Which place is cheaper, Manaus or Playa del Carmen?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Playa del Carmen or Manaus?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Manaus? 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 Manaus?
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.
Manaus
Manaus is a Brazilian city, capital of the state of Amazonas, and is located on the Rio Negro a few miles before it meets the Rio Solimões to form the Amazon River. The city is a major departure point for those visiting the Amazon Rainforest, though there are a few sights worth seeing within the city itself as well.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Brazil, and The Best Wildlife Tours to Brazil.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPlaya del Carmen $81Manaus $59
The average daily cost (per person) in Playa del Carmen is $81, while the average daily cost in Manaus is $59. 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 Manaus in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPlaya del Carmen $40Manaus $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPlaya del Carmen $80Manaus $84
Compare Hotels in Playa del Carmen and Manaus
Looking for a hotel in Playa del Carmen or Manaus? 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 Manaus Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Playa del Carmen $24Manaus $7.94
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Playa del Carmen
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Playa del Carmen:
- Wedding Transfers Services in Round Trip Playa del Carmen: $180
- Transfers in Lincoln StretchLimo from Puerto Aventuras-Cun Airport.: $194
- Transfer in Private vehicle from Akumal City - Cancun Airport (CUN) : $74
- Tour Bacalar Ponton with Transfer from Cancun & Playa del Carmen : $147
- Shared transfer from Playa del Carmen tu Cancun airport: $25
- Shared roundtrip transfer from Cancun airport to Playa del Carmen: $71
- Shared Transfer Cancun Airport - Puerto Aventuras: $48
- Shared Transfer Cancun Airport - Playa del Carmen: $31
- Roundtrip Private Transfer Playa del Carmen from CUN: $173
- Private Transfer: Akumal to Cancun Airport CUN in SUV: $109
- Private Transfer to Xplor / Xenses / Xplor Fire from Playa del Carmen: $25
- Private Transfer to Xel-Há Park from Playa del Carmen: $53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Manaus
Also for Manaus, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Manaus to Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) -Departure Private Transfer: $21
- 24-hour hotel transfer - airport in Manaus: $17
- Manaus Airport (MAO) to Manaus hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $24
- Manaus Airport(MAO) to Manaus hotels- Round-Trip Private Transfer: $48
- Manaus hotels to Manaus Airport(MAO) - Departure Private Transfer: $24
- Manaus private Airport transfer: $30
- Manaus to Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) - Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) to Manaus - Arrival Private Transfer: $21
- Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) to Manaus - Arrival Private Transfer: $23
- Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) to Manaus -Round-Trip Private Transfer: $46
- Private 24-hour transfer from the Hotel to the Airport in Manaus: $16
- Private Transfer - Airport - Hotel / Hotel - Airport: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Playa del Carmen or Manaus?
Prices for flights to both Manaus 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 $24Manaus $12
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: $60
- Walking Food Tour: $65
- Playa Del Carmen Authentic Downtown Food Tour: Tacos and Local Flavors: $75
- Playa del Carmen Walking Food Tour: $77
- Mexican Cooking Class: $100
- Seafood Tour in Playa del Carmen: $101
- PDC Traditional Mexican Cooking Experience: $104
- Authentic Mexican Cooking Class in Playa del Carmen: $120
- Isa’s Authentic Mexican Cooking Class: $120
- Cultural Coba Sunset Adventure with Dinner and show from Cancun: $130
- Sunset Adventure in Coba and Dinner with Show from Riviera Maya: $155
- Riviera Maya: Sunset Cruise with Beach Dinner and Open Bar: $157
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Manaus
For Manaus, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Folklore Amazonian Dinner Show: $42
- Food Tour: $50
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Playa del Carmen $17Manaus -
Tours and Activities in Playa del Carmen
Here are a few actual costs in Playa del Carmen for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Romantic tour in Akumal: $115
- Tulum Ruins, Turtle Sightseeing & Underground Cenote from Tulum: $140
- VIP Cenote Scuba Tour, Certified Divers Only: $230
- 3 in 1 Private Tour Tulum Cenote and Snorkeling in the reef: $210
- 3D Museum of Wonders Admission Ticket: $42
- 5X1: Tulum and Coba Ruins, Cenote & Mayan Village Full Day Tour : $114
- ATV Adventure with Ziplines Cenote from Playa del Carmen: $75
- ATV Extreme and Snorkel Adventure from the Riviera Maya: $139
- ATV Ride and Secret Caves Tour from Playa del Carmen: $80
- ATV Shared & Ziplines Adventure in Tulum Jungle from Riviera Maya: $133
- ATV Shared, Cavern & Ziplines -Jungle Adventure from Riviera Maya: $158
- ATV Xtreme & Snorkel Experience: $138
Tours and Activities in Manaus
For Manaus, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Like a Local Customized Guided Welcome Tour: $30
- Manaus City Tour e Musa: $50
- City Tour in Manaus at Teatro Amazonas and Praça da Matriz: $50
- MUSA and INPA Museums with Observation Tower Tour: $50
- Half-Day City Tour: $54
- Full-Day Tour on the Amazon River: $55
- Amazon Negro River Half-Day Expedition Tour: $55
- Manaus Sightseeing Tour: $64
- Solimoes River Piranha Fishing and Alligator Watching Tour: $66
- Tour to Presidente Figueiredo Waterfalls: $70
- Full-Day Package Tour in Presidente Figueiredo : $70
- Meeting of the Waters & Pink Dolphin Tour with Lunch: $71
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPlaya del Carmen $21Manaus $2.84
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Playa del Carmen and Manaus, we can see that Playa del Carmen is more expensive. And not only is Manaus much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Playa del Carmen is in North America and Manaus 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 Manaus would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Manaus 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 Manaus.
