrike experience over the sky of Colombia: $95
  • Coffee Heritage, A multisensory experience: $100
  • Filandia, Salento and Cocora Valley Tour: $100
  • Tour to hot springs of Santa Rosa from Pereira, Armenia or Salento: $104
  • Private Tour of Chocolate Plantation and Processing: $113

Tours and Activities in Cochabamba

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cochabamba are as follows:

  • Tour to Valle Alto (Tarata): $38
  • Tigre & Delta River Cruise - half day tour from Buenos Aires: $72
  • Parque Nacional Torotoro Tour 2 Días y 1 Noche : $228

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Pereira $14
    Cochabamba $15


When comparing the travel costs between Pereira and Cochabamba, we can see that Pereira is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in South America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pereira Expensive? and Is Cochabamba Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Pereira or Cochabamba?

Cochabamba has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Pereira. When comparing the sizes of Pereira and Cochabamba, 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.