Which place is cheaper, Salento 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 Salento?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Salento? 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 Salento?
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.
Salento
Founded in 1850, Salento is one of the oldest towns in Quindio. This colonial Colombian town has retained much of its old world charm, with its colorful buildings, large square and, of course, the obligatory church. Because the main route between Cali and Bogota which used to pass through Salento was diverted, the town didn't develop as quickly as others in the Quindio region. This gave Salento the opportunity to evolve into a thriving community of craftsmen and artisans as well as remaining one of the region's most prolific coffee producers. Salento is located 24 km northeast of the departmental capital Armenia. However, unlike its colorful neighbor, Armenia itself has very little to offer tourists. Salento attracts those wishing to learn about the coffee regions and for those who simply admire breathtaking scenery, and especially the stunning Cocora Valley.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Colombia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia.
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Playa del Carmen Prices
Mexico PricesSalento Prices
Colombia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPlaya del Carmen $95Salento $41
The average daily cost (per person) in Playa del Carmen is $95, while the average daily cost in Salento is $41. 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 Salento in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPlaya del Carmen $38Salento $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPlaya del Carmen $76Salento $24
Compare Hotels in Playa del Carmen and Salento
Looking for a hotel in Playa del Carmen or Salento? 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 Salento Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Playa del Carmen $23Salento $15
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: $17
- Private One Way or Roundtrip Transfer to Costa Mujeres Hotels: $17
- Cancun Airport Departure transfer from Playa Paraiso, Playa del Carmen, Playacar: $28
- One way shared transfer to Chiquila: $34
- CUN Airport One-Way/Round-Trip Transfers to Playa del Carmen: $60
- Chetumal Airport (CTM) to Chetumal - Arrival Private Transfer: $64
- Chetumal to Chetumal Airport (CTM) - Departure Private Transfer: $64
- From One way shared transfer to Holbox: $69
- Cancun Airport: Private Transfers: From/to Playa del Carmen: $70
- Round trip Private Transfer Cancun- Costa Mujeres/Playa Mujeres: $71
- Transfer from Playa del Carmen to Cancun airport and hotels: $74
- Private Transfer Cancun Airport to Nickelodeon Riviera.: $77
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salento
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Salento:
- Private Pereira Airport Transfer: To/From Salento: $109
Is it cheaper to fly into Playa del Carmen or Salento?
Prices for flights to both Salento 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 $39Salento $17
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
- Christmas Eve Dinner in a magical jungle setting: $45
- 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
- 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
- Mayan Ceremony in Tulum. Temazcal, Dinner and pick up included.: $92
- Mexican Cooking Class 1 or 3 Courses Tequila and Mezcal Tasting: $105
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Salento
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Salento.
- Cooking Stories - Cocinando Historias: $46
- Cooking Classes Food and Cocktail Tasting: $88
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Playa del Carmen $16Salento $12
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
- 4 ADVENTURES 1 DAY Tulum Coba Cenote and Playa del Carmen: $16
- Riviera Maya: Frida Kahlo Museum Guided Tour 2025: $20
- Full day Chichén Itzá Tour from Cancún and Riviera Maya: $22
- Adrenaline ATV Cenote and Zip Lines Experience at Tulum: $25
- Chichen Itza and Cenote Full Day Tour from Playa del Carmen: $28
- 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
- Underground Cenotes Snorkeling Tour with Mayan Snack: $35
- Chichén Itzá Ancestral Tour from Playa del Carmen with Cenote: $35
Tours and Activities in Salento
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Salento are as follows:
- Coffee Tasting: A Sensory Brewing Experience in Salento: $15
- Tour of the Don Elías Coffee Farm (Guide in English/Spanish/French): $19
- Salento-Ocaso Farm Coffee Tour – English Tour: $21
- Coffee Tour at Finca El Ocaso, Traditional Farm – English: $21
- Salento Plant Sightseeing Tour: $24
- Walking Sightseeing Tour with Local Tastings: $29
- Magical Garden Fruit Juice Experience with Colombian Fruit Tasting: $47
- Coffee tour in the heart of the coffee region: $50
- Coffee Cupping Experience: Taste Coffee Like a Professional in Salento: $52
- Coffee Experience & Coffee Tasting at El Jazmín Farm: $54
- Coffee Master Roasting, Brewing and Tasting Tour: $56
- Traditional Coffee Tour with Jeep Willys Ride: $57
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPlaya del Carmen $20Salento $12
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 Salento, we can see that Playa del Carmen is more expensive. And not only is Salento much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Playa del Carmen is in North America and Salento 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 Salento would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Salento 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 Salento.
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 Salento Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Playa del Carmen or Salento?
Playa del Carmen has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Salento. When comparing the sizes of Playa del Carmen and Salento, 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.