Which place is cheaper, Cali or Puerto Iguazu?
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 Puerto Iguazu or Cali?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Puerto Iguazu or Cali? 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: Puerto Iguazu or Cali?
Puerto Iguazu
Puerto Iguazu is located in the northeastern part of Argentina at the border with Paraguay and Brazil. It is a tourist city and travel destination because of its close proximity to Iguazu Falls, which is only 18 kilometers away. Much of the city's infrastructure has grown to maintain the tourist crowds that come to see the falls. The town itself has a population of slightly over 80,000.
Cali
Cali is Colombia's third largest city. Founded in 1536, can be explored on foot: walk under the shade of trees along the riverbank, admire the architecture of churches and other national monuments, and visit the city's many museums. Being the salsa capital of the world, Cali is primarily a destination for salsa and party but it also offers some great days out in the nearby natural surroundings. In Cali, travelers can enjoy music festivals, learn about sugarcane farming, and take in the mountainous landscapes.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bogota, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Colombia.
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Puerto Iguazu Prices
Argentina PricesCali Prices
Colombia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPuerto Iguazu $56Cali $39
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Iguazu is $56, while the average daily cost in Cali is $39. 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 Puerto Iguazu and Cali in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPuerto Iguazu $40Cali $7.64
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPuerto Iguazu $80Cali $15
Compare Hotels in Puerto Iguazu and Cali
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Iguazu or Cali? 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: Cali Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Puerto Iguazu $3.03Cali $7.14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Iguazu
Also for Puerto Iguazu, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Wanda Mines Guided Tour with Transfer / From Iguassu Falls: $56
- One-Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer: $8.00
- One-Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer: $14
- Falls Package Both Sides with Transfers: $160
- Puerto Iguazu Airport Shuttle Transfer: $17
- Puerto Iguazú: Jungle Fly Adventure with Transfers: $166
- Puerto Iguazú Round-Trip Airport Transfer: $25
- Puerto Iguazú Combo: Iguazu Falls 2 Day Tours + transfers: $85
- Private Transfer to or from Puerto Iguazu Airport IGR: $40
- Private Transfer from Puerto Iguazu Airport to Foz do Iguaçu: $83
- Iguazu Falls Saver Package! Both sides excursions & transfers: $79
- Iguazu Falls Argentina Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Hotels: $22
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cali
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cali:
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Short Taxi Ride$1.27
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cali
Also for Cali, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Arrival or Departure Transfer: Alfonso Bonilla Aragón Airport: $19
- Departure Private Transfer from Cali City to Cali Airport CLO by Minivan: $174
- Departure Private Transfer from Cali City to Cali Airport CLO by Minibus: $183
- Cali/Palmira to Alfonso B.Aragon Airport (CLO) - Private Transfer: $46
- Cali to or from Coffee Region Private Transfer: $136
- Cali to Popayan Private Transfer: $272
- Cali to Popayan Private Transfer: $272
- Arrival Transfer from Cali Airport CLO to Cali City by car: $131
- Arrival Private Transfer from Cali Airport CLO to Cali City by Minivan: $174
- Alfonso B.Aragon Airport (CLO) to Cali/Palmira-RoundTrip Transfer: $93
- Alfonso Airport (CLO) to Cali/Palmira - Arrival Private Transfer: $37
- Airport Transfers to Cali Hotels: $28
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Iguazu or Cali?
Prices for flights to both Cali and Puerto Iguazu 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 dayPuerto Iguazu $6.21Cali $19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Puerto Iguazu
For Puerto Iguazu, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Puerto Iguazú: Madero Tango Show with Optional Dinner: $34
- Argentine Experience: Immersive Dinner & Wine Pairing in Iguazú: $70
- ASADOR: Argentine Asado Cooking Class: $70
- Iguazu Falls: The Argentine Experience Interactive Dinner: $75
- Dinner Show Rafain Steakhouse Gran Meliá Hotel Exclusive - Private Tour: $120
- Dinner Show Rafain Steakhouse from Puerto Iguazú Hotels Private Tour: $130
- Dinner Tango Show in Iguazú Falls - no transfers -: $152
- Experience Guamini Mision Dinner and Tango Show Gran Meliá Iguazú Exclusive: $155
- Rafain Steakhouse Dinner & Show: $232
- Foz do Iguaçu: Argentinean Cooking Class: $244
- Puerto Iguazú: Romantic Dinner at Pristine Iguazú Camp: $306
- Puerto Iguazú: Pristine Day Iguazú Nature and Food Tour: $332
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cali
For Cali, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Street Food Tour: $24
- Alameda Market Food Tour: $55
- Traditional Colombian Cooking Class in Cali: $71
- Food Tour San Antonio: $90
- Discover Pacific Flavors Cali Cooking Class and Market Tour: $184
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Puerto Iguazu $33Cali $13
Tours and Activities in Puerto Iguazu
For Puerto Iguazu, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2Day Iguazu Tour HELICOPTER Ride & Airfare from Buenos Aires: $1,290
- 3-Day Iguazu Falls Exploring Tour From Argentina and Brazil: $255
- Argentine Falls Package with Great Adventure and Brazilian Falls: $260
- Argentinean Falls with Gran Aventura Boat Tour: $261
- Bike Tour Iguazú Adventure and Nature in the Missionary Jungle: $90
- Bird Park & Iguassu Brazilian Side From Puerto Iguazú Hotels - Private Tour: $145
- Brazilian Side of Iguassu Falls and Itaipu Dam Full-Day Sightseeing Tour from Puerto Iguazú: $108
- Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls Tour from Puerto Iguazu: $49
- Brazilian Side of the Falls - All Tickets Included: $77
- City Tour Puerto Iguazú Gran Meliá Iguazú Exclusivo: $135
- City Tour Puerto Iguazu Belmond Hotel das Cataratas: $135
- City Tour in Iguassu from Puerto Iguazú Hotels Private Tour: $90
Tours and Activities in Cali
For Cali, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- A day to enjoy nature and have an adventure in the Jordan river: $65
- Afro Tour The Colors of Cali: $57
- Buga, Hacienda Piedechinche and Cane Museum Tour from Cali: $250
- Cali ATV tours - Take your adrenaline to the maximum on the road: $250
- Cali Birdwatching and Botany Tour at KM18: $149
- Cali City Tour: $29
- Cali City Tour Safe, Comfortable and Authentic Culture: $89
- Cali Food Market Tour Galería Alameda with Exotic Tastings: $29
- Cali River Waterfall Tour (4 hours): $64
- Cali Salsa Tour: Learn the history, dance and play instruments: $75
- Cali private city tour: $120
- City Tour | Guided tour around the city: $99
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPuerto Iguazu $7.75Cali $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Cali
Also in Cali, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Salsa Friday in Calle del Sabor + Bar Crawl in Cali: $32
- Friday Night Street Salsa and Bar Crawl in Cali, Colombia: $35
- Paragliding + Wine tasting + Hacienda El Paraiso + Saint Helena: $210
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Iguazu and Cali, we can see that Puerto Iguazu is more expensive. And not only is Cali much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cali would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cali 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 Puerto Iguazu would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Iguazu than you might in Cali.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Puerto Iguazu Expensive? and Is Cali Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Puerto Iguazu or Cali?
Cali has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Puerto Iguazu. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Iguazu and Cali, 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.