Which place is cheaper, Cali or Tulum?
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 Tulum 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 Tulum 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: Tulum or Cali?
Tulum
When you think of ancient ruins you probably picture dusty archaeological digs surrounded by sand and professors in khaki shorts. What if I told you there is a way to see ancient ruins and visit a tropical beach? That's exactly what you find in Tulum, Mexico.
Built near the end of Mayan era, the ruins of Tulum served as a port before the arrival of the Spanish. It may have been called Zama, meaning City of Dawn, given that these ruins face the sunrise. Because of Tulum's access to both land and sea routes, this spot was an important hub for the trade industry. It may have had another claim to fame, too. According to some murals and other works around the site, it seems this spot was an important site for the worship of the Diving or Descending God. Today, the area is the third most visited archaeological site in all of Mexico with daily tour buses dropping off visitors.
This area is usually packed with people looking to get a glimpse of the seaside ruins. To avoid crowds and capture the best view of the day, try to arrive as early as possible.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, The Best Historical Tours in Mexico, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bogota, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Colombia.
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Tulum Prices
Mexico PricesCali Prices
Colombia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTulum $140Cali $37
The average daily cost (per person) in Tulum is $140, while the average daily cost in Cali is $37. 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 Tulum and Cali in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTulum $57Cali $7.15
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTulum $114Cali $14
Compare Hotels in Tulum and Cali
Looking for a hotel in Tulum 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: Tulum Hotel Prices and Cali Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tulum $27Cali $6.68
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Tulum
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Tulum are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tulum
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tulum:
- Xcaret to Tulum - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $81
- Tulum to Xcaret - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $112
- Tulum to Playa del Carmen - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $118
- Tulum to Chetumal - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $244
- Tulum to Cancún Airport (CUN) - Private Departure Transfer: $130
- Tulum to Bacalar - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $194
- Tulum Archaeological Zone: Cenote, Lunch & Transfer: $203
- Tulum Archaeological Zone and El Jaguar Park, with Transfer and Lunch: $163
- Tulum Airport: One-Way or Roundtrip Private Transfer: $302
- Tulum Airport to Riviera Maya Private Transfer: $120
- Tulum Airport Private Transfer to Hotels and Airbnbs: $73
- Transfer from Hotel and Airbnb to Tulum Airport: $63
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$1.19
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
- Transfer Airport Private- Hotels North: $36
- Cali/Palmira to Alfonso B.Aragon Airport (CLO) - Private Transfer: $46
- Arrival Transfer from Cali Airport CLO to Cali City by car: $131
- Cali to or from Coffee Region Private Transfer: $136
- Departure Private Transfer from Cali City to Cali Airport CLO by Minivan: $174
- Arrival Private Transfer from Cali Airport CLO to Cali City by Minivan: $174
- Departure Private Transfer from Cali City to Cali Airport CLO by Minibus: $183
- Cali to Popayan Private Transfer: $272
- Cali to Popayan Private Transfer: $272
Is it cheaper to fly into Tulum or Cali?
Prices for flights to both Cali and Tulum 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 dayTulum $57Cali $18
Typical Food Prices in Tulum
Some typical examples of dining costs in Tulum are as follows:
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Lunch$2.86
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tulum
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tulum.
- Salsa Class,Mezcalita Workshop & Mexican Dinner: $87
- Yucatecan cooking class with a local chef in Tulum: $89
- Tortilla & Taco Cooking Class – Mexican Cuisine from scratch: $93
- Tulum Vegan Food Tour: $96
- Mexican Cooking from Scratch in a Local Home in Tulum: $100
- Mexican Cooking class experience in Tulum: $138
- Private Authentic Mayan Cooking Class with Tulum Hotel Transfers: $280
- Private Mayan Food Cooking Class, Cenote and Coba Ruins: $289
- Private transfer for 5 hours (go dinner,cenotes, shopping and more): $299
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 Cali Authentic Flavors and Street Art: $23
- Street Food Tour: $23
- Traditional Colombian Cooking Class in Cali: $71
- Food Tour San Antonio: $75
- Discover Pacific Flavors Cali Cooking Class and Market Tour: $181
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tulum $30Cali $13
Tours and Activities in Tulum
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tulum are as follows:
- 2 Cenotes Guided Snorkeling Adventure in Tulum: $149
- 2 Cenotes Private Tour – VIP Adventure with Expert Guide: $175
- 2 tanks Cenote Diving Adventure in Tulum for Certified Divers: $200
- ATV Cenote and Zipline Adventure from Tulum: $129
- ATV Extreme Adventure Single with Ziplines and Cenote Swim: $151
- ATV Extreme Adventure Single with Ziplines and Cenote Swim: $156
- Adventure at Chichen Itza! Cenote and Valladolid from Tulum City: $98
- Akumal Private Tour: Turtles, Coral Reef, Cenote, Beach, Lunch: $203
- Authentic Mexican Tacos Flavors and 5th Av Tour: $129
- Azulik Uh May Ticket Pass: $82
- Bacalar Full day Experience Kayacs from Tulum: $138
- Birdwatching in Sian Ka´an Muyil from Tulum - Shared Group Tour: $119
Tours and Activities in Cali
For Cali, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Historical Shared Tour Salsa, Graffiti & Resistance in Cali: $13
- Shared Tour of the Historical and Cultural Center of Cali: $14
- Shared Gastronomic Tour in the Alameda Cali Market: $14
- Cali Food Market Tour Galería Alameda with Exotic Tastings: $29
- The Cali Street Food Walking Tour: $33
- Coffee Tasting Experience in Cali Colombia: $39
- Private Tour in Cali with Salsa Class, Museums and Local Food: $43
- Afro Tour The Colors of Cali: $46
- Historical Walking Cali City Tour 3H: $46
- Chef’s Garden Experience at Andoke Butterfly Center: $50
- Discover La Topa Tolondra + 2 Salsa Museums Tour: $60
- Cali River Waterfall Tour (4 hours): $64
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTulum $24Cali $10
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: $28
- Salsa Friday in Calle del Sabor + Bar Crawl in Cali: $32
- Paragliding + Wine tasting + Hacienda El Paraiso + Saint Helena: $210
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tulum and Cali, we can see that Tulum is more expensive. And not only is Cali much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tulum is in North America and Cali 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 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 Tulum would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tulum 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 Tulum Expensive? and Is Cali Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tulum or Cali?
Cali has a larger population, and is about 290 times larger than the population of Tulum. When comparing the sizes of Tulum 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.