Which place is cheaper, Tena 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 Tena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Tena? 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 Tena?
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.
Tena
Tena is the capital of the Napo Province, an attractive and quiet city in the Amazon rainforest, and is known as the "cinnamon capital" of Ecuador. Tena has a friendly population, lots of backpacker infrastructure, a gorgeous setting surrounded by jungle-covered hills and a high concentration of surrounding rivers where white-water lovers from around the world come to paddle and kayak. The town provides a gateway to exploration into Ecuador's most accessible part of the great Amazon rainforest, which does not leave visitors disappointed. Beyond being a base for discovering the jungle and its wildlife, Tena is also a hub for adventure sports which are abundant in the area. Tena is a charming place where many travelers find themselves hanging around quite happily before or after a trip into the rainforest.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, The Best G Adventures Tours to Colombia, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bogota.
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Playa del Carmen Prices
Mexico PricesTena Prices
Colombia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPlaya del Carmen $90Tena $72
The average daily cost (per person) in Playa del Carmen is $90, while the average daily cost in Tena is $72. 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 Tena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPlaya del Carmen $36Tena $28
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPlaya del Carmen $72Tena $56
Compare Hotels in Playa del Carmen and Tena
Looking for a hotel in Playa del Carmen or Tena? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Playa del Carmen $22Tena $19
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: $155
- Airport Transfer Playa del Carmen: $120
- Airport Transfers to Playa del Carmen - Private van (ROUND TRIP) FLAT RATE: $255
- Akumal to Cancún Airport (CUN) - Departure Private Transfer: $102
- Akumal to Cancun - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $80
- Akumal to Cancun Airport Private Luxury Departure Transfer: $152
- CUN Airport One-Way/Round-Trip Transfers to Playa del Carmen: $60
- Cancún Airport Transfer to Playa del Carmen One Way: $135
- Cancun & Costa M Transfer - Playa del Carmen/Ferry/Puerto Aventuras: $87
- Cancun Airport Departure transfer from Playa Paraiso, Playa del Carmen, Playacar: $27
- Cancun Airport Private One-Way Transfer to Riviera Maya Hotels: $99
- Cancun Airport Private Transfer One Way: To or From Akumal area Up to 03 Pass.: $160
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tena
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tena:
- Private Transfer from Villavieja to San Agustín: $150
- Medellin Transfer Airport - shuttle - pick up - Drop off (MDE): $22
- Medellin private transfer from Medellin airport: $30
- Popayan to Cali Private Transfer: $272
- Popayan to Cali Private Transfer: $272
- Private transfer service from or to Medellín Airport: $56
- Private transfer to Medellín Airport: $45
Is it cheaper to fly into Playa del Carmen or Tena?
Prices for flights to both Tena 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 $37Tena $30
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Playa del Carmen $16Tena $17
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 Tena
Here are a few actual costs in Tena for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Full Day Adventure Laguna Negra-Páramo de Ocetá from Mongua: $20
- 4-Hour Private Walking Tour along Ruta de Las Flores: $42
- Unique experience flying paragliding: $50
- Gastronomic Private Walking Tour in Popayán: $50
- Hanging Stone Private Guided Tour Susa Cundinamarca: $55
- Private 2-hour Diving Experience with Instructor: $65
- Paragliding tour in Medellín, fly and live a great experience: $69
- Paragliding tour in Medellín with certified pilot: $90
- Coffee Tour from Bogota at La Palma Plantation and El Tucan: $119
- Scuba Diving Private Tour in San Andres: $130
- Popayán Tour from Cali: $216
- Coffee Night Plan 2D/1N -2H to Medellin-Real Coffee Experience!: $239
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPlaya del Carmen $19Tena $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:
- 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 Tena, we can see that Playa del Carmen is more expensive. And not only is Tena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Playa del Carmen is in North America and Tena 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 Tena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tena 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 Tena.
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 Tena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Playa del Carmen or Tena?
Playa del Carmen has a larger population, and is about 80 times larger than the population of Tena. When comparing the sizes of Playa del Carmen and Tena, 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.