Which place is cheaper, Copacabana 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 Copacabana?
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 Copacabana 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 Copacabana?
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.
Copacabana
Copacabana, Bolivia, is a small, bright and enchanting town located on the Bolivian shore of Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake. Situated relatively close to the capital of La Paz, it is a popular resort mostly destination for foreign travellers, meaning that you may feel like there are more Argentinians and Americans than locals. Copacabana is the perfect jump-off point for visiting Isla del Sol and Isla de la Luna and makes a pleasant stopover between La Paz and Puno or Cusco. Featuring beautiful nature walks, ancient sites, stunning sunsets and quaint little restaurants, Copacabana is a travelers' favorite destination to soak in the panoramic views, savor freshly caught trucha, and explore what the Incas believed to be the birthplace of their empire.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, The Best Historical Tours in Mexico, The Best Budget Tours to Bolivia, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Bolivia.
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Tulum Prices
Mexico PricesCopacabana Prices
Bolivia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTulum $133Copacabana $54
The average daily cost (per person) in Tulum is $133, while the average daily cost in Copacabana is $54. 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 Copacabana in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTulum $54Copacabana $11
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTulum $108Copacabana $22
Compare Hotels in Tulum and Copacabana
Looking for a hotel in Tulum or Copacabana? 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 Copacabana Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tulum $25Copacabana $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Tulum
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Tulum are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tulum
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tulum:
- Economy Private Transfer from Tulum to Cancun Airport – Safe: $139
- Luxury Mercedes Benz Private Transfer–Riviera Maya-Cancun Airport: $161
- Luxury SUV Private Transfer from Riviera Maya to Cancun Airport: $261
- Luxury Tulum Transfer from Tulum Airport: $220
- One Way Private Transfer Tulum Zone - Cancun Int Airport: $170
- One way private transfer Bahia Principe area: $132
- Private Airport Transfer to Tulum: $117
- Private Luxury SUV Transfers from Tulum Airport : $195
- Private Luxury Transfer Tulum to Cancun Airport: $220
- Private Transfer Cancun International Airport CUN to Tulum City: $125
- Private Transfer Tulum-Bacalar with optional 2h in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve: $261
- Private Transfer from Tulum Airport (TQO): $69
Is it cheaper to fly into Tulum or Copacabana?
Prices for flights to both Copacabana 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 $54Copacabana $30
Typical Food Prices in Tulum
Some typical examples of dining costs in Tulum are as follows:
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Lunch$2.72
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tulum
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tulum.
- Salsa Class with Mezcalita Workshop & Mexican Dinner in Tulum: $83
- Mexican Cooking from Scratch in a Local Home in Tulum: $87
- Tulum Local Walking Food Tour: $88
- Temazcal Mayan Ritual Tour and Cenote Swim with Yucatecan Dinner: $120
- Private transfer for 5 hours (go dinner,cenotes, shopping and more) : $299
Typical Food Prices in Copacabana
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Copacabana:
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Lunch$3.61
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Sandwich$1.16
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tulum $29Copacabana $19
Tours and Activities in Tulum
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tulum are as follows:
- Salsa Dance Experience at Tulum Beach: $22
- Coba Mayan Ruins and Cenote Swim Tour: $25
- Snorkel 2 reef point, 1 hour 20 minutes tour : $29
- ATV Cenote and Ziplines Adventure in Tulum from Riviera Maya: $30
- Tulum Jungle Experience with ATV, Ziplines, and Cenote: $35
- Guided Day Tour to Chichén Itzá, Cenote Swim and Valladolid: $38
- Tulum Extreme Mayan Adventure with ATV, Zipline and Cenote: $38
- Cenotes Casa Tortuga Guide Tour with Ticket: $39
- Chichén Cenote and ValladolidkTour with Buffet Lunch from Tulum: $45
- Tulum Area Experiences Scooter Daily Rental: $45
- Discover Chichen Itza Charm Shared Tour from Tulum: $45
- Tulum Area Experiences E-Bike Daily Rental: $45
Tours and Activities in Copacabana
Here are a few actual costs in Copacabana for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Titicaca Touristic Bus from Copacabana to La Paz_Everyday_1:00 p.m.: $12
- From La Paz: Cable car ride tour with tasting food.: $49
- CONDORIRI Mountain 5650m. 2 DAYS 1 NIGHT. TREKKING. English guide. Shared Tour: $198
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTulum $23Copacabana $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Tulum
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Tulum:
- 30 Minutes Brewery Tour in Tulum: $39
- Beer Tasting and Brewery Tour: $69
Typical Alcohol Prices in Copacabana
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Copacabana from other travelers:
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Wine$2.89
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tulum and Copacabana, we can see that Tulum is more expensive. And not only is Copacabana much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tulum is in North America and Copacabana 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 Copacabana would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Copacabana 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 Copacabana.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tulum Expensive? and Is Copacabana Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tulum or Copacabana?
Tulum has a larger population, and is about 86% larger than the population of Copacabana. When comparing the sizes of Tulum and Copacabana, 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.