A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Tulum vs. Pedasi for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Tulum or Pedasi?

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 Pedasi 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 Pedasi?

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.

Pedasi

Pedasi is in the Los Santos province of the Pacific West region of Panama. It's on the edge of the Azuero Peninsula and has a population of just over 2000 people. The town is predominantly a fishing village and is set on a beautiful, rocky coastline, making it a dramatic place to visit. The town is small, but you'll find a few restaurants around town that are worth eating at. The area is well known for having some great carnivals and most travelers visit with the plan to enjoy some sport fishing, diving, snorkeling, or surfing. There are also some great national parks and preserves nearby.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, The Best Historical Tours in Mexico, The Best 2-Week Tours from Panama City, and The Best Adventure Tours to Panama.


Which place is cheaper, Pedasi or Tulum?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Tulum is $122, while the average daily cost in Pedasi is $38. 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 Pedasi in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Tulum $60
    Pedasi $13
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Tulum $120
    Pedasi $26
Compare Hotels in Tulum and Pedasi

Looking for a hotel in Tulum or Pedasi? 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 Tulum


Hotels in Pedasi


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Tulum $28
    Pedasi $5.45
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Tulum

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Tulum are as follows:


  • Scooter Rental
    $18

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tulum

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tulum:

  • Round-trip Private Transfer Cancun Airport to TULUM - up to 9 pax: $299
  • Roundtrip Transfer from Cancun Airport to Tulum: $269
  • Roundtrip Private Transfer from Cancun Airport to Tulum: $254
  • Transfer from Tulum airport to Bacalar: $233
  • Private Luxury Transfer Tulum to Cancun Airport: $220
  • Private Transfer Tulum-Bacalar with optional 2h in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve: $210
  • Private Transfer From Cancun Airport - Tulum: $208
  • Cancun Airport Departure transfer from Akumal, Tulum: $191
  • Tulum to Chetumal - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $182
  • Private Transfer Tulum Zone - Cancun International Airport: $160
  • One Way Private Tulum Transfers to or from Cancun Airport: $160
  • Tulum to Mahahual - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $160

Is it cheaper to fly into Tulum or Pedasi?

Prices for flights to both Pedasi 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Tulum $34
    Pedasi $18
Typical Food Prices in Tulum

Some typical examples of dining costs in Tulum are as follows:


  • Lunch
    $3.00

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tulum

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

  • Tulum Local Walking Food Tour: $86
  • Vegan Walking Food Tour with Tasting: $87
  • Mexican Cooking from Scratch and Mezcal Tasting in a Local Home in Tulum: $87
  • Mayan Night Guided Tour, Cenote Swim and Mayan Dinner: $209
  • Private transfer for 5 hours (go dinner,cenotes, shopping and more) : $299

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Tulum $32
    Pedasi -

Tours and Activities in Tulum

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

  • Private Tour - The best Cenotes in Yucatan - Suytun & Oxman: $195
  • Romantic tour in Tulum: $169
  • 4-Hour Cenotes Tour with Hotel Pickup in Riviera Maya: $109
  • 5 Hours Mayan Snorkeling Experience in Tulum: $90
  • 5x1 Deluxe Tour Tulum, Coba, Cenote Transportation from Tulum: $88
  • 5x1: Tulum, Coba, Cenote and Mayan Village Full Day Tour: $99
  • ATV Cenote and Zipline Adventure from Tulum: $119
  • ATV Extreme Adventure Single with Ziplines and Cenote Swim: $137
  • ATV Jungle Adventure with Ziplines, Cenote & Tulum Pickup: $75
  • ATV Tour with Ziplines and Cenote Swim Experience in Quintana Roo: $59
  • Adventure Tulum: $105
  • Adventure in the Mayan Jungle with ATV and Zip Line in Tulum: $90

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Tulum $25
    Pedasi $2.87

Sample the Local Flavors in Tulum

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Tulum:

  • 30 Minutes Brewery Tour in Tulum: $39
  • Wine Tasting at Pan y Vino Tulum: $58
  • Beer Tasting and Brewery Tour: $69


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tulum and Pedasi, we can see that Tulum is more expensive. And not only is Pedasi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tulum is in North America and Pedasi is in Central 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 Pedasi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pedasi 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 Pedasi.

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


Which is Bigger, Tulum or Pedasi?

Tulum has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Pedasi. When comparing the sizes of Tulum and Pedasi, 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.