A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Recife vs. Medellin for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Recife or Medellin?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Recife and Medellin can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Recife or Medellin?

Recife

One of the largest cities on Brazil's northeast coast, Recife is also the capital of the state of Pernambuco. The city gets its name from the Portuguese word for "reef," as it was built around a landscape of natural reef beaches. Many people visit to enjoy these beaches, experience the culture, and explore the history of this important Brazilian city.

Medellin

In addition to big improvements in public safety, Medellin has witnessed a huge surge in urban development projects, including Colombia's first metro system and cable cars to service poorer neighborhoods located high on the mountain sides. There is an abundance of parks, libraries, museums and public spaces with many cultural events taking place. Many travelers also enjoy visiting the surrounding villages, where life is simple and landscapes and nature reserves are wonderful. Medellin has now become one of the "it" cities in the world, with tons of tourists visiting and foreigners settling and retiring here. Beautiful mountains, warm weather, friendly locals, and a vibrant culture are just a few of the reasons why you should visit Medellin.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Brazil, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Brazil, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, and The Best Eco Tours in Colombia.


Which place is cheaper, Medellin or Recife?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Recife is $170, while the average daily cost in Medellin is $22. 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 Recife and Medellin in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Recife $90
    Medellin $4.66
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Recife $180
    Medellin $9.32
Compare Hotels in Recife and Medellin

Looking for a hotel in Recife or Medellin? 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.

Hotels in Recife


Hotels in Medellin


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: Recife Hotel Prices and Medellin Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Recife $8.66
    Medellin $4.06

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Recife

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Recife:

  • Departure Transfer from Olinda to Recife Airport: $100
  • Private Transfer from Igarassu to Recife (REC) Airport : $102
  • Private Transfer from Olinda to Recife (REC) Airport: $46
  • Recife Boat Tour with Transfers: $72
  • Airport to Maragogi Hotels Private Transfer: $85
  • Airport to Porto de Galinhas Transfer: $65

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Medellin

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Medellin:


  • Taxi
    $1.62

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Medellin

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Medellin:

  • Santa Marta Airport to Santa Marta (or vice versa) Private Transfer : $16
  • Transfer Private Car from Medellin city - Medellin Airport (MDE): $20
  • Medellin Airport MDE to Downtown Arrival Private Transfer: $21
  • Medellin to Jose Maria Cordova Airport (MDE) - Departure Transfer: $21
  • Medellin Airport (MDE) to Downtown hotels - Arrival Transfer: $21
  • Downtown hotels to Medellin Airport (MDE) - Departure Transfer: $21
  • Medellín Airport shuttle - Airport Transfer: $25
  • Medellin to Olaya Herrera Airport(EOH)-Departure Private Transfer: $28
  • Private Transfer Aerop Jose Maria Cordova - Up to 3 people: $33
  • Transfer in Private Car from Guatape- Medellin airport (MDE): $34
  • Transfer JMC airport - Medellin or Medellin - JMC airport - Private!!: $39
  • RoundtripTransfer Privatecar Medellin Airport (MDE) Medellin City: $40

Is it cheaper to fly into Recife or Medellin?

Prices for flights to both Medellin and Recife 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Recife $72
    Medellin $9.43

Typical Food Prices in Medellin

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Medellin:


  • Lunch
    $2.06

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Medellin

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Medellin.

  • Cooking Class Preparing Colombian Empanadas: $39
  • Sabor Colombiano Cooking Studio: $60
  • Community project cooking class and Medellin social transformation tour: $66
  • Homemade Paisa Dinner at a Local's Home in Medellín: $69
  • Half-Day Food Tour Visiting the Best Viewpoints in Medellín!: $75
  • Private tour: Street food tour, Eat like a Local in Medellin!: $85
  • Combo Tour: Street Art, Christmas Lights and Food Tour in Medellin: $131
  • Medellin Historical and Food Tour with Fernando Botero´s Plaza: $140
  • Comuna 13, Fruit & Street Food Tour: $166
  • Private tour: Medellin City – Pablo Escobar and Food Tour: $166
  • Combo Tour: Dark days & Christmas tour Including Lunch or Dinner: $166
  • A Night Out in Medellin with Dinner and Drinks Included: $175

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Recife $12
    Medellin $13

Tours and Activities in Recife

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Recife are as follows:

  • Recife (Historic Centre) Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour: $7.80
  • Olinda Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.97
  • City Tour Recife & Olinda: $27
  • Colonial North Coast beaches - Full-Day Tour: $36
  • City Tour Recife with Catamaran included: $150

Tours and Activities in Medellin

Here are a few actual costs in Medellin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Guided Nightlife Tour of Comuna Trece in Medellin : $5.00
  • Skip the Line: Museum of Antioquia Admission Ticket: $7.20
  • Shared Tour of El Poblado "Sin Taboos" in Medellin: $13
  • Shared Tour of the Historical and Cultural Center of Medellín: $13
  • Virtual Tour: Colonial Santa Fe de Antioquia: $14
  • Graffiti Tour | Comuna 13: $15
  • Walking Historical tour of Medellín, walking reality.: $15
  • Comuna 13 Tour. Graffiti Tour Medellín (Graffitour): $17
  • Comuna 13 Graffiti Tour And Enjoy Photos y Videos with Dron: $19
  • Comuna 13 Graffiti Tour and Street Food: $20
  • Comuna 13 History and Graffiti Tour with Cable Car: $20
  • Storytellers Tours: $21

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Recife -
    Medellin $7.07

Sample the Local Flavors in Medellin

Also in Medellin, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Live the Nightlife Rooftop Pub Crawl : $49
  • Medellin Private Bar Crawl: $89
  • Medellin Pub Crawl Including Food and City Tour: $139


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Recife and Medellin, we can see that Recife is more expensive. And not only is Medellin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Medellin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Medellin 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 Recife would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Recife than you might in Medellin.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Recife Expensive? and Is Medellin Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Recife or Medellin?

Medellin has a larger population, and is about 35% larger than the population of Recife. When comparing the sizes of Recife and Medellin, 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.