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 Manaus Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Playa del Carmen or Manaus?
Manaus has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Playa del Carmen. When comparing the sizes of Playa del Carmen and Manaus, 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.
When is the best time to visit Playa del Carmen or Manaus?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Manaus is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Playa del Carmen has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Manaus in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Playa del Carmen as well as Manaus. The summer months attract visitors to Playa del Carmen because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Playa del Carmen is generally around the same temperature as Manausin January. Daily temperatures in Playa del Carmen average around 28°C (82°F), and Manaus fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Playa del Carmen this time of the year. In the summer, Playa del Carmen often gets more sunshine than Manausin January. Playa del Carmen gets 223 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Manaus receives 114 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Manaus. Playa del Carmen receives a lot of rain in the summer. Playa del Carmen usually gets less rain in July than Manausin January. Playa del Carmen gets 156 mm (6.1 in) of rain, while Manaus receives 264 mm (10.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryPlaya del Carmen 28°C (82°F)Manaus 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Manaus in the Autumn?
Both Manaus and Playa del Carmen are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Playa del Carmen this time of year.
Playa del Carmen is around the same temperature as Manaus in the autumn. The daily temperature in Playa del Carmen averages around 26°C (79°F) in October, and Manaus fluctuates around 28°C (82°F)in April.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Playa del Carmen. Playa del Carmen usually receives more sunshine than Manaus during autumn. Playa del Carmen gets 233 hours of sunny skies, while Manaus receives 112 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Manaus. It's quite rainy in Playa del Carmen. In October, Playa del Carmen usually receives less rain than Manausin April. Playa del Carmen gets 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Manaus receives 311 mm (12.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The hurricane season in Playa del Carmen is June to October.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilPlaya del Carmen 26°C (79°F)Manaus 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Manaus in the Winter?
Both Manaus and Playa del Carmen during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Playa del Carmen for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Playa del Carmen is cooler than Manaus. Typically, the winter temperatures in Playa del Carmen in January average around 23°C (73°F), and Manaus averages at about 28°C (82°F)in July.
In Manaus, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Playa del Carmen. In the winter, Playa del Carmen often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Manausin July. Playa del Carmen gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Manaus receives 214 hours of full sun.
Playa del Carmen usually gets less rain in January than Manausin July. Playa del Carmen gets 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Manaus receives 85 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyPlaya del Carmen 23°C (73°F)Manaus 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Manaus in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Playa del Carmen and Manaus. Many visitors come to Playa del Carmen in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.
In April, Playa del Carmen is generally around the same temperature as Manausin October. Daily temperatures in Playa del Carmen average around 27°C (81°F), and Manaus fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
In Playa del Carmen, it's very sunny this time of the year. Playa del Carmen usually receives more sunshine than Manaus during spring. Playa del Carmen gets 259 hours of sunny skies, while Manaus receives 171 hours of full sun in the spring.
Manaus receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Playa del Carmen usually receives less rain than Manausin October. Playa del Carmen gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Manaus receives 113 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the spring. June to October is the hurricane season in Playa del Carmen.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberPlaya del Carmen 27°C (81°F)Manaus 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Manaus and Playa del Carmen
| Playa del Carmen | Manaus | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 23°C (73°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 264 mm (10.4 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 290 mm (11.4 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (79°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 335 mm (13.2 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 311 mm (12.3 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 279 mm (11 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 85 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 174 mm (6.8 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (75°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 220 mm (8.6 in) |
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.