A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Piriapolis vs. Cozumel for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Piriapolis or Cozumel?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Piriapolis or Cozumel, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Piriapolis or Cozumel?

Piriapolis

Piriapolis is a small beach town between Montevideo and Punta del Este in Uruguay. It is a more laid back version of Punta del Este with fewer fancy restaurants and clubs but it has perhaps more charm, with its grand old hotel and beachfront promenade backed by small mountains. The rather old-school coastal resort is vaguely reminiscent of a Mediterranean beach town.

Cozumel

Cozumel is a Caribbean island just off the Yucatan Peninsula. It'as a popular tourist destination because of its beautiful beaches and excellent snorkeling and scuba diving. With crystal clear waters and vibrant colored coral, Cozumel is one of the most popular dive destinations in the area. The island's economy is centered around tourism, and as such, you'll find plenty of amenities for visitors. The prices are comparable to other coastal towns in the area and there is no shortage of activities or attractions nearby.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, and The Best Adventure Tours to Mexico.


Which place is cheaper, Cozumel or Piriapolis?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Piriapolis is $81, while the average daily cost in Cozumel is $122. 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 Piriapolis and Cozumel in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Piriapolis $26
    Cozumel $63
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Piriapolis $52
    Cozumel $126
Compare Hotels in Piriapolis and Cozumel

Looking for a hotel in Piriapolis or Cozumel? 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 Piriapolis


Hotels in Cozumel


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: Piriapolis Hotel Prices and Cozumel Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Piriapolis $30
    Cozumel $21

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cozumel

Also for Cozumel, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • ATV Adventure to Jade Cavern with transfer: $83
  • ATV tour to jade cavern with transfer (single or double): $55
  • Cozumel Airport (CZM) to Cozumel Cruise Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $154
  • Cozumel Jungle ATV Tour Adventure and Caverns with transfer: $65
  • Cozumel Mayan Experience And Beach Getaway with Transfer: $55
  • Shared Transfer from Airport to Hotel: $27
  • Mexico Cozumel Airport (CZM) to Cozumel -Arrival Private Transfer: $51
  • Mexico Cozumel Airport (CZM) to Cozumel Cruise Port - Arrival Private Transfer: $77
  • Private One Way Transfer from Cozumel Airport to Cozumel: $67
  • Private One Way Transfer from Cozumel to Cozumel Airport: $67
  • Private Transfer from Cozumel Port to Cozumel Airport (CZM): $93

Is it cheaper to fly into Piriapolis or Cozumel?

Prices for flights to both Cozumel and Piriapolis 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
    Piriapolis $38
    Cozumel $37

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cozumel

For Cozumel, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Under the Stars Twilight Snorkel and Seaside Dinner at Money Bar: $90
  • Cozumel Food Tour: $90
  • Cozumel Food Tour: $110

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Piriapolis $5.68
    Cozumel $40

Tours and Activities in Cozumel

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cozumel.

  • Skip the Line: Admission Ticket to El Cedral Town and Mayan Temple: $16
  • Transparent Boat Tour in See Marine Life Up Close: $19
  • Crystal Boat Trip and Snorkeling Tour from Cozumel: $19
  • Crystal-clear Boat trip & Snorkeling tour: $19
  • Tequila History and Tasting Experience and Unlimited Beach Break: $25
  • El Cielo Snorkeling Adventure in Cozumel: $28
  • Cozumel’s Mayan Journey: Dance, Rituals, and Tasting Tour: $29
  • Cozumel Snorkeling Tour: Palancar, Columbia and El Cielo Reefs: $29
  • Island Tour in Cozumel, Mayan Show & Tacos: $30
  • Transparent Boating and Snorkeling Tour in Cozumel All Inclusive: $32
  • Bicycle Adventure With Snorkel and Lunch: $33
  • VIP Glass Bottom Boat & Snorkeling 3 Reefs Tour: $35

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Piriapolis $7.82
    Cozumel $10

Sample the Local Flavors in Cozumel

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cozumel:

  • Chocolate Seaside Workshop & Wine Tasting: $45
  • Downtown Cozumel and Brewery Experience: $69
  • Rum and Gin at Cozumel First Distillery : $99
  • Craft Beer Tasting Experience with Brewery Tour: $99
  • Cozumel Mixology Experience at Distillery : $109


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Piriapolis and Cozumel, we can see that Cozumel is more expensive. And not only is Piriapolis much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Piriapolis is in South America and Cozumel is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Piriapolis would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Piriapolis 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 Cozumel would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cozumel than you might in Piriapolis.

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


Which is Bigger, Piriapolis or Cozumel?

Cozumel has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Piriapolis. When comparing the sizes of Piriapolis and Cozumel, 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.