Which place is cheaper, Cali 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 Cali?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Cali? 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 Cali?
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.
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 2-Week Tours in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bogota, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Colombia.
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Playa del Carmen Prices
Mexico PricesCali Prices
Colombia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPlaya del Carmen $88Cali $38
The average daily cost (per person) in Playa del Carmen is $88, while the average daily cost in Cali is $38. 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 Cali in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPlaya del Carmen $35Cali $7.41
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPlaya del Carmen $70Cali $15
Compare Hotels in Playa del Carmen and Cali
Looking for a hotel in Playa del Carmen 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: Playa del Carmen Hotel Prices and Cali Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Playa del Carmen $21Cali $6.93
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Playa del Carmen
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Playa del Carmen:
- Xcaret Eco-Park with Round-Trip Transfers and Entrance Tickets: $168
- Round trip Private Transfer Cancun -Costa Mujeres/ Playa Mujeres: $71
- Private transfer from Playa del Carmen to Chiquila: $125
- Private Transfers to Cancun Airport, from Playa del Carmen: $98
- Private Transfer: Akumal to Cancun Airport CUN in SUV: $120
- Private Transfer to Cenotes at Riviera Maya: $189
- Private Transfer to Cenote at Tulum: $213
- Private Transfer to Cancun Int'l Airport, from Costa Mujeres: $88
- Private Transfer from Riviera Maya Hotels, to Cancun Airport: $137
- Private Transfer from Playa del Carmen to Tulum: $137
- Private Transfer from Playa del Carmen to Chiquila Ferry Dock: $299
- Private Transfer from Playa del Carmen to Cancun Airport: $90
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$1.23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cali
Also for Cali, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfers to Cali Hotels: $28
- Alfonso B.Aragon Airport (CLO) to Cali/Palmira-RoundTrip Transfer: $89
- Arrival Private Transfer from Cali Airport CLO to Cali City by Minivan: $174
- 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: $44
- 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 Playa del Carmen or Cali?
Prices for flights to both Cali 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 $36Cali $18
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.
- Cenotes by Bike and Mayan Cooking Class Half-Day Guided Tour: $55
- Playa del Carmen Walking Food Tour and Local Tastes: $57
- Carmen Cocina Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $65
- Playa Plates 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 Walking Food Tour: $78
- Playa del Carmen Food Tour Discover Hidden Mexican Culinary Gems: $80
- Playa del Carmen Food Tour with 8+ Authentic Yucatan Dishes: $81
- Food Tour Through Markets with 7 Tastings: $82
- Playa del Camen Vegan Mexican Food Tour: $84
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
- Street Food Tour Cali Authentic Flavors and Street Art: $29
- Alameda Market Food Tour: $55
- Live Show in Cali Salsa Night with Dinner and Local Party: $60
- Traditional Colombian Cooking Class in Cali: $71
- Food Tour San Antonio: $90
- Discover Pacific Flavors Cali Cooking Class and Market Tour: $177
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Playa del Carmen $15Cali $13
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: $148
- 3 Hour Tour ATV Single with Underground River from Tulum: $135
- 3-in-1 Tour to Tulum, Cenote and Maya Village Riviera Maya: $89
- 4 ADVENTURES 1 DAY Tulum Coba Cenote and Playa del Carmen: $20
- 4 Casa Tortugas Cenotes Tour from Playa del Carmen: $148
- 5X1: Tulum and Coba Ruins, Cenote & Mayan Village Full Day Tour: $77
- ATV & Speed Boat Combo Tour: $119
- ATV (Shared) & Cenote Jungle Adventure from Riviera Maya: $143
- ATV Adventure with Zipline and Cenote Experience: $85
- ATV Adventure with Ziplines & Cenote from Playa del Carmen: $49
- ATV Extreme and Snorkel Adventure from the Riviera Maya: $149
- ATV Jungle Adventure, Cenotes & Zipline – Riviera Maya: $68
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: $14
- Shared Gastronomic Tour in the Alameda Cali Market: $15
- Shared Tour of the Historical and Cultural Center of Cali: $15
- Chiva Private Cultural Tour with Audio Guide in Buga: $15
- Cali Food Market Tour Galería Alameda with Exotic Tastings: $29
- Cali City Tour: $29
- The Cali Street Food Walking Tour: $33
- Coffee Tasting Experience in Cali Colombia: $39
- Skip the Line: Show de Salsa Ticket: $46
- Historical Walking Cali City Tour 3H: $46
- 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 dayPlaya del Carmen $19Cali $10
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: $33
Sample the Local Flavors in Cali
Also in Cali, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Friday Night Street Salsa and Bar Crawl in Cali, Colombia: $35
- Salsa Friday in Calle del Sabor + Bar Crawl in Cali: $40
- Paragliding + Wine tasting + Hacienda El Paraiso + Saint Helena: $210
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Playa del Carmen and Cali, we can see that Playa del Carmen is more expensive. And not only is Cali much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Playa del Carmen is in North America and Cali 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 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 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 Cali.
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 Cali Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Playa del Carmen or Cali?
Cali has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Playa del Carmen. When comparing the sizes of Playa del Carmen 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.