Which place is cheaper, Cochabamba 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 Cochabamba?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Cochabamba? 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 Cochabamba?
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.
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 The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, The Best 10-Day Tours in Bolivia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Bolivia.
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Playa del Carmen Prices
Mexico PricesCochabamba Prices
Bolivia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPlaya del Carmen $90Cochabamba $46
The average daily cost (per person) in Playa del Carmen is $90, while the average daily cost in Cochabamba is $46. 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 Cochabamba in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPlaya del Carmen $36Cochabamba $14
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPlaya del Carmen $72Cochabamba $28
Compare Hotels in Playa del Carmen and Cochabamba
Looking for a hotel in Playa del Carmen 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.
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 Cochabamba Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Playa del Carmen $22Cochabamba $9.42
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Playa del Carmen
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Playa del Carmen:
- Private Airport Transfer to/from Playa del Carmen & Riviera Maya: $20
- Private One Way or Roundtrip Transfer to Costa Mujeres Hotels: $20
- Cancun Airport Departure transfer from Playa Paraiso, Playa del Carmen, Playacar: $27
- One way shared transfer to Chiquila: $34
- CUN Airport One-Way/Round-Trip Transfers to Playa del Carmen: $60
- Chetumal to Chetumal Airport (CTM) - Departure Private Transfer: $63
- From One way shared transfer to Holbox: $69
- Cancun Airport: Private Transfers: From/to Playa del Carmen: $70
- Transfer from Playa del Carmen to the airport and hotels in Cancun: $71
- Round trip Private Transfer Cancun -Costa Mujeres/ Playa Mujeres: $71
- Transfer from Playa del Carmen to the airport and hotels in Tulum: $74
- Private van transfer for groups of up to 14 passengers: $75
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cochabamba
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cochabamba:
- MiniVan or Suv Transfer from Cochabamba Airport CBB to Cochabamba: $36
Is it cheaper to fly into Playa del Carmen or Cochabamba?
Prices for flights to both Cochabamba 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 $37Cochabamba $22
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.
- Christmas Eve Dinner in a magical jungle setting: $45
- 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 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
- VIP Private Mystery Dinner Murder in the Jungle: $85
- Riviera Maya Luxury Sunset Sailing plus Light Dinner and Open Bar: $89
- Mayan Ceremony in Tulum. Temazcal, Dinner and pick up included.: $92
- Mexican Cooking Class: $113
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cochabamba
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cochabamba.
- Adelante Mujer Bolivian Cooking Workshops: $29
- Bolivian Cooking Class with High-Altitude Wines: $50
- Cochabamba Valle Alto 2-Day Food Tour: $355
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Playa del Carmen $16Cochabamba $14
Tours and Activities in Playa del Carmen
Here are a few actual costs in Playa del Carmen for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Bus Ticket connecting Cancun Central and Playa del Carmen: $7.20
- Ek Balam Self-Guided Walking Tour with Audio Guide: $9.99
- 4 ADVENTURES 1 DAY Tulum Coba Cenote and Playa del Carmen: $16
- Tour of Chichén Itzá, 2 cenotes and Valladolid: $17
- Playa del Carmen Coastal Heritage Walking Tour: $17
- 4X1 Enjoy a tour to Tulum, Coba, Cenote and Playa del Carmen: $20
- Riviera Maya: Frida Kahlo Museum Guided Tour 2025: $20
- Full day Chichén Itzá Tour from Cancún and Riviera Maya: $22
- Akumal Beach : VIP Swimming Tour with Turtles and Corals: $25
- Playa Del Carmen Walking Tour: Explore Top Sights & Hidden Gems: $30
- Chichen Itza Cenote and Valladolid All Inclusive Tour: $32
- Behind the Scenes – German-language Cultural Tour.: $35
Tours and Activities in Cochabamba
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cochabamba are as follows:
- City of Eternal Spring: Self-Guided Tour of Downtown Cochabamba: $5.99
- Walking tour in Cochabamba not your average: $15
- Shopping tour + history: Cochabamba: $59
- City Highlights Walking Tour groups: $65
- Tour to Valle Alto (Tarata): $82
- Full-Day 9-Site Heritage Walking Tour with Guide: $84
- Full-Day Valle Alto Tour: Cochabamba: $105
- Torotoro: 2-Day, 1-Night Tour from Cochabamba: $160
- Toro Toro: A full-day tour from Cochabamba: $210
- 2-Day, 1-Night Tour: Toro Toro with Caves, Footprints, and Canyons: $270
- Tropical Experience 2 days and 1 night: Villa Tunari Cochabamba: $340
- Incallajta and Torora-Cochabamba Tour: $352
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPlaya del Carmen $19Cochabamba $8.41
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: $34
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Playa del Carmen and Cochabamba, we can see that Playa del Carmen is more expensive. And not only is Cochabamba much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Playa del Carmen is in North America and Cochabamba 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 Cochabamba would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cochabamba 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 Cochabamba.
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 Cochabamba Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Playa del Carmen or Cochabamba?
Cochabamba has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Playa del Carmen. When comparing the sizes of Playa del Carmen 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.
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.