Which place is cheaper, Cali or Tena?
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 Tena or Cali?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Tena and Cali 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: Tena or Cali?
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.
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 G Adventures Tours to Colombia, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bogota, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Colombia, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Colombia.
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Tena Prices
Colombia PricesCali Prices
Colombia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTena $58Cali $29
The average daily cost (per person) in Tena is $58, while the average daily cost in Cali is $29. 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 Tena and Cali in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTena $22Cali $5.71
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTena $44Cali $11
Compare Hotels in Tena and Cali
Looking for a hotel in Tena 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.Tena $15Cali $5.34
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tena
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tena:
- Transfer in Private Car from Bucaramanga Palonegro Airport (BGA) to Bucaramanga: $15
- San Andres hotels to San Andres Airport (ADZ) Departure Transfer: $36
- Roundtrip transfer in private minivan Medellin airport (MDE)- Guatape: $84
- Round trip transfer in Private Car from-to Palonegro Airport(BGA) to Bucaramanga: $29
- Private transfer service from or to Medellín Airport: $46
- Popayan to Cali Private Transfer: $272
- Popayan to Cali Private Transfer: $272
- Private Transfer from Villavieja to San Agustín: $150
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$0.95
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cali
Also for Cali, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfers Cali (per way): $32
- Airport Transfers to Cali Hotels: $25
- Alfonso Airport (CLO) to Cali/Palmira - Arrival Private Transfer: $36
- Alfonso Airport (CLO) to Cali/Palmira-Round-Trip Private Transfer: $73
- Arrival Transfer from Cali Airport CLO to Cali City by MiniSuv: $93
- Cali Tour Privado x3 horas con Transfers: $171
- Cali Tour Privado x5 horas con Transfers: $235
- Cali to Popayan Private Transfer: $272
- Alfonso Bonilla Aragón Airpot One Way Transfer: $19
- City Highlights Private Bus Tour with Transfer: $228
- Departure Private Transfer from Cali City to Cali Airport CLO by Minibus: $171
- Departure Private Transfer from Cali City to Cali Airport CLO by Minivan: $71
Is it cheaper to fly into Tena or Cali?
Prices for flights to both Cali and Tena 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 dayTena $24Cali $14
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: $22
- Street Food Tour: $29
- Cali tastes good! Authentic street food tour through the salsa capital: $52
- Alameda Market Food Tour: $55
- Tradicional Pacific Colombian Cooking Class: $63
- Street Food Tour - Live A Unique Gastronomic Experience: $67
- Flavors of Food tour at the local market: $73
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tena $14Cali $10
Tours and Activities in Tena
Here are a few actual costs in Tena for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 4-Hour Private Walking Tour along Ruta de Las Flores: $42
- Coffee Night Plan 2D/1N -2H to Medellin-Real Coffee Experience!: $239
- Full Day Adventure Laguna Negra-Páramo de Ocetá from Mongua: $20
- Gastronomic Private Walking Tour in Popayán: $50
- Medellin Paragliding Tour : $65
- Popayán Tour from Cali: $216
- Popayan and Silvia Town Private Tour from Cali: $240
- Private 2-hour Diving Experience with Instructor: $65
- Private Guided Tour to Hanging Stone Susa Cundinamarca: $55
- Scuba Diving Private Tour in San Andres: $130
- Unique experience flying paragliding: $50
Tours and Activities in Cali
For Cali, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Shared Tour Cali's Local Food at Alameda Market: $9.05
- Shared Tour Cali's Historical Downtown: $9.05
- Shared Tour Cali's Salsa, Graffiti & Resistance Experience: $9.05
- Shared Tour of the Historical and Cultural Center of Cali: $10
- Cali Zoo Access Ticket: $14
- Cultural and heritage Cali tour: $15
- Ceramic Workshop for Tourists: $17
- Walking tour of the historic center: $25
- Street Food Walking Tour: $25
- Coffee Tasting Experience in Cali Colombia : $26
- Coffee Tasting Experience in Cali: $28
- The Cali Street Food Walking Tour: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTena $9.61Cali $8.05
Sample the Local Flavors in Cali
Also in Cali, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Saturday Night Bar Crawl in Cali, Colombia: $25
- Craft Beer Pub Crawl in Cali: $43
- Salsa Pub Crawl in Cali: $45
- Paragliding + Wine tasting + Hacienda El Paraiso + Saint Helena: $210
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tena and Cali, we can see that Tena 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 Tena would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tena 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 Tena Expensive? and Is Cali Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tena or Cali?
Cali has a larger population, and is about 3440 times larger than the population of Tena. When comparing the sizes of Tena 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.