Which place is cheaper, Rosario Islands 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 Rosario Islands?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Rosario Islands? 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 Rosario Islands?
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.
Rosario Islands
The Rosario Islands, also referred to as Coral Islands of Rosario, is an archipelago located off the coast of Colombia, approximately 100 kilometres (62 miles) from Cartagena. The Rosario Islands are integrated by 28 islands and all of them form one of the 46 Natural National Parks of Colombia, created to protect one of the most important coral reefs in the Colombian Caribbean Coast. Only three of these islands are property of the Colombian state. Before establishing the national park in 1977, wealthy families used this natural paradise to build their summer houses, but then the government allowed them to keep their properties, only if they paid annual rent and taxes to be there, and complied with certain rules to preserve the ecosystem of the islands. People can visit the national park area of the islands, and tours are available. Isla Rosario has an aquarium and open-sea oceanarium that people can visit. Activities on the Rosario Islands include swimming, snorkeling and fishing, among others. The best time to visit Colombia in general, and especially the Rosario Islands is the dry-season months from December to March. These uninterrupted sunny days are just perfect for a Caribbean coastal experience and to enjoy all the activities it has to offer.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, The Best Luxury Tours to Colombia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Colombia.
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Playa del Carmen Prices
Mexico PricesRosario Islands Prices
Colombia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPlaya del Carmen $95Rosario Islands $114
The average daily cost (per person) in Playa del Carmen is $95, while the average daily cost in Rosario Islands is $114. 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 Rosario Islands in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPlaya del Carmen $38Rosario Islands $35
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPlaya del Carmen $76Rosario Islands $70
Compare Hotels in Playa del Carmen and Rosario Islands
Looking for a hotel in Playa del Carmen or Rosario Islands? 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 Rosario Islands Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Playa del Carmen $23Rosario Islands $48
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Playa del Carmen
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Playa del Carmen:
- Access to Xel-Há Park with Transfer: $145
- Akumal to Cancun - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $82
- CUN Airport One-Way/Round-Trip Transfers to Playa del Carmen: $60
- Cancún Airport Transfer to Playa del Carmen One Way: $135
- Cancun Airport Departure transfer from Playa Paraiso, Playa del Carmen, Playacar: $28
- Cancun Airport Private Transfer One Way: To or From Akumal area Up to 03 Pass.: $160
- Cancun Airport: Private Transfers From/To Akumal Half Moon Bay: $98
- Cancun Airport: Private Transfers: From/to Playa del Carmen: $70
- Cenote Azul with Private Roundtrip Transfer: $120
- Chetumal Airport (CTM) to Chetumal - Arrival Private Transfer: $63
- Chetumal Airport to Bacalar - Private Transfer with English-speaking driver: $105
- From One way shared transfer to Holbox: $69
Is it cheaper to fly into Playa del Carmen or Rosario Islands?
Prices for flights to both Rosario Islands 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 $39Rosario Islands $51
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.
- Flavors of Playa del Carmen, Mexican Food Tour: $67
- 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: $83
- Riviera Maya Luxury Sunset Sailing plus Light Dinner and Open Bar: $89
- Playa del Camen Vegan Mexican Food Tour: $91
- Mayan Ceremony in Tulum. Temazcal, Dinner and pick up included.: $92
- Mexican Cooking Class: $113
- PDC Traditional Mexican Cooking Experience: $116
- Isa’s Authentic Mexican Cooking Class: $120
- Romantic Dinner for 2 in Magical Jungle Setting: $150
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Playa del Carmen $16Rosario Islands $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:
- Tulum Legends: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of the Ancient Mayan City: $6.99
- 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
- Riviera Maya: Frida Kahlo Museum Guided Tour 2025: $20
- YAL-KU Park in Riviera Maya Admission Ticket: $22
- Full day Chichén Itzá Tour from Cancún and Riviera Maya: $22
- Adrenaline ATV Cenote and Zip Lines Experience at Tulum: $25
- Tulum and 2 Cenotes Half Day Tour from Riviera: $29
- Playa del Carmen Coastal Heritage Walking Tour: $30
- Chichen Itza Tour Options with Cenote Swim from Playa del Carmen: $31
- Behind the Scenes – German-language Cultural Tour.: $35
Tours and Activities in Rosario Islands
Here are a few actual costs in Rosario Islands for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- One-day tour to Playa Blanca by land Popular sector: $50
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPlaya del Carmen $20Rosario Islands $6.33
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:
- Tour to the Brewery with Tasting and Fifth Avenue: $106
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Playa del Carmen and Rosario Islands, we can see that Rosario Islands is more expensive. And not only is Playa del Carmen much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Playa del Carmen is in North America and Rosario Islands 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 Playa del Carmen would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Playa del Carmen 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 Rosario Islands would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rosario Islands than you might in Playa del Carmen.
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 Rosario Islands Expensive?.
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.