Which place is cheaper, Cafayate or Playa del Carmen?
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 Playa del Carmen or Cafayate?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Cafayate? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Playa del Carmen or Cafayate?
Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is in Quintana Roo on the Yucatan Peninsula. It's a popular resort town and is about seventy kilometers south of Cancun. It has a European atmosphere with many small hotels and a nice relaxed feel. It was originally a small fishing town but tourism began with the introduction of a passenger ferry to Cozumel. The area developed rapidly and there are many luxury hotels, condos, and resorts. There are also American chains and a variety of shopping opportunities nearby.
Cafayate
Cafayate is located in the province of Salta, in the central zone of the Valles Calchaquies. The small town has about 12,000 residents and is 1,329 kilometers from Buenos Aires.
People head to the small town of Cafayate to explore its vineyards and unique rock formations. It has become an important tourist destination in the area and there is a large golf course under construction just outside of town.
Cafayate is an important wine production center. The wines in the area thrive from the low humidity mild weather of the valleys. The town receives less than 250 millimeters of precipitation a year.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Argentina.
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Playa del Carmen Prices
Mexico PricesCafayate Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPlaya del Carmen $97Cafayate $53
The average daily cost (per person) in Playa del Carmen is $97, while the average daily cost in Cafayate is $53. 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 Playa del Carmen and Cafayate in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPlaya del Carmen $39Cafayate $34
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPlaya del Carmen $78Cafayate $68
Compare Hotels in Playa del Carmen and Cafayate
Looking for a hotel in Playa del Carmen or Cafayate? 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: Playa del Carmen Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Playa del Carmen $24Cafayate $4.99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Playa del Carmen
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Playa del Carmen:
- Private Van Transfer to Merida: $389
- Private Van Transfer to Valladolid: $348
- Private Van Transfer to Chiquilá (Holbox): $348
- Playa del Carmen to Tulum - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $285
- Private Transfer Open 4 - 12 hours Costa Mujeres to Cancun: $283
- Airport Transfers to Playa del Carmen - Private van (ROUND TRIP) FLAT RATE: $272
- Private Transfer roundtrip to Xoximilco. from PLAYA and CANCUN: $260
- Private Transfer Playa del Carmen to Mérida with Flexible Stops: $240
- Round Trip Private Transfer (Costa Mujeres): $210
- Cancun Airport Private Roundtrip Transfer to Riviera Maya Hotels: $195
- Cozumel El Cielo Tour by Boat from Playa del Carmen & Transfer: $189
- Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen Roundtrip Private Transfer: $185
Is it cheaper to fly into Playa del Carmen or Cafayate?
Prices for flights to both Cafayate and Playa del Carmen 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 dayPlaya del Carmen $40Cafayate $6.36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Playa del Carmen
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Playa del Carmen.
- Dinner and Show at the Mayan Planetarium of Chichen: $39
- Cenotes by Bike and Mayan Cooking Class Half-Day Guided Tour: $60
- Carmen Cocina Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $65
- Flavors of Playa del Carmen, Mexican Food Tour: $67
- Playa Del Carmen Authentic Downtown Food Tour: Tacos and Local Flavors: $75
- Cooking Class in 9 Recipes & Drinks: $77
- Playa del Carmen Food Tour with 8+ Authentic Yucatan Dishes: $81
- Food Tour Through Markets with 7 Tastings: $82
- local walking food tour Inlakech Playa del Carmen: $85
- Cooking Class in 9 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $85
- VIP Private Mystery Dinner Murder in the Jungle: $85
- Riviera Maya Luxury Sunset Sailing plus Light Dinner and Open Bar: $89
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Playa del Carmen $17Cafayate $40
Tours and Activities in Playa del Carmen
Here are a few actual costs in Playa del Carmen for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 3 Cenotes & Kaan Luum Lagoon Adventure from Playa del Carmen: $142
- 3-in-1 Tour to Tulum, Cenote and Maya Village Riviera Maya: $99
- 3D Museum of Wonders Admission Ticket: $42
- 4 ADVENTURES 1 DAY Tulum Coba Cenote and Playa del Carmen: $20
- 4 Casa Tortugas Cenotes Tour from Playa del Carmen: $142
- 4X1 Enjoy a tour to Tulum, Coba, Cenote and Playa del Carmen: $20
- 4x1 Tulum Coba Cenote swim Full tour: $21
- AQUA WONDER (Half-Day Aquatic Tour in Tulum with Snorkeling and Meals): $129
- ATV & Cenote in Playa del Carmen by One Jungle Adventures: $105
- ATV & Speed Boat Combo Tour: $119
- ATV (Shared) & Cenote Jungle Adventure from Riviera Maya: $130
- ATV Adventure Tour Zipline and Cenote Swim in Playa del Carmen: $55
Tours and Activities in Cafayate
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cafayate.
- From Salta: The Calchaqui Valley Winery Tour in Cafayate: $46
- Horseback Riding Los Colorados Horseback Riding Adventure in Cafayate: $100
- Unveiling Premium Wine Road Adventure: $116
- From Salta: Cafayate, Salinas Grandes, & Hornocal Tour: $128
- Scenic Horseback Adventure to El Toldito All Levels Welcome: $139
- Hot Air Balloon Experience - Cafayate Salta: $250
- Foz do Iguaçu: Iguazu Falls Argentina Side Guided Tour: $301
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPlaya del Carmen $21Cafayate $19
Sample the Local Flavors in Playa del Carmen
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Playa del Carmen:
- Playa After Dark: 5th Ave Social Pub Crawl, Playa del Carmen: $36
- Playa del Carmen Local Brewery and Tacos Experience: $59
Sample the Local Flavors in Cafayate
Also in Cafayate, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Half-day Wine Tour: $100
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Playa del Carmen and Cafayate, we can see that Playa del Carmen is more expensive. And not only is Cafayate much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Playa del Carmen is in North America and Cafayate is in South 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 Cafayate would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cafayate 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 Playa del Carmen would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Playa del Carmen than you might in Cafayate.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Playa del Carmen Expensive? and Is Cafayate Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Playa del Carmen or Cafayate?
Playa del Carmen has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Cafayate. When comparing the sizes of Playa del Carmen and Cafayate, 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.